"The newspapers have already been distributed?"
"That bastard Morgans… does he have a death wish?!"
Inside the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, the Five Elders erupted in fury after receiving the report.
At that moment, they wished they could tear Big News Morgans's head off immediately.
But—
They also knew they couldn't kill him.
After all, the World Government still needed his news agency to help manipulate public opinion.
"No matter what, publishing news like this without permission deserves punishment," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn said coldly.
"Agreed."
The other four elders nodded without objection.
Even if they maintained a cooperative relationship with Morgans, that didn't mean he could provoke them however he pleased.
This was the perfect opportunity to properly warn that arrogant bird.
Otherwise, who knew what explosive headlines he might publish next?
"Although the newspapers are already out," Marcus Mars said,
"as long as we eliminate the Straw Hat Pirates, the impact can still be minimized."
"Afterward, we'll publish news of their deaths so the world clearly understands the consequences of targeting Celestial Dragons."
The room fell silent.
After thinking it through carefully—
What Mars said wasn't unreasonable.
Yes, the death of Celestial Dragons enraged them.
But they could also use those deaths as a warning to the world.
Cold-blooded?
Perhaps.
But it was the most efficient solution.
As for whether the Straw Hat Pirates could actually escape—
None of them had even considered that possibility.
Two Admirals had been dispatched together.
If even that couldn't eliminate a rookie crew, then the Navy truly was hopeless.
Those were the Navy Headquarters' greatest military powers.
At that moment, the Den Den Mushi in front of Topman Warcury suddenly rang.
"Pururururu…"
"Click."
"This is Sengoku."
"Sengoku?"
Warcury raised an eyebrow.
"Have the Straw Hat Pirates been dealt with already?"
Calling at this time likely meant the unwanted pests had already been erased.
Sengoku fell silent briefly before speaking.
"…I apologize. The Straw Hat Pirates escaped."
"What?!"
The Five Elders exploded with rage instantly.
Their eyes looked ready to spit fire.
To capture the Straw Hat Pirates, they had deliberately sent two Admirals—
And they still escaped?!
What the hell was the Navy doing?!
How could such overwhelming force fail to capture a rookie crew?!
"Sengoku, I want an explanation!"
"That's right! Two Admirals still weren't enough?!"
"Are Admirals all useless trash now?!"
Mars was absolutely furious.
Back at Enies Lobby Incident, Aokiji had already failed to capture the Straw Hats, causing the World Government to lose face.
And now—
Kizaru and Akainu together still failed?
Was fate itself protecting this pirate crew?
He refused to believe it.
"Kizaru was stopped by Rayleigh while fighting the Blood-Eyed Ninja," Sengoku explained.
"You should know Rayleigh's strength."
"With him there, Kizaru truly couldn't capture anyone."
After all—
That was the Pirate King's former right-hand man.
The Five Elders exchanged glances.
"Rayleigh again…"
Mars frowned.
"That old ghost is causing trouble now too?"
If Rayleigh intended to make a move now, things could become extremely troublesome.
"No."
Sengoku shook his head.
"He simply thinks highly of the Straw Hat Pirates."
"That's why he intercepted Kizaru."
He needed to clarify that immediately.
Otherwise, the Five Elders might order Rayleigh's capture.
And that would be disastrous.
"I see…"
Mars relaxed slightly.
As long as Rayleigh had no intention of returning to piracy, it wasn't a major issue.
"What about Akainu?" Warcury asked.
"Didn't he encounter the Straw Hats?"
"According to Sakazuki's report," Sengoku replied,
"He successfully cornered the Blood-Eyed Ninja, Jin."
CRACK.
Veins bulged on Saturn's forehead instantly.
"Then why did he still fail?!"
Among the Admirals—
Akainu was the one they valued most.
Yet even after cornering the target, he still failed to capture him?
Did that ninja brat somehow possess power comparable to an Admiral?
The thought appeared—
Then Saturn immediately rejected it.
Based on the battle at Enies Lobby, Jin clearly wasn't Admiral-level yet.
Otherwise, he never would've needed such complicated tactics to destroy the Buster Call fleet.
"Because Moria suddenly appeared and interfered with Sakazuki's pursuit."
"That trash has the ability to stop Akainu?"
Saturn's question immediately silenced Sengoku.
Truthfully—
He wondered the same thing himself.
That washed-up failure hiding in the Florian Triangle playing with zombies…
How had he managed to stop Akainu?
Even if Moria relearned Haki, he shouldn't have been able to compete against an Admiral.
But the facts were undeniable.
"I asked you a question."
"Moria's strength has improved dramatically," Sengoku explained.
"He still isn't Sakazuki's equal, but capturing him quickly wasn't possible either."
"And Moria never gave Sakazuki the chance to kill him."
"He delayed him briefly, then escaped."
"Escaped…"
Warcury laughed in anger.
Not only did they fail to capture the Straw Hats—
They couldn't even capture the Moria who practically delivered himself to them.
Were this generation of Admirals really this incompetent?
"Moria gained the ability to fly," Sengoku continued.
"And his flight speed is extremely fast."
"Even using Geppo, Sakazuki couldn't catch him."
"Shadow-Shadow Fruit…"
Saturn immediately understood.
It seemed Moria had greatly improved his Devil Fruit mastery.
"…No."
"But according to your explanation, Akainu fought the Blood-Eyed Ninja before Moria arrived."
