(This bastard! You turned around the crowd I weaponized against you?!)
What a cunning devil, not letting a fall go to waste!
Look! The girls are terrified! Especially that proud-looking one who wasn't motivated!
"...How sudden."
"Your abilities have been known since the district headquarters naval battle, and such discussions weren't entirely absent. When you requested negotiations, Saint Peter proposed it. Whether we could welcome you as a Celestial Dragon."
Saint Peter, the Agricultural Martial God?
I thought he was relatively willing to engage in conversation for one of the Five Elders...
Huh? I can somewhat read the intentions of this bald guy in front of me, but it seems that discussion actually happened?
"Your abilities are rare. The military force, leadership, and surprisingly high administrative capabilities you showed in the recent assault. You possess levels incomparable to kings of member nations."
First, the current system where anyone can be king as long as they pay Heavenly Tribute seems problematic.
Well... I understand that governance symbolized by bloodline or noble heritage stabilizes nations.
But shouldn't there be more support for national systems?
There are too many terrible examples like Wapol in the original or Mogwa that I actually witnessed.
"Equal rights for my executives, autonomy for conquered territories, complete non-interference with subordinates and territorial citizens, and permission to basically live in territories... what you call the lower world. If you could permit these, I might consider it."
"You're dissatisfied with only you becoming a Celestial Dragon?! Making your subordinates your retainer group would solve that!!"
"What I seek is a future carved out together with those who believe in and follow me. Naturally, I'd be wary of Celestial Dragons who might cause trouble even over others' possessions."
"Such..."
"Moreover, if I became a Celestial Dragon, I'd be an unprecedented outsider. Would those people accept that I'm equal to other Celestial Dragons?"
"...Hmm."
Eh, you're falling silent there?
I'd expect prepared responses for such obvious questions...
(They intended to make me a Celestial Dragon with a somewhat government-leaning position, then assign me as future government-Navy negotiation mediator... I thought... but...)
...
Wait. Are they seriously saying this?
(They even prepared that chip thing. There was definitely some aim... I think... Celestial Dragon, huh.)
If they'd acknowledge everything I just said, I wouldn't mind becoming one.
That way, unlike Seven Warlords, I'd have some command authority over the Navy.
If I made ridiculous unreasonable demands, I'd lose my reason for being myself, but guaranteeing cooperative relationships like before would be huge.
While the 20-years-later original timeline is scary, if I secure Jaya and major islands in all directions as my direct territories, I could focus on development afterward except for pirate interception.
CP would probably plant surveillance, but if they became pipeline connectors, the benefits would outweigh negatives. Spandam is exactly that.
Additionally, I might maneuver to limit Celestial Dragons' external influence.
Though if I did that, regular Celestial Dragons would eventually lose patience and exclude me, leading to total war anyway.
"Celestial Dragons live in the Holy Land, not the lower world."
"I see, so living in the Holy Land was your first requirement."
"...!"
If I talk too much, I might seriously get adjusted, so let me make a preemptive strike.
But the Holy Land...
(I wonder which it is. Custom, or does living in the Holy Land actually have some meaning?)
Well, I understand the former.
Rulers need a kind of mystique.
The image of a chosen clan living in a chosen place is quite... effective...
...
(Huh?)
Did I just catch something?
"Besides, if I lived in the Holy Land and became a complete Celestial Dragon, I wouldn't achieve results like now."
No, not now. Let's finish this conversation quickly.
Please let me work and sleep soon.
I'm approaching sensations I experienced plenty in my previous life.
Soon I need at least four hours of sleep or thinking speed and accuracy will drop to dangerous levels.
I'm on the verge of being unable to maintain thought even with frequent five-minute naps.
"Because I have lower world knowledge and sensations, I can work including as Navy negotiation mediator. If I shut myself in the Holy Land, eventually both I and my subordinates would only be able to consume."
...Ah, crap. Am I indirectly dissing Celestial Dragons?
No good, without sleep my smooth talking is affected too.
"You probably saw some value in me and invited me, but that value arose because I'm free. Please understand."
I really think this.
Ultimately, being in a group with only one value system might strengthen ideology and unity, but flexibility is lost.
The Navy being completely suppressed by the World Government might partly be from being unable to escape such value systems.
Well, military organizations with scattered ideologies would be problematic.
"Kuro. Why are you fighting?"
It's your fault, you idiots!!
Normally I could have entered complete Navy protection, earned enough, found a wife I liked, and lived in luxury... this time truly escaping endless death marches forever... my earnest wish to absolutely live cleverly was instantly ruined, idiots!!
The connections I'd worked hard to build with royalty, nobility, and Navy vanished instantly... well, I recovered connections in a sense, but not these heavy burdensome connections!!
