My father often took over islands to protect them. We flew our flag over any lands he decreed our territory, not to force tribute or taxes or whatever else, but to protect those regions from exactly that. It started with Fishman Island, when we saw how many slavers were using it as hunting ground for the tenryuubito.
Such a thing worked because anyone who wanted to fight Pops to prove they were the strongest had to come find him directly. Anyone who had the sense and brains to protect their lives knew that defying Pops' laws, either killing someone with our tattoo, or firing on our flag would be viewed as an act of war we'd punish with death, knew to avoid doing such things.
All the same, there were many men like Crocodile who would try to gain reputation and power in any means they could.
When Pops died, his islands fell to me to protect, and right now, I cannot. That is... [Beyond painful. What does he tell people he always protected now that he can't? "Find the lesser of two evils?" "Sorry but I'm not as strong as Pops."? There's no right answer of course.] Troubling. The day he died, people all over my world threw celebrations and parties, in victory for the marines, and in honor of defeat of the 'monster.' Pops' islands did not party of course, they were mourning him, because they knew him. They didn't have much time to mourn him however, because they were almost instantly attacked by all the pirates we'd always held off.
Without Pops, those islands would always have been attacked like that, so it's good that they even had as long a respite as they did.
Still, what once was a shield, now is a target.
I've made sure to blaze my words of war for all the ocean to hear, but I mean it as a lightning rod. I hope to find those who'd be drawn to it specifically for that reason. Don't be careful just for your own sake, eh? If I named a mere useless rock out at sea under my protection, there are those who would wish to blow it up just to prove that they can. Be careful what you paint a target on.
[Voice] / Private
Such a thing worked because anyone who wanted to fight Pops to prove they were the strongest had to come find him directly. Anyone who had the sense and brains to protect their lives knew that defying Pops' laws, either killing someone with our tattoo, or firing on our flag would be viewed as an act of war we'd punish with death, knew to avoid doing such things.
All the same, there were many men like Crocodile who would try to gain reputation and power in any means they could.
When Pops died, his islands fell to me to protect, and right now, I cannot. That is... [Beyond painful. What does he tell people he always protected now that he can't? "Find the lesser of two evils?" "Sorry but I'm not as strong as Pops."? There's no right answer of course.] Troubling. The day he died, people all over my world threw celebrations and parties, in victory for the marines, and in honor of defeat of the 'monster.' Pops' islands did not party of course, they were mourning him, because they knew him. They didn't have much time to mourn him however, because they were almost instantly attacked by all the pirates we'd always held off.
Without Pops, those islands would always have been attacked like that, so it's good that they even had as long a respite as they did.
Still, what once was a shield, now is a target.
I've made sure to blaze my words of war for all the ocean to hear, but I mean it as a lightning rod. I hope to find those who'd be drawn to it specifically for that reason. Don't be careful just for your own sake, eh? If I named a mere useless rock out at sea under my protection, there are those who would wish to blow it up just to prove that they can. Be careful what you paint a target on.