"Does that give the Marine a reason to join Peach Garden?"
Hearing this, Kuzan raised his right hand to scratch his head, but as soon as he did, he brushed against a seagull resting there.
"Caw!" The seagull jolted awake, startled.
"Oh, oh, sorry about that," Kuzan said, gently patting it until it settled down again.
He then looked at Aramaki. "You've seen Peach Garden's strength for yourself."
Aramaki lowered his head. Being suppressed by Rolan's Haoshoku Haki in Peach Garden was something he could not ignore. It was a mark he would carry for a long time.
Still, he had to admit it. Rolan's strength was on an entirely different level.
Seeing Aramaki remain silent, Kuzan continued.
"The World Government is extremely powerful, maybe even slightly stronger than Peach Garden. As long as it exists, the Marines have little chance of becoming what we were meant to be."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Right now, the only force in this world that can directly threaten the World Government is Peach Garden. Rolan already declared war at Marineford, but neither side has moved yet. They are both uncertain about each other's full strength."
Kuzan's tone became more serious.
"In the end, only one of them will remain. When they clash, both sides will suffer heavy losses. Their strength could drop to less than one-tenth. No matter who wins, they won't be able to suppress the Marines afterward."
Aramaki did not argue. He simply stood there, thinking through Kuzan's words.
Saleh, however, showed clear interest. His eyes lit up at the idea.
Kuzan continued, "And compared to the World Government, Peach Garden stands on the side of justice."
Those words shook both Aramaki and Saleh again, just as they were starting to steady their views.
Kuzan moved his hand again, intending to scratch his head, but stopped midway and stroked his chin instead.
"Sengoku, Garp, and the others have all spent time in Peach Garden. They understand it well. I've been there multiple times too."
He looked directly at them.
"I can say this clearly. Peach Garden is close to an ideal country."
"There are proper laws and systems that actually work. Crime is controlled. Justice is applied fairly. People live without fear of pirates, bandits, or thieves."
He continued steadily.
"They have advanced medical care, strong education, and social systems that support everyone. Once you see it yourself, you will understand. A place like that shouldn't exist in a world like this."
Aramaki and Saleh turned toward Sengoku, Garp, and the others.
They saw agreement in their expressions.
That alone was shocking.
A nation ruled by a pirate, yet spoken of this highly by Marine leaders.
It didn't make sense to them.
Kuzan understood their hesitation.
"You don't have to decide anything now. Just don't act recklessly when it comes to Peach Garden."
He added, "Not just because we are cooperating with them, but because Peach Garden is far beyond what either of you can handle."
"I don't want either of you getting hurt over this."
He paused before finishing.
"Go there yourselves. See it with your own eyes."
After hearing that, Aramaki stood up and left without another word.
Saleh nodded to the others before following him out.
Kuzan let out a quiet sigh as he watched them go.
He then turned to Garp. "Do you think we're making the right decision?"
Garp tossed a senbei into his mouth and chewed loudly.
Crunch, crunch.
"Hahaha, don't worry about it. I trust my judgment. Rolan is reliable. And more importantly, the people living in Peach Garden speak for themselves."
Sengoku nodded in agreement.
"Even if Peach Garden turns out to be no different from the World Government, we still have a path forward."
He leaned forward slightly.
"When those two go to war, we preserve our strength and continue to grow. No matter who wins, they won't have enough power left to control the Marines."
"At that point, we become truly independent."
Kizaru spoke next. "For now, Peach Garden is at least more trustworthy than the World Government."
Tsuru shook her head.
"That may only be because Peach Garden is still building its strength and choosing to present itself that way. We can't stake everything on them."
"We prepare for both outcomes."
The room fell into a serious discussion as they began forming detailed plans.
…
Peach Garden, Heibuluotong Island.
Inside the Starbucks Tavern, two old men sat drinking together.
One had silver curly hair, a short white beard, glasses, and a vertical scar over his right eye.
The other was massive, with long golden hair and thick white nose hair curling downward like a crescent.
Several women in leopard print outfits stood beside him. From time to time, he casually reached out to touch them.
The silver-haired man paid it no mind.
"Whitebeard, have you been thinking about retiring for a while now?" Rayleigh asked.
Whitebeard pulled his hand back and let out a deep laugh.
"Gurarararara, I've been past retirement age for a long time. And Ace is capable enough. It's time for the old era to step aside."
The two men were none other than Edward Newgate and Silvers Rayleigh.
After visiting Peach Garden, Rayleigh had grown fond of its atmosphere. The peaceful life, along with its lively casinos, suited him well.
He returned to Sabaody, brought Shakky along, and settled there permanently.
Whitebeard had discovered Peach Garden even earlier and had already planned to retire there.
After passing leadership of his crew to Ace, he came here without hesitation.
Though they had once been rivals, there was no bitterness between them.
Their battles had built respect.
Now, without their former titles, they were simply two old men enjoying life.
Whitebeard liked alcohol and women.
Rayleigh preferred alcohol and gambling.
Despite their differences, they got along easily.
Whenever they had time, they would wander through Peach Garden, pick a tavern, and spend the day drinking.
At that moment, a voice suddenly called out.
"I knew it, hahaha."