New World, a certain sea area. On a heavily guarded large luxury tour sailboat, within a luxuriously decorated room, the Gorosei sat around a round table, their expressions serious, discussing certain matters. "How is the assembly of the elite CP agents scattered in various places progressing?" Issac Baron V.
Nasujuro, holding his Saber, looked towards Topman Warcury Saint, who was stroking his upward-curling white mustache. "Time is short, and the situation is not very ideal... We previously recalled most of the available experts who were not on missions back to Holy Land Mary Geoise to prevent the Marineford War from affecting it, leaving only a small number as a fallback.
Therefore, even though we issued the order to drop everything they were doing, among the remaining people, either their strength is insufficient, or they are strong but too far away and would take at least ten days to half a month to arrive. The truly high-level experts, aside from those we prepared in advance for unforeseen circumstances, are basically few and far between..."
Shepherd Ten Peter raised his right hand, gently stroking the golden beard on his chin, and said with a frown:
"Even if all the elite agents are gathered, the strength we can muster is probably very limited. In the most optimistic scenario, it can only reach a quarter of what we had in Holy Land Mary Geoise before..."
Jaygarcia Saturn Saint leaned on his cane with both hands, stating indifferently:
"Precisely for this reason, we need to go to Egghead Island to find Vegapunk. On that island, there are one hundred Pacifista and dozens of mechanical sea beasts... As long as we get those things under control, we can gain a powerful force."
Marcus Mars Saint gently stroked his long white beard that fell to his chest with his right hand, saying in a deep voice:
"What if Vegapunk refuses to hand over those technological weapons?" "Then Vegapunk will just have to die..." Satan Saint snorted coldly.
Because the Gorosei had always been concerned that the Four Emperors might create a diversion and take the opportunity to raid Holy Land Mary Geoise, they had long prepared strategies for both offense and defense. If the Four Emperors launched a frontal assault on Holy Land Mary Geoise, the experts they had gathered there would buy them enough time to delay until the Marine's support arrived.
Even in the unlikely event that Holy Land Mary Geoise could not hold out, they had also prepared corresponding retreat strategies on both sides of the Red Line. But... Plans never keep up with changes!
The Gorosei never expected that Sephiroth would directly transfer that island-destroying attack to the skies above Holy Land Mary Geoise, causing the entire city to be smashed deep into the ground from the Red Line.
If they hadn't used a magic circle at the critical moment to teleport themselves from Holy Land Mary Geoise to a certain island in the New World, they estimated that they would have truly been smashed into meat paste by that giant energy sphere and vanished deep underground! As for why they didn't teleport to Paradise in the first half of the Grand Line to let the Marine protect them...?
The Gorosei were old, but they weren't senile. Since Sephiroth directly transferred the island-destroying attack to Holy Land Mary Geoise, it meant that he very likely knew the reason why the attack appeared... Taking a step back, even if Sephiroth didn't know the specific reason, the fact that he transferred the attack to Holy Land Mary Geoise was undeniable!
This meant that he very likely wanted to overthrow the rule of the Celestial Dragons. Therefore, from that moment on, the Marine became an untrustworthy entity in the eyes of the Gorosei, and there was a possibility that their high-ranking officials had been turned by Sephiroth. Moreover, the Marine's sudden announcement appointing Sephiroth as an Admiral implicitly increased this possibility...
Sengoku and other top Marine brass might already know the truth about the attack. That's why the Gorosei chose not to contact the Marines at this critical juncture.
Their plan was stealthier, more calculated. They intended to quietly mobilize their elite agents, consolidate their strength, and ensure their own safety first. Only then would they reach out to nations loyal to the World Government. Once they had secured their position, they would make a grand announcement to the world, convene a World Conference, and renegotiate the future global order.
This strategy would make it far harder for the Marines and Sephiroth to act against them covertly. It might even allow them to purge and reform the Marines from within. But the plan wasn't without risks. The Gorosei knew it was fraught with uncertainties, and they weren't entirely confident it would succeed. Still...
For centuries, they'd ruled from the shadows, manipulating the world like puppets. The thought of losing their power and status was unbearable. Even if the odds were against them, they had to try.
The heavy wooden door burst open with a thunderous crash, slamming against the floor. The Gorosei turned as one to see Sephiroth stride into the room, dressed in his signature blue suit. In his right hand, he gripped a black-suited agent by the neck. With a sudden twist, the agent's neck snapped with a sickening crack. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground.
Sephiroth's gaze swept the room, a cold, mocking smile curling his lips. "Well, well," he drawled. "I didn't expect this. The Gorosei—five old fossils—still breathing after all. What about Imu? Still kicking too? Tell me where he is, and I might let you live out your pitiful lives."
The commotion drew the attention of the CP agents scattered throughout the ship. Their hurried footsteps echoed through the corridors as they rushed toward the Gorosei's cabin.
Sephiroth's arrogance ignited Satan Saint's fury. His form twisted and shifted grotesquely. Bull horns sprouted from his head, his lower body morphed into the abdomen and eight legs of a spider, and ribbons of black smoke coiled around his shoulders.
The other four Gorosei followed suit, their transformations equally monstrous. They looked like demons clawing their way out of hell, radiating a chilling, malevolent aura.
"You insolent fool!" Satan Saint roared. "Do you think we're so weak you can provoke us like this?" An invisible force surged from his body, pinning Sephiroth in place.
Immediately after, a fiercely tyrannical cold light shot out from his eyes, locking onto Sephiroth's head. In the next instant, Boom-! Sephiroth's skull exploded like a watermelon, spraying blood across the floor and walls.