Ren listened quietly, feeling the true emotions in their hearts through his connection ability.
In his perception, neither Sengoku nor Tsuru harbored the petty thoughts he had imagined; every word was filled with sincerity.
"So, your point is that we should make appropriate preparations in advance..."
Sengoku said solemnly, "With us here right now, we can guarantee basic peace. But in the future, Great King, you will surely transfer us to the Soul Society, the Ninja World, or other worlds..."
"Once we leave, the power balance in the Yellow Springs City will be lost, and riots will inevitably occur."
"Therefore, I have two proposals that I hope you will consider, Great King."
Ren waved his hand. "Speak."
Sengoku said, "First, before we are transferred, you must keep Whitebeard by your side. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to guard a territory alone."
"His power is too terrifying, and his charisma is vast. If anyone harbors ill intent, he would become the most prominent figurehead for them."
Ren nodded slightly; he already had similar thoughts, and Sengoku's words aligned perfectly with his own.
Assigning Whitebeard to guard this place was a desperate move at the time—with only a few subordinates, who else could he use but Whitebeard?
Now, as time passed, his manpower was gradually increasing, providing enough talent to replace him.
"And the second?"
Sengoku looked at Tsuru. Tsuru put down her teacup and spoke, "The second point is that we must organize a proper bureaucratic management system. We can no longer appoint people haphazardly as we do now, and we must eliminate those hidden dangers."
"Your pace will not stop, Great King. In the future, the number of worlds you rule will only increase, making a standardized system essential."
"Not only do we need reconnaissance units and main armies to conquer worlds, but also generals to guard territories, officials to govern regions, and a matching inspection system to ensure no chaos arises."
"To say something you might not like to hear, Great King: a single person's strength has its limits. Relying solely on your own power to monitor your subordinates will not yield the best results."
Ren walked to the table and sat down, putting aside his empty teacup as Tsuru refilled it.
Looking at the two before him, Ren nodded inwardly.
In his heart, he had been brewing such ideas, but due to the limitations of the knowledge in his mind, he could not easily formulate them.
In his previous life, he was just an ordinary person; aside from the powerful strength of his awakened Zanpakuto, he was no different from anyone else.
Now that Sengoku and Tsuru had broken the ice, he stopped hiding it and asked tentatively, "What ideas do you have?"
Sengoku tensed up, knowing that now was the main event.
He lowered his voice and asked, "How about the operating logic of the World Government's system?"
"The World Government?" Ren looked skeptical.
"Indeed."
Sengoku nodded heavily. Beside him, Tsuru asked softly, "Surely you don't want the political model of the Soul Society, or the Ninja Village system where military and financial powers are separated?"
"Of course not."
Ren shook his head; he had no desire to become a torso-like existence like the Soul King.
What he was doing was intended to make himself a superior being, not to suffer a miserable fate like the Soul King, whose life and death were uncertain.
Nor did he want to establish a twisted polity like the one in the Ninja World.
Hashirama Senju didn't know better back then, but Ren did.
However, the World Government's existence also seemed full of flaws to him.
"I loathe those Celestial Dragons who are like stupid pigs, and those nobles who know nothing of suffering..."
Hearing Ren's words, a flash of understanding crossed Sengoku's eyes, and he inadvertently glanced at the city of Yellow Springs outside the window.
No wonder not a single World Noble could be seen in the entire city. Even the powerhouses among the Celestial Dragons—the Five Warrior Gods or the Holy Knights—were nowhere to be found.
It turned out they were hated by Ren, the master of the Hidden World. This made perfect sense.
Just as Sengoku was about to speak, Ren's next sentence followed, disrupting the words he had been preparing.
"Unless I am the Celestial Dragon!"
Hearing this, Sengoku was stunned.
'Great King, your thoughts... are a bit too real!'
Swallowing the words he had been about to say, Sengoku snapped back. Instead of being angry, he was overjoyed.
Quickly weaving his next words, Sengoku felt more confident about persuading Ren.
"Then abolish all noble titles! Keep the official positions, and let the system have only the Great King standing above all living beings!"
At this point, an unprecedented light suddenly burst from Sengoku's eyes.
"Yes, abolish those nobles!"
"Think about it, Great King. From a ruling perspective, aside from the stain that is the Celestial Dragons, does the World Government have any other flaws?"
