Five Elders: Saint Joberlo

"Gulp!"

Fleet Admiral Black swallowed, his mouth twisting bitterly. He knew the Five Elders had called to hold him accountable.

As he answered the Den Den Mushi, Black lowered his head and made himself as humble as possible.

"Black, is this the explanation you promised us?"

A cold, commanding voice came through the Den Den Mushi, with a trace of anger beneath it.

"I'm terribly sorry, Saint Joberlo! It was my fault."

Black offered no excuses. The operation had failed, and no explanation would change that.

As he spoke, Black bowed his head even lower.

It was hard to imagine a Fleet Admiral of the Navy behaving so humbly.

But it was also a mark of respect. The Five Elder speaking sounded old, and he was the most revered among the current Five Elders.

He was Heristo Saint Joberlo of the Heristo Family.

He had served as a Five Elder longer than anyone else and was already 158 years old.

Black and several Fleet Admirals before him had all held office during Saint Joberlo's tenure.

He was due to step down in two years. He had never expected something this disgraceful to happen before then.

"Take immediate action to put this right! Show them where the Navy and the World Government stand. Otherwise, you can forget about being Fleet Admiral!"

Black had been chosen as Fleet Admiral not only for his strength, but more importantly because he obeyed orders.

And for the past two years, the World Government had been supporting the Navy so it could stand against the Rocks Pirates.

It had poured nearly a hundred billion Beli into recruitment, Marine Fortresses, and Navy Warships. The Navy's annual wages and death benefits alone were astronomical.

They had expected a satisfactory result from the Navy. Instead, the very first operation