"Are you trying to force me to regard all of you as useless?"
Imu's emotionless voice echoed throughout the hall.
The Five Elders immediately lowered their heads until they nearly touched the floor, their expressions tense.
"I've said this before."
"Is is a double-edged sword."
"He may become a blessing to us, or he may become our downfall. The key lies in how we handle him."
"Lord Imu's meaning is...?"
"I don't know the reason he went to the North Blue. However, if he truly intends to betray the World Government, then he will need the Pluton battleship blueprints."
Imu's gaze remained indifferent.
"If he wants them, then let him try to take them."
The Five Elders exchanged confused glances.
None of them fully understood what Imu meant.
"The North Blue is currently gathering a large portion of the world's pirates."
"If Is wants the Pluton blueprints, he will have to seize them from those pirates."
"As he competes for the blueprints, he will also help us eliminate numerous notorious pirates."
Although Is was a Celestial Dragon, his influence had grown far too large.
It had become so large that even the Five Elders could no longer properly restrain him.
Combined with his mysterious trip to the North Blue, suspicion had inevitably begun to form.
In the past, Imu had trusted Is.
But now, even he had developed a small degree of doubt.
He had sat upon that throne for eight hundred years.
He wanted the entire world to remain under his control.
That included the Celestial Dragons themselves.
Is was gradually moving beyond that control.
If he continued to ignore the matter and Is truly rebelled one day, the consequences would be severe.
"Does Lord Imu also believe that Is may harbor thoughts of betraying the World Government?"
One of the elders cautiously asked.
"I am not Is."
Imu shook his head.
"I cannot read his thoughts."
"Then should we continue monitoring him?" another elder asked.
"No need."
The elder paused.
"Lord Imu means...?"
"You don't actually believe Is is incapable of noticing your surveillance, do you?"
Imu let out a cold laugh.
"..."
The Five Elders looked at one another in silence.
"Observe Is's actions moving forward before making any decisions."
Imu slowly closed his eyes while seated upon the Empty Throne.
"I hope he does not betray us."
"Leave."
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
The Five Elders answered in unison.
...
North Blue.
Meanwhile, Bundy World was still on the run.
During his travels across the sea, he had already encountered Garp twice.
Yet each time, he had successfully escaped.
Along the way, he had even run into a talking Sea King.
Unfortunately for the creature, Bundy World had simply beaten it away.
"Jihahaha! I've finally found you, Bundy World!"
As his ship sailed across the ocean, a loud burst of laughter suddenly echoed through the air.
Bundy World turned around.
The figure before him was someone he had only ever seen in newspapers.
"Shiki!"
"Hand over the Pluton battleship blueprints, and I'll spare your life."
The Golden Lion stood in midair, laughing viciously.
"If you want them, come and take them yourself, Shiki!"
Bundy World quickly recovered and grinned.
"It seems you've chosen to die in this sea."
Shiki crossed his arms and stared down coldly.
"If you're capable of it, then try!"
"Lion Thousand Slice Valley!"
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Drawing the two famous swords at his waist, Shiki unleashed countless golden slashes.
The attacks tore through the sky as they raced toward Bundy World.
"Momo Fiftyfold Speed!"
Faced with the overwhelming barrage, Bundy World showed no fear.
Gripping the helm tightly, he activated his Devil Fruit ability.
The ship's speed increased fiftyfold.
In an instant, the vessel vanished from its original position and reappeared far away in the distance.
"So that's your ability."
Shiki calmly watched the fleeing ship.
His expression remained unchanged.
"Want the Pluton blueprints, Shiki?"
Bundy World threw his head back and laughed.
"Then come and take them!"
As long as his ship remained intact, there were very few people on the sea capable of catching him.
Even though Shiki possessed the Float-Float Fruit and could fly, Bundy World still didn't believe the Golden Lion was faster than him.
Swish!
A cold smile appeared on Shiki's face.
Then he swung his sword toward the sea ahead.
A terrifying slash shot forward.
Swish!
The sword energy instantly split the ocean apart.
The massive gash stretched all the way to the horizon.
"Hm?"
Bundy World frowned.
The attack hadn't been aimed at his ship.
He couldn't understand what Shiki was planning.
Boom!
Suddenly, the sea touched by Shiki's slash erupted violently.
Towering waves rose into the sky.
The enormous walls of water blotted out the sun itself as they surged toward Bundy World's vessel.
This was the terrifying power of Shiki's Devil Fruit.
Anything touched by his attacks could be manipulated by him.
"Damn it! Can his Devil Fruit really control the ocean itself?"
Bundy World's expression immediately darkened as he stared at the colossal waves towering before him.
He was a Devil Fruit user.
If those waves swallowed him, he would lose all ability to fight.
Without daring to stop, Bundy World drove his ship toward the distance at full speed.
However, Shiki continued pursuing him from behind.
Wave after wave rose under Shiki's control, cutting off every possible escape route.
At that moment, Bundy World spotted a massive island in the distance.
Without the slightest hesitation, he steered his ship toward it.
Remaining at sea against Shiki left him with virtually no chance of victory.
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