(Actually, final boss candidates shouldn't casually pop up! Guards... well, I sense presences!)
Probably Sengoku or Zephyr.
I recognize this presence and pressure.
"The Ohara problem is fundamentally a symbol of the government's own failures. Pushing all responsibility onto Ohara alone is completely misguided."
Spandam's pretty skillful.
Prostrating while craning his neck to glare at me... what's that mouth movement... 'tone it down, idiot' maybe?
I refuse.
Absolutely refuse.
...
Come to think of it, this guy is exactly the biggest reason I couldn't live peacefully!!
If you have such a grand title as 'Legal Martial God,' at least keep member nations from making unreasonable demands!
"A government failure?"
"Yes. Why do you keep the Void Century blank?"
(For now, let's go with me not knowing about that... what was it, the Poneglyph that tells Raftel's location.)
I should limit my knowledge level to... around the Enies Lobby arc level from the original.
"If people know something is hidden, they'll search for it. Just look at this Great Pirate Era."
"You wouldn't understand, but hiding the Void Century is important to the government."
"Impossible."
Absolutely impossible. No matter what, impossible.
"This time, Ohara was erased from the map for researching Poneglyphs. So, in these 800 years, has there never been a similar incident?"
He closed his opening mouth.
Well, that's what I thought.
Actually, it's more natural to think past incidents made Ohara's researchers more thoroughly hidden.
The places where Poneglyphs were hidden in the manga were quite carefully concealed.
"The Ohara incident isn't a problem from these past few decades, but from the moment the World Government was established... a problem spanning these 800 years."
I've thought this for a while, but you're really bad at hiding things.
No matter how you hide filth under a carpet or stuff it in a closet, just because it's not visible doesn't mean the stain stops spreading.
Rather, fear spreads because it's invisible.
Like feeling there might be bugs in a room piled high with things in every corner.
"I understand at the founding. Whatever it was probably threatened the footing of the 20 kings who became the Celestial Dragons' ancestors. But somewhere during these 800 years, you should have changed direction."
"Which is?"
Spandam, are you okay? Your face is pale and dripping sweat... wouldn't standing like Hina be easier? There's a chair right there.
"I've been thinking this since the district headquarters naval battle, but the cost is too high."
"Cost?"
"Yes. Continuing to hide means eternally searching for people investigating and their traces. You must continuously spend human resources on that endless task and pay various costs to support it. Plus, constantly carrying the risk that secrets might be exposed is terribly inefficient for operations."
While he seemed displeased when reluctantly bringing up the Void Century topic, mixing in cost talk sparked some interest.
...
Come to think of it, this is the first time talking when all Five Elders aren't together.
This might be a chance to probe their internal situation somewhat.
"So instead of continuing suppression, you should have spent time preparing for disclosure."
Well, it really depends on the content.
"...False history?"
"Not just that, but yes. First, present stalling theories."
If I were the World Government, I would have conversely made it a hot topic by releasing various theories to confuse information.
I would have scrambled things including Poneglyph decoding methods, creating multiple decoding approaches.
"Gradually mix truth into various theories. The Void Century you fear so much must have tremendous impact, so it must be quite extraordinary content. I'd target that."
The masses usually jump on interesting and understandable things.
Moreover, government censorship and suppression are normal in this world.
Probably unconsciously, reason emerges to believe safe things, along with intuition that such things might have happened.
"Safe theories for stalling, dummy extraordinary theories, gradually weaving truth fragments into both, using orchestrated debates to eventually make the public conclude 'interesting news but just past events' when finally disclosed. If I were on the government side, I would have devised such a strategy."
Information manipulation isn't impossible given the government announcement credibility during Dressrosa.
Since information must spread widely and quickly, it would depend on how well CP departments could coordinate.
Mix several safe theories with extraordinary theories containing truth, have them debated in news or whatever, entertaining the public with academic wrestling while gradually letting truth win.
If World Government politics were proper at disclosure time, 800-year-old events are too distant to move current situations.
