"Stop the war?"
"Why should I stop a war between two Allied Nations?"
"Even though these are two pirate Allied Nations that annoy me, this is a legitimate war, entirely in accordance with World Government law."
"I just want to defeat those highly-bountied pillars of the Eight-Treasure Marine Corps and the pirate clan Daimyos!"
Aramaki looked at Issho, whose face was full of anticipation, and spoke with a strange expression.
Why did this guy seem to have a saintly feeling about him?
"..."
Issho's smile stiffened.
Eric saw that the atmosphere between the two was a bit awkward and quickly acted as a lubricant.
He smiled and explained to Issho the Hereditary Title promotion system of the Goa Empire.
Only after listening did Issho understand Aramaki's previous remark.
'In a few days, he might be called Marquis Aramaki!'
So that was what he meant.
Defeating a Great Pirate with a bounty of over 500 million Berries would lead to promotion to Marquis.
"Issho, what's the use of merely stopping their war?"
"After we leave, they will still find opportunities to reignite the war."
"This time, we will use this war between the two powers of the West Blue to spread the name of our East Blue."
"Once the Goa Empire and we both gain fame and prestige, the East Blue will become even more peaceful."
"After the East Blue achieves complete peace, we will slowly spread it to the Four Seas, and finally make the world more peaceful."
Wang Shi spoke up, providing a lofty reason for Aramaki's promotion.
"But the common people of the West Blue also want peace..."
Issho's face showed reluctance; if given the chance, he would still dedicate his strength.
"Issho, you have to walk one step at a time. What's the use of helping here and helping there?"
"This is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause, and it's futile."
"It's better to first let the East Blue achieve peace, then use the East Blue as a model to slowly change the Four Seas!"
"If one sea is not swept clean, how can one sweep the world!"
"We must be pragmatic and steadily achieve the ideal of world peace step by step."
Wang Shi took advantage of Issho's recent emergence from a life of confusion, directly instilling his will into Issho's benevolent ideals.
"Walk one step at a time? If one sea is not swept clean, how can one sweep the world?"
As Issho listened to Wang Shi's words, they somehow sounded very reasonable.
Having stayed in the chaotic West Blue for many years, he already knew what a mess the West Blue was, with its rampant underworld and pirate Allied Nations.
Instead of trying to change the murky West Blue, it would be better to transform the East Blue into the most peaceful sea.
Then, at least, there would be one peaceful sea in this world suitable for common people to live in.
If he couldn't save the Four Seas by himself, couldn't he at least follow Wang Shi to first pacify one sea?
"Your Majesty, I am enlightened."
"It turns out how naive and empty my desire to achieve world peace overnight, from top to bottom, was."
"For so many years, I've been muddled, unable to find a path forward."
"Today, hearing Your Majesty's words, has opened my mind and shown me a feasible path."
"Your Majesty's great unification philosophy is more feasible than the Revolutionary Army's chaotic coups."
The more Issho thought about it, the clearer his mind became. He couldn't change this world from the high level of the World Government.
But he could absolutely assist Wang Shi, the East Blue Overlord, in achieving the great unification and peace of the East Blue, and then gradually spread that peace to the world.
At least, this was a visible path.
He had always thought about peacefully changing this world from the top down, from the Celestial Dragons and the World Government's high echelons.
But he knew he couldn't change the Celestial Dragons, nor could he change the World Government.
Since he couldn't change the Celestial Dragons from the top down, and he didn't want to become like the Revolutionary Army, chaotically starting wars from the bottom up.
Then he would start changing from the middle, following Wang Shi step by step to change the East Blue, and change the world.
At least the Goa Empire's conquest was more peaceful and involved far fewer sacrifices than the Revolutionary Army's violent overthrow.
It was just a bit hard on those royal families.
...
"Believe in your Emperor!"
"I will lead you to achieve your dreams!"
Seeing Issho's change, Wang Shi revealed a faint smile.
"Absolute loyalty to Your Majesty!!"
Eric was the first to shout, his face incredibly excited.
"Yes, loyalty, loyalty, loyalty!"
"Absolutely trust Your Majesty!"
"In the future, we will even plant the flag of the Goa Empire in the South Sea!"
Aramaki also became excited. The stronger the Goa Empire's power, the higher his Hereditary Title would be, and the higher he would stand.
This time, he would definitely make a name for himself in the West Blue!
"First pacify the East Blue, then the South Sea, achieve peace in both seas, and finally..."
Issho truly saw the path he needed to take.
Anyway, the West Blue wasn't his hometown, so let it remain chaotic for now.
It had been chaotic for so many years anyway, and his home country, Cang Country, was in the Grand Line, where it was even more chaotic.
Don't think too much about things that can't be changed, it only adds to the trouble.
"Achieve the great unification of the East Blue and bring complete peace to the East Blue!"
Nami, that girl, actually shouted. She was the one who most hoped for permanent peace in the East Blue.
Her and Nojiko's home country, the Oykot Kingdom, had been destroyed, and Coco Yashi Village was enslaved by Arlong.
She deeply knew how important peace was for common people like them.
The others also followed suit, shouting.
Although many of them weren't clear about what was happening.
But following Wang Shi was enough; being loyal to Wang Shi was enough.
Wang Shi took the opportunity to use his 'Betsu Ten Mouth' to continue instilling his ideals into these guys' minds.
He finally managed to steer all these people in the same direction.
In short, based in the Goa Empire of the East Blue, they would just follow Wang Shi and develop step by step.
...
"Whitebeard's name alone can stabilize the New World quite a bit."
"Don't you want our names, in the future, to be able to make two warring nations cease fire?"
"Therefore, we indeed need to go to this war between the two powers of the West Blue and establish our prestige."
"Being able to make them cease fire for some time might also be a good thing."
"Most importantly, it can train our strength and make us stronger."
Wang Shi spoke again, taking into account everyone's thoughts. In short, fame, combat, becoming stronger, peace... all could achieve his goals.
Everyone found their direction and reason for fighting.
"I can't wait to go to the battlefield of the Flower Country and the Sang Country."
Aramaki's eyes burned; he was already impatient to make a name for himself throughout the world and be promoted to Marquis.
"Fame, huh..."
Issho's thoughts also became increasingly firm. He truly wanted to become such a great figure whose single word could quell a war.
This made Issho, who originally didn't care about fame or material possessions, suddenly intensely desire to become famous throughout the world.
Not truly for fame, but for the 'power to stop war.'
A formidable reputation where a single phrase, 'Give me some face,' could make both sides cease hostilities.
Under Wang Shi's ideological influence, the core of Wang Shi's Imperial Hereditary Title system was thoroughly established.
In the upcoming Flower-Sang War, the Double Marquis of the Empire under Wang Shi were about to announce their arrival to the world.
Even Zoro wanted to be promoted to Imperial Viscount in this war.
To challenge the World's Strongest Swordsman, he couldn't stand still.
He wondered if he could now defeat a powerful pirate with a bounty of over 100 million Berries.