Red Line, Mary Geoise, Chamber of Authority.
"The incident at Impel Down was actually reported so brazenly!"
"And to top it off, with such a sensational headline—'The World's Greatest Prison Collapses'? Hmph!"
"Morgans, that self-important little journalist, nothing but a pen-pusher, is practically opposing the government!"
"Impel Down barely suffered any significant damage, yet in Morgans' report, it's as if the prison was completely destroyed!"
"The government's dignity is at risk because of this article! We must teach that smug 'big news bird' a proper lesson!"
Just as Donquixote Doflamingo had anticipated.
The Five Elders were indeed discussing the major incident at Impel Down today.
But the Five Elders weren't just troubled by the appearance of "Golden Lion II."
They were also infuriated by Morgans' news report.
As Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro had previously stated, an incident only qualifies as a "problem" when it's discovered by the public.
Without the World Economic Journal's sudden report, the World Government could have continued concealing what happened at Impel Down.
After all, Impel Deep lies within the Calm Belt, an almost isolated location.
Even if a major incident occurred, as long as the World Government's secrecy measures were effective, the outside world would remain oblivious.
Take, for example, the "White Dragon's Massacre in Infinite Hell"—only a select few were privy to that event.
Outsiders didn't even know what had transpired in Infinite Hell.
But this time, Morgans and the World Economic Journal abruptly intervened, exposing what should have been a top-secret incident to the entire world, revealing that Impel Down had been invaded and damaged.
The so-called impenetrable, indestructible "World's Greatest Prison" was actually destroyed?
The World Government's reputation is in tatters!
"I've already dispatched personnel to refute the World Economic Journal's false rumors through the government's official media channels," said Saint Topman Warcury, the Legal War God among the Five Elders, his voice grave.
"Impel Down remains intact, suffering only minor damage. A Navy Admiral arrived in time to repel the intruders...
"However, the World Economic Journal's report has already been published, and the government will inevitably face some repercussions.
"Morgans must be held accountable for this incident!"
Warcury's stance was quickly endorsed by the other four Elders.
They, too, were displeased with the big news bird who had exposed the World Government's secrets.
This incident presented the perfect opportunity to take action against the World Economic Journal.
If they could seize control of it and turn it into the World Government's mouthpiece...
That would be ideal!
"Dispatch the CP agents directly. The Navy isn't suited for this kind of operation," Saint Nusjuro, the Financial War God, said coolly.
"Teach Morgans a lesson—let him know what can and cannot be reported!"
"Only matters the government permits to be known can the World Economic Journal report."
Saint Nusjuro's suggestion was unanimously approved by the other four Five Elders.
"Agreed!" / "Approved!"
The Five Elders finalized their disciplinary measures against the big news mogul Morgans.
Then they turned their discussion focus to the true culprit behind this incident.
"Without a doubt! [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree]—these are Golden Lion Shiki's legendary swords."
Saint Nusjuro examined the solo photograph in the World Economic Journal repeatedly before confirming.
"When Golden Lion Shiki escaped from Infinite Hell back then, he immediately retrieved these two great-grade swords from the prison's storage vault."
"Who would have thought that after so many years, these blades would reappear on the seas—only now wielded not by Golden Lion Shiki, but by this so-called 'Golden Lion II.'"
"Still, with [Cherry Ten], [Withered Tree], and the power of the [Float-Float Fruit], the World Economic Journal isn't entirely wrong to call this blond brat 'Golden Lion II.'"
"First, there was a 'Whitebeard Jr.,' now we have a 'Golden Lion II.'"
Marcus Mars Saint, who had previously clashed with Whitebeard Jr., frowned in confusion.
"Where are these pirates who seem to have inherited Whitebeard and Golden Lion's powers coming from? The government received no prior intelligence about them."
After extensive discussion, the Five Elders still couldn't reach any definitive conclusion.
However, they arrived at the same speculation as the Fleet Admiral and Navy Admirals had—that "Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II might be artificial creations."
"I find this conjecture utterly implausible."
Saturn Saint, the Science Defense War God, pressed his lips together and spoke calmly.
"As a scientist myself, I'm fully aware of all experimental projects under the government's purview."