"You want your own nation, like the military trading city concept?"
"No..."
It was a port town, not a city, idiot!
Now needing more than a nation is entirely your fault, damn it!!
"What I seek is just one thing."
While I certainly need military force and justification to face the government since becoming a criminal, if you were trustworthy, I could properly negotiate even the earlier proposal!
Celestial Dragons are still the problem.
"A human world where people aren't stripped of human dignity. Saint Warcury."
Hina, please keep your head down.
Your position seems secretary-like, so if you raise your head, please move in front of me, not beside me.
Then hide me, please.
"I don't intend to ravage the world. I don't want to steal or make subordinates steal."
"Therefore, we should remain outside the Holy Land. We'll assist when necessary, but we are Black Cat."
"Running on earth suits us better than soaring through heaven."
Actually, becoming a Celestial Dragon but being unable to do external activities, just living in luxury, I'd get bored within a month.
What are this era's entertainments anyway?
If I had priority Vegapunk request rights, I might enjoy it somewhat, but I don't know what kind of existence Vegapunk is.
(Ultimately, my greatest entertainment is probably creating something.)
I absolutely couldn't endure a life of only consumption.
Honestly, I quite like farm work with Mihawk, and designing taverns per Rayleigh's requests or arranging alcohol was incredibly fun.
"Being a pirate is better. You'll regret this, Kuro."
Of course. I haven't had a single day without regret.
"A life without regret wouldn't be human life."
Responding with words that came to mind, Saint Warcury stared at me, muttered "Hmph, indeed..." and turned around.
"Ah... may I have a moment, Saint Warcury?"
But I won't let him leave.
Since he suddenly threw a dead ball, I should fairly advance to first base here.
"What, Kuro?"
"Yes. I'd like you to repay this debt."
"Debt? Adding more conditions to our invitation?"
...He's not taking it as refusal.
Or he deliberately interpreted it that way. Well, that's fine.
"I think I adequately fulfilled the poster face role?"
He put his hand in his pocket to hide movements?
He seems to have noticed being observed, but showing movement suggests internal Celestial Dragon political struggles weren't common.
Anyway... this was the plan from the start, right?
Intending to use it as groundwork for extracting as many talents lurking in the field as possible to the government side.
"...When did you notice?"
"Vaguely from the beginning. I was certain when you exposed the proof chip's existence to public view."
Achieving sufficient merit might allow becoming a Celestial Dragon.
Whether I accepted or refused, they intended to create that precedent and spread the story... maybe already spreading it.
First Marines, then workers and technicians gathered for reconstruction... ah.
(So that's why the discussion about hiring personnel instead of slaves went smoothly.)
Slaves would be used to death or boredom in the Holy Land, but hired personnel would return and tell Holy Land stories everywhere.
I messed up, I should have gone myself instead of leaving the report delivery to Spandam.
"So, how about it?"
"...What do you want?"
Good, once he knows I'm aware, he'll listen.
"Direct apologies to Supreme Commander Kong and Fleet Admiral Sengoku, plus issuing formal apology statements to the Navy."
...Why are you so surprised?
Your eyes are wide with shock.
"Those two guarantees would solve almost all remaining problems except victim and bereaved family compensation."
"...I understand the former. But apology statements..."
"The content could be vague. While the government is paying penalties, you have positions too. If the Navy takes a hard line demanding full public disclosure, I'll handle negotiations."
Additionally, reviewing compensation for freed Marines and formal funerals for Marines who died in the Holy Land, getting the government to discuss these with the Navy would be sufficient for a fresh start.
(For matters directly affecting soldiers and families, leaving it to the Five Elders and Sengoku rather than my intervention would be better.)
Securing guarantees up to here would conclude my work.
After that, confirming Holy Land reconstruction, worker acceptance, and Celestial Dragon evacuation disguised as isolation would allow leaving the Holy Land.
"Very well. I'll take this back along with your earlier conditions."
Well, they need all five to discuss it.
"...Apologies shouldn't be problematic. You may review statement drafts before publication."
...
Eh?
Why am I getting involved?!
"So, nothing else?"
Eh?!
"What do you mean, 'else'?"
"That was for the advertising role. You have merits for Holy Land defense and Golden Lion repulsion."
...Ah, to provide basis for how much merit is needed for Celestial Dragon promotion.
Plus appealing that the government properly implements reward and punishment.
(So accepting rather than refusing would benefit both sides... is there anything I want...)
Should I demand money? No, I planned issuing independent currency after trade routes stabilized, so never mind.
Requesting materials while using resources for reconstruction would be completely tone-deaf, and I planned using material provision as political cards... then what's left...
Something that doesn't directly benefit Black Cat but still promotes our existence...
"Then, one thing."
"Oh?"
