Carl lowered his hand to his waist and said,
"Saint Imu, that barrier just now seemed to be the ability of the Barrier-Barrier Fruit. Could it be that you are a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user?"
Imu asked in return,
"Have you encountered a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user before?"
"No, but I have read about it in my family's preserved Devil Fruit encyclopedia. I recall that the description states that a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user can create an invisible barrier out of thin air to block attacks, possessing an incredible level of defense."
"You are correct. It is rare for someone to remember such details. However, I am not a Barrier-Barrier Fruit user. What you saw was merely an application of rules."
Hearing the word "rules," a sharp gleam flashed through Carl's eyes, and he immediately asked,
"Saint Imu, could you elaborate further?"
This time, Imu did not immediately respond to Carl's question. Instead, she sat back on the Empty Throne before speaking slowly,
"To establish rules, to control rules, to wield rules—this is the authority of a god."
Carl raised his head and looked toward the Empty Throne.
"Then what of the so-called natural enemies of the gods—the D. Clan?"
"They are the destroyers of rules. The freedom that Joy Boy constantly clamored for is nothing more than the destruction of existing rules to create a world of chaos."
As she finished speaking, Imu waved her hand, and the grand doors slowly opened.
...
Outside the doors, the Five Elders immediately looked up upon hearing the sound of them opening. However, when they saw the scene inside, their bodies trembled, and expressions of shock surfaced on their faces.
Warcury shuddered internally.
"How could Saint Imu allow Saint Carl to be this close to the Empty Throne? He is from the Figarland family!"
But what shocked him even more was yet to come.
Carl slowly turned around and looked down at the Five Elders kneeling outside the door. Above them, Imu had already returned to her usual indifferent demeanor. Her voice was ethereal yet commanding,
"Until Joy Boy appears, no one besides Saint Carl is permitted to approach the Flower Room. The five of you shall obey his orders."
Carl's face revealed a hint of surprise, while the Five Elders widened their eyes in disbelief. Even Nusjuro, who was usually composed, looked up toward the Empty Throne in shock.
Warcury's face twisted with incredulity, and he exclaimed,
"What!? Saint Imu, you want us to obey Saint Carl!?"
The moment these words left his mouth, Nusjuro's face darkened as he cursed internally,
"This idiot!"
No sooner had Warcury finished speaking than his face contorted in pain. With a loud thud, he collapsed onto the ground, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
The remaining Four Elders, witnessing this, immediately pressed their heads to the floor, not daring to make a sound.
Imu gazed at Warcury, who was writhing on the floor. Having served her for centuries, he was nothing more than a loyal servant in her eyes. There was not a trace of pity within her gaze.
She merely stated in an indifferent tone,
"You deserve to die."
As soon as the words fell, Warcury's body suddenly stiffened. Wisps of black smoke rose from him, and within moments, his flesh began to peel away at an alarming rate.
During this gruesome process, Warcury let out agonizing screams.
A short while later, the screams ceased. Where he once lay, only a pile of bleached white bones remained.
...
The sight of Warcury's horrific death sent a chill through the remaining Four Elders. They had never imagined that Imu's punishment would be so severe—she had directly taken his life!
Carl's expression was unreadable. He certainly did not pity Warcury; to him, that old fool who constantly opposed the Figarland family deserved his fate. However, he was intrigued—was Imu putting on a show of power for him?
At that moment, Imu spoke again,
"Saint Carl, return and ask your uncle if he is willing to take Warcury's place among the Five Elders."
Carl raised an eyebrow, momentarily wondering if Imu had lost her mind. However, knowing that abnormal situations always hid deeper motives, he carefully replied,
"Understood. I will ask my uncle. However, if he is unwilling to assume the position, I hope Saint Imu will understand. After all, he is still the leader of the Holy Knights and bears the responsibility of protecting Mary Geoise. His duties are already demanding."
Imu lightly waved a hand and said,
"I am aware. If Garling finds his responsibilities too overwhelming, he may pass the position of Holy Knights' leader to you. He has considered this for quite some time, hasn't he?"
Carl paused briefly before Imu continued,
"There is no need to rush. You and your uncle can take your time discussing it."
Since Imu had already said this much, Carl simply nodded in silent acknowledgment.
Below, the remaining Four Elders remained frozen, their heads pressed to the ground. The conversation between Imu and Carl sent shivers down their spines.
The contrast was simply too stark!
Warcury had barely questioned anything—his words hardly constituted real defiance—yet Imu had mercilessly executed him.
And now, in front of Carl, Imu displayed a level of patience and indulgence they had never witnessed before.
Saturn cast a glance at Warcury's still-smoking bones. Though they had been at odds within the Five Elders, seeing Warcury's tragic end still sparked a faint feeling of dread in him.
However, more than fear, he felt relief—relief that he had never been foolish enough to make the Figarland family his enemy.
As Saturn reflected, Nusjuro suddenly straightened his upper body and deeply bowed toward Carl, his voice filled with deference,
"Saint Nusjuro is willing to obey all of Saint Carl's commands."
The remaining three elders were momentarily stunned. Saturn, looking at Nusjuro, who was now bowing with his rear stuck in the air, felt his old face flush.
Not because he had any strange thoughts—he was merely holding back laughter.
Peter and Mars, on the other hand, immediately regretted letting Nusjuro take the lead in pledging loyalty.
Though they did not fully understand what was happening, Carl had clearly been designated by Imu as her chosen representative. Without hesitation, they followed Nusjuro's example and prostrated themselves before Carl.
Saturn was the last to kneel, though he did so with the most composure.
After all, he understood Carl better than the others. No matter how low the other three bowed, they would never be able to surpass his standing in Carl's eyes.
That was the privilege of having invested in the winning side early on.
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+185 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg