The Five Elders of Holy Land Mary Geoise

Hearing Roya say that,

Magellan's expression changed at once, and the Venom-Venom Fruit within his body seemed ready to surge into action.

Those words had deeply stirred Magellan's anger.

That was true enough.

There had long been a successful prison break from Impel Down—Golden Lion Shiki's escape back then!

But that incident was a humiliation for Magellan, and it infuriated him whenever he thought of it.

As for Roya's strength, Magellan had seen it with his own eyes. Roya was unquestionably stronger than Golden Lion Shiki.

So Magellan truly could not deny what Roya had said.

"No."

"As long as I remain in Impel Down, not a single criminal will escape!"

Magellan spoke with fury, his tone filled with absolute conviction.

Seeing Magellan's expression,

"Hahahahaha!"

"I was only joking."

"Don't take it seriously, Magellan. Come on, let's see where you plan to lock me up!"

Roya burst into laughter, not taking it seriously at all. He appeared exceptionally relaxed.

At that, Magellan restrained his aura, though he said nothing more to Roya. Turning around, he coldly said, "Follow me!"

Even after restraining his aura, Magellan remained highly vigilant. He secretly swore that he would keep a strict watch over Roya and never allow another incident like Golden Lion Shiki's escape.

Roya gave it no further thought and simply followed Magellan into Impel Down.

The moment they saw Roya slowly enter Impel Down,

"Admiral Roya!"

Countless Marines cried out and saluted Roya in perfect unison!

Roya did not stop walking. He merely raised his hands bound in Seastone handcuffs and waved them.

Holy Land Mary Geoise.

Sengoku, Garp, Sakazuki, Kuzan, Borsalino, and the others had all arrived there.

The body of Saint Charlos, whom Roya had killed, had also been brought back.

On the sofas before Sengoku, Garp, and the others sat five imposing old men, each with a grim expression.

That was right!

They were the Five Elders, the highest-ranking Celestial Dragons!

Sengoku, Sakazuki, and the others all behaved with utmost respect before the Five Elders. Garp alone looked disdainful and had even pulled up a chair to sit down.

As expected of the Marine legend—he was so formidable that even the Five Elders did not dare make trouble for him!

Yet the Five Elders did not target Garp. Instead, they turned their sharp, vicious gazes upon Sengoku.

"Sengoku!"

"As the Fleet Admiral, do you not understand what crime Roya has committed?"

"That's right. His crime warranted immediate execution, not imprisonment in Impel Down!"

Three of the Five Elders spoke up to rebuke him, their faces overflowing with rage.

One of the five elders—the only one not wearing a suit, an old man in a kimono with glasses—had even reached out and gripped the hilt of his sword.

Seeing this,

Sengoku's expression stiffened, as though he sensed something ominous.

"Five Elders! Please calm your anger! There is a reason I did this!"

Cold sweat beaded on Sengoku's forehead as he hurriedly explained.

"Hmph, Sengoku. We will give you one chance. Explain yourself properly—what reason could you possibly have?"

The speaker this time was an old man in a dark blue suit, with long straight white hair and a long beard.

"That's right, Sengoku. You had better give us a reasonable explanation!" said an old man in a black suit, with curly white hair, a bushy white beard, a flat cap, and a scar across his left cheek.

"Five Elders!"

"The Marines are about to publicly execute Fire Fist Ace, which means we are about to face a great war against Whitebeard!"

"And at a time when the Marines need capable men, Roya possesses the strength to defeat Kaido of the Beasts."

"If we can borrow Roya's strength in our war against Whitebeard, then the Marines will certainly be able to win a decisive victory over the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Furthermore, ever since Roya joined the Marines, his military achievements have been outstanding!"

Sengoku carefully explained himself before the Five Elders, his words carrying an undertone of pleading on Roya's behalf.

After all, Sengoku was not wrong. In a short time, Roya had first completed the deal with Blackbeard and successfully escorted Fire Fist Ace safely to Impel Down. Then he had dealt with the two great pirates, Donquixote Doflamingo and Jack the Drought.

Most importantly, when Kaido had come to Marine Headquarters to cause trouble, Roya had held him back with his own strength. If Roya had not stepped in to stop Kaido, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

With all those reasons combined, Roya's military achievements truly were exceptional. Otherwise, Sengoku and Kong would never have promoted Roya to the position of Fourth Admiral as an exception.

However, at that moment,

while the Five Elders were quietly considering the matter,

Sakazuki suddenly stepped forward, a cigar hanging from his mouth, carrying himself as though no one else mattered.

"Five Elders!"

"Roya's strength is indeed formidable, but he has committed a grave crime. If word gets out and the whole world learns that the Marines need a criminal to help us, would we not become a complete laughingstock?"

"It's only the Whitebeard Pirates. I, Sakazuki, can personally take action. Do I not have any pride?"

Sakazuki targeted Roya at every turn.

"Sakazuki!"

"Watch your words. Your pride is worth less than nothing before us!"

"Step back. It is not your turn to speak here!"

An old man in a dark green suit stood up. He was bald, had a pair of figure-eight mustaches, and a birthmark on his forehead. He rebuked Sakazuki without the slightest mercy.

Sakazuki's expression immediately darkened. An inexplicable rage rose within him, but as he looked at the Five Elders, he ultimately suppressed it and stepped back.

As for Kuzan and Borsalino, they stood off to the side in a leisurely manner, simply waiting to clock out.

"Sengoku!"

"You need say no more about this matter!"

"Roya's crime was the murder of one of our Celestial Dragons. That is equivalent to challenging our supreme authority. No matter how strong he is, he must die!"

The old man in the dark blue suit, with long straight white hair and a long beard, made the decision. The other four Five Elders all expressed their agreement.

"But..."

Hearing the Five Elders' decision, Sengoku could not help becoming anxious and hurriedly tried to explain again.

But Garp stepped forward.

"Five Elders! Does this old man's reputation count for anything? I am personally pleading with you—spare Roya's life!" Garp said.