"Please search for and return to Mopchi the missing bodies of non-member nation Mopchi's king and first prince, lost due to an unfortunate accident."
...
Why are you so surprised again?
"With government intelligence capabilities, it should be easy."
They should be on that bridge nation if still alive... hopefully.
Yeah, if alive.
"Please, I ask this of you."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
"...Thought I'd die."
"That's my line, idiot!"
Spandam, that hurts.
You don't need to kick me repeatedly...
"Besides, you refused that incredible proposal!"
"I didn't refuse. I just presented conditions, right?"
"That's practically the same as refusing!!"
Well, yeah.
But since he said he'd take it back, this discussion isn't dead yet.
Though I think it's impossible.
While people outside probably heard, I should talk to Sengoku again tomorrow.
"Hey, Kuro. What's poster face role?"
"Hmm? Exactly what it sounds like. I became the basis for advertising that continuous merit to the World Government might lead to becoming a Celestial Dragon."
Even though I refused, just having such discussions would suffice.
"Suspicious as hell."
Well, from you Navy folks getting jerked around, that's natural.
...
But Spandam, you shouldn't nod.
"Well, I don't know how they'll actually handle it. There's even the possibility of a trap calling dangerous people to the Holy Land for domestication."
"...Like Dr. Clover?"
"Yeah, it was possible."
Refusing would make me a criminal who refused Celestial Dragon requests.
Without considerable resistance-capable military or force, maneuvering becomes extremely difficult.
...Right, there was also the method of putting people under management after making past exploration a merit.
(Or maybe after making me a Celestial Dragon, they'd revoke rights for some reason and exile me, preparing a 'Celestial Dragon citizens can beat up'... but they wouldn't damage their brand like that.)
Though Celestial Dragons' bad reputation is hopeless.
(Doflamingo's father's lynching scene had so many people gathered.)
Just descendants of twenty kings... I thought when reading the manga, but after 800 years they'd multiply, and reconstruction materials showed surprising numbers.
No wonder they're resented everywhere...
"Hey Kuro, what's wrong?"
"Yes?"
"You had an incredibly serious expression. Hungry?"
Really? Sorry Spandam.
"Hey girl, you finished poison testing, right? Let's eat, I'm hungry."
"You're noisy. Why are you eating here anyway?"
"The government side told me to assign someone to Kuro."
"And that's you?"
"Look at those women from earlier. Among people I can move, there are hardly any decent ones."
Those girls scattered like baby spiders when Saint Warcury left.
They should have fled when seeing Sengoku or Zephyr outside... ah, considering Navy-Kuro meeting possibilities, they'd want to confirm.
"...Indeed, there aren't any."
"Girl, you looked at me when saying that?!"
"You just happened to be in my field of vision. Here, dinner. ...Military preserved food though."
You two have gotten along well.
If government and Navy get along... no, that's fine.
"Hey Hina, Spandam."
Instead of usual fancy plates, simple containers with bread, dried meat, and pickled vegetable jars.
Not previous luxurious meals but emergency military rations, but still tasty and filling.
"? What, Kuro?"
"...What do you think 'mostly correct' means?"
"Huh?"
Both stopped loading pickled vegetables and dried meat on hard bread, looking at me.
Sorry for interrupting your meal, Spandam and Hina.
I really want to move to tomorrow's coordination quickly, but this is a good opportunity to ask.
"When fighting Shiki, I talked a bit for stalling."
"Golden Lion."
"...And?"
"I asked about enemy objectives. Holy Land assault was groundwork for promoting world chaos. The main goal was probably expanding West Blue's food crisis globally, exhausting member nations by gathering materials and slaves... well, labor from worldwide."
Yeah, that's correct. That part should be right.
"In the process, activating underworld activities for long-term chaos. Chaos brings poverty, increasing pirates and other destabilizing factors."
"...That would happen. Plus, some Celestial Dragons are moving to gather slaves and money. Some non-member nations had everything taken completely."
Ugh, ruthless... truly Celestial Dragon world scum.
Even Spandam frowns.
Well, naturally.
CP would have seen plenty of slave treatment, and they're being ordered to gather things by Celestial Dragons now.
Hina goes without saying.
"Yeah. When I confronted him with that, that rooster bastard said..."
"'Mostly correct.' That's what he said?"
Exactly.
"Mostly correct means... two or three tenths wrong..."
"Or insufficient... right?"
"Right."
Both said while chewing improvised sandwiches.
So that's the only meaning.
"Don't worry, Kuro. Two or three tenths is within error range. More importantly, Holy Land reconstruction. At this rate, Celestial Dragon orders will only increase."
"Yeah, I know. Negotiations finally advanced a step, so I'll get a bit serious. But..."
"It's bothering you."