Deep within the ancient, solemn palace in Mary Geoise stood a meeting room decorated with golden reliefs and intricate patterns. Its lofty domed ceiling made it feel like the interior of a tower.
This was the chamber of the Five Elders, the leaders of the World Government, where they discussed matters great and small from around the world.
Most of the room was empty, but each of the Five Elders had a chair or sofa, arranged around a small round table.
Rather than a conference room, it felt more like a room for chatting over tea.
The Five Elders were fairly casual, standing or sitting as they preferred. They discussed various issues with calm, relaxed composure.
"We must take the Great Angel's movements seriously. An Angel Mythical Zoan user! You all know what that means-"
The speaker wore a black suit and a flat cap. He had white curls, a bushy white beard, and a scar on his left cheek.
He was the [War God of Science and Defense], Jaygarcia Saturn Saint, and he voiced his concerns in a low tone.
-The main point was that what the Great Angel was doing was dangerous in itself.
"Indeed. Although the intelligence suggests he is not a Lunarian, we should still take action."
The [War God of the Environment], Saint Marcus Mars, who wore a dark blue suit and had long, straight white hair, stroked his long beard.
The information they had obtained from Titans was limited, after all.
The trouble was that a place like Sky Island could not be attacked through conventional means. Without that person's approval, neither the Five Elders nor the Holy Knights could mobilize lightly.
Expect the Navy to attack Sky Island?
"The problem is that something like a mythical zoan Angel Fruit has appeared at all."
The [War God of Agriculture], dressed in a dark red suit, sighed softly.
He was Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, a man with short blond hair. His hands were clasped in front of his neatly trimmed blond beard.
He had his own understanding of the "Great Angel" issue.
After all, nothing like a Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Angel had existed before this.
"You all know why Devil Fruits come into being, so..."
(I'll take a gamble that Oda won't use such an easy-to-guess fruit because he doesn't want readers figuring it out so easily. I'll bet the so-called "angel" in the latest spoilers is a Lunarian.)
"Hmm. If this truly is a newly born Angel Mythical Zoan, we may well be able to put him to use."
The [War God of Finance], Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, spoke slowly.
He wore a white samurai robe and glasses, and his head was bald. He was the only one of the Five Elders who neither wore a suit nor had a beard.
"My suggestion is to first see just how capable he is. If he truly has the kind of 'angel' mythical zoan we suspect..."
Saint Nusjuro gently stroked the katana resting against his shoulder, curled his lips into a smile, and continued.
"Then there is no harm in winning him over. We could even have him marry into one of the families."
The proposal might send the conservatives into a fury, but if it truly was that type of mythical zoan, bringing him into the Celestial Dragon system was not out of the question.
"Your views are somewhat radical, Saint Nusjuro... Finding a suitable candidate won't be easy."
The [Warrior God of Justice], Saint Topman Warcury, wore a dark green suit. He rolled one end of his drooping mustache between his fingers.
He was bald, with a birthmark on his forehead, and did not look particularly kindly.
According to the intelligence, this "Great Angel" was indeed very handsome. If he were willing to become a female Celestial Dragon's lover, that would be easy enough.
But this "Great Angel" might not accept the arrangement.
"Speaking of which, the invitation to join the Shichibukai doesn't seem to be going very smoothly," said Saint Mars, the War God of the Environment, as though something had suddenly occurred to him. With a hint of disdain, he added, "The Navy is becoming more and more useless."
"Heh heh heh... The Rumble-Rumble Fruit." Saint Nusjuro rose and lightly nudged the wanted poster on the small round table with his katana. "He would be a suitable replacement for Moria. Have the Navy go again."
According to the intelligence Cipher Pol 0 had sent back, their first recruitment attempt could not really be called a recruitment attempt.
After all, the Navy had suffered an embarrassing defeat before they even had a chance to extend the invitation. After that... they could hardly bring it up.
Strictly speaking, Momousagi and Comil had not been defeated either. Comil had only suffered some external injuries and would recover after two months of bed rest. Momousagi had barely been hurt at all.
That Rumble-Rumble Fruit brat had left the battlefield after injuring Comil. They currently had no way to contact him, which was another reason the supposed recruitment attempt did not really count as one.
"Even if he becomes one of the Shichibukai, the World Government does not need a second Doflamingo. This time, have the Navy send Kizaru to deliver his appointment and teach him a lesson at the same time."
Saint Warcury was somewhat displeased by the Navy's embarrassing performance. Still, judging by the battle report, their opponent really was slippery, with absurd mobility.
"Agreed." ×4
... Water 7.
This was not Sephiroth's first visit to Water 7.
In fact, he had visited many times as the Great Angel, bringing different groups of beautiful girls on sightseeing trips each time.
When he came with Nami, Nojiko, and Carina, the stir they caused was not too serious.
But when he appeared with Isabella, Lilith, Laki, and Conis, four winged Skypieans, the scene had nearly spiraled out of control.
The sight of beautiful female angels following the Great Angel was simply too much like something out of a myth.
Even more outrageous was the fact that he had brought those four different beautiful angels separately, visiting many times.
Some people had even worked up the nerve to ask those beautiful angels whether they knew the Great Angel had other angelic female companions.
The answer broke their hearts-they all knew about one another!
It was precisely because of this that the title "the Great Angel everyone loves" gradually began to take on another meaning.
Sephiroth simply thought Water 7 was a great place to take them for some fun. All four had duties to attend to, so he could not bring them all out at once.
Lilith's black wings were certainly rather conspicuous.
Sephiroth knew that Lunarians existed in this world, and he had explained that to Lilith as well.
From an optical perspective, black absorbed most visible light.
So whenever Lilith came sightseeing, Sephiroth manipulated light to alter the appearance of her black wings, making them reflect most visible light. As a result, her wings looked silvery.
After breaking away from the battle with the Navy, the Thunderhawk brought Kessoku Band to Water 7.
For one thing, Sephiroth intended to have a date with Perona here as well.
For another, being in Water 7 made it easier for the Navy to find him.
There seemed to have been some misunderstanding between the two sides earlier. Judging by what he had picked up through Emotion Absorption, the other side had felt a sort of... frustration they could not put into words.
But with things having reached that point, he could only "run away" first and give both sides a way to save face.
He had chosen to wait for the Navy in Water 7 because it was a major transport hub and population center. The Navy would not start a fight lightly.
(I had some drinks today... It'll be a little later. I'll do my best.)
Before you continue