Twenty minutes earlier, news of the slave revolt in Mary Geoise had finally reached the Five Elders, but they had paid it little mind.
"They're only slaves. Just have the guards round them up and kill them. What are those CP agents even doing?!"
"We told those useless fools long ago not to bring so much trash into the sacred Mary Geoise. Now look what's happened!"
After hearing the news, the Five Elders berated the CP guards and expressed considerable dissatisfaction with the useless Celestial Dragons as well.
"But quite a few of the slaves are ability users, and there's something strange about this. How did all the slaves end up revolting?"
"By the way, are those useless fools all right?"
Suddenly, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the Venus and one of the Five Elders, spoke up.
At his words, the messenger who had come to report began trembling like a leaf, beads of sweat covering his forehead. Still, he did not dare conceal a thing.
"Reporting to Saint Nusjuro: after the slave revolt, Saint Kantansupu's family was found dead in the slave prison. Also..."
The messenger's body trembled, and he seemed afraid to continue.
"What else? Speak!"
"Yes, sir. When Saint Kantansupu was found, all four of his limbs had been broken, and the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon had been branded on his face."
"What did you say?!"
The Five Elders' expressions changed. Powerful auras erupted from them, and the messenger who had come to report trembled all over, despair filling his heart.
"They dared to murder a Celestial Dragon and brand the Hoof of the Soaring Celestial Dragon on his face!"
As the holders of the highest authority in the world, the Five Elders would never tolerate anyone daring to challenge the Celestial Dragons' authority.
"You may go!"
Saint Topman Warcury spoke up, giving the messenger a long look before dismissing him. As if granted a pardon, the messenger hurriedly backed out of the room. Only then did his face show the relief of having survived the ordeal.
Only then did Saint Topman Warcury continue.
"I propose sending a Marine Admiral to suppress the revolt and eliminate all the slaves. Anyone who knows about this matter must also be purged."
The other Elders naturally understood that he meant the murder of a Celestial Dragon. If the people out on the seas learned of it, the Celestial Dragons' authority would surely suffer.
The other Elders considered it for a moment, then all nodded in agreement.
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
"Agreed!"
Saint Topman Warcury nodded, then picked up a silver Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Once this matter is over, eliminate everyone who knows that Saint Kantansupu was murdered!"
"Yes, my lord!"
After the call, Saint Topman Warcury ordered Marine Headquarters to dispatch an Admiral to deal with the slave revolt.
In Marineford, Sengoku, the current Fleet Admiral, rubbed his aching head.
His years as Fleet Admiral had been far from comfortable. Although great pirates like Roger, Redfield, and World had been dealt with, and Golden Lion Shiki posed little threat despite escaping prison,
the number of new pirates on the seas had increased several times over. Moreover, in the years since he had taken over as Fleet Admiral, the Five Elders had found countless excuses to suppress him.
His "Reigning Justice" had long since become "Thorough Justice," and every one of his subordinates was obedient.
Aside from the relatively normal Tsuru, the newly appointed Three Admirals, Sakazuki, Kuzan, and Borsalino, often did things that gave him headaches.
He knew what Sakazuki and Borsalino were like, so there was little to say about them. But Kuzan, the once-passionate Aokiji, had completely changed his justice and often fell silent.
Though Sengoku did not know the specific reason, he knew it had something to do with the Ohara Incident. What exactly had caused it, however, he did not know.
All he knew was that, ever since Kuzan returned, he had worn a Famous Sword at his waist, a Great Grade Sword that seemed to be called "Mandala."
For a Marine Admiral with a Logia ability, carrying a sword was inconvenient, even if he knew swordsmanship.
It worked well enough against ordinary people, but against those great pirates, it was less useful than an ice blade formed with his own ability. Yet Kuzan continued to wear it.
As for Vice Admiral Garp, that guy was even less reliable. He was always either asking for leave or stealing Sengoku's rice crackers.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku cursed the Marine top brass once more, then picked up a Den Den Mushi and made a call.
"Brr brr brr..."
Borsalino, who was in the Admiral's office, suddenly heard the Den Den Mushi ring and picked it up, puzzled.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what is it?"
A vein bulged on Sengoku's forehead at those words.
"You bastard, can't I call you unless something's wrong? Now, immediately, get yourself to Mary Geoise and protect the Celestial Dragons. The slaves have revolted."
A glint flashed in Borsalino's eyes, but he spoke in an exaggerated tone.
"How scary! A slave revolt? It'd be far too dangerous for me to go!"
Sengoku wanted nothing more than to rush over to Borsalino and yell in his face. You're an Admiral and a Logia user at that. Who in this world could hurt you?!
"This is an order from the Five Elders. Besides the slave revolt, something else seems to have happened in Mary Geoise. Otherwise, those old bastards wouldn't have spoken in that tone!"
"Oh? Then, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, what should I do when I get there?"
"Hmph. Follow the Five Elders' orders and deal with those slaves, of course. As for how far you take it, use your own judgment!"
Sengoku's tone softened a little. Ever since he had become Fleet Admiral, the Five Elders had dumped all their dirty work on the Marines.
They called it the Marines' duty, but in reality, they were tarnishing the Marines' reputation while suppressing them. After all, neither the Fleet Admiral nor the Marine Admirals had held their positions for very long, and the Five Elders did not entirely trust them.
Since becoming Fleet Admiral, Sengoku had done more dirty work for the Five Elders than he could count. He did not know how much of his Conqueror's Haki remained, or even whether he could still use it.
"All right, I'll go. Oh, right, it's too dangerous this time, so I'm requesting a raise. And after I get back, I want a month off. Also..."
Before Borsalino could finish, he heard a bang as the call was cut off. The Den Den Mushi bearing Sengoku's likeness had a face so angry it was distorted before it finally went limp.
"Tch, what a miser."
"A slave revolt, huh?!"
Borsalino looked at the disconnected Den Den Mushi, his lips curling slightly. Then he looked in the direction of Mary Geoise and thought for a moment before turning into a flash of light and disappearing.
Sengoku, who had just slammed down the Den Den Mushi on Borsalino, was furious.
"That bastard asks for a raise all day long. I want a raise too!"
Soon, however, he calmed down. Thinking of what the Five Elders had said, he looked thoughtful.
"A slave revolt?!"
Just then, a messenger knocked and entered.
"Reporting, Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Vice Admiral Garp said he was taking leave and sent me to inform you."
"What? That guy's taking leave again? Tell him to come say it to me himself."
The messenger who had come to deliver the message looked troubled.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, Vice Admiral Garp said he had already set off. He's probably left Marineford by now."
"What? That bastard, I-I... Get out!"
"Yes, sir!"
Sengoku: ...
Meanwhile, the fighting in Mary Geoise had escalated once more. Lot and his group numbered fewer than a hundred, and though they were strong and prepared to die, they were still surrounded by an ever-growing number of CP guards.
Someone died almost every minute, and as more and more pursuers arrived, the wounds on the survivors continued to mount.
The CP guards had split into two groups. Aside from the hundreds who stayed behind to deal with Lot and his group, the rest chased after Fisher Tiger and the others.
Lin Yuan looked toward Lot and his group, knowing they had no chance of surviving. Even if he intervened, he could not save them.
After another glance at them, Lin Yuan lingered no longer and rushed after Fisher Tiger.
Some CP guards had already spotted Lin Yuan. There were few places left to hide, but he killed every CP agent who came after him.
Lot, who was locked in a bloody fight with the CP guards, seemed to see Lin Yuan. A trace of gratitude and admiration appeared on his face, along with a hint of resolve.
"Kill..."