"Strategist Tsuru, are you saying that instead of focusing all our efforts on the big pirate crews, we should be targeting the smaller pirate groups more?"
The data Tsuru presented truly shocked Kuzan.
He had always believed that if they eliminated the major pirates, the era of piracy would finally come to an end.
But now, he was realizing...
The real threat to civilian lives came from the smaller pirate bands?
Many of these groups weren't even significant enough to appear on the bounty lists?
This... this revelation shook Kuzan's very core.
Could it be that everything he had believed was wrong?
"Kuza—Kuzan, you're misunderstanding something!"
"I'm not saying you're wrong. In fact, as an admiral, your focus should be on the Emperors of the Sea and other major pirate crews."
"If you three admirals spent your time chasing down small-time pirates all over the seas, that would be a real problem!"
Kuzan paused, his expression clouded with confusion.
What exactly was Strategist Tsuru trying to say? The more he listened, the less clear it became.
"Still don't get it?"
"Catching those small pirates is the job of the regional bases and the lower-ranked Marines. What, are you planning to compete with them for their work?"
"Sure, in the past twenty years, the number of insignificant pirate crews hasn't decreased—it's actually increased. But can you really blame the lower ranks for that?"
"No, not at all."
"In truth, they've already done everything they possibly could."
"Yet despite their efforts, they still haven't been able to suppress piracy across the seas. Kuzan, have you ever thought about why?"
Kuzan fell silent.
Indeed, the Marine high command had to contend with the strongest pirate forces—the Emperors and other major pirates.
As for those insignificant crews not even worthy of a bounty, it was the responsibility of the regional branches and low-level Marines.
Like Tsuru said—they had tried hard, fought desperately.
But rather than curbing piracy, it only grew larger.
Where was the problem?
If you think about it carefully, it becomes clear.
The low-ranking Marines had never managed to establish overwhelming strength over those equally low-level pirate crews.
In fact, in a one-on-one fight, a common pirate lackey might even be stronger than a typical low-ranking Marine.
After all, pirates were far more ruthless.
The Marines had to rely on superior standardized equipment and rigorous training to compensate.
That's when Kuzan began to understand...
Yes, the key was that powerful standardized equipment.
According to Strategist Tsuru, the "Jun Lin" once took down the entire Donquixote family with just a single warship.
If it weren't for Blackbeard rescuing Doflamingo—
Even the Shichibukai Doflamingo would have been captured alive by Jun Lin's ship that day.
And that was only one warship, relying entirely on the weapons installed on the ship—no powerful fighters even needed to intervene.
If this kind of warship became widely available within the Navy,
then regional branches and low-ranking Marines would have an overwhelming advantage against ordinary pirates.
In just a few years, except for the New World's Emperors and some other major pirate crews, pirates from the four seas and the Grand Line would be completely wiped out by the Navy!
So, trading 15 ordinary Devil Fruits, 1 Logia-type fruit, and 1 Mythical Zoan fruit for four of Junlin's warships—
Is that unreasonable?
No, it's not!
From the Navy's perspective, this deal was extremely cost-effective.
Kuzan drew in a sharp breath at the thought.
"Strategist Tsuru, I think I'm beginning to understand."
"Good, that's why when I called Sakazuki earlier, I also connected Sengoku's line at the same time to make sure Sengoku could strictly suppress him. This deal cannot afford even the slightest mistake!"
Hearing that, Kuzan couldn't help but smile slightly.
After all, he had been present when Tsuru was talking to Sakazuki.
The scene—
One Den Den Mushi was calling Momousagi, another Sengoku.
And Sengoku was yelling at Akainu through two phones at once.
If Kuzan hadn't been trying so hard to hold back, he would have burst out laughing right then.
(There was a small bug in the earlier text; consider this a patch from the author.)
"Admiral Kuzan! Strategist Tsuru!"
At that moment, a junior officer ran over.
"What is it?"
"The outer patrol ship has reported—Jun Lin's four steel warships have entered the alert zone. They intended to provide escort but..."
"What happened?"
Kuzan frowned.
"Well... Jun Lin's four warships are moving so fast, at least three times faster than our own ships. The patrol vessels can't keep up, so..."
Good grief, Kuzan had thought something serious had happened.
Turns out it was just because of that?
Wait...
"You're saying their ships are at least three times faster than ours?"
"Yes, that's what the patrol reported!"
"Understood. You can go now."
At this moment, Tsuru spoke.
"Yes, Strategist Tsuru!"
After the officer left, Kuzan couldn't help but ask:
"Strategist Tsuru, is this true?"
"I've never seen it myself, but Momousagi told me—Jun Lin's warships don't rely on sails. Instead, they navigate like we do in the calm zones, except their propulsion is far more powerful than ours!"
Kuzan inhaled sharply.
No sails, and their speed is at least three times that of Navy ships.
He drew a deep breath again.
Then he looked to the horizon, waiting for those steel warships to appear over the sea.
---
Over half an hour later,
The four steel warships appeared outside the Marine G1 base.
At that moment, the large warship that Kuzan and Tsuru were on looked like a child's toy next to them.
The gap in size was staggering.
What shocked Kuzan even more—
Each steel warship was armed with three sets of twin-mounted giant cannons.
The caliber and length of those barrels—
They dazzled Kuzan's eyes.
Not to mention the numerous sizable secondary guns and dozens of fire points equipped with strange weapons on each ship.
Hissing...
If the Navy completed a full equipment upgrade like this, as Tsuru said, in just a few years, pirates across the four seas and Grand Line could truly be wiped out.
This would save the civilians in the seas and the Grand Line from pirate devastation.
At the same time, it would cut off fresh blood from entering the New World's pirate crews.
Plus, the Navy could concentrate all forces to focus on the New World.
Perhaps...
The end of the great pirate era could genuinely be achieved in Kuzan's generation.
Just the thought alone filled him with excitement.
And just then, something even more shocking happened.
Beside the large warship, another colossal vessel—longer and wider than the steel warships—
Emerging from the sea.
At that moment, not only Kuzan but even Tsuru was stunned.
Because this "Danaan"—he really had no idea what it was.
The next moment,
The hatch on Danaan's back opened.
A man appeared before everyone, cloaked in a Jun Lin coat and wearing a mask...