The guards throughout the hall began moving toward the side hall.
Trained and disciplined, within less than five minutes, hundreds of them had relocated, leaving the massive hall completely empty.
The Hancock sisters stood frozen, staring in disbelief at the vast, empty space. Is… is this a gift from heaven?
"Truly… the Holy Light protects us!" Hancock murmured, unable to believe her eyes.
"Sister… what is the Holy Light?" asked Sonia, scratching her head in confusion.
Hancock steeled herself, grabbed her sisters' hands, and strode toward the main entrance. "Let's go. Whatever it is, this is absolutely… a perfect chance!"
However, the moment they stepped out of the palace gates, they suddenly saw a Celestial Dragon standing right at the entrance, followed by nearly a hundred guards!
It was Saint Garbatia, just returning from the Sabaody Archipelago.
Seeing the three figures sneaking about, he called out, "Hey, you three… who are you… aren't those the three slaves I gave to Saint Epthelm? What are you doing here?"
"S-Saint Garbatia…" Hancock whispered the name in dread.
Grimm, watching from the screen, hadn't expected this turn of events. He'd planned to help them escape, but as the saying goes: Man proposes, heaven disposes.
It seemed heaven intended to keep the sisters by his side for a while longer!
Before long, the Hancock sisters were recaptured and sent back to Grimm's residence.
---
World Government Headquarters — Saint Mary Geoise, Office of the Five Elders.
BAM!
The Elder with the mustache and the birthmark on his forehead smashed an extremely valuable teacup onto the floor in fury.
The Marines and government agents standing before him were so terrified they nearly wet themselves.
In the room, aside from the Five Elders, were Fleet Admiral Kong and the civil servants who had accompanied him to report.
Seeing the Elder's rage, the two civil servants trembled in fear, terrified of being caught in the crossfire.
Kong, however, stood with his arms crossed, saying nothing, as if none of this concerned him.
"How long has it been? Do you know how much time I've given you Marines, Kong?"
The birthmarked Elder shouted in rage. "Nearly a month! A whole month, and you still haven't found Grimm or that Kel'Thuzad! If they aren't in the Holy Land… where else could they be?!"
Among the Four Emperors of the New World, Grimm now ranked second only to Whitebeard. But in the eyes of the World Government, he posed a far greater threat than Whitebeard.
He was the man the Marines wanted dead above all others. He had humiliated the World Government; unless he was killed, the Government's reputation would be destroyed!
Reputation aside, what was worse was that this man had openly allowed that being calling himself Kel'Thuzad to kill two of the World Government's most powerful warriors!
The Five Elders simply could not swallow this insult!
"Isn't CP searching non‑stop? If they can't find them, how could the Marines? Didn't CP claim to be the world's most powerful intelligence agency?" Kong replied casually.
His tone only fueled the Elders' anger further. "Watch your tone, Kong!"
"Set the matter of Grimm aside for now," said the Elder holding the sword.
"Because of the relationship between Golden Lion and Grimm, the Great Pirate Era has reached an unprecedented peak. We must find a way to suppress it!"
"But the Marines suffered heavy losses in that battle; we cannot hold back this tide alone," added the Elder with curly hair.
"We Five Elders have discussed and decided upon a plan. Watch closely, Kong!"
With that, a clerk stepped forward and handed a document to Kong.
Across the cover, large characters read: "The Seven Warlords of the Sea Recruitment Project."
Kong opened the file and read through it. But the further he read, the more the veins on his forehead bulged. Finally, barely containing his fury, he addressed the Elders.
"Are you joking? Using pirates to suppress pirates? Do you have any idea what consequences this will bring?"
"This is no joke. It is the conclusion we reached after careful consideration," said the Elder with long hair.
"Recently, countless pirates have grown bold and rampant. But the Marines were badly damaged; it will take at least three to five years to fully recover. And this is precisely when pirates are most active. Do you believe your Marines alone can hold them back?"
Kong's brow twitched violently. Using pirates to maintain peace? That only highlights the Marines' incompetence!
Yet, the Elder's words left Kong speechless.
The battle known a month ago as the "Pirate Alliance War" had caused catastrophic losses. On top of that, Shiki's final declaration had triggered a second massive wave in the Great Pirate Era!
Though Kong hated to admit it, the truth remained: the Marines could not hold back the endless stream of pirates entering the Grand Line!
"I have nothing more to say. The report is finished." Kong had no wish to discuss the Seven Warlords plan further. But there was one more matter he had to raise.
His tone shifted, becoming sharp and angry. "Recently, an envoy dispatched by certain Celestial Dragons went to Fish‑Man Island, claiming that the World Nobles were willing to allow the fish‑men to migrate to the surface. King Neptune sent a delegation as envoys to negotiate with the World Government… only to be ambushed and detained by Celestial Dragons. Tell me… this is not true, is it?"
The blond Elder recalled the incident. It had been orchestrated by the newly appointed head of one of the Celestial Dragon families — Saint Garbatia.
That man, obsessed with collecting fish‑men and mermaids, had thrown out bait to lure them in. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of it, the method was undeniably clever!
"So what of it, Kong?" asked the curly‑haired Elder, avoiding a direct answer and instead turning the question back on him.
"Do you want them returned… or are you planning to plead for justice for those creatures?"
"Do you understand the grave consequences of this?!" Kong gritted his teeth.
"When I sent men to Fish‑Man Island to explain matters to Neptune, I discovered that the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates was already flying there. That means the gateway to the New World has effectively become the territory of that pirate Whitebeard…"
"Has Neptune allied himself with Whitebeard?" The sword‑wielding Elder spoke dismissively. "Let it be. He did it only to protect his kingdom. It matters little."
"I am merely pointing out the seriousness of the situation! I demand you restrain the actions of the Celestial Dragons! This time it has gone too far. If news of this spreads, it will destroy the reputation of both the Marines and the World Government. Do you understand?!"
Kong was truly enraged. In the past, he had turned a blind eye to the cruelties of the Celestial Dragons. But this was too extreme. Which fool had come up with such an idiotic idea?
Having spoken, Kong turned and left without looking back. The two civil servants hurried after him, not daring to linger a moment longer.
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off