Ruling over the seas while maintaining a delicate balance between order and chaos, the Three Great Powers in One Piece are the Marines and the World Government, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and finally, the Four Emperors. Each of the individual factions constituting this trio have their own agendas and objectives, but they have been known to ally with one another when their purposes align. First alluded to by Yosaku, one of Zoro's friends during his days as a bounty hunter, the Three Great Powers are the strongest military powers in One Piece, stabilizing the seas and preventing any disruption to the world order. Among the three, there is a well-defined progression from the authoritative banner of the World Government, to the controlled disorder of the Seven Warlords, and then, the lawless freedom enjoyed by the Four Emperors, who answer to absolutely no one. While their relative strengths are yet to be completely illuminated, they are comparable in most respects, especially when considering the unsteady alliance that once existed between the World Government and the Seven Warlords.