At this moment, Sengoku couldn't help but feel a little proud. While CP-X had bee increasingly promi on the seas i years, achieving one major feat after another, at the end of the day, they still needed Mario cooperate.

  After all, CP-X was too specialized and exclusive. Although it boasted many powerful individuals, its foundation was shallow pared to Marine, which had a history stretg back over 800 years.

  Sengoku had this fidence. He viewed the Calm Belt as a critical development area.

  As long as the Calm Belt could tinue geing bes, those bes would iably trath for Marine. With time and resources, Sengoku believed even five hundred warships could be dispatched if necessary.

  Oher hand, Cudius felt somewhat at a loss. He had po use the supposed "pressure" Marine faced to push his agenda forward, but Sengoku had so fidently dismissed it, leaving Cudius with no leverage.

  Fortunately, Sengoku wasn't the type to make things difficult unnecessarily. As a "Resourceful General" and an old acquaintance of Cudius, Sengoku uood the dynamics between them.

  Smiling, Sengoku said, "Of course, this isn't the smartest approach. Isn't it better to use resources in a way that ensures safety and stability for all sides?"

  Cudius said, "Yes, although iing more warships and manpower is feasible, it's not the most effit solution."

  "What do you mean, Yhness?" Sengoku asked.

  "I think we utilize sea train teology," Cudius said casually.

  Sengoku blinked in surprise. Memories of the previous World Summit resurfaced. That time, Cudius had turhe Summit into what felt more like a trade expo, showg sea train teology. Though Sengoku tried to recall the exact year that had happened, he eventually gave up.

  This year, there wasn't muticipation surrounding the Summit. Cudius didn't pn to attend, nor did Sengoku. The most Marine would do was send someoo escort royal families attending the event.

  "Sea trains?" Sengoku muttered, thinking it over. The cept was intriguing. If sea trains could be introduced into the Calm Belt, it would elimihe need for dozens or even hundreds of warships, saving massive resources.

  At present, Marine's activities in the Calm Belt were beled as an "experiment." Sengoku wasn't sure how long they could sustain that justification—three years? Five years? Eventually, they would need a more sustainable approach. If sea train teology could be adapted for the Calm Belt, the logistics would bee far simpler: establish transport hubs around the Calm Belt, move resources effitly, ahe products.

  However, despite the promising idea, Sengoku hesitated.

  Currently, Marine was able to be from the Calm Belt because they held the necessary teology, something others cked. Only Marine could operate at such a rge scale in and out of the Calm Belt.

  If sea trains were introduced, Cudius could theoretically cut Mari of the equation at any time. While Sengoku wao believe in Cudius's character, depending on moral trust for a business worth tens of billions, and potentially hundreds of billions was risky.

  In truth, Sengoku's worries weren't baseless. But Cudius didn't view the situation in the same way. To him, trolling Marine was far more valuable than the money geed from the Calm Belt. Cutting Mari would undermihe trust and partnership he had painstakingly built over the years. Without Marine's cooperation, his influence over the Wover would be signifitly weaker.

  Cudius uood that gaining trol of Marine was critical if he wao challehe Wover's authority. His approach wasn't to destroy Marine, which would be nearly impossible. Instead, he aimed tthen Marine, making it clear that even under new leadership, their operations and funding would remain secure.

  The idea was to make Marine uand that their future prosperity depended on cooperation with Cudius. No Marine officer would willingly trade a stable, well-funded anization for one in chaos or poverty. The promise of stability was key.

  The Revolutionary Army would likely try to exploit this same angle, ving Mario remairal in the event of a power struggle with the Wover. Cudius, however, doubted the Revolutionary Army's ability to sway Marine so easily.

  Cudius believed that if the Revolutionary Army wao succeed, they would o distract Marine by direg its attention toward the Wover. But even that sario seemed unlikely.

  The most effective strategy, Cudius cluded, was to vince Marihat aligning with him offered the best prospects for their future.

  Sengoku wasn't foolish. Cudius knew he o address Sengoku's s directly. Without waiting for Sengoku to speak, Cudius tinued, "The Calm Belt is a unique region. It's the ing ground of the Sea Kings, and yirain tracks there es with signifit risks. That's why I believe Marine's involvement is essential to this project."

  Cudius's words shifted the versation. What could have been interpreted as a demand now felt like a natural request for colboration.

  Sengoku let out a quiet breath of relief. "Yhness, what exactly are you suggesting?"

  "It's like this," Cudius began. "In Water Seven, we've been discussing termeasures. We believe that successfully yirain tracks in the Calm Belt will require Marine's expertise ioeology. binirain teology with Marine's seastone advas could lead to signifit breakthroughs.

  Of course, our primary iion is stific research. We believe colboration will yield the best results. What do you think, Marshal Sengoku?" Cudius expined, smiling as he presented a seemingly ionale.

  Stific research? Sengoku thought. Would you really be ied in this if there weren't a mine in the Calm Belt?

  Despite his internal pints, Sengoku replied with a righteous tone, "Yhness makes an excellent point. Stific progress often es from colboration and innovation. binirain aoeology for the greater good is a worthy endeavor."

  "Yes, exactly. I think Marine should take the lead in ying the Calm Belt sea train tracks. After all, this experimental project is being spearheaded by Mari wouldn't be appropriate for us to overshadow your efforts," Cudius said with a smile, subtly pushing responsibility onto Sengoku.

  Sengoku sidered the suggestion. If Marine were responsible for building the sea train system, it would prevent Cudius from sidelining them iure. Although it would require signifit iment, the long-term bes, both financial and strategic made it worth the effort.

  Without hesitation, Sengoku said, "No problem. I believe Marine take on this responsibility!"