"None!"
"The World Government has existed for eight hundred years. The fact that taxes like the Heavenly Gold can be collected from the people shows that the government's administrative system has not collapsed! The CP organization still possesses sufficient reconnaissance and assassination capabilities, showing that the intelligence system has not rotted!"
"As for the largest force of violence—the Navy—it has maintained sufficient purity for eight hundred years and has not become anyone's personal force. Most Navy officers have their hearts brainwa... imbued with 'Justice,' maintaining sufficient combat power. It speaks for itself!"
'Sengoku, you were just about to say "brainwashed by justice," weren't you?'
Ren silently watched the passionate Sengoku, weighing his words.
The deeper he thought, the brighter Ren's eyes became, and he looked at Sengoku with some surprise.
Sengoku's words... made sense!
A word from him had awakened Ren!
Based on the meager knowledge in his head, searching through all regimes, he really couldn't find one as stable as the World Government!
Yes, stable!
The World Government had been running for eight hundred years. Regimes that could maintain rule for such a long time were not just few and far between—they were practically non-existent.
The Zhou Dynasty lasted eight hundred years, but the result was the rise of feudal lords and a struggle for hegemony, completely ignoring the Zhou royal family, let alone proper governance.
The Eastern Roman Empire existed for over a thousand years, but what was the result?
Never mind, just hang the Doge of Venice.
The Han Dynasty fell despite its strength, ultimately leading to the rise of domestic warlords. The Tang Dynasty was grand, but it resulted in regional military governors, rule by warriors, and the loss of morality, where even eating human flesh became a trend.
Even a dynasty as tough as the Ming only ran for less than three hundred years before its bureaucracy completely rotted away.
As for the Ninja Village system of the Ninja World and the noble system of the Soul Society, they were not even worth mentioning!
Looking deeper, the World Government was truly a brilliant anomaly.
For eight hundred years, there had been no struggle for hegemony among the member nations, no military rule, and the bureaucracy had not completely rotted.
If not for Luffy, the destined Pirate King, the World Government would have continued to exist.
One could only say it was indeed a world from a shonen manga.
Compared to reality, the corrupt regime of the World Government seemed like a collection of truth, goodness, and beauty; even its dark side was far better than reality.
At least it wouldn't be like a certain "beacon" country that specifically creates kill thresholds in human society, where a single accident can cause countless middle-class people to lose their lives.
Of course, Ren wouldn't rule out the influence of special powers, such as Devil Fruits or Haki!
Sengoku and Tsuru both saw the light in Ren's eyes and nodded slightly to each other.
Giving Ren time to think, Tsuru saw his expression gradually calm down and continued, "Furthermore, Great King, your power far exceeds that of ordinary people. In the future, it is not impossible for you to become an immortal deity like the Soul King!"
"Forget about becoming the Soul King!"
Hearing Tsuru's analogy, Ren waved his hands repeatedly. His previous excitement was instantly cooled as if doused with cold water.
"Ah, yes..."
Although Tsuru didn't know why Ren was so negative about the Soul King's existence, it didn't stop her from continuing her persuasion.
"Then you will surely be a long-lived deity!"
"Your position would be like that of the Celestial Dragons in the World Government. Normally, you'd have no needs, and administrative affairs would be left to your subordinates while you rule through inaction. If there is a need, you issue an order. With your ability and prestige, no one in the system would dare to disobey."
"Use those who are useful and dismiss those who are not, keeping this regime firmly in your hands."
Ren frowned and asked, "Administrative affairs go to my subordinates, so what about me? I don't have to do anything?"
"If you like those mundane tasks, you can certainly arrange them as you wish," Sengoku said.
Ren waved his hand. "Forget it. Honestly, I really don't like those complex administrative matters."
Compared to those mundane tasks, he'd rather be alone in his study reading, exercising, or practicing calligraphy.
Ever since he was chosen by the Shihoin family and taken in as a son-in-law, he had been like a wound-up clock, not daring to relax for a moment, drowning in the various chores of the Shihoin family.
He was busy all day, getting up before dawn and working like a dog. In the end, he was the one suffering while the head of the Shihoin family enjoyed the benefits!
If it weren't to realize his ambitions, only a fool would bother with all that.