In Japan, 800 years ago would be... around 1200-something.
Kamakura period maybe? The 100 years before that would be Heian period.
If new Heian period facts made news that's one thing, but if modern Japan moved dramatically over it, I'd be rolling on the floor laughing.
Well, the world's foundation is different, but... if you Celestial Dragons properly ran the world, it wouldn't collapse over minor things.
Except for this crazy world's special strategic forces.
Probably.
"Additionally, using the Void Century remaining blank, claim materials were lost en masse due to some accident or disaster, separating past responsibility from the current World Government. Manipulate impressions that government nature differs before and after the loss."
"...Interesting. But could you create such convincing theories?"
Why would I create them?
"Besides, however well fictional theories are made, archaeologists would notice quickly."
"Yes, they probably would."
"So you should have had archaeologists create them."
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
(T-this brat, like in Mogwa, is way too fearless!!)
"Ridiculous! Archaeologists would never cooperate with such things..."
"If I were in the government's position with power and forces like Chief Spandine's, I'd first split archaeologist factions in two."
The child pirate who had been running him ragged daily since arriving at the Holy Land was once again holding his own against a Five Elders member.
(I knew he occasionally talked with the Five Elders, but this kid really...)
While he thought he'd acknowledged it, his recognition was still insufficient.
And he had to admit once again.
This pirate was the real deal.
"Into mainstream archaeologists and a faction aligned with our government? Even taking families hostage, they wouldn't bend!"
"Naturally. While archaeologists' obsession with the past has various sources, strong dissatisfaction and frustration with the current World Government, plus rebellion against those, are contributing factors."
"...Then what would you do?"
"Yes, so I'd show readiness to disclose and request cooperation. 'Publishing the Void Century as-is might cause chaos. Please cooperate so we can disclose it someday in the future'... like that."
Before the Five Elders member responsible for legal affairs, someone he couldn't even properly look at, the pirate spoke in exactly the same tone as when addressing Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"While Dr. Clover and other mainstream members would oppose, scholars thinking this was better than the status quo would be few but would definitely appear. From there, gradually increase cooperators."
(No, Fleet Admiral Sengoku and hero Garp coming to a pirate's office for work consultations and small talk is already weird... Why is there a pirate's office in the Holy Land?!)
"Archaeologists know the World Government's hard-line approach well. That's precisely why they went underground so carefully."
"Hmph, criminals hide."
"True. But the quality differs. A group without force like mafia that still systematically continued investigations and went underground shows obsession. Thinking you could perfectly crush that with force alone is overly optimistic."
Women assigned around Kuro, probably returning to check the situation, were frozen peeking from the entrance.
All were too terrified of the Celestial Dragon present to move a muscle.
(CP-3 and CP-5 were called to the Holy Land after the assault, so they don't know Kuro. They were probably looking down on him. Thinking it was just another of the Celestial Dragons' sudden whims...)
Women with completely pale faces who didn't understand the situation, combined with their inability to measure that pirate's capabilities through his previous commands, became pitiable.
Both Kuro and Saint Warcury glanced their way, and Kuro gestured for the women to enter.
(Idiot Kuro, don't drag them into a monster argument, that's too cruel no matter what! ...Ah wait, this guy is placing ordinary gallery members to stabilize his own emotions even slightly! What a nasty little brat!!)
He hadn't been watching the work style closely for nothing.
He was gradually understanding the seeds of Kuro's efficiency.
"But conversely, if the government presented the possibility of future historical disclosure, there was potential to break things down from there."
This man's greatest weapon wasn't military force or intellect, but his observational skills and methods for accurately controlling his own and his subordinates' psychology.
(Even understanding it, imitation or even analysis is difficult...)
"Ohara's scholars wanted to uncover history with their own hands and leave it for posterity. Creating a faction wanting to use government proposals to more reliably preserve history for posterity would create opinion conflicts. Using those conflicts might have created negotiation opportunities with Ohara's mainstream... perhaps."
