—A short while earlier
Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Room of Authority.
GOOGLE SEARCH TWKAN
The heavy curtains hung half-drawn, filtering the sunlight outside layer by layer until only a cold white glow entered the room.
The Five Elders sat around the long table in silence.
The latest intelligence lay spread across its surface.
[The Whitebeard Pirates are moving toward Ink Tide Island.]
[Admiral Azure Dragon Rock is suspected to be preparing to go personally.]
Only a few lines of text, yet they made the atmosphere in the entire Room of Authority incomparably oppressive.
Nusjuro Saint's gaze was icy as his fingertips lightly pressed against the hilt of his sword.
"He really won't let this opportunity slip away."
Peter Saint said in a low voice, "He's only just consolidated the Shichibukai, and already he wants to use Whitebeard to establish his authority."
"This man's appetite is even greater than it was ten years ago."
Mars Saint lowered his eyes, his voice dark.
"It isn't just appetite."
"If he truly crushes Whitebeard in a battle at Ink Tide Island, the Seven Warlords New Regulations will be firmly established."
"From then on, the Marines' blade will be able to extend into the New World openly and legitimately."
Warcury Saint looked at the intelligence and spoke slowly. "What's more troublesome is his prestige."
"Hachinosu."
"The Shichibukai."
"The Fourth Admiral."
"And now, Whitebeard."
He raised his eyes, his gaze grave.
"If all those achievements are piled onto Rock alone, the Marines' internal loyalties will completely shift toward him."
"Then Marine Headquarters' prestige will completely overshadow the World Government!"
The room fell silent for a moment. This was the outcome they least wished to see.
They could allow the Marines to be powerful, but they could not allow them to grow so powerful that they no