Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
The Five Elders sat around a round table, the atmosphere extremely tense.
The golden-haired old man in the form of Saint Shepherd Ju Peter - Itsumade Model had his wings folded, but his fingertips were unconsciously tapping on the table, each tap heavier than the last.
Saint Mars —the bespectacled man in the Sandworm Model —adjusted his glasses and stared at the detailed report on the Egghead incident in front of him, his brows furrowed.
The Saint Warcury —a silent giant in his Fengxi Model —had his arms crossed over his chest. His rugged face was expressionless, but the white steam billowing from his nostrils betrayed his inner turmoil.
Saint Nusjuro – a swordsman in the Bakotsu Model, his fingers are always pressed on the hilt of the Kitetsu I, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
And the new member who took the place of Saint Saturn —Saint Figarland Saint Garling, the leader of the Holy Knights Impact.
I told you so long ago.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter slammed his fist on the table, the sound so loud it made the teacup on the table jump.
"After the Paramount War, we should eliminate Roy at all costs! If our World Government were to go all out—"
"You and I both know the situation back then."
Saint Mars adjusted his glasses, his tone calm to the point of being almost indifferent.
" Saint Saturn was beheaded, the navy was decimated, and Roy even broke the Black Turn Domination in public."
If we rashly invade Hachinosu with our current strength, it's uncertain whether we can even make a complete retreat!
"There's no point in dwelling on the past now."
Saint Warcury interrupted their argument.
Vegapunk knows too many secrets.
The Void Century, Ancient Weapon, Lineage Factor —if this knowledge falls into Roy's hands, the consequences will be unimaginable.
If we don't act quickly, Hachinosu will soon become stronger.
By then, even if the World Government and the Navy mobilized their entire forces, they might not be able to conquer Hachinosu.
Saint Nusjuro gripped the hilt of the Kitetsu tightly, his knuckles cracking.
"I propose that we deploy all our forces to launch a devastating attack on Hachinosu."
If we fight now while Vegapunk is still fully integrated into Hachinosu, we still have a chance of winning.
If this drags on any longer, we really won't be able to win."
"Agree."
Saint Garling stroked the long sword at his waist and spoke his opinion for the first time.
I disagree!
Saint Mars tapped the table lightly with his fingers.
"Move all forces to attack Hachinosu now."
"Let's not even talk about whether we can win."
Even if they win, the navy will be completely crippled.
At that time, Kaido still be alive, Red Hair will still be squatting in Elbaf.
Revolutionary Army are instigating rebellions around the world—who can stop them?
Should the five of us personally participate?
"So we're just going to watch Roy grow stronger?" Saint Garling retorted.
The debate lasted for nearly an hour.
Saint Garling and Saint Nusjuro advocated immediate military action, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter and Saint Warcury preferred to observe the situation first, Saint Mars opposed military action.
In the end, neither of them could convince the other.
The internal divisions among the Five Elders have been laid bare at this moment when unity is most needed.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter finally stood up.
"Let's consult Imu."
The room fell silent.
The other four Five Elders simultaneously looked up at him, each with a different expression in their eyes.
There was surprise, hesitation, and a barely perceptible fear.
"This level of decision is beyond our control."
Among the Flower Room.
Mary Geoise's most mysterious forbidden area, which even the Five Elders are not allowed to enter at will.
This garden, located deep within Pangaea Castle, is unguarded, without any surveillance equipment in operation, and even the air seems heavier than outside.
A black figure shrouded in a long robe sat atop Empty Throne.
The Five Elders knelt on one knee, lowering their heads that were usually held high above them.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter was kneeling at the very front, his forehead almost touching the ground.
" Imu."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter's voice echoed among the Flower Room, but the flowers seemed to absorb the excess sound waves, making his voice sound more muffled than usual.
He reported all the threats posed by Hachinosu:
" Marine Admiral Kizaru was completely suppressed on Egghead and nearly died in the line of duty."
All of Vegapunk's research materials, including some blueprints for Ancient Weapon and core data on Lineage Factor, have fallen into Roy's hands.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter finished speaking, a long silence fell Flower Room.
The silence was so heavy it seemed to have a physical form, making the five Five Elders breathe cautiously.
After a moment, Imu, sitting on the Empty Throne, seemed to snap out of his thoughts.
A pale, almost transparent hand emerged from beneath the long robe, with extremely long fingers and neatly trimmed nails.
The hand moved extremely slowly, as if shooing away an eyesore—the sleeve flicked lightly.
A wanted poster floated out from the sleeve, twirled a few times in the air, and landed in front of the kneeling Five Elders.
The wanted poster featured a boy wearing Straw Hat and grinning foolishly—it was none other than Monkey D. Luffy.
The bounty was clearly printed on the wanted poster, but to Imu, the amount meant nothing.
What's truly significant is the arrest warrant itself—the one that Imu kept personally.
A wisp of pitch-black smoke billowed from Imu's body.
The smoke condensed into an arrow in the air, pointing straight at Luffy's wanted poster.
Imu didn't say a single word from beginning to end.
But that silent will was clearer than any words.
Hachinosu is not important.
Roy is unimportant.
The one to be dealt with first is this little brat wearing Straw Hat.
When the Five Elders left the Flower Room, each of them wore a look of bewilderment.
Walking through the long, empty corridors of Mary Geoise, their footsteps echoed on the stone slabs, their rhythm chaotic and heavy.
"Lord Imu —are we being told to prioritize dealing with Straw Hat Boy?"
Saint Mars pushed up his glasses, his tone full of disbelief.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter clenched his fist.
The fingernails dug into the palm, drawing out a few fine beads of blood.
He had personally experienced the Paramount War and witnessed Roy behead Saint Saturn with a single blow.
That was the first time in the eight hundred years that the Five Elders had died in battle.
Now, Lord Imu says nothing about the murderer of Saint Saturn, but instead orders them to deal with a Supernovas who has only been in the New World for two years?
" Straw Hat Luffy."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter's voice was hoarse and deep.
"A Supernovas who just entered the New World, his bounty isn't low, but compared to that monster Roy— "
" Imu's decisions are never wrong."
Saint Garling- sei interrupted him.
Although the newly appointed Five Elders also frowned, there was no doubt in his tone.
"Perhaps the threat posed by the Straw Hat Boy is greater than we perceive."
Saint Nusjuro gripped the hilt of the Kitetsu tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white:
"That Gum-Gum Fruit —we've repeatedly confirmed in our intelligence reports that no one has been able to Awakening in the last eight hundred years."
But Lord Imu's level of attention to it-"
The five walked silently down the corridor, and none of them spoke again.
But they all knew in their hearts that someone personally named by Imu could not possibly be just an ordinary Supernovas.
This fruit, coveted by the World Government for eight hundred years, may hold secrets more dangerous than the monsters of Hachinosu.