"Speaking of which, you—someone who treats humans like insects—seem to be the real insect, don't you?"
Shirogai descended through the air with a faint smile, stopping fearlessly before Saturn.
"For someone like you, an actual monster, I hear there are four more just like you. How unfortunate. All of you are hideous."
Shirogai studied the tall creature before him, its grotesque spider-like lower body and distorted human upper half radiating arrogance as if a god had descended. He chuckled lightly.
"Have you ever looked at yourself, Saturn? Here, I'll give you a mirror."
Cold mist seeped from Shirogai's fingers, forming a large crystalline ice mirror in the air before Saturn.
"Insect, look at your own face. It matches perfectly with the 'ant' you love calling others."
Crack.
A huge spider leg pierced through the mirror. The ice shattered, then rapidly melted as black-green venom spread like rot, corroding the frozen shards into steaming acid.
"Shirogai Yamikuro, I speak as a representative of the World Government, the embodiment of the highest authority in this world."
Saturn's voice carried the weight of command. His sharp horns twisted slightly as he glared at Shirogai.
"If you continue provoking me, are you planning to become an enemy of the entire world?"
His eyes shifted further away from anything human, transforming inch by inch into something monstrous.
"You're not worthy of representing this world."
Shirogai didn't hide the disdain in his gaze.
"You've stolen this world's peace for years, built yourselves a false image of justice, and manipulated everything from the shadows. You've played your game for far too long."
"You…"
Saturn froze, eyes narrowing.
"Shirogai, what exactly do you know?"
"Oh, a few things you'd rather no one knew."
Shirogai smirked, looking down at the towering hybrid.
"What's wrong? Are you trying to decide whether to kill everyone who knows your secrets and bury the truth in the depths of history?"
"Presumptuous!"
Saturn's hesitation vanished. He thrust a massive spider leg like a spear toward Shirogai.
BOOM.
The ground behind Shirogai exploded into a crater over two meters wide. Foul-smelling steam rose from the shattered stone.
"So you've decided to strike?"
Shirogai stood calmly nearby, unmoved, releasing a wave of intense Conqueror's Haki. Black lightning streaked across the air around him.
"You really couldn't hold back, could you? A classic habit of someone who has been sitting at the top for too long."
Shirogai tilted his head, mocking openly.
"But tell me, Saturn… are you planning to handle this alone? Why not call the others? Make it more interesting."
…
"Saturn, calm down."
A composed voice echoed in Saturn's mind.
"This boy seems to know about those past incidents."
"So what?"
Izan Baron V. Nasujuro, Financial Military God, responded indifferently.
"Even if several people know, it doesn't matter. What matters is preventing more people from ever learning."
Topman Warcury, Legal Military God, spoke coldly.
"He knows too much, and his strength surpasses even the Four Emperors. Yet he stays with a small pirate crew. That means he is an ambitious man—one who will try to reshape the world if we allow it."
Marcus Mars, Environmental Military God, added with a calm whisper,
"Then do not forget the purpose for which we sent you, Saturn. Recruit him. Make him one of us."
Their internal communication reached a swift consensus.
"Hmph. I didn't come here to fight you."
Saturn's monstrous form dissolved, shifting back into the appearance of an old man with a cane.
"As I said earlier, we came to invite you into the highest authority in this world. To let you control it."
He tapped his cane lightly against the ground.
"Whatever ambitions you possess, we will support them fully—if you become one of us. There is only one condition. You must not oppose us, and your interests must align with ours."
"Pfft."
Shirogai burst into laughter.
"Me? Your enemy?"
"Shirogai, is that amusing to you?"
Saturn's expression darkened as Shirogai continued laughing until tears formed at the corners of his eyes.
Shirogai wiped them away, then pointed at Saturn.
"You're asking the wrong question. Who is actually whose enemy here?"
He spoke calmly.
"I don't owe this world anything. I travel the seas with my crew, observing whatever I find. If someone is worth helping, I help. If someone deserves saving, I save them."
A glint of coldness sharpened his gaze.
"I had no intention of interfering in your affairs. But you've poisoned too much of this world. A simple act on my part sends tremors through your rotten order, and suddenly you come crawling out from the dark like frightened bugs."
"And now you dare offer me crumbs, expecting me to kneel before you? That's pathetic."
"…."
Saturn's eyes remained icy, but internally the other Gorosei exchanged silent conclusions.
Shirogai's worldview reminded them too much of Gol D. Roger.
A dangerous sign.
The World Government, with all its wealth and power, could not fulfill the inner desires of someone like Shirogai—not without changing the very structure of the world.
"You have rejected our offer again."
Saturn's voice grew calm, emotionless.
"Do you know what that means?"
Shirogai smirked, rubbing his chin.
"It means I rejected you again."
"…."
Saturn stared blankly.
This man…
His words made no sense and yet hit with full impact.
"The power to choose has never belonged to people like you."
Saturn continued evenly.
"You think you have a choice because we allowed you one. When we no longer permit it, even someone of your strength will act according to our decision."
"Invite or execute, then turn the survivors into obedient dogs. Your pattern is predictable."
Shirogai's words made Saturn frown.
Where did this man come from?
Why did he speak in ways that made him impossible to grasp?