Sengoku was already in Mary Geise.
He immediately hurried to Pangea Castle, the heart of Mary Geoise's power, to meet with the world's highest authority—the Five Elders.
He had to clearly explain the stakes. This absurd trade could absolutely not be agreed to!
To trade an imminent strategic victory for the lives of three useless Celestial Dragons?
This would be losing the greater for the lesser!
But things never go as planned.
Atop the Red Line, Mary Geise, Pangea Castle.
Inside a conference room as grand as a temple—
The meeting between Sengoku and the Five Elders lasted only three minutes.
Sengoku was sent back with just a few words.
"The Navy's pride? What is the Navy's pride worth?!"
"The safety of the Celestial Dragons is above all else. Agree to Straw Hat's demand."
"The dignity of the World Government is built upon the supreme status of the Celestial Dragons. If the lives of Celestial Dragons can be sacrificed for so-called strategy, that would be an action that shakes the foundation of the rule. Arrange the exchange immediately."
Sengoku wanted to throw in the towel!
The balance of power between the Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords, and the Navy had never been broken. Sengoku had once thought that balance would last until his retirement.
But Blackbeard's capture of Ace had changed the timeline.
This was an opportunity he had fought for for the Navy.
To break the pattern of the Four Emperors and make the Navy great again!
Not to be in this situation.
The Navy, nominally the strongest organization, did not have the deterrent power people imagined. The New World was the territory of the Four Emperors.
Sengoku had once considered taking down one of the other Emperors.
But the other three were in their prime, each more terrifying than the last. Sengoku had initially targeted Shanks, since the Red Hair Pirates were the weakest among the Emperors in terms of foundation. But that proposal had been dismissed outright by the Five Elders, without any room for discussion.
This had made Sengoku quite resentful.
Anyone would think Shanks was a Celestial Dragon!
They protected him so much.
This time, with Ace in hand, targeting the vulnerable Whitebeard, he had finally gotten the Five Elders to approve the proposal.
And now this.
Time slowly passed.
A man in a black suit, with white curly hair, a bushy beard, a scar on his left cheek, leaning on a cane—Jaygarcia Saturn, the God of Science and Defense—stood at a huge window, looking down at the Holy Land below, shrouded in clouds.
His gaze seemed capable of penetrating, seeing the farce unfolding on the Sabaody Archipelago below.
"Sengoku has not left."
Saturn said calmly, his voice low and full of majesty. "This is Not something unexpected."
Behind him, on the sofa in the conference area—
Three sofas, one long and two short, with four people seated on them.
"Indeed,"
The man in a dark red suit, with blond hair and red skin—Shepherd Ju Peter, the God of Agriculture—responded.
"After all, the Navy has been planning for many days to carry out the execution of Fire Fist. Their elite forces are gathering at Marineford, preparing to fight Whitebeard in a war that will end an era. Being suddenly called off, he finds it hard to accept."
"Hmph,"
The man seated on the left in a sofa, wearing a white open-front robe, bald with glasses, holding a sword—Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the God of Law—snorted coldly.
"So what? What the world needs is balance, not endless expansion. The Seven Warlords, the Four Emperors, and Navy Headquarters—the delicate balance between these three forces is enough.
What's this talk about the Navy's dignity? They speak of the Navy's dignity in front of us? What is the Navy's dignity compared to the absolute authority of the World Government?"
"Regardless,"
The man sitting next to Ju Peter, wearing a dark green suit, bald with a mustache and a birthmark on his forehead—Marcus Mars, the God of Environment—said in a hoarse voice,
"the lives of the Celestial Dragons are always the top priority. Especially this time, with three Celestial Dragons falling into the hands of pirates. If we do nothing and allow pirates to successfully blackmail us using Celestial Dragons as leverage, the prestige of the World Government and the sanctity of the Celestial Dragons will suffer an unprecedented blow! Such incidents will likely proliferate in the future."
His gaze fell on a special bounty poster on the table—an image of Luffy in his Gear Fifth Nika Form.
"Moreover, this Straw Hat Luffy—Monkey D. Luffy—is committing more and more outrageous acts. Just like his Devil Fruit, he is full of uncertainty and danger."
"Nika has awakened."
The man seated on another armchair, wearing a dark blue suit, with long straight white hair and a long beard—Topman Warcury, the God of Finance—slowly interjected, his tone carrying a hint of barely noticeable apprehension.
"For the past 800 years, we have tried to control this legendary fruit, yet it has always managed to escape us. Now, it has awakened in a brat of the D. clan. This is no coincidence."
Saturn turned around, his gaze sweeping over his four colleagues, finally settling on the bounty poster on
the table. He spoke in a low voice, "But the matter of the Celestial Dragons remains the biggest problem right now. Countless eyes around the world are watching Sabaody.
