Holy Land Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
The Five Elders sat upright in their respective seats, with battle reports from Marine Headquarters spread out in front of them.
silence.
A deathly silence.
After a long silence, Topman Saint Warcury, the " Warrior God of Justice " dressed in a black suit and sporting a mustache, spoke first.
The Wano Country Plan has failed.
His voice was low and deep, filled with suppressed anger.
"CP0 Chief is critically injured, the elite squad is wiped out, and Kurozumi Orochi has been captured."
" The Seastone mine has fallen into Kaido's hands."
" Kaido and Roy have formed an alliance to share Seastone resources."
"Tell me, what's next with the cover?"
As Topman Saint Warcury finished speaking, " Warrior God of Science and Defense " Saint Saturn put down the battle report in his hand.
"Not only that."
" Golden Lion Shiki launches a surprise attack on G-1 Branch, joining forces with Bullet to inflict heavy losses on the Navy."
" Garp was forced to return to reinforce, Wano Country completely spiraled out of control."
"We lost this round."
"Losing to a young man in his early twenties."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the other four people turned extremely ugly.
Yes, we lost to a young man in his early twenties.
He lost to a nobody pirate who was unknown just a few years ago.
Lost to one--
They used to look down on them like ants.
" Roy..."
The blond-haired, bearded " Warrior God of the Environment " Marcus Saint Mars said in a deep voice,
"This child has become a major threat."
"It must be eradicated."
How to eradicate it?
Wearing a dark green suit and sporting a long beard, the " Warrior God of Agriculture," Shepard X. Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, coldly said...
"The Navy's influence in the New World has been reduced to its limit."
" The G-1 Branch was severely damaged, Akainu was injured, Garp had to guard the entrance to the New World."
" Kizaru and Aokiji are still hunting pirates all over the Four Blues and cannot leave for the time being."
"And the Roy Pirates are still growing in strength."
" Hawk Eyes, Bullet, Tesoro, Crocodile, Kuma..."
"Which one isn't a monster?"
"Plus, there's Kaido as an ally, and the Seastone resources of Wano Country..."
What are the chances of winning if we launch a direct attack?
Another silence fell.
They all knew that a direct, head-on attack would not yield high odds.
Even if we win, we will pay a heavy price.
The navy cannot afford that price.
Even World Government cannot afford it.
"So, you're just giving up like this?"
Topman Saint Warcury Unwilling Path,
"Are we just going to hand over the Seastone resources to someone else like this?"
Saint Saturn shook his head.
"No, we can't give up."
The importance of Seastone needs no further explanation.
"But a direct assault won't work; we can try a different approach."
The other four looked at him.
"In what way?"
Saint Saturn pushed up his glasses, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"Although Wano Country has fallen into Kaido's hands, are those samurai and those people truly content with it?"
"Although the remnants of the Kozuki Family have either fled or died, the prophecy of Kozuki Toki has already spread among the people."
"Twenty years later, nine shadows fell from the sky, Wano Country opened its doors."
"This prophecy will become a seed."
"Buried in the hearts of those who resist, it took root and sprouted."
"Twenty years from now, when those who were sent to the future return, Wano Country will surely descend into chaos once more."
"That will be our opportunity to intervene."
Marcus Saint Mars frowned.
"Twenty years? That's too long."
Saint Saturn looked at him, his voice indifferent.
"For us, twenty years is but a blink of an eye."
"We've endured eight hundred years of waiting, what's another twenty?"
The other four remained silent.
Indeed, for beings like them who have lived for hundreds of years, twenty years is really not a long time.
"And--"
Saint Saturn continued,
"We have another way."
What road?
"A deal with Kaido."
Upon hearing this, the other four were all stunned.
"A deal? With that madman?"
Topman Saint Warcury said incredulously,
"He just went to war with us, killed our people, and plundered our resources. Now you want to trade with him?"
Saint Saturn said calmly,
"In the face of self-interest, there are no permanent enemies."
" Kaido is a pirate, not Revolutionary Army. He only cares about power, territory, and wealth."
"He'll be willing to do business with us if we offer a high enough price."
"He needs to find a market for his Seastone."
"And we are the biggest buyers."
Marcus Saint Mars pondered,
"That... is a possible solution."
Shepard X. Saint Shepherd Ju Peter also nodded.
"Indeed, rather than letting Seastone flow into the black market and be divided up by those underground forces, it's better for us to buy it back ourselves."
"It's embarrassing, but it's better than losing everything."
Zambaron V. Saint Nusjuro, the " Warrior God of Finance " who had remained silent until now, adjusted his glasses.
I agree.
In business, there are no permanent enemies.
"It's worth the money if we can buy back the Seastone."
Topman Saint Warcury's face was ashen, but he finally nodded slowly.
"... All right."
"Let's do it that way."
Saint Saturn continued,
"Furthermore, inform Sengoku that the naval reinforcement plan must be expanded."
"The first half of the Grand Line and the Four Blues must be firmly controlled."
"We can put the New World aside for now and let those pirates fight and fight for territory."
But the first half absolutely cannot be lost.
That is our foundation.
The other four nodded in agreement.
"Besides--"
Saint Saturn paused, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
"Increase funding for Vegapunk Labs."
"Have him finish that research as soon as possible."
"That... research that could change the world order."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the other four people became serious.
That study...
If it really succeeds...
"Good."
Topman Saint Warcury voice,
"I will personally oversee this."
The Five Elders reached a consensus.
The direct attack on the Roy Pirates has been temporarily suspended.
But the vigilance and hatred towards Roy will not diminish as a result.
They just used a different method.
A more covert, more insidious, and more deadly method.
After the meeting of the Room of Authority concluded, Saint Saturn remained alone in the temple.
He stood by the window, looking down at Mary Geoise, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
Roy...
This name is deeply imprinted in his mind.
At twenty years old, he was able to stir up the winds and waves of the entire New World.
How much will he have grown in twenty years?
Saint Saturn took a deep breath, turned and left.
He still has a lot to do.
The Navy's reinforcements, Vegapunk's research, the secret deal with Kaido, and --
Continuous surveillance of the Roy Pirates.
This war is far from over.
It's just continued in a different form.