While I couldn't find anything definitive for when the Warlord system started, it's safe to say it's existed before Vegapunk discovered the lineage factor that allows him to make clones as pirates were still a threat 36+ years ago. Not to the same extent as the Great Pirate Era, but the Rocks crew showcased strong pirates did exist and caused plenty of havoc. However, even if we assume the system was created for the sole extent of the Seraphim (major stretch) they have a prison full of powerful pirates, some with devil fruits more than likely. Remember that Vegapunk acquired Mr 1's power and Senor Pinks' power and they weren't warlords so the obtaining of the lineage factor did not need to happen from the warlords. The warlords was purely for the power they provided to the government and would still have been employed if Vegapunk didn't exist.
The Abyssal Drink
2025-07-29 17:53:59 +0000 UTC
Kuma's father was shot dead, so we know Buccaneers aren't immune to bullets (and Kuma had no cybernetic modifications at this point), which is why seeing them add a scene where he gets shot at to no effect is kinda weird to me. I know it looked kinda cool, but mostly my brain went "What, why?" xD
Aeco
2025-07-29 14:05:20 +0000 UTC
Those neanderthal looking people Kuma visited were the ones whom he dropped Chopper by when Kuma teleported all of the Straw Hats. Despite their homely appearance, they're MASTERS of medicine. He also visited that town where Robin helped The Revolutionaries, the weather wizards who trained Nami, and found Hercules(?), who trained Usopp-en. Safe to say, his travels in finding a cure for Bonney were how he knew where to send the Straw hats when that time came at Sabaody. Oda tying in the finer details.
It makes sense that the Pacifistas were intended to be protectors against the more nefarious pirates when Vegapunk originally designed them, but of course the W.G. had it's own designs in mind and we know those were The Seraphim. The Warlord system was just a trap to lure in the best pirates outside of the Emperors for the W.G. to get the DNA needed to make their own clones.