Silas had known the World Government would eventually target Wano Country. What he hadn't expected was that the storm would start somewhere else entirely.
"Eleven allied nation kings have jointly signed, hoping to withdraw from the World Government and receive our protection. As compensation, they're willing to pay annual taxes equivalent to half their Heavenly Tribute as protection fees."
Even Silas was stunned by such a proposal. After all, for any World Government member nation, the annual Heavenly Tribute was no small sum. Even halved, it was a massive amount starting at 500 million Berry minimum.
The combined Heavenly Tribute from just two nations was worth more than his bounty! Let alone eleven member nations paying annually and on time, as long as Silas could protect them from the World Government.
Why these eleven nations would do this wasn't hard to understand. They simply couldn't afford the Heavenly Tribute. 500 million Berry was a fortune for the developing White Wolf Pirates, and likewise for any member nation.
In this world, a nation with ten million population could be called a great nation. Nations with populations in the millions were considered medium-sized. Under a million were small nations.
Sphinx was a typical small nation, but when joining the World Government, the agreed Heavenly Tribute was 10 billion Berry annually. Silas naturally wouldn't pay that money. So before the deadline, he'd already turned against the World Government.
But previously when Sphinx did fencing business, annual income didn't reach 10 billion Berry, let alone other small nations. So many countries would substitute local specialties for Heavenly Tribute, including but not limited to animals, plants, beautiful women, and strong laborers.
It wouldn't kill them immediately. But for small nations, it was a slow death.
"What do you all think?" Given the gravity, Silas temporarily assembled all members training in Wano, wanting their opinions.
Silas wanted to encourage his crew to think for themselves. Though he could dictate unilaterally, now that Ripley and others had grown stronger, Silas naturally would consider their opinions more, getting everyone's input.
"Of course we should accept!" Ripley said without hesitation. "This is billions of Berry in business!"
"Too troublesome. If Marines send massive forces to besiege these nations, wouldn't we have to put out fires everywhere?" Newgate held opposing views. Though not fearing the World Government, warring with them over money wasn't wise. Too risky.
"What about you all?" Silas looked toward new crew members like Shiki. "Don't underestimate yourselves. After half a year's hard training, your current strength isn't some fledgling pirate crew anymore. Even in the New World, you could stand independently."
Often, whether one mastered Haki was the sole standard for measuring strength. Shiki and Zephyr had mastered Haki. Tsuru was close too. For their ages, reaching this level was impressive. After all, not everyone trained from childhood. For newcomers like them, building foundations actually occupied most of their growth time.
"Of course we should accept." Shiki grinned. "If we don't even accept those actively seeking us, what's White Wolf Pirates' purpose?"
"Shiki!"
"Haha, it's fine, Newgate. Shiki's not wrong. Of course, your words also make sense." Because they thought from different angles.
Newgate cared more about crew safety. With his current strength, even facing Admiral-level fighters, he could at least maneuver if not win. But Shiki and others couldn't. Having just learned Haki, they were nowhere near Newgate's level, who had mastered advanced Haki, let alone before true powerhouses. Even mastering both advanced Haki techniques might not suffice.
"Why do those nations want to leave the World Government?" Zephyr said weakly.
In the crew, Zephyr's presence was never strong, but weak presence didn't mean he wasn't working hard. On the contrary, he was always White Wolf Pirates most diligent member, a stark contrast to Linlin.
However, besides being White Wolf Pirates trainee, he had another identity: Marine spy! Though Silas's consecutive operations had left him out of Marine contact for over a year, his heart still leaned toward Marines and the World Government. Because White Wolf Pirates were pirates, while the World Government and Marines represented justice.
So he couldn't understand why member nations would rather join a pirate crew than remain in the World Government. Moreover, from Silas's tone, these nations actively sought them out.
"Probably related to those departed slaves." Tsuru said flatly.
Initially White Wolf Pirates had rescued 50,000 slaves from Sabaody Archipelago and Mariejois, but not all 50,000 stayed with White Wolf Pirates. Many chose to leave. By the time they left Sphinx, many slaves should have saved enough money to depart, returning to their own nations.
Moreover, 50,000 slaves were only what White Wolf Pirates saved. Numerous other slaves chose independent escape. Though many were recaptured, many successfully escaped.
If White Wolf Pirates were vicious pirates, those nations, even unable to pay Heavenly Tribute, wouldn't seek their protection. But White Wolf Pirates had good reputation. Tsuru knew this from other slaves while training in the guard army.
Most crucially, among slaves saved by White Wolf Pirates were several missing Allied Nation princesses and queens. This was a world-class scandal. Why would allied nation princesses and queens become Celestial Dragon slaves after disappearing?
When no one stood up previously, they could only endure. Now someone could shake the World Government, and past fury became the last straw.
This was why Tsuru felt confused. The more she communicated with slaves, the more disappointed she became with World Government and Marine corruption. Yet she'd think of her homeland's Marine soldiers fighting pirates to protect civilians. They still fulfilled their duties with all their might.
Could White Wolf Pirates do better? What Marines couldn't accomplish, how could a pirate crew do it?
"Tsuru, what do you think?"
