Rocks Pirates Mentioned Again!

"Eh, leave this matter to Garp. Sengoku, take a look at this intelligence report. I think this is more important."

Fleet Admiral Kong took a report from a drawer and pushed it to the edge of his desk. Sengoku walked over, picked it up, and his expression changed dramatically.

"This is going to be serious!"

"Have they found out who spread the rumor? This must be treated seriously!"

Fleet Admiral Kong shook his head and sighed. "This intelligence came from CIPHER POL. They still haven't found the source. They only know that the rumors are spreading not only through the Grand Line, but even across the Four Seas."

"Are we already too late?" Sengoku's brows were knitted tightly enough to crush a mosquito.

"If that's the case, then this rumor definitely wasn't accidental. It was a long-planned operation, and there must have been quite a few people involved. Only then could it have spread across every sea at almost the same time!"

"The One Piece treasure... ONE PIECE."

He seemed to have guessed who was behind it.

In Pangaea Castle at Mary Geoise, Imu sat upon the Empty Throne, looking down from on high at the Five Elders kneeling before him.

Yet compared to his usual indifference, his expression was even colder. His previously pleasant mood had turned into boundless fury.

He had received intelligence about the rumors surrounding the great treasure, ONE PIECE, earlier than the Marines had. That was also the main reason he had summoned the Five Elders again.

He had no choice but to take this seriously!

"It must be Roger's crew spreading the rumors. Roger must have instructed them before his death, but what is their purpose in doing this?" said Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, kneeling on the far left.

He was the highest-ranking person in charge of CIPHER POL, with virtually all intelligence-related matters under his control.

"The Great Pirate Era!"

Imu coldly spat out those five words. He had just found a way to shut Roger up during the execution and thought he could prevent this from happening, only to discover that Roger had left behind another move.

Although spreading rumors around the world through his crew was far less shocking and influential than a public cry during his execution, the allure of the Pirate King's great treasure itself had not changed in the slightest. It merely needed more time to spread and ferment.

He could already see it: countless young men and adults across the seas shouting "One Piece" as they set sail, flooding into the ocean and charging toward Reverse Mountain!

The Five Elders' hearts grew heavy upon hearing those five words from Imu. In the future Imu had briefly described to them before, there had been mention of the Great Pirate Era.

It was said to be an astonishing age with so many pirates that even the current Marines could not suppress them.

For eight hundred years, the seas under the World Government's rule had remained relatively peaceful and orderly overall, despite occasional disturbances. But the Great Pirate Era triggered by Roger had set the entire sea boiling, regardless of region!

The Five Elders had thought such a thing would never happen again. But now... it had to be said that both they and Imu had underestimated this Pirate King.

"We should order the kings of the affiliated nations to strictly control their citizens from going to sea. We should also have Marine branches everywhere increase their patrols, while CIPHER POL arrests anyone who dares spread these rumors, thereby intimidating the world and the seas!"

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, kneeling second from the left and holding Shodai Kitetsu, proposed this with a fierce expression.

The other four nodded in agreement. Their approach was exactly the same as that of previous generations of Five Elders: suppression and erasure.

But Imu, seated on the throne, knew full well that their method would accomplish little. The world's oceans were too vast. Although the Marines had many men and no shortage of warships, they still could not patrol such an immense sea with any real thoroughness.

Noticing that Imu did not seem to agree with their proposal, the Five Elders fell silent for a time.

After pondering for more than ten minutes, Imu finally spoke.

"Those who take to sea as pirates because of these rumors have one main target: the so-called great treasure. Their destination is the 'New World.' From the Four Seas to the first half of the Grand Line, then to the 'New World,' there are two points they must pass through."

Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, kneeling second from the right with a vicious scar on his left cheek, replied, "You mean Reverse Mountain and Fish-Man Island?"

Of course, he would not say Mary Geoise. What a joke—how could pirates possibly be allowed to pass through here and enter the 'New World'? That left only Fish-Man Island, ten thousand meters below, and the crack at the very bottom of the Red Line.

"That's right. If we establish a Marine branch at the entrance to Reverse Mountain, specifically to intercept passing ships and inspect their identities, we can directly block pirates from the Four Seas from flooding into the Grand Line!"

Imu's idea came from customs checkpoints in his previous life. The geographical conditions at Reverse Mountain could make the function of such a checkpoint nearly perfect.

For a ship to enter the Grand Line from the Four Seas, there were really only two routes: through the Calm Belt, or through Reverse Mountain.

Of course, those strong enough could indeed travel through the Calm Belt. But among the pirates from the Four Seas, how many could actually make it through?

"Excellent! This method is truly excellent!" Saint Marcus Mars praised enthusiastically.

"That's right. And we can establish Marine branches not only beneath Reverse Mountain on the Grand Line side, but also at the entrances on the Four Seas side. Or we can station several warships there long-term as the first checkpoint!"

Saint Topman Warcury, kneeling in the center with a birthmark on his forehead, seemed as though a door to a new world had opened before him, and many new ideas surfaced in his mind.

"It's a good plan, but..." Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, still holding Shodai Kitetsu, hesitated.

Imu turned his gaze toward him. "But what? Go on."

"But this places considerable demands on the Marine strength and manpower stationed at the Reverse Mountain branch. They would have to face countless ships from four seas. If every ship is to be inspected, the branch base would need to be large enough to accommodate the docking of so many vessels and the queues of people."

"At the same time, there must be enough government personnel to conduct inspections and enough Marines stationed at the branch. They need places to live, but there does not seem to be a suitable island near the foot of Reverse Mountain."

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro laid out his concerns one by one. Imu nodded to himself as he listened. This was indeed a problem that could not be ignored.

The other four Five Elders racked their brains. What could they do without an island? They could not simply create one out of thin air.

They had also considered whether the first island on each of the seven routes in the first half of the Grand Line could serve as a Marine branch, but those islands were somewhat too far from the entrance to Reverse Mountain.

They could send warships to wait at the entrance in advance, then direct ships to the island for inspection first. But not only would that be troublesome, it would also greatly increase the chance of accidents.

They did not believe those people heading out to become pirates would obediently follow instructions. Most would probably force their way through, but how many could a few warships stop?

Just then, an idea flashed through Imu's mind. It excited him somewhat, though he still had to maintain his outward coldness.

"Do you still remember the Rocks Pirates?"