At this moment, Sengoku couldn't help but feel a little proud. While CP-X had become increasingly prominent on the seas in recent years, achieving one major feat after another, at the end of the day, they still needed Marine to cooperate.
After all, CP-X was too specialized and exclusive. Although it boasted many powerful individuals, its foundation was shallow compared to Marine, which had a history stretching back over 800 years.
Sengoku had this confidence. He viewed the Calm Belt as a critical development area.
As long as the Calm Belt could continue generating benefits, those benefits would inevitably translate into strength for Marine. With time and resources, Sengoku believed even five hundred warships could be dispatched if necessary.
On the other hand, Claudius felt somewhat at a loss. He had planned to use the supposed "pressure" Marine faced to push his agenda forward, but Sengoku had so confidently dismissed it, leaving Claudius with no leverage.
Fortunately, Sengoku wasn't the type to make things difficult unnecessarily. As a "Resourceful General" and an old acquaintance of Claudius, Sengoku understood the dynamics between them.
Smiling, Sengoku said, "Of course, this isn't the smartest approach. Isn't it better to use resources in a way that ensures safety and stability for all sides?"
Claudius said, "Yes, although investing more warships and manpower is feasible, it's not the most efficient solution."
"What do you mean, Your Highness?" Sengoku asked.
"I think we can utilize sea train technology," Claudius said casually.
Sengoku blinked in surprise. Memories of the previous World Summit resurfaced. That time, Claudius had turned the Summit into what felt more like a trade expo, showcasing sea train technology. Though Sengoku tried to recall the exact year that had happened, he eventually gave up.
This year, there wasn't much anticipation surrounding the Summit. Claudius didn't plan to attend, nor did Sengoku. The most Marine would do was send someone to escort royal families attending the event.
"Sea trains?" Sengoku muttered, thinking it over. The concept was intriguing. If sea trains could be introduced into the Calm Belt, it would eliminate the need for dozens or even hundreds of warships, saving massive resources.
At present, Marine's activities in the Calm Belt were labeled as an "experiment." Sengoku wasn't sure how long they could sustain that justification—three years? Five years? Eventually, they would need a more sustainable approach. If sea train technology could be adapted for the Calm Belt, the logistics would become far simpler: establish transport hubs around the Calm Belt, move resources efficiently, and sell the products.
However, despite the promising idea, Sengoku hesitated.
Currently, Marine was able to benefit from the Calm Belt because they held the necessary technology, something others lacked. Only Marine could operate at such a large scale in and out of the Calm Belt.
If sea trains were introduced, Claudius could theoretically cut Marine out of the equation at any time. While Sengoku wanted to believe in Claudius's character, depending on moral trust for a business worth tens of billions, and potentially hundreds of billions was risky.
In truth, Sengoku's worries weren't baseless. But Claudius didn't view the situation in the same way. To him, controlling Marine was far more valuable than the money generated from the Calm Belt. Cutting Marine out would undermine the trust and partnership he had painstakingly built over the years. Without Marine's cooperation, his influence over the World Government would be significantly weaker.
Claudius understood that gaining control of Marine was critical if he wanted to challenge the World Government's authority. His approach wasn't to destroy Marine, which would be nearly impossible. Instead, he aimed to strengthen Marine, making it clear that even under new leadership, their operations and funding would remain secure.
The idea was to make Marine understand that their future prosperity depended on cooperation with Claudius. No Marine officer would willingly trade a stable, well-funded organization for one in chaos or poverty. The promise of stability was key.
The Revolutionary Army would likely try to exploit this same angle, convincing Marine to remain neutral in the event of a power struggle with the World Government. Claudius, however, doubted the Revolutionary Army's ability to sway Marine so easily.
Claudius believed that if the Revolutionary Army wanted to succeed, they would need to distract Marine by directing its attention toward the World Government. But even that scenario seemed unlikely.
The most effective strategy, Claudius concluded, was to convince Marine that aligning with him offered the best prospects for their future.
Sengoku wasn't foolish. Claudius knew he needed to address Sengoku's concerns directly. Without waiting for Sengoku to speak, Claudius continued, "The Calm Belt is a unique region. It's the nesting ground of the Sea Kings, and laying sea train tracks there comes with significant risks. That's why I believe Marine's involvement is essential to this project."
Claudius's words shifted the conversation. What could have been interpreted as a demand now felt like a natural request for collaboration.
Sengoku let out a quiet breath of relief. "Your Highness, what exactly are you suggesting?"
"It's like this," Claudius began. "In Water Seven, we've been discussing countermeasures. We believe that successfully laying sea train tracks in the Calm Belt will require Marine's expertise in seastone technology. Combining sea train technology with Marine's seastone advancements could lead to significant breakthroughs.
Of course, our primary intention is scientific research. We believe collaboration will yield the best results. What do you think, Marshal Sengoku?" Claudius explained, smiling as he presented a seemingly noble rationale.
Scientific research? Sengoku thought. Would you really be interested in this if there weren't a mine in the Calm Belt?
Despite his internal complaints, Sengoku replied with a righteous tone, "Your Highness makes an excellent point. Scientific progress often comes from collaboration and innovation. Combining sea train and seastone technology for the greater good is a worthy endeavor."
"Yes, exactly. I think Marine should take the lead in laying the Calm Belt sea train tracks. After all, this experimental project is being spearheaded by Marine. It wouldn't be appropriate for us to overshadow your efforts," Claudius said with a smile, subtly pushing responsibility onto Sengoku.
Sengoku considered the suggestion. If Marine were responsible for building the sea train system, it would prevent Claudius from sidelining them in the future. Although it would require significant investment, the long-term benefits, both financial and strategic made it worth the effort.
Without hesitation, Sengoku said, "No problem. I believe Marine can take on this responsibility!"