"..."
In the brightly lit office, Wang Zhi interlaced his fingers, his right index finger gently tapping the back of his hand, seemingly deep in thought.
The CP0 agent, dressed in white, wasn't in a rush and waited quietly.
After a long time, Wang Zhi finally frowned and spoke with great hesitation, "This matter is too critical. I can't make an immediate decision. I need more time to consider it."
"Of course, that is your right, Mr. Wang Zhi," the CP0 agent smiled and nodded slightly. "May I stay on Hachinosu Island temporarily? So I can communicate with you anytime."
"Do as you please."
Wang Zhi was indifferent.
Hachinosu Island had never barred pirates of any kind, and that was still true today.
The island was probably already as thoroughly infiltrated by the World Government as a sieve, so one more CP0 staying here wouldn't matter much.
"I am truly grateful for that."
The CP0 agent offered sincere thanks, then added, "Please believe us, Mr. Wang Zhi, we are truly sincere."
"The era is spiraling out of control. Roger's last words have unleashed countless ambitious people onto the seas. The Government needs more strength, so you don't need to worry about us abandoning you once the bridge is crossed."
"Enough. Get out, stop rambling!"
Wang Zhi grew impatient, waving his right hand as if swatting a fly. "I told you, let me think about it!"
"Then I shall take my leave. I hope our cooperation proceeds smoothly."
The CP0 agent bowed politely to Wang Zhi before calmly departing.
Only after his Observation Haki confirmed that the agent's presence had completely vanished did a look of scorn appear on Wang Zhi's face.
"Do they think I'm an idiot to be fooled?"
However, the scorn was followed by an inevitably grave expression.
He didn't hesitate for long, immediately pulling out a Transponder Snail. Such an important matter required discussion with his good brothers.
Soon, the three-person clique—formed without the knowledge of their larger crews—began their conversation.
Wang Zhi recounted the entire conversation he had with the CP0 agent to his two close friends.
"It seems the World Government genuinely can't deal with Roa and his crew," Captain John's voice on the Snail still carried a hint of drunkenness. "Heh, they're even trying to drag us into it."
"What's there to hesitate about? Do we even need to discuss what kind of people the World Government are?" Silver Axe snorted bluntly. "They talk about acknowledging our rule over the New World. If they don't acknowledge it, will my territory simply vanish into thin air?"
"It is indeed a move to get something for nothing."
Captain John laughed. "If they successfully deal with Roa, it will be hard for us to threaten them again. If the operation fails, we'll get into a conflict with Roa, and the World Government can sit back and watch. Honestly, they seem to think we're fools."
But at this point, Captain John's tone shifted. "However, since you initiated this call, it means you're hesitating, right? Wang Zhi, you know the World Government has ill intentions, yet you're still undecided."
"That's right."
Wang Zhi slowly exhaled. "The World Government certainly can't be trusted."
"But, if nothing unexpected happens, Shiki's Flying Pirate Group will soon recover its strength. And Roa, that brat, goes without saying. His forces have always been the strongest among all of us, not to mention his own strength might have already caught up to Shiki's!"
"It's embarrassing to say, but being squeezed between those two, I feel very uneasy."
Wang Zhi clenched his fist. "Because I know I absolutely refuse to bow to either of them! So, war will eventually come! But I can't see any possibility of victory for myself."
"You two feel the same way, don't you?"
Silver Axe and Captain John fell silent on the line.
This world was truly cruel.
There were abysses between people that could not be crossed, no matter what.
Leaving Shiki aside, one thing all three clearly understood was that the gap between them and Roa would only widen.
That kid was a truly unprecedented monster.
But should they submit to him just because he was strong?
What a joke!
Why should their ambitions be curtailed for him?
A true pirate, even when faced with a terrifyingly strong enemy, only thinks about how to defeat them, not about surrendering!
"Moreover," Wang Zhi continued, "the Government knows about us plotting against Shiki. If they leak that information to him, war will break out instantly."