"Taking time might have led to the Void Century's contents. Immediate action was necessary."
"I think it would have been far better than the current situation."
"...What?"
"Can you definitively say that Ohara's archaeologists all shared the island's fate, leaving only Robin?"
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇
(That was like devil's proof poisoning, but judging from Spandam's expression, it's not entirely wrong.)
He probably didn't know every Ohara scholar's face and name individually.
Probably spread nets on Robin's mother, Nico Olvia, and her companions identified as Poneglyph researchers, connecting them to Ohara before the Buster Call... something like that.
"These archaeologists aren't people who cling to desks playing with armchair theories. They're scholars who visit sites and possible locations for investigation. Were they really all on Ohara during the Buster Call?"
Sorry to the girls. The one about to collapse can sit... no, I don't mean prostrate.
The Five Elders somewhat know the outside world correctly among Celestial Dragons. They probably understand to some degree that they're hated by ordinary people. They know the fate of Donquixote... what was it, that rotten pink guy's parents.
So having many ordinary people present should apply pressure to some degree... even unconsciously.
"That's what the Buster Call was for. As an example to stop the search..."
"If I were a surviving archaeologist, I'd go underground even more cunningly for revenge, continue research, and keep preserving it for posterity."
Actually, I originally thought several such scholars wouldn't be strange.
While deliberately emphasizing the impression of hiding on other islands, I think several scholars might have returned to Ohara's ruins to recover materials and relics.
"...You have Nico Robin under you. If you made Ohara's orphan cooperate with us and disclosed..."
"Even if Robin and I sided with the government, it's meaningless now. If surviving archaeologists exist, they'd think Robin was captured and being used."
"Then use Nico Robin's knowledge to try the strategy you mentioned. With most scholars dead now, it would be easier..."
"Impossible."
"A man like you can't make Nico Robin... one child listen?"
"That's not the issue."
Before the Buster Call's hard-line approach, maybe this strategy could have worked... even if not, one or two negotiation or containment strategies with Dr. Clover might have been attempted.
But now it's impossible.
"By activating the Buster Call, you World Government conversely acknowledged Ohara's knowledge value."
"...!"
Did you realize? But it's too late. Far too late.
(Military force isn't an omnipotent elixir, but a tricky dangerous drug with massive side effects, extremely limited scope, and potential equal debuffs to buffs... no, that's why you've been intoxicated by dangerous drugs for 800 years?)
If so, that's somewhat understandable...
"You may have succeeded in crushing Ohara's accumulated knowledge, but conversely made the world aware of the value of past heritage like ancient writing. That it was worth the government crushing."
They spread Buster Call information for the example...
And of all things...
"Ohara decoded Poneglyphs and tried to revive ancient weapons. Therefore criminals, therefore Buster Call. That information flowed to the world."
Really, why did you do that?
"That news might have kept the masses away from Poneglyphs. But to ambitious people, Poneglyphs probably looked even more attractive."
In the original, like Crocodile.
Big Mom also... what was that three-eyed daughter's name, since she was searching for such methods, she wouldn't be strange doing decoding research simultaneously.
Actually, she had to be doing it.
Kaido... I don't really understand him.
From what I read, I only remember him as an incredibly strong suicide maniac.
When I previewed a bit in Jump, seeing him one-shot Luffy was scary as hell.
(If I'd read more thoroughly... I never thought this would happen. Reading at a friend's house, surpassing what I'd read before, almost catching up when...)
"You acknowledged ancient weapons' existence and published hints to reach them as world news. Someone might already be collecting scattered Ohara knowledge and people. It wouldn't be strange if Grand Line pirates were making such moves."
(In that sense, we'd definitely be the most targeted.)
After all, 'Black Cat' definitely has Ohara knowledge.
Assigning Mihawk and Imperial Guard to Robin as much as possible is countermeasures against forceful opponents, and not leaving her alone on Mopchi is purely wariness of that unpredictable Queen.
I'd like to focus more on development, but strengthening forces is urgent for defensive reasons too.
