"Good thing Morgans finally used his head this time."
The Bald Five Elder, who wore a dark green suit and had a bald head, a drooping mustache, and a birthmark on his forehead, picked up the newspaper spread across the coffee table and spoke as he studied its contents.
Following his gaze, the news printed on the paper was none other than Kuta killing a Celestial Dragon in the Sabaody Archipelago.
Below that were Kuta's battle with Garp and Kizaru's battle with Kuina.
Because space was limited, the battle between Kuina and Ace that Firebird had photographed first—a story that would ordinarily have made the front page—had not appeared in the news at all.
But what pleased the Five Elders was clearly not any of that. It was that, according to the report, Kuta's battle with Garp had ended in a draw.
That was different from what they had heard from the Navy.
They had thought this incident might drag the reputations of the Navy and the World Government into the abyss, but unexpectedly, the news had salvaged a little of their dignity.
It was still humiliating, of course. A Celestial Dragon was dead, and they could do nothing about the Silver Hair Crew.
If they also had to endure the public uproar over Garp's defeat, it would have been even more humiliating.
Garp was no ordinary vice admiral. He was the face of the Navy, its hero, and a standard-bearer for their rule over the world.
Countless people admired and respected him.
That was also why they had done nothing to Garp despite knowing full well that his son led the Revolutionary Army.
For one thing, Garp was genuinely powerful, and they needed his strength.
They needed him to help the World Government keep the seas stable.
For another,