"While the government has indeed considered experiments on 'human cloning' and even 'ability-user cloning,' the performance of available materials falls far short. Current technological means cannot replicate 'ability-users,' let alone powerhouses of Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II's caliber!"
Whitebeard Jr., Golden Lion II.
One was the "Lightning Man" who consumed the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], the other the "Floating Man" who ate the [Float-Float Fruit].
Both possessed transcendent combat prowess rivaling Marine Headquarters' Admiral Kizaru.
If any organization on the seas could manufacture "artificial humans" of this level, then world dominion wouldn't belong to the World Government!
The Chamber of Authority wouldn't be occupied by just five Elders either!
A terrifying faction capable of mass-producing Admiral-tier artificial humans would have no reason to fear the World Government.
The government's ultimate military strength...
Being merely casually manufactured androids by such an organization?
How could such a scenario ever occur?
"To my knowledge, there is indeed one 'artificial human' on the seas."
After contemplation, Saturn Saint added.
"Dark King and Queen of Pleasure Street, Stussy—she's also a member of CP0."
"Stussy is a 'clone,' and her original template was Buckingham Stussy, a member of the Rocks Pirates back in the day."
"As for her strength... she can handle elite Marine vice admirals or even the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea with ease, but that's about the extent of her capabilities."
CP0, known as the "Celestial Dragons' strongest shield."
The Five Elders were well-informed about CP0, and everyone present was aware of Stussy's existence.
"Stussy's creation must date back at least several decades, right?"
The Agricultural War God, Shepherd Saint, wasn't particularly knowledgeable about scientific technology.
"The MADS organization back then created Stussy—it's not impossible they could have made other clones."
"We did send agents to dismantle MADS, and we recruited both Vegapunk and Caesar Clown. But were there others who escaped the government's grasp?"
"If Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II are indeed artificial humans, could they have been created by scientists who fled MADS?"
Hearing this, the other Elders immediately turned to Saturn Saint.
"I still find it highly unlikely."
Saturn Saint shook his head in denial.
"Back then, the only one in MADS worth our attention was Vegapunk."
"Caesar Clown? He was nothing more than a clown."
"As for the others, the only ones who could barely be called 'scientists' were Vinsmoke Judge and Queen."
"Queen is now one of the All-Stars in the Beast Pirates. His expertise lies in mechanical engineering and biochemical poisons—completely unrelated to artificial humans."
"As for Vinsmoke Judge..."
Saturn Saint paused briefly here.
"Judge's research did focus on Lineage Factor technology and artificial humans."
"But every step of scientific progress requires astronomical investments of funds and resources to yield results."
"I don't believe the Germa Kingdom's national resources could possibly cultivate or manufacture powerhouses on the level of Whitebeard Jr. or Golden Lion II."
"If this were three hundred years ago, when the Germa Empire nearly ruled the entire North Blue, they might have had the capability and resources."
"But the Germa Kingdom today? A 'mercenary kingdom' that has to run around fighting wars for ordinary nations just to fund its research?"
"Hah..."
Saturn Saint scoffed, leaving the rest unsaid.
Yet his disdain was palpable.
As the only one among the Five Elders with any scientific expertise, Saturn Saint's words effectively dismissed the possibility that "Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II are artificial humans."
After some further discussion among the Elders, Marcus Mars Saint suddenly proposed another possibility.
"Do you think... it could be the rebirth of that Devil Fruit?"
Marcus Mars Saint pointed at the news report depicting the massive tsunami that had nearly engulfed all of Impel Down.
"The so-called most sinister ability in Devil Fruit history—the Logia-type [Dark-Dark Fruit]!"
"Whitebeard Jr. wields the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], and Golden Lion II possesses the [Float-Float Fruit]."
"If someone could coincidentally gather these two rare and powerful Devil Fruits at the same time... their luck would simply be too extraordinary.
"But if someone had previously discovered the former users of the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit] and the [Float-Float Fruit]...
"And this person forcibly seized these two powerful Devil Fruits using the abilities of the [Dark-Dark Fruit], then bestowed them upon Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II..."
Marcus Mars Saint's speculation undoubtedly opened up an entirely new line of thought for the Five Elders.
After the "artificial human" theory had been firmly dismissed by Saturn Saint based on professional expertise,
Marcus Mars Saint's proposed "[Dark-Dark Fruit] hypothesis" clearly aligned better with conventional logic.
