Listening to Claudius's explanation, Sengoku, Gis, and the others all looked visibly confused.
Even Nusjuro seemed puzzled. He frowned slightly and asked, "Using thieves to catch thieves? What do you mean by that? Explain it clearly."
Claudius smiled, took another puff from his cigar, and said, "Ever since Roger's death, the seas have not become quieter as we had hoped. Instead, thanks to his last words, the number of pirates has skyrocketed—at least tenfold."
He paused for a moment to let the point sink in, then continued, "It's only been half a year, and while the number of pirates has increased dramatically, they haven't yet reached the level of true threat. However, I'd like to make a bold prediction: within five to ten years, that could very well change."
Sengoku thought over Claudius's words in silence. Claudius was absolutely right.
While the number of pirates on the seas had multiplied, none of them had yet achieved the same terrifying reputation and strength as established forces like Whitebeard or Kaido. For now, as long as Marine had enough manpower, they could still keep things under control.
But there was a problem: Marine did not have enough manpower, and the rate at which they could recruit and train new soldiers was far slower than the rate at which new pirates were appearing.
If things continued this way, the question was no longer if, but when this quantitative growth of pirates would lead to a qualitative leap—a situation where dozens, if not hundreds, of powerful new pirates would emerge. Pirates who could eventually stand toe-to-toe with legends like Whitebeard.
After a long pause, Sengoku nodded solemnly. "Your Highness is right. Our problem isn't just the sheer number of pirates. We're inevitably going to see a new generation of elite pirates rising up. This could become a serious threat."
Nusjuro and Gis also nodded, the gravity of the situation clear to them.
Claudius, noting their agreement, smiled. "Exactly. This is something we can't afford to ignore. And so, I propose a solution: a plan to 'use pirates to fight pirates'—to put it simply, we create our own pirate forces, ones loyal to the World Government, who can combat the uncontrolled chaos on the seas."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sengoku's expression shifted. Though he trusted Claudius, the idea still seemed radical. However, Nusjuro's eyes flashed with intrigue, showing a glimmer of interest in the proposal.
"Oh? That's an interesting idea," Nusjuro said. "Explain it in more detail."
Claudius nodded, exhaled a stream of smoke, and replied, "Let's call this the 'Seven Warlords of the Sea' plan for now."
He reached for a stack of files on the table, gesturing for them to take a look. "Take these two pirates, for instance. They're actually part of our CP-X organization. Crocodile is someone even Sengoku Admiral is familiar with; he was previously one of my subordinates and has now gone undercover as a pirate. As for Doflamingo, I don't think I need to introduce him—he's my cousin, a Donquixote by blood and another member of CP-X. Like Crocodile, he's taken orders from me to become a pirate."
Sengoku nodded, confirming Claudius's words. "That's right."
Nusjuro and the others had no further questions, and indicated for Claudius to continue.
"Now," Claudius continued, "pirates are different from the Marines. Building up Marine forces requires rigorous recruitment, training, and a host of other measures. But a pirate crew? As long as a leader has the strength and reputation to command loyalty, followers will naturally flock to them."
He smiled. "Pirates can grow their forces far more quickly than we ever could with the Marines, and that's exactly the advantage I want to exploit."
Sengoku's interest was piqued. "Your Highness, can you elaborate?"
Claudius leaned forward, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "Before I explain, let me ask you a question, Sengoku. What are the two main ways a pirate grows in strength?"
Sengoku thought for a moment before replying, "In general, there are two ways. First, by committing enough crimes to be recognized as a threat by the World Government. As they grow more dangerous, their power and reputation also grow. If we can't deal with them in time, they eventually become feared across the seas—just like Roger did."
"Correct. And the second way?" Claudius asked.
"The second," Sengoku continued, "is through infighting and dominance within the pirate community itself. Pirates fight each other constantly, and those who emerge victorious build their own prestige, eventually growing into powerful figures by stepping over the bodies of the defeated."
A wicked grin crossed Claudius's face. He clapped his hands together and said, "Exactly. In other words, it's through constant internal conflict, mergers, and conquests that a pirate can rise to greatness. Now, here's the question: if we wanted to cultivate our own pirate lords, which path would we choose?"
Sengoku didn't hesitate. "Naturally, we wouldn't condone any evil deeds. The second method is the only choice."
But as he spoke, realization dawned on him. His initial skepticism began to crumble as Claudius's plan took root in his mind.
Nusjuro laughed, pointing at Claudius with an approving grin. "Impressive. Very impressive. No wonder we put our trust in you. This is such a simple yet brilliant idea; why didn't we think of it sooner?"
There was no denying it. By creating their own pirate lords, the World Government could harness the same rapid force expansion that pirates enjoyed, turning uncontrollable pirate forces into allies. These sanctioned pirates, operating under the government's control, could combat those pirates who refused to obey. This would weaken the pirate community as a whole, and the power of these allied pirates would only grow with time.
Once these controlled pirates gained enough reputation, they would indeed become formidable pirate lords. And with several powerful pirate captains working under the World Government's thumb, in alliance with the Marines, they could finally establish some measure of stability across the seas.
"As you can see," Claudius continued, "the ultimate goal of the Seven Warlords of the Sea plan is to weaken the pirate forces from within. By turning pirates against pirates, we can gradually break their unity and reduce them to scattered, disorganized factions, making it easier for the Marines to keep order."
Claudius's smile was full of confidence as he explained. "In the end, these government-sanctioned pirates will be strong enough to challenge uncontrollable pirates like Whitebeard. When the time is right, we can use this advantage to dismantle the pirate threat piece by piece, turning them into nothing more than isolated bands."
Sengoku was visibly impressed, murmuring to himself, "To have pirates launch a civil war among themselves, leaving the World Government and Marines to simply clean up the aftermath… it's ingenious."