"...Indeed, Ohara, which continued breaking World Government law, was rushing things too much."
That's definitely true. Honestly, I can't completely defend Ohara.
However...
"Still, you World Government fatally chose wrong methods by not facing the problem's core and just repeatedly crushing searchers and possibilities. No, you continue to choose wrong."
Even taking hard-line measures, assassinations should have been the direction... I think.
At least, making things big was a bad move, I think.
"...Mere speculation."
"Yes, speculation. You asked me to state my thoughts, so I stated them."
...As expected, somewhat visible things emerge when alone.
Perhaps from being accustomed to politics while resting on absolute hierarchy, just a little pressure reveals slight cracks.
He can't hide sweat, and his hands move slightly.
When thinking deeply, he touches his necktie; when uncertain about good answers, his thumb tenses.
Helpful for understanding his thoughts.
"So this is my personal view. You shouldn't have used Buster Calls... absolute force so easily."
"Physically erasing eliminates all other possibilities. Even trying to change direction, there's nothing left to flow."
"Ohara's accumulated knowledge was lost and research regressed. But as backlash, the possibility of investigation flames being lit in more malicious underground areas is extremely high."
"This flow probably can't be changed anymore."
The bearded Five Elders member glares at me.
Why do I have to feel this uncomfortable when he asked me to speak and I spoke?
If you're going to waste this pointless time, please just go home.
I was supposed to discuss tomorrow's work processes and how to fill current concerns while eating with Spandam and Hina...
Spandam also finished CP-9 command and coordination at full power and brought quality wine here...
"...That current..."
"Yes."
"If that speculation is currently progressing, what countermeasures could be taken now... do you have any ideas?"
How should I know, idiot!!
Besides, your responsibility for the Marine slavery incident is huge as someone overseeing legal affairs, so why are you acting so high and mighty?!
Please take about half our current work... no, sorry, that's too cruel, at least one-fifth... half of that!
We're giving our all to reconstruction too!!
"Let's see..."
Poneglyph stuff is impossible now.
I'm certain quite a few people realized ancient writing value is real.
Even without knowing about the Poneglyph connecting to Raftel.
So hiding ancient weapons' existence... no, if what Ohara tried to revive 'actually didn't exist,' the Ohara problem would reignite badly.
Government impressions would become even blacker.
"...Kuro."
Wait a bit longer!!
"Sorry, a little more time."
Even if I really tried the earlier strategy through Robin... that was primarily about turning the Void Century dangerous material into a kind of circus to relax tensions.
With so much blood spilled, it's impossible now. Actually, meaningless.
Underground investigations can only rely on CP with government forces.
If all Poneglyphs could be collected, that's different, but they're scattered worldwide and starting now isn't realistic except long-term.
Moreover, to minimize governance friction during collection, archaeologists must be won over first to gain justification for investigation before collection.
...
We're screwed!!
"If events proceeded as I think, reversing the situation from here would be difficult."
Actually, what should be done?
Since many people realized it's inconvenient for the government, we can only move to utilize that, but the content is too big and unclear.
Like Crocodile, if someone besides Robin reaches Poneglyph hints somehow, it could lead to Pluton discovery.
It hadn't appeared by the start of Wano arc, but it's probably somewhere in the New World.
...Oh right, what about the blueprints?
"Besides Poneglyph problems, what you don't want touched, what must be protected completely, what situations you fear... without knowing that, unfortunately I can't think of effective countermeasures."
Also, please really go home soon.
Spandam looks dying and the girls are pale, with only Hina bowing her head staying composed.
You're amazing. Personal points to you.
"Kuro."
"Yes."
"Do you know what this is?"
"...No."
What is that? A chip?
"This is a proof chip. Wearing this proves membership in our Celestial Dragon clan. Namely, kinship."
Ah right, there was a scene where Doflamingo's father returned something when quitting being a Celestial Dragon.
I'm pretty vague on those details.
"Kuro."
"Yes."
"Become a Celestial Dragon."
"...Huh?"