"But the Shichibukai system itself is, in the end, just a product of the World Government's expedient, stopgap measures. What those members have done out on the seas… for many small nations, the risk is still far too great!"
Cobra froze for a moment. He hadn't expected Ronan to challenge him so directly.
"Exactly, King Cobra. Your thinking is far too naïve!"
The king of Drum Kingdom echoed from the side, a hint of mockery on his face.
"What are the Shichibukai? Pirates! Pirates who've been 'recruited' and legitimized! You expect a pack of criminals used to burning, killing, and looting to sincerely protect our countries? Today they'll protect you for profit—tomorrow they'll swallow you whole for an even bigger profit!"
"Right!" The king of Ilusia Kingdom added. "And what does it cost to invite a Shichibukai to station themselves in your country? Money, resources—maybe even special privileges! That's no different from handing over part of your sovereignty! How do we guarantee they won't push further and further once they've got a foothold?"
"More importantly," a worried king from West Blue chimed in, "the Shichibukai system is controversial to begin with. They have legal privateering rights—meaning they can openly attack ships that aren't under the Government. And those ships could very well include the merchant vessels of us member nations! Inviting them… isn't that self-harm?"
Voices for and against immediately multiplied. Cobra tried to explain Alabasta's special circumstances and the details of cooperating with Crocodile, but it was clearly difficult to convince those kings who had remained skeptical from the start.
The argument in the hall escalated, and consensus became harder and harder to reach. Even Cobra, who had originally been presiding over the meeting, was forced into the debate and had no chance to keep the proceedings moving.
For a moment, the World Government staff in the hall didn't know what to do. Their eyes instinctively shifted toward Ronan for help.
Ronan noticed and shook his head, half at a loss for words. This was the World Government's own meeting, yet somehow he was the one expected to keep order.
Then—just as he was about to speak—Ronan paused, momentarily stunned, before quickly snapping back to himself.
He looked over the noisy hall and said evenly, as if stating an objective fact:
"King Cobra's worries, and everyone's concerns—I understand them. Pirates run rampant. Kingdoms lack military strength. Seeking outside power for self-preservation is a very realistic line of thinking."
"But King Cobra… have you ever considered whether the 'protector' you invited—Crocodile-san—truly wants protection fees… or Alabasta's peace?"
Cobra's expression shifted slightly. He seemed to weigh the meaning behind Ronan's words, but he still pushed back quickly:
"Crocodile-dono has indeed helped us resolve certain troubles!"
"There are many ways to 'resolve trouble,'" Ronan cut in. "Some methods seem to settle the immediate problem, but they plant a bigger disaster later—especially when that protector's strength and ambition far exceed what an ordinary kingdom can control."
Originally, Ronan hadn't intended to voice much of an opinion. But just now, that panel in his mind had triggered a new task. For the task points, he had no choice but to change course.
"I just so happen to have three… vivid examples of the relationship between the Shichibukai and kingdoms. Maybe they'll give everyone a different reference point."
Curiosity instantly hooked the entire room.
"Everyone here should know Dressrosa, yes?" Ronan asked.
A number of kings nodded.
"Then do you know… that just a few years ago, Dressrosa experienced a drastic upheaval that never became public?"
"The original royal family—the Riku line—was overthrown overnight and lost the throne."
"What?!" "King Riku was overthrown?!" "How?!" A wave of startled gasps rippled through the chamber.
Many kings wore shocked expressions—they had never heard of this.
The World Government had never reported it either. Dressrosa was a member nation. Something like this had happened, yet they—other member nations—had been completely kept in the dark.
After all, Doflamingo's status as a Tenryuubito, and the leverage he held over secrets the World Government didn't want exposed, made the Gorosei wary. They had effectively acquiesced to his coup.
Ronan continued, "And the one who replaced the Riku line as Dressrosa's new king was none other than one of the Shichibukai—'Ten'yasha,' Doflamingo!"
A shock seemed to slam through the room.
Every king present stared in disbelief. They didn't think Ronan would lie to them about something like this.
"A Shichibukai… became a king?!" "How is that possible? Why would the World Government allow it?!"
Horror and doubt were written across their faces. A Shichibukai seizing the throne of a member nation completely shattered their understanding.
