Chapter 204: Five Elders: Another Garp?
The outcome of the battle needed no elaboration.
An ignorant monster who only knew how to vent pain naturally couldn't defeat a hero fueled by pain and resolve.
"Admiral Zephyr won!"
"That monster named Weevil's body is completely shattered—can't be alive anymore, right?"
"Definitely impossible, and don't worry... Vice Admiral Roy is already there. Hm? He's signaling, what does it mean!?"
"Hey! Seems like Admiral Zephyr fainted!"
"Quick! Quick, medical team!"
On Mont Blanc Island, cheers and exclamations resounded through the sky simultaneously.
On the sea outside the island.
"Damn lower-world species..."
On the wreckage of the North Blue Cross Star.
'Saint Pierre', originally left with only a head, was slowly recovering his body now.
Lying on the ground, still unable to move, his black armor completely destroyed. Every recovery of his body was accompanied by sparks of black-red Conqueror's lightning—as if some power was gradually dissolving the powerful Conqueror's Haki left by Roy.
"I must kill you... everyone on that island must die, I will deploy armies from various countries..."
His teeth chattered.
He remembered clearly every punch from Roy just now, the pain and agony brought by every burst of Conqueror's Haki.
Beaten to just a head, lying here like a dead dog.
Such humiliation, he absolutely must avenge!
But just then...
"Pierre."
In his heart, deep in his soul.
A voice sounded abruptly.
"Lord Saturn?"
Pierre froze instantly.
He naturally recognized the speaker—Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, one of the Five Elders.
"Why did you..."
But he was clearly puzzled, expression even becoming somewhat solemn.
However, Saturn clearly had no intention of explaining to him, just saying directly.
"This matter ends here."
"!!!"
Pierre's expression changed instantly. "Ends here? What does that mean?"
"Lord Saturn—that lower-world species, that Marine attacked me... attacked a 'God's Knight'!"
He couldn't accept it.
Since when could a lower-world species attacking a Celestial Dragon be ignored?
"Pierre, you should know—this old man talking to you this way is not negotiating with you."
But now, Saturn's words were cold.
"This is Lord Imu's order."
So, Pierre's words stuck in his throat instantly.
"Lord Imu..."
His expression twisted instantly.
Yes.
When Saturn's voice came out, he vaguely guessed this.
God's Knights and Five Elders represented 'World's Martial Force' and 'World's Authority' respectively.
Most God's Knights possessed 'Deep Sea Contract'.
Five Elders possessed the higher-level 'Abyssal Sea Contract'.
The latter's status was higher than the former, having authority to command the former.
Through the connection between contracts, they could communicate via soul.
But simultaneously, 'Deep Sea' and 'Abyssal Sea', 'Martial Force' and 'Authority' were independent themselves.
So normally, Five Elders wouldn't command God's Knights this way.
The only exception was...
Saturn's words now didn't represent himself communicating with Pierre.
But represented the will of that Lord Imu.
So...
"I understand."
Now, despite countless unwillingness in his heart.
Pierre dared not raise even a bit of resentment or resistance.
"Return to Mary Geoise from North Blue immediately—I will make you a new armor."
With these words, Saturn's voice disappeared from Pierre's mind.
"..."
Just then, Pierre felt his body fully recovered.
He clenched his fists, stood up, looking at Mont Blanc Island not far away with unwilling eyes.
But finally, he gritted his teeth gloomily.
BOOM!
He leaped into the sky, flying directly toward the distant Red Line with his ability.
At the same time.
Mary Geoise, Room of Authority.
"..."
Saturn, just finishing notifying Pierre, looked equally gloomy.
He turned to look at the four colleagues in the Room of Authority.
"What do you think?"
He asked, words seemingly vague.
However, the remaining four Elders clearly understood Saturn's meaning.
"This is our mistake."
Ju Peter spoke first, admitting this. "Previous choice of Edward Weevil was a bit hasty."
He didn't deny this.
Just as Sengoku guessed—they indeed never paid attention to the grudge between Edward Weevil and Zephyr.
Or rather, maybe they saw relevant intel somewhere but didn't take it to heart.
This directly led to the subsequent development completely exceeding their estimation.
Zephyr decisively chose to bet everything to attack Weevil, dragging Roy into it.
Of course, if just this, it would be fine—a former Admiral, an Admiral Candidate, not impossible for them to 'Erase'.
But the key problem was, before this event, to reduce The Zodiac's influence on the sea and eliminate the shadow of the Battle of Totto Land, they promoted Roy heavily.
Now people all over the world believed Roy was the 'Hope Against The Zodiac', the 'Legend of the New Era Marines'.
This made Roy's importance to the World Government even exceed ordinary Admirals.
And more critically...
"Our judgment of Roy Amos' personal ability was inaccurate."