Captain John interjected, "Don't forget Linlin (Big Mom). She's been resentful about failing to capture Roger that time. If she finds out we sabotaged things, she won't let it go either."
"So what should we do now?"
Silver Axe's tone became extremely distressed. "Helping the World Government won't do us any good, but if we refuse, Shiki and Linlin will turn against us. Even if they don't kill us, the threat from Roa will eventually arrive!"
"That's what's giving me a headache." Wang Zhi sighed. "No matter what I choose, it feels wrong."
"If that's the case, let's wait and see," Captain John suggested. "Let's pretend to cooperate with the World Government to see what they're truly planning, and then decide what we should do."
"How about we look for a chance? A chance to make the World Government and Roa tear each other apart."
"Hahahaha! That sounds great!" Silver Axe roared with laughter. "If Roa and the World Government are both severely damaged, we'll have nothing to fear!"
"That," Wang Zhi slowly exhaled, "won't be easy."
As the weaker party, plotting against two stronger parties simultaneously was by no means simple.
But for now, this was all they could do.
Thus, soon after, in Pangea Castle in Mary Geoise.
"So, Wang Zhi's answer is," Saint Marcus Mars twitched his mouth, looking at the CP0 agent reporting the news, "He'll cooperate, but he won't follow our directives and will only strike at a time he deems appropriate?"
"That is correct," the grey-haired CP0 agent nodded respectfully.
"Tsk, still harboring petty schemes?" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sneered dismissively.
"It would be strange if he didn't have his own plans," Saint Saturn (the scarred Elder) said. "If they agreed immediately, we should be suspicious of their true motives."
"They're wary of the Government, and they're afraid of Roa. They can only try to survive in the cracks." Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said indifferently. "Such is the sadness of the weak. They are probably dreaming of a scenario where we and Roa are severely weakened, allowing them to profit."
"But regardless, the plan should be considered a success." Saint Topman Warcury spoke slowly. "As long as we give them the right opportunity, they will definitely make their move."
"It must be a very suitable opportunity," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said. "One that makes them believe that both we and Roa will be crippled."
"That's the case with Wang Zhi's group, but what about the others?" Nusjuro asked the CP0 agent, "What is the situation with the Whitebeard Pirates and the Giant Kingdom?"
"As for those two..." the CP0 agent replied, "We haven't located the Whitebeard Pirates yet, so there is no news. As for Elbaf, since it's in Roa's territory, our people had to be very careful, but they should have reached Elbaf by now. News should be coming back soon."
"Good," Nusjuro nodded. "We must not have any failures with the Giant Kingdom!"
Wang Zhi's group was important, and the Whitebeard Pirates were a major enemy of Roa, but compared to the two, Elbaf was the true key!
The monster-level Harald and the Giant Army he commanded were the power that Imu-sama truly craved!
A little while later, at Olso Castle in the Giant Kingdom of Elbaf.
"You say," the bald King Harald looked at the small man before him in surprise.
"You are an envoy from the World Government?"
The man was utterly ordinary in every respect, dressed like a merchant with a kindly smile on his face.
"That's right, King Harald. I have come bearing the Government's goodwill!" the man said with a smile. "The Five Elders sent me to invite Elbaf to join the World Government! They invite you to attend next year's Reverie (World Council)."
"What?"
Harald was astonished, instantly rising from his throne. "Are you serious?"
What he had always longed for was for Elbaf to truly integrate into the world, for Giants to no longer be terrifying legends, and for his nation to coexist peacefully with human society!
Joining the World Government was the shortcut to this dream!
"Of course, it's true," the man said, still smiling. "But naturally, the Government has one small condition."
"A condition?" Harald frowned. "What condition?"
"The Five Elders hope you can help the Government eliminate the Calamity Company," the man stated.
"The Calamity Company? You mean Roa?" Harald's frown deepened instantly.
"We are, of course, aware that the Calamity Company and the Giant Kingdom have a cooperative relationship, and that your own son is one of Roa's high-ranking officers," the man said. "However, I don't need to elaborate on what kind of lunatic Roa is. You, being in the thick of it, know better than I what he has done to this sea over the past year."