For now, we prioritize protecting the lives of the Roswald family. Agree to Straw Hat's trade conditions and exchange for the Celestial Dragons.
As for other matters, after the trade is complete, we will deal with them separately."
His meaning was clear: first, pretend to cooperate, rescue the hostages. Then, find an opportunity to completely wipe out the Straw Hat crew and reclaim the Nika fruit.
Mars nodded. "Then let this be the order to Sengoku. In the name of the Five Elders, approve the trade. Exchange Fire Fist Ace for the Roswald family."
The others slightly slightly, indicating a preliminary consensus.
Though it would affect the Navy's strategy, sacrificing the plan to eliminate the Pirate King's bloodline was acceptable in the face of maintaining the absolute authority of the Celestial Dragons and the superficial prestige of the World Government.
But just as Saturn was about to contact Sengoku again to relay this decision—
An indifferent yet overwhelmingly authoritative voice suddenly rang out in the empty hall, echoing directly in the depths of the Five Elders' minds:
"Imu's decision."
Just those few words made the five highest authorities in the world—whether seated or standing—change their expressions dramatically.
Without any hesitation, the five rose simultaneously. They turned toward the direction of the vacant throne at the deepest part of the conference room, kneeling on one knee, their heads bowed deeply, their posture respectful to the extreme.
"Imu-sama!" the five said in unison.
Their voices carried undisguised awe.
"Kill them all."
Imu's voice sounded again.
Without a trace of emotion.
As if stating a trivial matter.
Saturn's body trembled. He instinctively looked up, his face showing an incredulous expression. "But Imu-sama, the Roswald family is still in their hands. If we take action by force, they will likely..."
He couldn't finish.
Because a cold will instantly enveloped him.
There were no words, but the absolute authority contained in that will, along with a faint displeasure, made Saturn feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave. Cold sweat instantly soaked the clothes on his back.
He understood.
In Imu-sama's eyes, the lives of three Celestial Dragons were an acceptable sacrifice compared to maintaining the unchallenged absolute authority of the World Government and completely erasing the Will of D. and the potential threat brought by the Nika fruit.
Allowing the trade was itself a compromise, a damage to authority.
Only by using the most fierce and decisive means to eliminate both the challengers and the tainted descendants of the gods could that unquestionable absolute majesty be re-established!
"Yes. We obey your will!"
Saturn had no further questions. He lowered his head even further, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor.
That vast will receded like a tide, as if it had never appeared.
The Five Elders remained kneeling on the ground. After a long while, they slowly rose. They exchanged glances, their eyes filled with gravity and a trace of fear.
Saturn took a deep breath and picked up the exclusive Den Den Mushi beside him.
"Notify Sengoku. No—contact Kizaru directly."
"The plan has changed."
"I authorize you to use extraordinary means."
"Primary objective: Ensure the complete removal of Straw Hat Luffy and his accomplices, as well as all unstable factors within the target area."
At the same time the Five Elders issued their orders—
Chaos erupted on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Not only the Straw Hat crew, but also the Supernovas scattered across the various groves of Sabaody had almost witnessed the clash between Luffy and Kizaru and the subsequent negotiation.
It seemed like the Navy had agreed to negotiate, but the situation also appeared somewhat less than optimistic.
Though they couldn't hear the specific details, the tense atmosphere and Luffy's intention to have his crew leave first all pointed to one thing.
"Tch. Looks like the negotiations fell through."
Eustass Kid spat. "So even Celestial Dragons can't make the Navy compromise? Just how much pressure is the Fleet Admiral under right now?"
His face showed unwillingness and gravity.
From Kid's perspective, he definitely didn't like the Straw Hat crew stealing the spotlight. But seeing the Navy and the Celestial Dragons get humiliated would be even more satisfying.
This stuck-in-the-middle situation was infuriating to watch.
Though Kid was arrogant, he also understood that once a Marine Admiral got serious—or more elite navy arrived—the situation for them, the so-called Supernovas, would become extremely dangerous.
"Captain, we should retreat." Killer reminded him calmly.
His expression beneath his mask was unreadable, but his tone was grave.
Elsewhere—
Law pressed down his spotted hat and said in a low voice, "Bepo, Shachi, Penguin. Prepare to evacuate. This place is about to become the center of a storm."
"Got it, Captain!"
"Hohoho. It seems the gods do not favor this place today."
Urouge, carrying his giant pencil-like pillar, also prepared to retreat.
Though he still maintained his strange smile, his eyes were full of vigilance.
Almost out of some tacit understanding among pirates in times of crisis, the several groups, as they evacuated, chose relatively hidden routes away from the main battlefield.
They kept their distance from each other, vaguely sharing a sense of looking out for each other and sharing risks.
This was the tacit understanding among pirates.
Normally, pirates would fight among themselves. But when facing the Navy, their priority was to take down the Navy first.
***
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