The first and second underground levels of Impel Down held unimportant criminals.
The ones on Level 1 weren't even strong enough to beat a blue gorilla.
If not for the fact that Soifon's Jakuhō Raikōben had damaged many mechanisms, and so many guards had been relocated, these criminals wouldn't have been able to stir up any trouble at all.
"Hellhound!"
A blazing blast of magma erupted toward the man in front.
Splat.
Half the man's head melted instantly, and he fell to the ground without any chance of surviving.
"Damn it! Why is Akainu still here!"
"Run! We can't deal with him!"
The escaping criminals descended into chaos. A Marine admiral was not someone they could provoke in any way.
But Akainu had no intention of letting them escape.
"If you dare to break out of prison, then be ready to be executed. Great Eruption!"
After suffering humiliation at Yoruichi's hands earlier, Akainu was seething.
These fools were perfect to vent his anger on.
His massive magma fist split into countless volcanic shots, turning the entire first underground level into a sea of molten lava.
The fleeing prisoners were incinerated in an instant. Not even their bones remained.
Akainu then proceeded to the second underground level and repeated the exact same process, wiping out the escapees there as well.
Only then did Impel Down regain its calm.
Magellan was taken to the infirmary for treatment.
Deputy Warden Hannyabal temporarily assumed responsibility, patrolling every floor and checking for any remaining damage.
Akainu took out a Den Den Mushi to contact Marine Headquarters.
The mission had failed. The Marines and World Government needed to prepare for the consequences immediately.
When Sengoku received Akainu's report, his whole body went numb.
Oguro had two fighters on admiral level.
According to Akainu, both of them could suppress Akainu and Magellan.
This level of strength was enough to disrupt the world's balance.
Sengoku rubbed his throbbing forehead.
But the bigger headache was Impel Down.
They had been publicly flattened. This was the same as pressing the World Government's face into the dirt and grinding it in.
Yet something this big still had to be reported.
Sengoku could only pick up the Den Den Mushi and call the Five Elders.
"Sengoku, you have disappointed us greatly!"
After hearing the report, the Five Elders reprimanded him harshly.
"A Marine admiral losing twice to the same pirate crew. The Marines need to reflect on themselves. We give you so much funding every year, and this is how you perform?"
With a few sentences, all the blame was pushed onto the Marines. The Five Elders were experts at avoiding responsibility.
Sengoku cursed them furiously in his heart.
Impel Down isn't even under Marine jurisdiction! You were the ones who forced us to intervene. Now that things went wrong, you toss all the blame onto us. Do you people even have shame?
But he could only shout these things silently. He couldn't say them aloud.
Suppressing his anger, Sengoku asked, "What now? Should we raise their bounties?"
After causing such massive damage, a bounty increase of over a billion would be justified.
But to Sengoku's surprise, the Five Elders rejected the suggestion.
"No. Do not touch their bounties. Also, you are not to engage them for the time being."
It was obvious the Five Elders understood Oguro's warning.
If he could flatten Impel Down today, he could hit Mary Geoise tomorrow.
And after Akainu's confirmation, they now knew that Oguro and his followers all had the ability to fly.
That made their movements impossible to predict.
Before they found a complete solution, the Five Elders did not want any further conflict with Oguro.
Hearing that, Sengoku immediately became furious.
"A Marine admiral was beaten back. If we don't respond at all, where does that leave the dignity of the Marines?"
The Five Elders replied coldly, "What is Marine dignity worth? Sengoku, do not forget. The Marines are merely the facade of the World Government."
"The affairs of the World Government are what truly matter. If you disagree, submit your resignation."
A surge of blood clogged Sengoku's throat.
These bastards…
What did they take the Marines for!
But under the Five Elders' threat, Sengoku could only grit his teeth.
"…I will order everyone to avoid the Holy Spirit Pirates as much as possible."
The Marines could not break away from the World Government. Just the wages for Marine soldiers could bankrupt them. Not to mention the cost of equipment and repairs.
In Pangaea Castle…
The Five Elders hung up the call.
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nasjuro said solemnly, "Doing this should be enough for Oguro to see our sincerity."
They clearly understood the warning behind Soifon's Bankai. That was why they immediately chose to temporarily back down.
Saint Topman Warcury snorted. "The great World Government bowing to a pirate. What a joke."
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter shook his head. "No. Your view is wrong."
As everyone turned to look at him, he said seriously:
"Sith Oguro has never acted as a pirate. That title was forced onto him by the Marines through a bounty."
"As for Oguro himself, he established the Holy Spirit Empire and became a king."
"So we cannot view him as a pirate. We must treat him as a king."
"If you think of him that way… doesn't it suddenly make sense why so many powerful people willingly gather under him?"
"And his ideals also become easier to understand."
"Everyone, a powerful pirate might not matter. Even Rocks D. Xebec, a titan of the seas, was eventually eliminated."
"But an intelligent and capable king is different. The frightening thing is not his personal power… but his ability to attract other powerful individuals."
The room fell silent.
All this time, they had viewed Oguro as a relatively successful pirate.
Even after he founded the Holy Spirit Empire, they hadn't changed that perspective.
But after hearing this explanation, cold sweat formed instantly on their backs.
The strength of a nation was not something a mere pirate crew could compare to.
They had severely underestimated Oguro.
"You are right. We must change our strategy."
Saint Marcus Mars nodded thoughtfully.
"Perhaps… we should acknowledge the Holy Spirit Empire as an independent nation."
Independent nations referred to those outside the network of World Government member states.
These countries received no Marine protection. If pirates attacked them, no one cared.
Sometimes they were even used as hunting grounds by the Celestial Dragons, erased from the world map for sport.
Acknowledging the Holy Spirit Empire's independence would cost the World Government nothing.
After all, Water 7 was already practically independent.
This could also be used to ease tension with Oguro.
It was a deal with no downside.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
After a brief discussion, the Five Elders quickly approved the proposal.
But they didn't expect that in the near future…
they would deeply regret passing this decision today.
***
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