"That's correct."
Sengoku nodded.
"But the Blood-Eyed Ninja possesses an ability resembling immortality."
"Immortality?!"
Saturn's pupils contracted violently.
Immortality—
Wasn't that power exclusive to what Imu bestowed upon others?
Why would someone else possess something similar?
"Only suspected immortality," Sengoku corrected.
"Akainu fought him briefly and was unable to kill him."
"Every time Sakazuki destroyed the Blood-Eyed Ninja's body, he would instantly reappear completely unharmed."
As he spoke, Sengoku's expression turned extremely serious.
Even reading the report had sounded absurd to him.
What kind of bizarre power was this?
"Did Akainu confirm he killed the real body?" Saturn asked immediately.
At this point, he no longer cared whether Akainu used lethal force.
Understanding this "immortality" mattered more.
"Yes."
Sengoku nodded.
"Sakazuki's Observation Haki remained locked onto him the entire time."
"He confirmed repeatedly that he killed the original body."
And that—
Was precisely what made the situation so incomprehensible.
What kind of Devil Fruit allowed someone to revive instantly after death?
A mythical Zoan?
A rule-type Paramecia?
Saturn fell silent briefly before speaking slowly.
"…I'm becoming more and more interested in him."
This near-immortal ability—
What exactly was it?
If only they could capture him alive for study.
"No wonder Akainu couldn't subdue him," Mars muttered.
"So he possesses such an ability…"
If Jin hadn't used this power at Enies Lobby, then—
He probably acquired it only recently.
At that moment, a thought surfaced in Mars' mind:
A god-tier Devil Fruit.
Perhaps the brat had stumbled upon one by pure chance.
The possibility was disturbingly high.
"So he escaped Sabaody using this power?" Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro asked.
"No."
Sengoku shook his head.
"That wasn't how they escaped."
Nusjuro frowned.
There was more?
"One of the Seven Warlords, Bartholomew Kuma, appeared at Sabaody for unknown reasons."
"And the Straw Hat Pirates escaped alive because of him."
CRACK.
Veins bulged on Nusjuro's forehead as terrifying killing intent burst from his eyes.
So it was that traitor.
Not just him—
The other four elders instantly understood as well.
Kuma had used his Devil Fruit ability to send the Straw Hats flying away.
Otherwise, there was no way a rookie crew could escape two Admirals.
Even if the Blood-Eyed Ninja possessed pseudo-immortality—
The others still would've died.
But because of Kuma—
Every member escaped.
"That truly surprises me…"
Shepherd Ju Peter's expression darkened.
"We've received your report."
"Focus entirely on Whitebeard now."
"As for the Straw Hat Pirates and Moria…"
"I'll have CP agents search for them."
Ju Peter understood this situation couldn't entirely be blamed on the Navy.
After all—
Who could've predicted so many powerful figures would suddenly help the Straw Hats?
So the Navy needed to focus on Whitebeard instead.
Punishment could wait.
"Understood."
"Click."
Ignoring the disconnected Den Den Mushi, Saturn spoke coldly.
"Now I understand how the Straw Hats escaped the Florian Triangle."
"It was Kuma all along."
With today's information—
Everything finally connected.
Kuma never intended to kill the Straw Hats in the first place.
In fact—
He may have secretly helped them even back then.
That damned traitor.
"We truly underestimated this," Mars muttered.
"Who would've expected Kuma to betray us?"
A Warlord who willingly acted like the Government's dog—
Only to suddenly turn against them for the Straw Hats?
Mars couldn't understand it.
"Perhaps…"
Warcury narrowed his eyes.
"This is simply the madness of a dying man."
The room grew silent again.
It sounded ridiculous—
But it wasn't impossible.
"Of course," Ju Peter added,
"there's also the possibility Kuma personally knew someone within the Straw Hat crew."
That explanation would make far more sense.
"No matter the reason, we'll never know now," Saturn said coldly.
"Kuma has already undergone the consciousness-erasure procedure."
"Even if we kill him now, we won't learn anything useful."
Because—
Kuma was already dead.
All that remained was a biological weapon:
Pacifista PX-0.
"So be it."
"Then we should focus on minimizing the damage," Warcury said.
"Like I already suggested," Ju Peter replied,
"send CP agents to search for the Straw Hat Pirates."
"The moment they're found, eliminate them immediately."
"Don't give them another chance to rise."
As long as news of their survival didn't spread—
The Government's humiliation could still be contained.
"Agreed."
"And regarding the Blood-Eyed Ninja," Saturn added,
"capture him alive if possible."
"I'm becoming increasingly curious about his abilities."
Was that immortality tied to bloodline power?
Or some god-tier Devil Fruit?
Either way—
The World Government needed it.
"Yes…"
"That Blood-Eyed Ninja must be captured."
"Immortality…"
"That kind of power belongs only to the gods."
"Inferior humans have no right to possess it."
"Correct. His existence itself is blasphemy against divine authority."
At that moment—
The Five Elders reached a unanimous conclusion.
The Blood-Eyed Ninja must be captured at all costs.
"Have Stussy cooperate with CP0 in gathering intelligence throughout the New World," Warcury ordered.
"As for Paradise and the Four Blues, deploy the regular CP branches."
"Even if we have to search the entire sea…"
"We will find him."
"Agreed."
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