"That level of Conqueror's Infusion is rare—he is much stronger than we thought."
Nusjuro rarely didn't wipe his sword, saying deeply instead.
Hearing this, Warcury nodded too. "Another Garp?"
Facts were just as he said.
In the Marines, 'Marine Hero' Garp was extremely special.
His displeasure with Celestial Dragons was almost never hidden.
Due to dislike for Celestial Dragons, he even refused the position of Admiral until now.
As for the reason, the Five Elders knew well.
During the God Valley battle back then, Garp was one of the six who participated in besieging Imu.
He knew the truth of God Valley, even vaguely realized Imu's existence.
Logically, he should have been erased by the Five Elders.
But facts were...
Until now, the World Government still didn't touch him.
Reason was Garp's fame and power.
As the 'Hero of God Valley' promoted by the World Government in the previous era, as Pirate King Roger's biggest rival, 'Marine Hero' Garp was the flag of the previous era.
As a true top powerhouse on this sea, possessing top-tier Conqueror's Infusion, 'Iron Fist' Garp was someone even the World Government found hard to find a match for one-on-one.
And now it seemed Roy had huge similarity with Garp.
Equally influential fame worldwide, equally non-ability user, even displaying Conqueror's Haki now.
And most critically...
He was even younger than Garp back then.
To be honest, according to the Five Elders' thoughts—
Such uncontrollable guy with huge potential, clearly showing defiance to Celestial Dragons, should be removed in advance.
But...
"Lord Imu seems to value his power."
Mars shook his head.
Correct.
Under Lord Imu's will, even the Five Elders' thoughts didn't matter.
"After all, 'Star Lord' reappeared—although still can't confirm it's him personally, Lord Imu cares very much."
Speaking here, Saturn sighed again.
So the Room of Authority fell silent again.
The Five Elders knew the situation well.
They wanted to dispose of Roy in advance to avoid a second Garp, a 'Marine Legend' clearly dissatisfied with Celestial Dragons.
But for Imu, the situation was different.
After all—Imu never cared about so-called Celestial Dragons.
He protected these 'Descendants of Gods' until today only because of the past contract.
If before, Celestial Dragons wanting to maintain their and World Government's rule, Imu might allow it.
But now the situation changed.
With 'Star Lord' reappearing, Imu cared most about Star Lord and The Zodiac behind him.
He urgently needed strong combat power to counter The Zodiac's rise.
So a combat power like Roy, displaying terrifying talent and powerful Conqueror's Infusion, belonging to the World Government side, Imu naturally wouldn't sit by and watch Celestial Dragons erase him.
The Five Elders could even be sure.
If Roy could truly fight The Zodiac with his own power as people on the sea thought, even killing 'Star Lord'.
Then let alone Marine Hero—Lord Imu in great joy might even add an 'Amos Family' to Celestial Dragon families.
"Alright."
"Currently, it seems Roy Amos, like Garp, is a person who values friendship and has a strong sense of belonging to the Marines."
"Although dangerous, at least manageable—as planned, cold treatment for him and Zephyr first."
Nusjuro broke the silence first.
Hearing this, other Elders nodded one after another.
"Indeed so."
"According to intel, he is a very responsible person—heh, common problem of lower-world species."
"Using him to deal with The Zodiac is indeed appropriate."
"Compared to him, let's discuss serious business first."
"About Warlord candidates..."
Speaking of this, the Five Elders clearly had headaches too.
"Edward Weevil confirmed dead, Bartholomew Kuma's side..."
Speaking, he looked at Saturn.
"..."
Saturn's face was extremely gloomy now. "This old man went to Egghead, he and his daughter indeed disappeared—and Vegapunk cleaned up all traces... this old man isn't sure what happened."
Speaking here, his words carried anger.
"This old man has increased surveillance on Vegapunk on Egghead, even carved 'Abyss Array' on Egghead, but Warlord candidates... should be chosen separately."
Kuma becoming a Warlord was almost pushed by him single-handedly.
But now Kuma's disappearance was like someone slapping his face directly.
For Saturn, such humiliation hadn't happened for a long time.
If not needing Vegapunk to research that thing which couldn't be known by anyone, he almost wished to execute Vegapunk immediately.
"..."
So, the Room of Authority fell silent again.
Even the Five Elders had strange expressions now.
Speaking of which, there were only seven Royal Warlords.
But two died in just a few months recently; now just selected two, one dead one missing.
They knew the significance.
To this day, the entire Royal Warlord system was almost crumbling.
If another Warlord had an accident.
This system would collapse completely.
And they naturally didn't want to see this situation.
Warlords themselves weren't worth protecting—but the collapse of the Warlord system would exacerbate the loss of control over the sea situation.
"Leave the Warlord seats vacant for now."
"Seconded." (x4)
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