Dealing with the Gorosei was always an ordeal.
These five ancient figures held the World Government's supreme authority. They had lived for ages beyond counting, and they were not to be fooled.
What made them truly frightening was how little they cared about anyone who wasn't a Celestial Dragon. To them, every other race was vermin—life that could be crushed on a whim, without the slightest guilt.
Being in the same room as men like this was suffocating. Every second scraped raw.
Stussy kept her head lowered and let out a slow breath. Only then did she realize her back was soaked through with cold sweat.
After hesitating, she asked carefully, "Excellencies… now that we've confirmed Rogers Darren's location, should we deploy forces to Wano Country and launch an immediate assault?"
Saint Warcury looked at her and answered coolly, "That is not your concern, Stussy. Your only duty is to carry out the missions we assign you and complete them at any cost. Nothing more."
Stussy's face tightened. "This subordinate meant no disrespect, Excellencies," she said quickly. "Please forgive my presumption."
Warcury waved a hand as if brushing away dust. "We'll overlook it this time. You performed well and met our expectations."
"Since Rogers Darren and Kaido have reached a covert agreement, we can postpone any deployment. With Saint Figarland Garling's inauguration ceremony approaching, now is not the time to wage war against those two."
His aged eyes narrowed, a cold, ugly light glinting within them.
"Now. About the extraordinary power Rogers Darren has gained…"
"What is your assessment?"
Stussy paused. Her gaze flicked—just for an instant—to Doflamingo before she forced it away. After a beat, she answered slowly, "Based on what I've gathered… I believe Rogers Darren has awakened his Devil Fruit."
The Gorosei frowned as one.
Saint Mars shook his head. "Awakened users of the Magnet-Magnet Fruit are not unheard of. But that doesn't match the conditions at Saint Michael's battlefield. Paramecia awakenings, without exception, turn outward—extending their power into the environment."
"What if…" Saint Figarland Garling cut in, sipping his tea, a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, "an exception appears?"
An exception.
The Gorosei stilled, expressions tightening with confusion.
"You're suggesting Rogers Darren's awakening diverged from the usual Paramecia pattern?" Saint Saturn's brow furrowed deeper. "That has never happened."
Garling shrugged, amused. "In eight hundred years, no one's ever pushed you five old men this far, either."
"Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it can't."
He leaned back slightly, enjoying their silence. "What if… purely hypothetically… an exception appears?"
"That's impossible," Saturn said, but his certainty wavered as he thought. He spoke again, slower, more deliberate, as if building the argument to convince himself.
"The development of Devil Fruit abilities follows established principles. If a Paramecia, instead of evolving outward along the natural path, reversed course and forced its development inward, that condensed power would surge and collide inside the user's body, over and over…"
His frown deepened. His voice dropped.
"It could grant monstrous combat power for a short time. But it wouldn't last. Once their stamina and lifespan are drained, the user would suffer catastrophic damage—"
Saturn stopped.
The other four also froze. They exchanged looks—silent and sharp, as if speaking without words. Disbelief rose in their eyes, one after another.
"Impossible…"
"How could he endure that?"
"No… perhaps he could. Don't forget that absurd physique…"
That kind of internal surge would kill an ordinary person instantly. But if it were him…
"This explains Saint Michael's death…"
"And his injuries… it fits."
Their expressions shifted again and again, shadows deepening in the grooves of their faces as the picture snapped into place.
Saint Figarland Garling watched them and smiled faintly, almost entertained.
After a long, heavy silence, Saint Saturn finally spoke, voice rough.
"Set this aside for now. The most urgent matter is the inauguration ceremony for the new Commander of the Knights of God."
"The Sea is turbulent enough. We will use the ceremony to steady the confidence of our Member States."
He turned to Stussy.
"We called you here not only for your report, but to entrust you with a critical task."
Stussy's heart jolted. She straightened at once. "Give the order, Excellencies!"
Saint Saturn spoke slowly, each word weighed.
"We are appointing you as chief coordinator for the inauguration ceremony of the new Commander and Vice Commander of the Knights of God. Your primary duties will be overseeing security for all representatives of the Member States and executing the orders of the newly appointed Commander and Vice Commander."
Me? In charge of security?
Me?
Responsible for the safety of the Member States' representatives—and even the Holy Land itself?
Stussy stared, stunned. For a moment, her mind refused to accept what she'd heard. It felt unreal. Absurd.
"Stussy," Saint Warcury said evenly, "you have already proven your loyalty. Do not disappoint us."
"Yes, Excellency!" Stussy answered reflexively, snapping back into motion.
Then, carefully, she asked, "Excellency… I understand Saint Figarland Garling has been chosen as the new Commander of the Knights of God. But who has been appointed Vice Commander?"
The Gorosei laughed—together.
Stussy froze, caught completely off guard.
And then it hit her.
That half-familiar statue by the Stairway to Heaven. The silhouette that had refused to place itself in her memory.
Stussy turned sharply, eyes locking onto the blond Celestial Dragon sprawled on the leather sofa, legs crossed, a cigar between his fingers, utterly at ease.
"It's you?!"
Doflamingo exhaled smoke, his mouth curling into a vicious smile.
"Heh heh heh… You should address me as Vice Commander Excellency."
Stussy's eyes flickered, disbelieving.
You?
Vice Commander Excellency?
Vice Commander of the Knights of God?!
For a heartbeat, everything in the Chamber of Authority felt warped—like she'd stepped into a fever dream and couldn't wake up.
To be continued...