During the meeting, Cudius came to a deeper realization about the inner ws of the Wover. It wasn't just the external forces pressing against them, their internal rot and stagnation were all too apparent, and the worst part was, they were aware of it.

  Nusjuro gnced unhappily between Sengoku and Gis, his displeasure clear. He wasn't blind to the underlying challenges of the situation. He knew full well that Whitebeard's influence was an almost insurmountable problem. But doing nothing? That was out of the question.

  His expression darkened as he said in a low voice, "I don't care how plicated the situation is. We must e up with a pn today. That pn will be implemented, regardless of whether it works or not. We ot sit idle. If we do nothing, where is the majesty of the Wover?"

  At those words, the room fell silent. Everyone present knew how difficult it was to deal with Whitebeard, and no one wao be the first to speak.

  Cudius leaned ba his chair, his thoughts ing. Dealing with e was no simple matter, but if someone could figure out a way to eliminate him, it would be beneficial, even for Cudius. Whitebeard was a giant of an era, suppressing chaos and maintaining a delicate bance. If he were to fall, the sea would pluo further turmoil.

  From Cudius' perspective, a chaotic sea would serve his rger pns. A more unstable world would give him greater opportuthen CP-X aend his influence. Whitebeard, oher hand, was a symbol of stability in his own way, even if it wasn't the kind of stability the Wover liked.

  But after a moment's thought, Cudius frowned. If Whitebeard were so easy to deal with, someone would've taken him out long ago. The only sario I think of where he'd fall would be something on the scale of the Summit War years down the line. Even then, it wasn't like Whitebeard would go down easily.

  As these thoughts ran through his mind, Sengoku suddenly broke the silence. "It's irely hopeless. There may be a possible breakthrough."

  The room's attention shifted to him immediately. Cudius, surprised, thought, You don't get called The Resourceful Admiral for nothing, do you?

  Gis and even Nusjuro turheir focus to Sengoku, waiting for him to eborate.

  After a brief pause, Sengoku tinued, "That said, it won't be easy."

  "Speak your mind," Nusjuro said, his tone slightly more even.

  Sengoku nodded and said, "Currently, Whitebeard's banner flies over Fish-Man Isnd. Fish-Man Isnd, as you all know, is a legitimate member of the Wover. If we could remove Whitebeard's pirate fg fru Pace, it would deal a serious blow to his prestige and influence."

  Nusjuro frow this suggestion. His initial frustration with Whitebeard's influeemmed from the exact issue Sengoku had pointed out: a Wover member state, Fish-Man Isnd, sought security under Whitebeard's fg rather than the Gover's. The mere sight of that fg spoke volumes about the Wover's failure to protect its own.

  But the problem wasn't as simple as Sengoku made it sound. Fish-Man Isnd's unique history made it a deeply plicated matter.

  Nusjuro sighed and said, "Sengoku, you're aware of the... factors that have driven Fish-Man Isnd to this point, aren't you?"

  Sengoku was silent for a moment before nodding. "I am."

  "Then do you think ygestion is feasible?" Nusjuro pressed.

  Sengoku hesitated before replying, "It won't be easy, but we have to start somewhere. We'd o create an opening, a shift irust."

  Nusjuro shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a note nation. "It's not just difficult, it's near impossible."

  The situation with Fish-Man Isnd was far from straightforward. While it had long been a member of the Wover, its retionship with Mariejois was strained due to the enduring issue of svery.

  Officially, svery had been outwed by the Wover decades ago, yet the practice persisted openly in Mariejois, especially among the Celestial Dragons. Fish-Men and Merfolk were particurly valued as sves, whily exacerbated the racism and exploitation faced by Fish-Man Isnd's people.

  This historical mistreatment had left the isnd's rulers deeply distrustful of the Wover. Turning to Whitebeard for prote wasn't a choice they made lightly, it was one born of desperation.

  If the Wover wao repce Whitebeard's fg with their own, they would o rebuild trust with Fish-Man Isnd. But that would require addressing the root of the problem: the institution of svery in Mariejois.

  And that was no small task. Even the Five Elders, who personally disliked the sve trade, knew how entrehe practice was among the Celestial Dragons. ging that would be akin t to uproot a mountain.

  The room grew tense as the implications of Sengoku's suggestion sank in. It wasn't just about removing a fg, it was about fronting a deeply ingrained system.

  Just as Cudius was sidering how to stay out of this mess, Sengoku's words sent a chill down his spine.

  "But," Sengoku tinued, his tone shifting, "if there's anyone who could take the first step, it might be His Highness Cudius."

  Cudius froze. What the hell, Sengoku? Why are yio this?

  Hearing Sengoku's suggestion, Nusjuro turned his attention to Cudius. His expression was one of intrigue, as if he were seriously sidering the idea.

  Cudius, suppressing the urge to gre at Sengoku, forced a polite smile and said, "What do you mean by that, Sengoku? Are you suggesting I take responsibility for the svery issue in Mariejois?"

  "Not all of it," Sengoku replied with an awkward smile. "Just the issue of sves from Fish-Man Isnd. It's a more tained problem, and if addressed, it could serve as a gesture of goodwill toward Ryugu Pace. That, in turn, might lead tress on the fg issue."

  Cudius narrowed his eyes slightly, realizing Sengoku was deliberately throwing him uhe bus. But Sengoku wasirely wrong, pared to dismantling the entire sve system, fog on Fish-Man Isnd's specific grievances was more manageable. Still, it wasn't a task Cudius wao take on lightly.

  Before Cudius could respond, Nusjuro leaned forward slightly, his i clearly piqued. "Cudius, this might actually work. You've always been bold and unorthodox, traits that could make a difference here. After all, your reputation in Mariejois is... unique. You have room to maneuver in ways others don't."

  Cudius sighed inwardly. By 'unique,' you mean I'm seen as a troublemaker, don't you? But he knew better than tue with Nusjuro in this setting.

  Leaning toward Sengoku, Cudius whispered in a low, irritated voice, "Sengoku, are y to set me up?"

  Sengoku, trying to look as i as possible, replied just as quietly, "Help me out here, Yhness, or they'll tear into me even harder."

  Cudius sighed again, this time more audibly. "After this meeting, you'd better give me a damn good expnation."

  "I promise, Yhness, you won't be disappointed," Sengoku said quickly.

  ***

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