Wright found himself utterly perplexed.
No matter how deeply he investigated, be it through Marine Headquarters, Morgans, or even Tesoro, he couldn't uncover the underlying reason behind Shanks' sudden surge in power before becoming one of the Emperors of the Sea.
It was as if Shanks had deliberately kept his forces concealed, only to reveal them once the "Seven Warlords of the Sea" system was established—perfectly timed to maintain the balance.
How did he manage this?
Did he gain the allegiance of a major faction in a short period, directly placing them under his command?
There was no doubt that Shanks' actions were aimed at preserving "balance."
But he wouldn't have done this for the World Government's notion of balance—it was entirely contrary to his principles.
The World Government, in response to the advent of the Great Pirate Era, had initiated the Seven Warlords of the Sea system and bolstered Marine Headquarters' strength, barely managing to maintain stability.
Thanks to Sengoku's dedicated leadership, the Marines had grown significantly stronger. Yet even so, only two Marine branches existed in the New World, leaving the region largely under pirate control.
The full roster of the Seven Warlords marked a pivotal signal: the World Government intended to suppress the pirates of the New World.
Maintaining the status quo of the "Three Emperors" would allow the World Government to further expand its influence into the New World. However, Shanks' rise as the "Fourth Emperor" forced them to abandon any rash moves and focus on stability—after all, the combined might of the Four Emperors could even threaten the "Paradise" section of the Grand Line.
"So, what is Shanks' real goal?"
"He's chosen Luffy to become the future Pirate King… and his decision to rise as an Emperor at this point feels like…"
"Stalling for time!"
"He wants to stabilize the Great Pirate Era but in a way that emphasizes deterrence, avoiding large-scale conflicts whenever possible."
"Shanks knows about Roger and Oden's prophecy regarding events twenty years in the future. If he doesn't step forward now, the Great Pirate Era might enter its decline within two years."
"Roger's legend of the 'One Piece' inspired countless individuals to take to the seas as pirates, but dreams can be crushed by reality."
"After years of Marine suppression, how many of the current pirates are truly chasing their dreams? Most are probably vying for power."
"He wants to maintain the golden age of piracy until the next Pirate King emerges!"
Wright massaged his temples. Shanks' mysterious nature had always been baffling. Even in his previous life's storyline, Shanks' origins and true goals remained obscure.
Though Wright could now guess at Shanks' motives, the finer details were still elusive.
Looks like it's time for a face-to-face meeting… It's been over a decade since we last met. They must've forgotten the terror of my drunken rampages!
Exhaling deeply, Wright stepped out of his office. He decided to personally oversee Kuina and Tashigi's swordsmanship training.
Since the arrival of the two twin-like girls at G-5 Branch, the base had become lively.
Just look at G-5 Branch—once a forsaken outpost shunned by all!
Vice Admiral Wright treats his subordinates exceptionally well. While Major Ain is currently on a mission, two new beautiful young swordswomen have joined the base!
One of them is even Vice Admiral Wright's junior disciple…
But the best perk of all? Wright doesn't restrict ordinary Marines from watching when he instructs the two girls in swordsmanship.
With the base's elite instructor often away on missions, having a Great Swordsman like Wright provide training is a privilege unmatched even at Marine Headquarters!
Unsurprisingly, G-5 Branch had grown increasingly unified, its overall strength rising steadily alongside its loyalty to Wright and the base itself.
Meanwhile, in the New World, Wano Country, Flower Capital.
"Rosijiro, leaving this task to you is far more reliable than doing it myself."
In the largest teahouse of the Flower Capital, the yakuza boss "Kyoshiro the Sleeping" appeared much more lucid than in past years. His habit of constant drowsiness seemed to have significantly improved.
Currently, Kyoshiro was sharing a bottle of sake with one of his most trusted subordinates of the past two years, Rosijiro.
"Boss Kyoshiro flatters me," Rosinante replied, draining his cup of sake in one gulp. "My 'sorcery' makes me well-suited for covert operations like this."
"Even so, 'Ushimitsu Kozo' is just one person. The wealth he steals is limited and barely enough to feed Ebisu Town…"
"Ushimitsu Kozo isn't about the money," Kyoshiro interrupted with a cold laugh. "His purpose is to remind everyone in the Flower Capital—be they Orochi's allies or our comrades—that resistance is alive!"
"I see… I understand now."
Rosinante continued, "With your assistance, I've already passed detailed intelligence to the Marines."
"The latest reports indicate that a new Emperor has risen, capable of rivaling Kaido. The seas are growing more chaotic by the day."
Shanks' ascension to Emperor was no secret, and Rosinante was well aware of his brother Doflamingo's status as a Warlord of the Sea.
For now, however, his priority remained the task at hand.
"This means your workload will only increase," Kyoshiro remarked seriously. "Wano has suffered under Kaido for over a decade. These sea emperors are no ordinary foes."
"The specifics remain unclear, but the current balance of power among the Four Emperors will maintain a semblance of stability in the New World."
Rosinante mused, "In that case, it's time to begin the systematic weakening of the Beasts Pirates."
"So, it's finally happening?"
A glint of cold light flashed in Kyoshiro's narrow eyes, barely suppressing the murderous intent threatening to surface.
"Our intelligence agents have already been deployed. Valuable information will soon start flowing in."
Rosinante nodded. "The biggest issue now lies with Lord Yasuie's side."
"Lord Yasuie has immense influence, capable of rallying the resistance forces. But his exposure would put him in grave danger."
"Exactly," Kyoshiro agreed. "We need to create distractions to divert Orochi's attention, giving Lord Yasuie room to maneuver."
"I've already devised a plan…"
Kyoshiro's sinister smile widened. "Call it poetic justice—Orochi, let the princess you covet so dearly light the first spark of your downfall!"
"The princess…"
Rosinante sighed deeply. "Take every precaution. I'll inform Lord Yasuie to prepare for action."
"Once Orochi's guard is down, Lord Yasuie can begin his covert preparations!"
"Meanwhile, Kaido is bound to make his own moves soon. If Wright's forces coordinate properly, we might deal a significant blow to him!"
"A significant blow…"
Kyoshiro's expression twisted with hatred. "Even the smallest loss—any loss—should not be overlooked!"
"Haha… Don't worry. Good news is coming soon!"
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