Each of the Five Elders was an ancient "monster" who had lived for many years.
They all knew exactly why the [Dark-Dark Fruit] was called "the most sinister ability in history."
As the only Logia-type Devil Fruit that couldn't "elementalize,"
the [Dark-Dark Fruit] possessed infinite gravitational pull akin to a black hole, while simultaneously suppressing all other Devil Fruit abilities, rendering them temporarily ineffective!
The natural enemies of Devil Fruits are seawater and Sea-stone (specifically the special keratin particles "Pyrobloin" contained within them).
Yet the [Dark-Dark Fruit] could directly suppress other ability users just like seawater and Sea-stone!
This Devil Fruit was like a natural predator to all others.
But this wasn't even the most terrifying aspect of the [Dark-Dark Fruit].
Its most horrifying and unique feature lay in its ability to forcibly steal the powers of other ability users!
Ability nullification!
Ability theft!
These two extraordinarily unique powers together cemented the [Dark-Dark Fruit]'s reputation as "the most sinister in history."
"If it's the [Dark-Dark Fruit], then many of our doubts can be explained..."
"Think carefully—we've never actually found evidence that Whitebeard or Golden Lion had descendants, have we?"
"So-called 'Whitebeard Jr.' and 'Golden Lion II' are merely special titles we've given those two individuals."
"The seas are full of people who look alike..."
"If the current [Dark-Dark Fruit] user forcibly seized the [Rumble-Rumble Fruit] and [Float-Float Fruit], then bestowed their powers upon these so-called 'Whitebeard Jr.' and 'Golden Lion II'..."
"Hmm, that makes perfect sense..."
"Very logical..."
"It holds up..."
After this exchange, the Five Elders simultaneously fell into silence.
Because at this moment, the same pirate's name surfaced in all their minds.
Rocks D. Xebec!
The captain of the legendary Rocks Pirates, Rocks D. Xebec, was the previous host of the [Dark-Dark Fruit]!
Assuming...
Marcus Mars Saint's earlier deduction was correct,
and a new [Dark-Dark Fruit] user had indeed emerged,
then this meant that after "Whitebeard Jr." and "Golden Lion II," another figure would inevitably appear—
"Rocks II"!
Even the World Government would find pirates of this caliber extremely troublesome to deal with.
After all, even excluding the yet-to-appear "Rocks II," who is suspected to possess the powers of the [Dark-Dark Fruit], Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II have already been confirmed by their own words to be crewmates on the same ship!
Just the presence of Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II alone means this unknown pirate crew's strength is already on par with one of the Pirate Emperors of the New World!
And if "Rocks II" is added to the mix, the sheer terror of this pirate crew becomes utterly chilling.
"What a headache…" Saint Topman Warcury furrowed his brows deeply.
"Could it be that after Roger, the 'Pirate King' of the Great Pirate Era is finally about to emerge?"
"Don't spout such destabilizing nonsense, Warcury!" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro coldly rebuked.
"What Great Pirate Era… It's all just a bunch of lawless scoundrels!
"Never mind the [Dark-Dark Fruit] or 'Rocks II'—our top priority is to convey the government's stance on this 'Golden Lion II' to the world!"
Unlike the previous case with Whitebeard Jr., who punched the Five Elders and kicked a Navy Admiral, his actions remained largely unknown to the public.
But this time was different.
Golden Lion II's siege on Impel Down, widely publicized by the World Economic Journal, had become common knowledge.
The World Government had no choice but to treat Golden Lion II with the utmost seriousness.
And for a notorious pirate who dared to defy the World Government's authority, attack its vital institutions, and pose a severe threat to its rule, the highest level of seriousness meant assigning him an exorbitant bounty.
Considering the comparative displays of strength between Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II—as well as the shadowy presence of the suspected "Rocks II" lurking behind the scenes—Golden Lion II's bounty, while staggering, didn't quite reach astronomical heights.
Under the World Government's directive, Marine Headquarters hastily printed a new batch of wanted posters and distributed them across the seas.
[Golden Lion II · Lion]
[Image: [Fig].JPG]
[Bounty: 1,832,000,000 Belly]
[Status: DEAD OR ALIVE]
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