Chapter 458: Accepting the Invitation

Zhang Zhang Jie pondered for a moment and spoke slowly:

"I heard that becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea requires huge prestige and deterrence, which I seem to lack."

"What kind of huge prestige and deterrence does the Excellency still need?"

Facing Zhang Zhang Jie's doubt, Aokiji was quite dumbfounded.

Not to mention people like Kuma and Empress Boa Hancock among the Seven Warlords of the Sea,

just how did Crocodile and Gecko Moria become Seven Warlords of the Sea?

Isn't it because one of them challenged Whitebeard Edward Newgate,

and one challenged the Beast Kaido, these two Pirate Emperors, and didn't die?

And they didn't just not die; later, one was hitting ordinary pirates in Alabasta,

and one was a homebody who stayed in the Thriller Bark in the first half of the Grand Line for more than ten years without moving;

and Zhang Zhang Jie went head-to-head with Big Mom Xia Luote Xia Luote Linlin,

and was a strong man who calmly retreated under the siege of the Xia Luote family and the pursuit of Kaido.

If Zhang Zhang Jie didn't have the mind to be a pirate, otherwise he would raise his arms and establish a pirate group,

I am afraid that the fifth Emperor-level pirate group would take shape in the New World in an instant.

It is precisely because of this that the Five Elders and their Marines were so eager to recruit Zhang Zhang Jie as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea

—the four Emperor-level pirate groups have already made their Marines and the World Government miserable enough,

if another one comes, the muddy water of the New World will be even muddier.

"So that's it."

Zhang Zhang Jie nodded understandingly.

What kind of prestige and influence can compare to retreating unscathed under the hands of the Four Emperors?

After this battle record, his prestige and deterrence are already no less than those legendary big pirates who have roamed the sea for decades

and have bounties in the units of one billion berries.

"Sure enough, the best way to become famous is to use seniors as stepping stones."

Zhang Zhang Jie couldn't help but feel some emotion in his heart.

At this time, he also remembered that there is one person among the Seven Warlords of the Sea who entered directly by relying on powerful strength,

and that is the world's greatest swordsman, "Hawkeye" Dracule Mihawk.

Hawkeye has always been a lone ranger since he appeared on the sea, with neither crew nor affiliated forces,

and is very lonely compared to Doflamingo and Empress Hancock, who have powerful forces.

But just by relying on his experience of often sparring with Shanks in the past,

no one on the sea dares to underestimate him.

And there are countless swordsmen practicing swords on the sea, Shanks, Fujitora,

and Flower Sword Vista, the commander of the 5th Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, are all great swordsmen,

so the gold content of Hawkeye's "World's Greatest Swordsman" title is self-evident.

Because of his powerful strength, the Marines and the World Government held their noses,

chose to selectively forget his previous title of "Marine Hunter," and invited him to join the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Nowadays, in the eyes of the Marine high-level officials and the World Government, he, Zhang Zhang Jie, is probably a new Hawkeye.

Zhang Zhang Jie thought for a while and replied: "I agree."

"As long as the Excellency joins, you can... Nani, you agreed?"

Aokiji was about to recite the benefits of joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea according to the script, but was surprised to hear that Zhang Zhang Jie agreed directly.

"Yes, I am very interested in the Seven Warlords of the Sea and choose to join."

Zhang Zhang Jie nodded slightly to show confirmation.

This was not his impulsive decision, but the result of his careful consideration.

As someone who has had the experience of being an emperor of several worlds (Zhang Zhang Jie of *Water Margin*, Zhang Zhang Jie of *Heaven-Dependent*, Zhang Zhang Jie of *Heavenly Dragon*),

he is very clear about the views of power holders like the Five Elders on unstable factors like himself

—either include them in their own control;

or erase this unstable factor from the world at all costs.

Although with his current strength, even if the World Government were to encircle and suppress him with all its might, he could calmly retreat,

but he is still very wary of Imu-sama, who has been waiting in the Flower Room of Pangea Castle for eight hundred years.

Even a pig, if it lived for eight hundred years, should have become Marshal Tianpeng, or at least a second senior brother,

let alone a strong man who defeated the Sun Joy Yan Yan Boyi eight hundred years ago

and led the other nineteen kings to establish the World Government?

Even from the known data, Imu's means of defeating Joy Yan Yan Boyi,

it is highly likely that it was not so aboveboard, but used conspiracy and tricks,

making him use all means to erase that history, creating a "blank hundred years,"

but victory is victory, this is indisputable, and for eight hundred years, the World Government has always been the orthodoxy ruling the world.

With his current strength, where it is very difficult to even break Big Mom's Iron Balloon,

there is a 99% chance that he is not Imu-sama's opponent.

If you can't beat them for the time being, join them!

Anyway, it's not like you can't quit after joining the Seven Warlords of the Sea,

Once the day comes when one's strength is sufficient, turning against the Seven Warlords of the Sea will not be a difficult task.

As for the current Seven Warlords of the Sea, each of them has their own ghosts,

and there are not many who serve the World Government wholeheartedly,

they are all using the name given by the World Government to engage in their own "private affairs," either for ideals or for ambition.

Zhang Zhang Jie feels that such an extremely loose organization with no ability to restrain is

really too suitable for himself who wants to develop in a low-key manner.

"Welcome to the Excellency's joining."

Aokiji stretched out his right hand to Zhang Zhang Jie, but his expression was a bit complicated.

As a Marine who wants to maintain justice, he is very disgusted with the policy of the Seven Warlords of the Sea,

which gives big pirates the right to legal plunder in exchange for their support;

but at this time, he had to admit that such a policy used to win over neutral powerhouses is extremely useful.

If a powerhouse like Zhang Zhang Jie became a pirate, then the number of commoners and Marines who would die in the flames of war would be countless.

"Perhaps the system of the Seven Warlords of the Sea can be improved?"

An idea appeared in Aokiji's heart: perhaps big pirates like Doflamingo,

who secretly operate human trafficking and arms businesses, can be removed from the Seven Warlords of the Sea,

and powerhouses like Zhang Zhang Jie, who are relatively harmless and neutral, and do not burn, kill, or loot, can be chosen to join?

"Happy cooperation in the future."

Zhang Zhang Jie smiled and shook hands with Aokiji.

After negotiating with Zhang Zhang Jie, Aokiji immediately took out a Den Den Mushi and dialed a phone.

"Brrr, brrr."

The Den Den Mushi rang twice, and then its appearance changed into an elderly man with thick white curly hair,

a fluffy white beard, a clear vertical scar on his left cheek, sharp eyes,

wearing a dark noble flat cap, a black suit,

a white shirt inside, a dark purple tie, and a cane in his hand,

exuding a noble and majestic temperament.

"Aokiji, how did the negotiation go?"

As soon as the elderly man appeared, he looked at Aokiji with a scrutinizing gaze,

and in front of him, Aokiji's identity as a Marine Admiral seemed not worth mentioning.

But the fact is just that, because he is one of the Five Elders, the head of the World Government that has ruled the world for eight hundred years.

"Excellency Saint Saturn, the matter has been negotiated."

Aokiji put away the laziness on his body and answered sternly.

No matter how dissatisfied he was with the World Government's constraints on the Marines,

facing the Five Elders, the highest power holders of the World Government, he still had to show a respectful attitude.

Because if he also showed an unruly attitude, it would only make the Five Elders increase their suppression of the Marines. ===== CHAPTER 459 =====