Inside Imperial Capital University, in a spacious courtyard.
"Your Highness, they say the Qian Emperor will soon emerge from seclusion. What should we do?"
A sturdy old man sat upright, his bulging muscles giving him an imposing air even without anger.
"My elder brother's Gum-Gum Fruit ability ranks at the bottom among the Five Emperors."
"That's why I can't accept it. Why should mere rubber be able to counter my Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability?"
"If I had become the Qian Emperor, I would definitely be the strongest of the Five Emperors by now!"
The man kneeling below him remained silent.
After becoming the Qian Emperor, one would gain the support of the entire empire's resources.
That was why, after joining the Five Emperors, one's strength would soar. There was no such thing as a weakling among the Five Emperors.
But Qian Kunlei had missed his chance, and once that opportunity was lost, reclaiming it was as difficult as ascending to heaven.
The gap between late Level Seven and the Five Emperors seemed small, but only those in the know understood the difference.
He was Prince Jing, Qian Kunlei, the current Qian Emperor's younger brother.
He possessed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit ability, hailed as one of the strongest Logia fruit abilities, and could summon power akin to a natural disaster.
Decades ago, he had once been the most promising heir to the throne.
Unfortunately, he had ultimately suffered a narrow defeat at the hands of the Gum-Gum Fruit's wielder, the current Qian Emperor.
After ascending the throne, the Qian Emperor had remained wary of this Rumble-Rumble Fruit wielder.
And so Prince Jing had been confined to the Qian Capital, teaching and educating students at Imperial Capital University, far from the center of power.
But over the past decade and more, the Qian Emperor