The Navy suing the Celestial Dragons — this was absolutely the greatest spectacle the people of this world had ever seen.
And what made it even crazier was that the case was brought by the fearless Chief Inspector Michael.
The "big news" reporter Morgans stood nearby, taking notes without pause.
Anyone who knew his temperament understood that even if the Celestial Dragons tried to win him over, this time he wouldn't give up on the story.
He might even risk angering the World Government for it.
After all, Morgans hadn't always been entirely friendly with the World Government, but he had previously shown them a fair amount of courtesy.
Still… when it came to chasing big news, the World Government simply couldn't compete with Michael.
When Judge Baskerville's gavel fell and the trial was declared open, the faces of the Five Elders lost whatever composure they had left.
They wanted to lash out, to stop the trial outright.
But they couldn't.
This whole incident had happened in public, and Figarland Garling had slaughtered elite CP Organization spies and destroyed the World Government's work ships — even the flagship of the Five Elders…
How could they possibly speak up against a judicial and naval action that was meant to restore their own reputation?
If the Five Elders refused to support this, those CP spies might take offense — perhaps even rebel.
So the Five Elders had no choice but to swallow their pride.
As for what Figarland Garling would do after waking… that was no longer their business.
The God's Knights had always had a slight rivalry with the Five Elders, and the Five Elders were not fond of Figarland Garling.
They could see the burning ambition in the man's eyes…
An ambition to overthrow one of them at the decision-making table and take their place.
That was the one thing the Five Elders could not tolerate.
Under all these pressures, and with Michael relentlessly presenting evidence — witness testimony and material proof in abundance — the Five Elders' expressions gradually smoothed.
If you thought about it, they weren't coming away empty-handed…
They had at least taken some reputation from Figarland Garling, and exacted a large sum of money from him as compensation.
But those things paled compared to the punishment the Five Elders could mete out to a Celestial Dragon leader…
They stripped Figarland Garling of his post as Supreme Commander of the God's Knights, suspending him from his duties.
For the next ten years he was forbidden from entering Mary Geoise, and he would be sent to the New World to be stationed.
"Stationed," of course, was just exile.
Michael wasn't entirely satisfied with the result, but he grudgingly accepted it.
He had overestimated the unity among the Celestial Dragons.
In a situation like this, the Five Elders still found room to suppress a powerful member of their own kind…
Which only showed how frightened they were.
Frightened that Figarland Garling might one day replace one of them.
They relied on Imu's power to live unnaturally long lives, and so they were especially attached to power…
And to the temptation of immortality.
After all, they weren't Five Elders because they had achieved eternal life — they were granted long life because they were Five Elders.
They absolutely could not lose their positions.
So…
When the trial ended…
Figarland Garling became thoroughly notorious.
But it was not a flattering fame.
He was called "The Shame of the Celestial Dragons."
Why "shame"? No one elaborated.
Michael only heard that Doflamingo — who held sway over the Pleasure District — had been grinning happily for three days after hearing the news.
He really enjoyed seeing a Celestial Dragon get humiliated.
Even one he had never met before.
...
When the story "Judicial Island: Celestial Dragon Massacre of CP" concluded, the Five Elders could only swallow hard and crowd aboard their work ships back to Mary Geoise.
Figarland Garling was rushed to the New World overnight, his wounds not even properly treated.
The aftereffects of the Flame of Wrath were stronger than expected; he didn't wake properly until the third day after arriving in the New World.
When he learned from the God's Knights' subordinates that he had been exiled to the New World…
He nearly broke down.
He was the ruler of God's Valley!
The Supreme Commander who decided other Celestial Dragons' punishments and executions!
"Damn it! The Five Elders! Michael! And that damn Morgans!"
"One day, I'll make you all taste the flavor of total ruin."
Figarland Garling clenched his sword and spoke softly.
As his fierce words echoed over the sea, the World Summit of 1512 was about to begin.
...
Over the years, the World Government's World Summit had evolved from a mere formality into the grandest meeting held once every four years.
The kings of the World Government's member nations would arrive at Mary Geoise via elevator from the Red Line.
Unlike before, the kings of the member nations were no longer on the same page as the Celestial Dragons.
Thanks to the Revolutionary Army's upheavals, many of the member states — especially those from the Four Seas — had seen the situation clearly.
Old nobles and archaic royal houses that lacked vision had already been overthrown.
They had been replaced by "kings" elected after liberation by the Revolutionary Army and chosen by internal national elections.
They shared one common trait…
They were pragmatic.
They were not the sort who blindly followed the Celestial Dragons and accepted everything without question.
"Tch — imagine that, ten-odd years ago we came to Mary Geoise and were treated like slaves rather than invited to a proper World Summit."
"Exactly. Ten years ago, not even our own kings did anything to make us prosperous…"
"For my money, the Revolutionary Army did the right thing!"
It had been exactly one week since Figarland Garling's trial.
The Five Elders' attention had shifted from him to the World Summit.
They were eager to convene today.
There were too many matters to discuss and handle.
Internal issues and external threats had to be addressed so the member nations would take them seriously!
Ideally…
They wanted those presumptuous member states to pay more tribute.
At that moment, Michael sat in a palace tucked away in a corner of Mary Geoise.
Across from him sat a man wearing a flamingo coat.
"Been living well lately?"
"Doflamingo?"
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