Although it was a pity that the Shadow-Shadow Fruit was wasted on someone like Moria, Claudius didn't really care. Whether Moria lived or died wasn't his problem.
Stussy also understood that Moria wasn't exactly a pressing issue. She had simply missed Claudius over the last couple of days and used the topic to start a conversation.
After chatting a bit more about Moria, Stussy changed the subject. "By the way, Your Highness, are you aware of something that's been going around in the New World recently?"
Claudius raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?"
"There's a term that's started making waves in the New World," Stussy said softly. She paused for a moment, seemingly choosing her words carefully, before continuing, "They're calling it the 'Pirate Emperor.'"
Hearing this, Claudius' eyes lit up, as if something had clicked in his mind.
The term "Pirate Emperor" was new, but it wasn't hard to see where it was heading, it was likely the precursor to what would later become the "Four Emperors." In the past, there had been no such terminology, only vague categorizations of pirate power levels.
Even during the time of Rocks D. Xebec, one of the most formidable pirates in history, the term "Pirate Emperor" wasn't used. Xebec had been called the "Pirate Overlord," and that was the extent of it.
Later, Golden Lion Shiki became the most powerful pirate after Xebec's era. At his peak, even Whitebeard—Edward Newgate—was slightly overshadowed by him. Pirates like Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, who were still climbing the ranks, were no match for Shiki back then. Yet, even Shiki had only inherited the title of "Pirate Overlord," not "Pirate Emperor."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Claudius asked quietly, his tone thoughtful.
"The current structure of the New World's pirate factions is becoming increasingly clear," Stussy explained. "And without a doubt, the most dominant force is Whitebeard's crew. The Whitebeard Pirates hold countless territories in the New World. Just their flag alone is enough to ensure the safety of an entire country.
"Take Fish-Man Island, for example. Two years ago, it was devastated by the chaos of the Great Pirate Era. But now, under the protection of Whitebeard's banner, while it hasn't fully recovered, things have improved significantly. That should give you an idea of how much influence Whitebeard has."
Claudius nodded in agreement. Stussy's observations were accurate. Although there were many pirates in the seas, the only one who could truly be called a "Emperor" was Edward Newgate—Whitebeard.
Kaido was strong, yes, but his recklessness and lack of a cohesive strategy meant he hadn't yet established dominance. Charlotte Linlin's development was more organized than Kaido's, but her territory, Totto Land, wasn't yet the impregnable fortress it would become. Moreover, her children hadn't matured into the powerful force they would eventually be, leaving her empire somewhat incomplete for now.
Meanwhile, among the rest of the prominent pirates, the standouts were "pretenders" like Doflamingo and Crocodile, individuals whose reputations often exceeded their actual strength. They were from the same tier as Moria, yet had managed to elevate their standing through cunning and ambition.
It was as if the current pirate landscape was a case of "in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." This situation was largely due to the efforts of the Marines and the World Government, who had systematically eliminated many of the true heavyweights of the previous generation.
From Ochoku to Captain John, from the Golden Lion Shiki to the Red Count, and finally to powerhouses like Byrnndi World and Douglas Bullet, the World Government had dismantled one major pirate after another.
This left a vacuum, where newer pirates like Doflamingo, Crocodile, and Moria were able to rise to prominence, despite being far from the level of someone like Newgate.
This created an interesting dynamic: while the pirate forces were somewhat depleted, the Marines remained at the peak of their strength, maintaining their position as the dominant force in the seas, even in the midst of the Great Pirate Era.
As for Shanks? He was still a "salted fish," as Claudius liked to put it—a late bloomer, to say the least.
At the moment, Shanks and his Red-Haired Pirates were likely still a small-time crew with minimal influence. He had yet to gain the fame or status of figures like Doflamingo or Crocodile. His only real claim to fame was being a former crewmember of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, which gave him some level of credibility among the major players.
And yet, within a few years of entering the New World, Shanks would skyrocket in prominence. Six years before the main story began, he would ascend to the position of "Emperor of the Sea."
His meteoric rise was proof that the Four Emperors weren't established all at once but gradually, much like the system of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Returning to the topic, Claudius nodded and said, "When Roger was alive, it was undeniably his era. But now that Roger is gone, and others like Shiki have fallen, this is without a doubt Newgate's time.
"I don't see that changing for at least another decade or two. Unless someone like Bullet or World manages to emerge again, Newgate's position as the dominant force in the seas is secure. But I doubt the World Government will make any aggressive moves against him for the sake of stability."
Stussy nodded. "Even the World Government has its limits…" she trailed off, not finishing her thought.
Claudius smirked. "So what's the point of this whole 'Pirate Emperor' thing? Is it just people hyping up Newgate?"
"More or less," Stussy replied. "In the eyes of the pirates, Newgate is already being called the 'Pirate King' in everything but name. Many believe that if there's ever going to be another Pirate King, it has to be him."
Claudius paused for a moment, then said, "That's true—if he wanted it."
Newgate was a peculiar figure. Despite his immense power, he had no interest in claiming the title of Pirate King. Yet his sheer strength allowed him to dominate the pirate world, suppressing any challengers.
As long as Newgate stood unshaken, no one else could claim the throne. This had left the title of Pirate King vacant for over two decades since Roger's death.
This was undeniably Whitebeard's era.
"This is just the beginning. It wouldn't surprise me if, in the future, we see a second, third, or even fourth 'Pirate Emperor,'" Claudius remarked with a smile.
"Perhaps. But compared to the situation with Moria, this is undoubtedly a much bigger issue. Even if you think the World Government won't take action, I believe they'll have to respond in some way. Doing nothing would damage their authority," Stussy said softly.
Claudius stroked his chin, considering her words. Just as he was about to respond, the butler Nia entered the room, holding a Den Den Mushi.
For a moment, Claudius felt a sense of déjà vu. The same waters, the same scenario…
"Your Highness, there's an urgent summons from Mariejois. You're required to return immediately for an important meeting," Nia said quietly.
Claudius groaned, covering his face with one hand. Was it really so difficult to catch a dinosaur in Little Garden? Once again, his plans were being derailed.
"Well, that was fast," Claudius muttered helplessly. "I barely finished saying the World Government wouldn't act, and now this happens. Stussy, it seems you've jinxed me."
Stussy chuckled mischievously. "Hehehe, I'll be heading back to Mariejois as well. I can't wait to see you there."
***
I'm thinking of picking up a new ff to translate, but I'm a bit stumped. If you know of a good ff that hasn't been worked on yet and think it'd be worth translating, drop me a link, and I'll check it out.
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