"Usurping a nation?"
A smirk tugged at Leo's lips, his voice thick with sarcasm.
"You think being a member state of the World Government is something to aspire to? Then tell me—why hasn't Amazon Lily joined?"
"At the end of the day, paying the Heavenly Tribute to the World Government is no different than paying a protection fee to the Marines. And how is that any different from the countries under the Four Emperors' protection?"
He was presenting a worldview neither Hancock nor Gloriosa had ever considered. But the more they thought about it, the more it made unsettling sense.
In the New World, most nations paid tribute to the Four Emperors in exchange for safety. The Marines had virtually no foothold there, constantly pushed back by the Yonko. The so-called 'protection fees' paid to the Emperors were nothing compared to the tribute demanded by the Celestial Dragons.
So, what was really the difference between the two?
Different names. Same system.
Hancock's eyes flickered with thought.
"So what you're saying is, if someone rises to the rank of a Yonko, they could change the world too. As one of the Four Emperors, they could ensure peace and stability in their territory."
That's what she had been doing all along. While outwardly she maintained her reputation as a pirate, inside her borders, Amazon Lily was a paradise—peaceful, orderly, and united.
It was precisely because of that internal prosperity that the Kuja Pirates were so fiercely loyal. This was their homeland. Their safe haven. Their roots.
It was also something Hancock took great pride in.
"They do command vast territories," Leo admitted. "And yes, they can govern those regions however they see fit. But they haven't fundamentally changed anything. Their rule is built entirely on personal power—like emperors of old. It all collapses the moment they die. Whether they rule with cruelty or kindness, it begins and ends with one person."
"A system like that has no future."
He shook his head, unimpressed.
Hancock gave a faint snort but didn't argue.
Even she had to admit—there was logic in his criticism.
"You've got quite the mouth on you," Gloriosa said warily, eyeing him with growing suspicion.
Was this man truly just a powerless slave, or was he hiding something far greater?
"So by your logic," she asked, "most of the pirates in this world aren't even worth your respect?"
"Of course not," Leo said, tilting his head slightly.
"What have they done to earn it?"
"You arrogant brat," Gloriosa snapped. "One of the Four Emperors, Whitebeard, was a legendary pirate from Gol D. Roger's era. He protected thousands of islands and countries. After Roger, he was the one most likely to become Pirate King. He doesn't deserve your respect?"
Though she'd remained secluded on Amazon Lily for years, Gloriosa knew more about the world's power structures than most active pirates. She understood who the true monsters were out there on the seas.
Leo just laughed.
"Whitebeard never wanted to be Pirate King. All he ever truly desired was a family. That's why every single one of his crew called him 'Old Man'."
His words dripped with disdain.
And yet… he wasn't wrong.
Gloriosa flinched. That was the essence of Whitebeard's crew.
But few in the world dared to speak of it so bluntly—let alone with such contempt.
The Whitebeard Pirates were known for their loyalty and unity.
Anyone who insulted Whitebeard would be relentlessly hunted.
Anyone who harmed a member of his crew would face retribution—potentially from Whitebeard himself.
Of all the Four Emperors, the one you least wanted to provoke was undoubtedly Whitebeard.
Still, Gloriosa wasn't ready to concede.
"What about Big Mom? Her entire crew is made up of her own children. That kind of unity—tied by blood—is even stronger than Whitebeard's. Their power, cohesion, and sheer numbers surpass his. You're saying even she isn't worthy of your respect?"
Leo's voice grew cold.
"Big Mom is a glutton driven by appetite. Her children are shackled by bloodline. They yearn for stability, not domination. Their strength is a facade—a brittle mask hiding their fear of her wrath. They're weak. Emotionally weak. And that weakness is hidden only by brute power."
He wasn't just dismissing the Four Emperors.
He was methodically clarifying his own thoughts.
Before transmigrating into this world, he remembered how the One Piece story had started to decline. Rumors said it was due to editorial changes and Oda letting the plot spiral. Ironically, he remembered those messy arcs even more clearly than the good ones.
The entire series, after all, was primarily comedic—even in combat.
Enemies with completely broken powers like Sugar's Hobby-Hobby Fruit or Perona's Hollow-Hollow Fruit could somehow be defeated through absurd, slapstick means—usually thanks to Usopp's luck.
That kind of narrative favoritism rubbed Leo the wrong way.
It made him uneasy.
Because if he were to encounter those people, things likely wouldn't play out in his favor.
Not unless he became much stronger first.
Which is why—for now—he needed to cling tightly to Boa Hancock.
Everything he had said up to this point… had been calculated.
All of it was a setup for one goal:
To convince Hancock to abandon Amazon Lily…
…and join him in tearing down the World Government.
From the very beginning, every move, every word had served this purpose.
The first step was the most important:
He needed her to believe in him.
To sway the proudest woman in the seas—this world's most haughty pirate queen—was no easy task.