Mary Geoise.
Inside the secret meeting chamber of the Five Elders.
Saint Saturn, the God of Defense, stared silently at the classified report that CP-0 had just delivered. His aged eyes moved slowly across the page, then he let out a low snort.
"Hmph. So this man can no longer stay hidden."
He tapped the report with a finger.
"Arrogant Emperor, God King Shirogai..."
Across the table, Saint Peter, the God of Agriculture, leaned back slightly as he studied the same document.
"This pirate has stirred the entire world," he said quietly. "The one who established the Sky Island Alliance and even created an Air Force. Now he is preparing to move again."
Saint Nusjuro, the Financial Military God, narrowed his eyes as a faint glint flashed through them.
"Shirogai taking action again right before our invitation to the Sky Island Alliance to come to Mary Geoise for negotiations, that timing is unlikely to be coincidence. His target is most likely us."
His voice grew colder.
"We can no longer treat this pirate like the others. He is completely different. Shirogai is a dangerous individual who can truly threaten the position of the Celestial Dragons."
"The level of threat he represents already surpasses that of Dragon."
Saint Mars, the Environment Military God, spoke in a heavy tone.
"Send this intelligence to Fleet Admiral Sakazuki. Tell him clearly that the Marines must not provoke Shirogai at this moment."
His gaze hardened.
"We must wait for the right opportunity, then eliminate him completely in a single strike."
"Just like how Joy Boy was erased centuries ago."
"We cannot allow another man like that to continue existing."
Saint Warcury, the God of Law, turned his head slightly toward Saint Saturn.
"Is Imu-sama prepared?"
Saint Saturn nodded calmly.
"The Mother Flame experiment has already been scheduled. Imu-sama only needs to select a region as a testing ground to observe its power."
Saint Nusjuro leaned forward slightly.
"And the Seraphim? Can they replace the current Seven Warlords of the Sea and serve as a deterrent to pirates?"
The room grew momentarily quiet.
Saint Saturn frowned, clearly displeased.
"The Seraphim program has begun successfully, however that particular Seraphim has encountered an issue."
Saint Nusjuro's brows tightened.
"Oh? The clone of God King Shirogai that you placed such high expectations on, something went wrong?"
When CP-0 attacked Shirogai's companions in Water 7, they unexpectedly obtained a complete blood sample belonging to him.
That sample immediately attracted the attention of the Five Elders.
To them, it represented the possibility of creating the most powerful weapon imaginable. If the lineage factor could be replicated successfully, they could mass produce a super soldier army capable of imitating countless Devil Fruit abilities.
But things had not gone as expected.
Saint Saturn's face darkened.
"We still cannot determine what went wrong. Shirogai's Seraphim clone failed to inherit his powerful Talent Fruit ability."
He continued in a low voice.
"The other Seraphim function exactly as planned. Through the green blood, they successfully replicate the abilities of their corresponding Paramecia users."
"For example, S-Snake possesses the Mero Mero no Mi ability of the current Warlord, Boa Hancock."
He paused briefly.
"But the lineage factor taken from God King Shirogai does not function the same way. The Talent Fruit, which should also be a Paramecia type, does not manifest in the clone."
"S-Emperor cannot use the ability of the Talent Fruit."
Saint Warcury stroked his beard slowly.
"If that is the case, our plan collapses."
"If we cannot mass produce the S-Emperor units modeled after God King Shirogai, then abandoning the Marines entirely becomes impossible."
He looked around the room.
"We will still need the Marine forces to maintain control of the world."
"This contradicts our previous strategy of eventually eliminating the Marine organization."
Saint Mars spoke decisively.
"Then we temporarily abandon that plan."
His expression remained calm, yet ruthless.
"Order CP-0 to locate any hidden rebels within the Marine ranks and eliminate them quietly."
"The Marines will continue serving as the visible authority of the World Government until the proper time arrives."
"When that day finally comes, the world will belong completely to us."
Saint Peter, who had been silently flipping through a newspaper, suddenly raised another report.
"There is also a small matter."
He placed the intelligence document on the table.
"Former Marine Admiral Zephyr has seized the explosive rocks stored by the Marines. According to the information gathered, he intends to destroy three magma regions in the New World."
"If he succeeds, entire sea zones could collapse."
"The result would completely eliminate the existence of pirates."
Saint Saturn's expression instantly became grim.
"Nonsense."
His voice turned icy.
"How can we allow a man like him to interfere with our plans for reshaping this world?"
"Inform the Marines immediately."
"Zephyr must be eliminated."
Saint Warcury spoke again.
"Zephyr trained a great number of Marine officers. Even the current Admirals were once his students."
"It would be safer for CP-0 to handle the matter quietly."
But Saint Saturn shook his head.
"No."
His gaze became sharp.
"Send Kizaru."
"This is the perfect opportunity to test where his loyalty lies."
"If he truly follows our orders and attacks his former teacher, then the suspicions surrounding him will be cleared."
Saint Saturn's voice dropped into a whisper filled with killing intent.
"But if he hesitates..."
"Then erase him."
"We will not tolerate rebellious forces emerging within the Marine ranks."
"The current number of Admirals is already sufficient."
"An Admiral who cannot obey the Celestial Dragons has no value."
The other Elders nodded.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
Saint Peter spoke once more.
"There is another piece of intelligence."
"According to CP-0, the new Marine Admiral Cero appears to have some kind of relationship with God King Shirogai."
"There is a high possibility that the two are secretly cooperating."
Saint Warcury frowned slightly.
"The usefulness of the Marines continues to decline."
"We have long suspected that someone among the Admirals secretly supports rebellious factions inside the Marine organization."
"For years our suspicion focused on Kizaru."
He paused briefly.
"But now it seems this new Admiral Cero may also be involved."
Saint Saturn's answer was simple.
"That changes nothing."
"If they cannot become obedient dogs in our hands, we simply eliminate them."
His cold gaze swept across the chamber.
"The Marines have already lost most of their value."
"The rise of the Sky Island Alliance has contaminated the order of this world."
"And this world..."
He said quietly.
"Needs to be thoroughly cleaned."
Far below the Red Line.
Fish-Man Island.
Ryugu Palace, located one thousand meters beneath the sea near Mary Geoise.
A massive celebration was underway.
Music filled the palace halls as laughter echoed through the water-filled corridors.
Luffy suddenly jumped to his feet and raised his cup high into the air.
"Drink! Shishishi!"
"Welcome Jinbe to our pirate crew!"
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