"All the nations in this region are suffering because of him. Can you, King Harald, a lover of peace, bear to simply watch?"
"Everyone knows that Roa's disappearance from this world is for the best."
"This..." Harald hesitated.
He naturally harbored no goodwill toward Roa.
The cooperation established with the Calamity Company was, in hindsight, largely useless.
Roa did connect Elbaf with many nations in the New World.
But every nation in this sea, except for Elbaf, had fallen into despair.
This included nations that had previously helped the Giant Kingdom during the Great Famine.
Harald had tried his best to repay them, but it was impossible, as Elbaf was also poor.
The greatest aid was sending Giant warriors to help defend their homes.
Yet, Harald still couldn't stop the Calamity Company from collecting its taxes.
And the other nations in the New World, outside this region, were naturally hostile toward Elbaf because of the Giant Army under the Calamity Company's command.
Even with the connections, the final result was merely a polite greeting.
Nothing more.
But, to join the World Government to take down Roa—
"I need to think this over carefully," Harald ultimately replied.
Both eliminating Roa and joining the World Government would be beneficial for Elbaf, or at least that's what Harald believed.
However, Loki was still under Roa's command, along with three hundred Giant warriors.
He absolutely couldn't act rashly. How would he ensure their safety?
Besides, truthfully, Roa had no deep animosity toward Elbaf...
It was perplexing.
That crazy man really hadn't done anything unforgivable to Elbaf.
While Harald intensely disliked Roa's style of conduct and felt that Roa's absence would be good for Elbaf, one thing was one thing: they had no feud, and that was that.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade the King further, the man could only advise Harald to consider it carefully before taking his leave.
News quickly reached Mary Geoise, and the Five Elders were slightly apprehensive about the situation.
Harald had no objection to joining the World Government, which seemed like half the battle won.
But whether the remaining half would succeed was something they couldn't be sure of right now.
After all, they didn't fully understand the true relationship between Harald and Roa.
Later, in Calamity City.
"Oh! So that's what's happening?"
Roa was leisurely enjoying a massage from a few Cat-Girl maids, speaking with surprise. "So what were the answers from my dear Uncle Whitebeard, Uncle Wang Zhi, and my good friend Harald?"
"I'm not exactly sure," came Stussy's charming voice over the Transponder Snail. "It was already difficult enough to get this information. I have to thank my colleagues for stopping by my territory for a rest."
"Is that so?"
Roa nodded, then grumbled irritably, "The World Government is so petty! I just beat up the Five Elders a little! Now they're going around trying to turn all my allies against me! How despicable!"
"It's only because you're so amazing, Big Brother Roa, that the Government has to resort to such measures. But, when did the Whitebeard Pirates become your allies?" Stussy asked with a hint of amusement in her voice.
"We are both enemies of the World Government. The enemy of my enemy is naturally my ally," Roa stated matter-of-factly.
"Regardless, Big Brother Roa, you must be extremely careful this time," Stussy warned him. "The World Government is really playing hardball this time."
"Playing hardball?"
Roa smirked. "Then I'll play along."
They want to play a game of espionage with me?
Then they shouldn't blame me for being ruthless.
"Have fun, Big Brother Roa," Stussy wished him before hanging up.
Just as Roa was pondering how to give the World Government a surprise, the Transponder Snail rang again.
"So many people looking for me today?" Roa wondered, answering the call.
All Calamity Company affairs were managed by dedicated personnel. Generally, very few calls should reach him personally.
Which hero is it this time?
"Boss," came Morgans's urgent voice on the line. "Dragon and his group have started their move!"
"Oh? Is that so?"
Roa was pleasantly surprised. "So fast? I thought they'd need more time to consolidate. Which nation is it? A World Government member or non-member nation?"
Is the North Blue finally about to get more lively?
What a pleasant surprise!
"Uh... it's Whole Cake Island..."
"Huh?"
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