In the Holy Land of Mariejois, inside a vast feren within the headquarters of the Wover, the most powerful figures were gathered. It had been about half a year since Roger's executiohe world was still reeling from the aftermath.

  The Marines and CP agencies had been w tirelessly to hahe resulting surge of pirate activity. But despite their best efforts, the increase in pirates had been explosive, far outpag what they could tain. This sudden shift had left the Wover scrambling, and now, they were meeting for the fourth time in six months to discuss strategies for trolling this turbulent new era.

  Sitting around the round table, Marine Admiral Sengoku wore a deep frown, a look mirrored by his colleagues Tsuru, the Chief Staff Officer, and Vice Admiral Sakazuki, who were also present as representatives of Marine. Across from them were members of the CP agency, men with featureless masks and pristine white suits, giving them an air of eerie, silent authority.

  On the opposite side of the table sat Cudius, a cigar dangling zily from his lips. He looked pletely at ease, exuding a calm fidehat seemed almost out of p such a high-stakes meeting. Behind him stood Stussy, holding a stack of dots, her demeanor that of a loyal and observaary.

  They didn't have to wait long before the doors opened, and the bald elder of the Five Elders, Saihanbaron V. Nusjuro, known as one of the highest authorities in the world, entered. He sed the room, noting with satisfa that everyone resent, then took his seat at the head of the table. Drawing a cigar from his coat, he cut and lit it, exhaling a slow plume of smoke before addressing the room.

  "Alright, let's get started," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Let's begin with reports from the Naval Headquarters and the CP agencies. What's the current situation?"

  Sengoku exged a gh the head of the CP agency, then took the lead. "Our Marine branches worldwide have ramped up recruitment efforts. However, it takes time to train and equip new soldiers. From the initial recruitment to being battle-ready, it requires at least a year. Building up enough strength to tackle this new wave of piracy… it's going to take a while. This isn't going to be a short fight. We're looking at a proloruggle on the seas."

  Nusjuro houghtfully, aowledging the challe withholding any criticism. He khat these kinds of things couldn't be rushed.

  The CP agency representative, a man referred to as "Gis," took over. "We've made some progress. First, we've focused on targeting potential threats early on, dealing with smaller but promising pirate crews before they grow. We've mao eliminate many of these 'saplings' before they could take root and expand."

  Gis hesitated slightly before adding, "Additionally, we've e across a group we believe warrants attention. They call themselves the 'Revolutionary Army.' Although they haven't done anything overtly hostile yet, their ideology is… ing."

  Cudius raised an eyebrow, a slight smile tugging at the er of his mouth. The CP agency was already aware on's activities. Impressive, he thought, given how new and low-profile the Revolutionary Army still was. For now, they hadn't been deemed a true threat, but the seeds of future tension were already pnted.

  Nusjuro took this information in stride. "Uood. Sengoku, tinue expanding Marine's ranks as quickly as possible. We'll increase the military budget this year to support these efforts."

  "Yes, sir. It's all in the name of justice," Sengoku replied, a subtle gleam of satisfa in his eyes.

  The elder then turo Gis. "Keep up the pressure. Elimihese up-and-ing pirates as soon as possible. We may not be able to cut down their numbers signifitly, but if revent the stro from rising, it's still a victory."

  "Yes, my lord," Gis responded promptly, his tone filled with deference.

  Cudius remained silent throughout these exges, calmly taking drags from his cigar and watg the others speak. His rexed demeanor trasted sharply with the urgency of the discussion, almost as if he were detached from their s.

  Finally, Nusjuro's gaze nded on Cudius, and his stern expression softened slightly. As a member of the Celestial Dragons, Cudius was family to him, so to speak, and beyond that, Cudius had proven himself capable by capturing both Golden Lion Shiki and, ultimately, the infamous Pirate King, Roger. Even if the tter event had set off an uninteidal wave, the elder still admired Cudius's results.

  "Cudius, what about you? Do you have anything to report on CP-X's ret activities? Any suggestions on how we might hahe esg crisis at sea?" the elder asked, a faint smile on his lips.

  Cudius straightened up, setting his cigar aside as he reached for a dot that Stussy quickly handed him. With a casual smile, he opehe folder and spread it out oable in front of him. "Actually, Your Excellency, I do have something I'd like to propose. I've been preparing a pn, and I'd like to hear your thoughts on it."

  As he spoke, Stussy effitly handed out copies of the dot to each person around the table. Sengoku opened his copy, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. The file tained profiles on two pirates: Crocodile and Dofmingo.

  Crocodile was a retively new but rising figure on the Grand Line. Sengoku already khat Crocodile had once been a subordinate of Cudius, which had puzzled him before. Why would Cudius, a high-rankiial Dragon, sponsor a pirate? And now, here was Dofmingo, Cudius's cousin, also active as a pirate uhe name "Donquixote." What was Cudius's angle in all this?

  As Sengoku flipped through the file, a murmur of i spread around the table. Even the bald elder looked intrigued as he reviewed the information.

  The elder finally looked up, his curiosity evident. "So, Cudius, what's the purpose of showing us this? What are you proposing?"

  Cudius chuckled and said, "These two, Crocodile and Dofmingo, are some of the most promising young pirates in the current era, wouldn't you say?"

  Gis nodded in agreement. "Indeed, Yhness. They've both established themselves quickly."

  "Then, using them as an example, let me introduce a cept I call 'The Seven Warlords of the Sea Pn,'" Cudius said, an almost wicked glint in his eyes.

  Everyone was silent, watg him ily.

  Cudius tinued, "To put it simply, this pn is about 'ruling Pirates with Pirates.' Instead of fighting the rising tide of piracy head-on, we endorse certain pirates, ones we trol and use them to mahe chaos in our favor."