Happo Navy Annex Building.
Hundreds of exquisite dishes were arranged on the massive round table. Chin Jao sat at the head seat, his expression dark as he watched Griffin at the opposite end devouring plate after plate of food.
Clink, clink—
Chin Jao tapped his bowl with chopsticks and said bluntly, "Commodore Griffin, you were also born in Kano Country. Don't you know that guests shouldn't start eating before the host has touched their chopsticks?"
"Such vulgar table manners... you'll bring shame to our Kano Country in the Marines!"
...
Griffin stopped eating, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and smiled faintly.
Thud, thud, thud—
These were the sounds of serving girls dropping their trays.
"Even if I ignored all damn etiquette and jumped on the table to eat, they'd only praise me for my hearty appetite."
"Someone with a pointy head like you wouldn't understand."
...
...
"Was it necessary... to be so harsh..."
Chin Jao looked like he was about to cry, as if everyone on these seas was highly emotional.
Griffin often felt out of place among them due to his own normalcy.
Wiping his tears, Chin Jao took a deep breath: "Commodore Grif... since we've become acquainted through our fight, may I call you Griffin?"
"Suit yourself."
Chin Jao carefully chose his words: "Griffin... as fellow countrymen, about the treasure—"
"No!"
Griffin stared coldly at Chin Jao: "Don't bring this up again. The only reason I'm leaving you twenty percent is because you have a decent key to the treasure vault."
"By pirate rules, I could rightfully take everything."
"Haven't you learned anything after all these years, Chin Jao?"
Bang—
With his gaze, a precise burst of Conqueror's Haki pushed Chin Jao half a meter back!
"Boss Chin Jao!"
"Don't do anything rash! Marine, this is our Happo Navy headquarters... our new headquarters!"
"Everything can be negotiated! Don't fight! Please don't fight!!" Huo Qiushan quickly stood up to mediate.
First, he smiled apologetically at Griffin: "Commodore Griffin, we don't mean to break our agreement. Leader Chin Jao just wanted to ask when we'll transfer the treasure."
Then he turned to Chin Jao, subtly shaking his head: "Commodore Griffin is exceptionally righteous, a true hero of his generation. What fortune to befriend such excellence with mere treasure."
"Moreover, he's the benefactor who helped restore you. Would we become untrustworthy villains?"
...
Chin Jao didn't really hear Huo Qiushan's words, his mind still reeling from the shock.
Outsiders might think Griffin had used some ability to push him, but only Chin Jao himself knew the truth.
That was targeted Conqueror's Haki impact!!
A level beyond ordinary Conqueror's Haki release!!
Truly...
The younger generation inspires awe!
...
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Chin Jao lowered his gaze and said solemnly: "You're right. That's what you deserve. I have no objections."
"I invited you here today to discuss the matter of the Seven Warlords of the Sea."
"I agree to take the position of one of the Seven Warlords!"
...
Griffin nodded, lightly tapping the table with his finger: "Good... I recommended you to headquarters. They promised to give you priority consideration."
"Regarding the authority and responsibilities of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, you should be aware."
...
"I've looked into it."
Huo Qiushan took on the role of explanation: "As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, one must rely on their own reputation and strength to combat ordinary pirates, reducing the number of pirates in the Grand Line."
"Aside from mandatory conscription by the World Government and paying a certain portion of income, they are free to act as they please and enjoy the right to legally plunder non-affiliated nations."
...
"As long as Chin Jao obtains the position of a Seven Warlord, our Happo Navy will allocate half its personnel to follow him to the Grand Line and garrison an area as required by the World Government."
Judging by the situation, Chin Jao had delegated the negotiation work to Huo Qiushan.
In the Happo Navy, does he serve as a strategic commander of sorts...
...
Griffin turned to Huo Qiushan and said calmly, "Headquarters intends to station one of the Seven Warlords at Sabaody Archipelago. You'll likely be sent there."
Huo Qiushan's eyes lit up, his long eyebrows twitching rhythmically: "Sabaody... That's perfect!Sabaody is the must-visit place for pirates from the four seas heading to the New World. Those pirates with ambitions of dominance must have accumulated considerable wealth!
This is a cushy, lucrative post, though not without its dangers.
The pirates who manage to land on Sabaody Archipelago are far from the small fry of the four seas—there might even be some monstrous rookies emerging.
But no matter how monstrous these rookies are, they couldn't possibly compare to Uchiha Griffin. Huo Qiushan believed Chin Jao could handle them.
Before Garp flattened his Drill Head, Chin Jao was a silver medal contender competing with the great pirates of the New World for the title of Pirate Emperor!
...
At sixty-five years old and having sailed the seas for many years, Huo Qiushan naturally knew that there's no such thing as a free lunch.
He extended two fingers.
"There are various matters in between that will require Commodore Griffin's attention."
"I know the Seven Warlords must hand over ten percent of their earnings to the World Government. If Chin Jao becomes the Seven Warlord stationed at Sabaody, we're willing to contribute twenty percent!"
"Ten percent to the World Government, ten percent to you. This represents the cost of establishing friendly cooperation. What do you think?"
...
...
"Sounds like... you're being quite sincere." Griffin's lips curved slightly into a friendly smile.
"You understand perfectly."
Chin Jao showed a helpless expression, pursing his lips: "How can this be? Giving to that damned World Government is one thing, but having to give ten percent to you, kid?!"
"If it weren't for Dashan saying this is the fastest way to rebuild our treasure hoard, I wouldn't want anything to do with this Seven Warlords business!"
On the seas, one's profession speaks volumes.
Take pirates, for example.
Among those who become pirates, a small minority are driven to sea to make a living after being crushed by taxes in their home countries.
An even smaller few set sail for adventure, unwilling to apply for World Government-certified adventurer status, preferring to sail freely.
The vast majority...
What gave rise to the Great Pirate Era?
Was it the yearning for freedom?
Dissatisfaction with political authority?
The desire to become stronger?
None of these!
It was for the Pirate King's treasure, for the one and only great treasure on the seas—
One Piece!!!
...
Over ninety-nine percent of pirates set sail for treasure, which is why Chin Jao cares so much about wealth.
This isn't about lacking the demeanor of a strong warrior—in this world, claiming to be a pirate who isn't greedy for money would be laughable.
...
Those relatively less interested in money tend to choose the Marines.
I don't deny that there are parasites and trash among the Marines, but over ninety percent of them... saying they joined to protect the weak would be too hypocritical. At the very least, they joined the Marines to protect civilians in affiliated countries.
Take Kuzan, a future Admiral in his own right—his entire possessions weren't even worth as much as a second-rate Pirate's. In the original timeline, when he left the Marines, he dressed like a homeless man.
...
——
"From the very beginning, you've misunderstood one thing."
"Are you all too foolish, or did I not make myself clear enough? Do you really think I have a good temper..."
Griffin lightly waved his finger.
"Thinking you're making a compelling argument... but why should I even reason with you?"
Dark tomoe swirled within crimson pupils.
Griffin pushed himself up from the table, hands gripping the edge, poised like a beast ready to pounce.
"The position of Seven Warlords of the Sea is something I'm granting you. Without me, you'd gain nothing."
...
"There is no cooperation."
"All you need to do is submit!"
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