Though Silas seemed to be soliciting opinions, Tsuru felt he'd already decided from the start. As Shiki said, why refuse those actively seeking you? Refusing would suggest White Wolf Pirates feared the World Government.
Even considering these eleven nations, might the World Government have planted spies? Knowing it was inevitable, it was better to go with the flow.
"If we accept these nations' allegiance, we must consider World Government retaliation—not as a possibility, but as a certainty." Tsuru still wanted to see how far Silas could go. "These eleven member nations should all be located in the Grand Line's second half."
"Correct." Silas looked at Tsuru approvingly. "With our current strength, we can't cross the Red Line to accept other nations' allegiance. But if it's the Grand Line's second half, supporting any nation isn't difficult."
Tsuru didn't know Silas planned not just to connect Fish-Man Island to Elbaf's sea route. He also planned on recruiting massive numbers of soldiers from both locations.
If successfully receiving these eleven World Government member nations, their funds could help Silas establish Rona-led new Marines. And Silas planned on utilizing Fish-Man Street's unemployed vagrants.
Fishmen's average physique was ten times that of humans, meaning any fishman, with slight training, was a natural soldier! With thousands of fishman soldiers, that equaled thousands of sea cavalry. At fishmen's underwater speed, they could ignore weather, supporting any New World battlefield in a short time.
Battle victory depended on top-tier fighters, but how many Admiral-level top fighters existed worldwide? When top fighters were all occupied, elite soldiers gained value! At least Silas wasn't so extravagant that every nation under his protection could station a top fighter. Ultimately, he could only choose this world's Marine patrol model.
"Moreover, we're pirates! A group of madmen with heads on our belts, pursuing our dreams! Mere World Government..." Silas looked at Newgate. "Are you afraid?"
"I'm not afraid!" Newgate's face reddened as he shouted.
He just worried about others' safety, not wanting to provoke the World Government. But if everyone agreed, he naturally wouldn't oppose. Ultimately, which Conqueror's Haki awakener wasn't a madman? Newgate just habitually suppressed himself. That didn't mean he'd cower!
"Haha, exactly! Being overly cautious won't make us stronger. We just need to accept challenges and overcome difficulties."
Those member nations willing to risk World Government retaliation to contact him meant they were prepared. With their wealth and status, they weren't afraid. Why should they act like cowards?
Besides, both Ripley and Tsuru supported the idea. As for Stussy and Toki—one wasn't interested in discussing politics, while the other would support whatever Silas decided. In truth, both agreed with accepting the nations.
Stussy's reasoning was simple: the larger Silas's territory grew, the better her position would be. As a doctor, she wasn't expected to fight on the front lines anyway. If trouble came, the stronger crew members would handle it.
Toki believed this was exactly what Silas should do—standing up for the oppressed, just as he always had.
"In that case, let's test your half-year training results."
Next day, Silas announced his departure plans. Hearing this, Kozuki Sukiyaki cried tears of joy, thinking these pirates were finally leaving.
Though called pirates, aside from beating Wano's samurai once when they first arrived, White Wolf Pirates hadn't caused any harm to the country. It was as if they'd truly only come for training, and opening Wano's borders was just an afterthought. If they could accomplish it, great. If not, no big deal.
It was precisely Silas's indifferent attitude that bothered Sukiyaki. He felt like a beautiful person who'd grown used to rejecting suitors—until a wealthy, attractive stranger politely asked to be friends. When he hesitated for just a moment, the stranger simply left. Suddenly, he felt slighted. Why hadn't this person pursued him more persistently, like all the others?
Silas truly didn't have that leisure. Outside, over a dozen allied nations rushed to give him money. Why exhaust himself helping Wano open borders? Proper business couldn't compare to protection fees!
Sukiyaki neither knew nor understood how dramatically the outside world was changing. Wano's slight hesitation lost their chance to choose sides.
The Holy Land of Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
Since Silas invaded Mariejois two years ago, the Holy Land had become much bleaker. Half the slaves had disappeared, and many Celestial Dragons felt their lives had lost their spark.
"The situation—you all already know." A cold voice came from the Empty Throne. The Five Elders, symbolizing the world's highest power, knelt on one knee before the figure.
"Yes, we understand the situation."
"If they were simply unable to pay the Heavenly Tribute, we could understand. But joining forces with that thief? This is outright betrayal!"
"Traitors deserve no mercy!"
"Should we deploy a Buster Call?"
"No, that would be too conspicuous."
"Then mobilize the Seven Warlords? They're assembled. Let the pirates exterminate these rebel nations—it would be perfect as their initiation tribute."
"What about White Wolf Silas?"
"His whereabouts are unknown. We only know one crew member appeared at Magra Kingdom. Glyndwr is attempting to capture him."
"If we catch him, perhaps we can draw out the rest of the White Wolf Pirates."
The Five Elders spoke one after another, showing little concern about the situation. Silas had only managed to invade Mariejois because they'd been careless. Moreover, during the World Conference, the five of them couldn't act immediately—especially with this lord present!
"I will dispatch the Holy Knights to assist. We cannot allow our allied nation count to decrease further!"
"Yes, my lord!"
The Five Elders couldn't see the dark fury flashing in Imu's eyes.
"White Wolf Silas..."