To put it more shamelessly, he just wanted power and the status and glory it brought; he had no desire to fulfill the duties and responsibilities that came with it.
Just like the current head of the Shihoin family!
Sengoku looked at Ren and said solemnly, "As for what the Great King needs to do, there is only one thing!"
"Ensure your own strength is great—the stronger, the better—even to the point where you can counter all the violent means within the entire management system! The stronger you are, the more stable this system will be!"
"This world, after all, respects strength rather than reason!"
Hearing Sengoku's last sentence, Ren raised his eyebrows and looked at him with some surprise.
Feeling Ren's strange gaze, Sengoku couldn't help but touch his face and asked in confusion, "Why? Is there something wrong with what I said?"
"Nothing's wrong. It just doesn't feel like something someone like you would say."
Ren joked, "Earlier you said you were brainwashed by justice, and now you say strength is king. These words don't sound like a Navy Fleet Admiral; they sound more like a pirate like Kaido."
"Mmm—sigh..."
Sengoku's voice faltered. He swallowed his tea and sighed deeply.
"But isn't that what the world is like? I'm just stating a sad fact. The more I experience, the more I can appreciate the cruelty of the world."
"In the living world, whether it's the living or the dead, they don't listen to reason; they only listen to strength!"
"If the World Government didn't have enough power, the four seas wouldn't tolerate them!"
"If you didn't have enough power, Great King, we of the Navy, the pirates like Whitebeard, and even the Uchiha clan wouldn't be so obedient, would we?"
Ren nodded slightly. "Sengoku, you're right."
Seeing that the two had finished half their tea, Ren personally refilled their cups.
"Sengoku, Tsuru, I'm very interested in what you've said, but I still have one question."
Sengoku held his teacup, and after Ren filled it, he said solemnly, "Please speak, Great King."
He knew Ren had been moved by his words; this was the final test of the night.
After Ren filled Tsuru's cup, he put down the teapot and held his cup with both hands, staring straight at Sengoku.
"Why are you helping me so tirelessly? Or rather, what is your purpose?"
"If you were just my subordinates, you would only need to passively accept my orders, rather than showing such strong initiative tonight, working wholeheartedly to find and fix my flaws."
"I'm curious. Can you tell me?"
Sengoku drank the scalding tea in one gulp, set the cup heavily on the table, and a look of determination appeared in his eyes.
"To let Justice reign supreme!"
Ren smiled in his heart and said softly, "That's different from what you just said."
"Just consider me brainwashed by that 'Justice' too!"
Sengoku's face was solemn, and his tone was full of sincerity.
"To any entity, death is the end of everything."
"But now, a world after death truly exists, right before my eyes. To me, this is a second chance!"
"For the masses who could not find justice or salvation in life, it's the same—death is their second chance at salvation!"
"What couldn't be done in life, I will pursue once more in this world after death, to save more of the humiliated and unwilling, and to carry out my justice!"
By the end, Sengoku was almost roaring, his voice even cracking slightly.
That resolute gaze was enough to make anyone feel the depth of his will; their souls would be shaken.
Ren was naturally no exception.
"In that case, I will give you this chance."
"Go ahead. First, create a general plan for me to review. Don't work behind closed doors; talk to others as well."
Sengoku stood up abruptly and bowed deeply.
"I am beyond grateful!"
Tsuru, looking solemn, did the same.
Ren waved his hand with a satisfied expression.
"Good. I'll wait for your good news."
"As you command!"
Sengoku and Tsuru walked outside.
Ren watched their backs, his eyes flickering. He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.
It was a pity he had forgotten all those corporate jargon from his previous life; otherwise, he could have fooled Sengoku even more.
But seeing Sengoku's passionate state now, he had successfully tapped into his subordinates' initiative.
Only one thing bothered him—why did the political vision Sengoku painted for him seem so familiar?
"The World Government, the supreme ruler of the World Government, the ability to control the lives of his subordinates..."
Ren slapped his thigh as he suddenly realized.
'After all that, it turns out I'm the one who's Lord Imu?!'
'What's up with that?'
That night, because Ren had slept in during the day and drank too much tea at night, he suffered from insomnia.
Just as the two were leaving Ren, on the other side, Fugaku led the elites of the Uchiha clan in a state of high alert, waiting for the arrival of the past Hokage.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]