"Inviting a Shichibukai to station themselves in your country?" Ronan shook his head. "For the vast majority of kingdoms, that isn't inviting in a guardian deity—it's inviting in a vicious wolf that might bite back at any moment. I don't know what forced King Riku off the throne… but having a Shichibukai seize a kingdom's crown should be a first."
Even though Ronan phrased it with uncertainty, everyone who heard it felt a chill creep up their spine.
"The Shichibukai system, at its core, is a compromise of interests—and mutual exploitation—between the World Government and powerful pirates. They have power. They have privileges. And they have ambitions that ordinary kingdoms can't restrain."
"Entrusting a nation's life and death to people like that… is no different than handing a lamb's fate to a hungry wolf."
Cobra's face darkened. His lips moved as if he wanted to refute it, but no words came.
Because deep down, hadn't he harbored similar suspicions toward Crocodile-san himself? He just hadn't wanted to think about it too hard.
The chamber fell into a long silence.
"Therefore," Ronan said, "I propose that the 'Shichibukai' system be abolished immediately. The organization should be dissolved, and every current Shichibukai should have all privileges and legal privateering licenses revoked."
The moment those words left his mouth, every king sucked in a sharp breath.
The hall dropped into a dead silence.
Abolish… the Shichibukai system?!
That was a major system established by the World Government and Marine Headquarters to balance the seas. Yes, those Shichibukai were lawless, monstrous pirates—but it was undeniable that their existence intimidated and restrained countless violent pirates, especially in the first half of the Grand Line!
"R-Ronan Heika…" Cobra recovered first and couldn't help speaking up. "Isn't this proposal too extreme? The Shichibukai system has flaws, but if we abolish it abruptly… the first half of the Grand Line will lose its check and balance. Won't that cause even greater chaos?"
Other kings also snapped out of their shock, whispering among themselves. Yet no one dared to openly oppose Ronan.
"Yeah! Without the Shichibukai, who's going to hold those great pirates back?"
"Rely on the Marines? Marine Headquarters' main forces are in the New World!"
"This is too risky! It's like pushing our countries into a pit of fire!"
"Ronan Heika, could you reconsider more carefully?"
Facing their resistance and doubts, Ronan's expression didn't change in the slightest. He waited until the noise diminished before speaking again.
"I understand your concerns. The Shichibukai system is, in essence, using pirates to restrain pirates—drinking poison to quench thirst. They're granted legal plunder rights. The harm they've caused to passing merchant ships, even coastal towns—surely you've all experienced it."
"Doesn't Doflamingo's control of Dressrosa ring an alarm bell for you?"
"As for security in the first half of the Grand Line after the Shichibukai are abolished…"
Ronan's gaze swept the room.
"Lulusia Kingdom will take full responsibility."
The hall, which had finally quieted, exploded again at that single sentence.
Lulusia Kingdom… will shoulder it alone?
The kings all wondered if they'd misheard. This would require an enormous fleet and staggering money, manpower, and resources to sustain.
They couldn't understand why Ronan would take on something so exhausting and thankless.
Compared to abolishing the Shichibukai itself, this sounded even more unbelievable.
But Ronan's face was calm—serious—without the slightest hint of a joke.
Did he simply dislike the Shichibukai? No one had ever heard of any conflict between Ronan and them.
Still, for some kings—especially those weaker nations plagued by pirates year after year—if Lulusia truly had the ability to secure the route, then abolishing the Shichibukai would be a blessing beyond measure.
Ronan looked around and added, "Of course, this won't be Lulusia making an unconditional donation. But we also won't demand protection fees as outrageous as the Heavenly Tribute."
"You'll only need to contribute, within a reasonable range, the normal operational funding required to maintain the fleet."
"My core principle doesn't change: eliminate pirate threats, protect lawful trade and civilian safety, and never again grant any pirate the legal authority to commit evil."
Ronan's words hit like iron, and many kings felt their shoulders loosen. What they feared most was that Ronan would use this as an excuse to bleed them dry. But what he just said made it clear—he truly intended to abolish the Shichibukai system completely.
The atmosphere in the chamber visibly relaxed. Many kings' hearts finally settled.
(End of Chapter)
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