On the World Government's side—
The Gorosei listened to the report coming through the transponder snail, their expressions grave.
"Marco said that himself?" One of them asked.
The transponder snail's voice replied, "Yes. According to our intelligence, that's indeed the case."
"I see. Stay undercover and report any new information immediately."
"Yes," the voice on the other end answered respectfully. After a brief pause, he added, "At the moment, Kaido is on a call with Marco and Big Mom, but because my rank is not high enough, I don't have access to the contents."
At this, Warcury spoke coldly. "It doesn't matter. Just continue to lie low. Any valuable intelligence must be reported at once."
"Understood."
The line went dead. The Gorosei sat in silence for a moment, brows furrowing. The newly appointed member, Saint Garling, was the first to speak.
"Fellow Elders," he said, "if Marco himself said that Joy Boy is that Monkey D. Luffy, then we should eliminate this pirate as soon as possible."
Saint Nusjuro replied icily, "Until now, it was only a suspicion. After all, the true name of that Devil Fruit is the Nika Fruit. For eight hundred years, no one has ever managed to awaken it. But if he really is Joy Boy, then he likely has the potential to awaken this Devil Fruit."
Saturn asked in a low, serious voice, "How did Marco learn all of this?"
Warcury answered, his tone deep and heavy, "Most likely, as Imu-sama said—he obtained a power that does not belong to this world."
"What exactly is this 'power that does not belong to this world'?" Saturn pressed, still clearly puzzled.
"Who can say?" Warcury replied gravely. "But one thing is certain: he keeps getting stronger, and the speed of that growth far exceeds anything we understand."
Peter nodded in agreement. "I also don't fully grasp what kind of power 'a power that does not belong to this world' refers to, but if it truly comes from another world, we must proceed with extreme caution."
As the newest of the Gorosei, Saint Garling glanced around at his colleagues with thinly veiled curiosity. "Everyone," he asked, "does Imu-sama also possess a power that does not belong to this world?"
At that, Warcury's expression darkened, displeasure flashing in his eyes. He cut Garling off at once.
"Garling, you've overstepped. How can we, mere servants, presume to discuss Imu-sama's affairs?"
Saint Garling finally came back to his senses and let out a cold snort of realization. The powers of Itzumanade and immortality were gifts granted personally by Imu-sama. With his usual rigid respect, he bowed his head slightly and said, "Indeed. I was presumptuous."
Saturn spoke in an icy tone. "As Imu-sama's servants, what we must do is perfectly complete the tasks our master assigns."
Saint Nusjuro steered the discussion back. "Let's talk about Monkey D. Luffy. Now that we know he's Joy Boy, he has to be eliminated. One Marco is already enough of a headache. If the reincarnation of Joy Boy is allowed to grow, it could truly threaten our rule."
Saturn continued, "The key issue is: where is Straw Hat Luffy now? After the Marineford War, he separated from the Phoenix Pirates at Sabaody Archipelago. Later, he and Rayleigh broke into Marineford and rang the Ox Bell. Since then, there's been no trace of him."
Saint Peter said coldly, "I estimate it has something to do with the Kuja Empress."
At that, the other Gorosei turned their eyes to Saint Peter. "Explain."
Saint Peter laid out his reasoning. "Straw Hat Luffy's appearance in Impel Down was extremely suspicious. How could a pirate simply show up in Impel Down? The only explanation is that someone covered for him. And during Fire Fist Ace's imprisonment and execution, aside from Garp, the only one who had private contact with Ace was Hancock."
"Garp always travels by warship. He had no chance to smuggle Straw Hat Luffy there. That leaves only the Kuja Empress."
Listening to Saint Peter's analysis, the other four Gorosei found it difficult to refute. It was hard to imagine that the proud empress would befriend Straw Hat Luffy, but if they had truly met beforehand, it would neatly explain how he appeared in Impel Down.
They had suspected the Empress in the past, but by the time those doubts arose, Marineford was already behind them, and there was no longer any practical need to pursue a warlord of the sea over an incident that had passed. As Gorosei, they had no time to waste on a minor pirate.
Now, however, the situation was different. Knowing that Straw Hat Luffy is Joy Boy, this matter could no longer be taken lightly.
Warcury said gravely, "What should we do? That woman, Hancock, probably won't cooperate obediently."
Saint Garling answered without hesitation, "Whether she cooperates or not, we have to investigate thoroughly now that this possibility exists. If she refuses, we'll strip her of her Shichibukai status on the spot."
The other Gorosei nodded in agreement. To them, if a Shichibukai stopped following orders, they would simply be replaced.
They only hoped that woman would know her place. If not, Amazon Lily would be erased from the map.
At that moment, a CP0 agent dropped to one knee, holding a document high above his head. "Gorosei, this is Fleet Admiral Sengoku's recommendation for the new admiral. Please review it, sirs."
Saint Saturn stepped forward and took the dossier. As his eyes fell on Sengoku's chosen candidate, a faint smile tugged at his lips. "It seems Sengoku still has some sense."
The others leaned in to read the name. Following Admirals Fujitora and Aramaki, the third newly appointed Marine admiral was
Saint Figarland Gorum.
Warcury nodded in approval. "Sengoku has served as Fleet Admiral for over fifteen years. He still has this much political acumen. With this, we'll have the Marines completely in hand."
Saint Warcury said sternly, "Exactly. For years, Garp and those like him have been criticizing the Celestial Dragons and cutting corners whenever they can, trying to make fools of us. Did they really think we were unaware? At a time like this, the Marines cannot be allowed a single misstep. We don't care what kind of 'justice' they preach on ordinary days, but in critical moments, they are not allowed to entertain any extra thoughts. As the World Government's sharpest spear, the Marines must exert the power due to them."
The World Government had always kept a certain wariness toward the Marines. In a way, both the Four Emperors and the Revolutionary Army had been intentionally allowed to exist as shackles to restrain Marine power.
The Marines were undeniably strong—but their strength came from "justice." Justice was a vague thing: in some forms it benefited the world government, in others it posed a threat. It had to be handled with care.
If this world ever lost its pirates and its revolutionary army, then that sharpest spear in the world government's hand—the Marines themselves—might one day turn and point at the hand that wielded it.
Over the last eight hundred years, more than one fleet admiral has tried to change the world government from within.
Three hundred years ago, a fleet admiral even planned to lead the Marines in open revolt. That attempt scared the World Government badly. In the end, he was betrayed by a Vice Admiral under his command, and the World Government moved immediately to arrest him. If the World Government and Marineford had actually gone to war with each other, even if the rebellion was eventually crushed, the World Government would have been left gravely weakened.
After all, the Marines are the strongest force under the World Government, with bases spread across every sea. In many parts of the Four Seas, ordinary people know only the Marines; they don't even know the World Government exists.
The world government understands that to secure the outside, they must first secure the inside. There are plenty of so‑called "righteous" Marines who are disgusted by the Celestial Dragons' behavior. The Gorosei are well aware of this; some Celestial Dragons barely act human at all.
Yet as the "creators of the world," the "gods" who rule it, anything they do to commoners is, by definition, correct. That cruelty is treated as a necessary part of the World Government's rule.
Those "righteous" Marines can be tolerated in peaceful times. But in a critical moment, if they were to side with the enemy, the consequences would be catastrophic.
That is why the Gorosei want a member of the God's Knights to become an admiral: to tighten their control over the Marines.
The threat posed by the current Three Emperors Alliance is greater than anything seen before. Aside from Joy Boy, no force in history has endangered the world more than they do now.
Relying on Marineford's strength alone to wipe out the Three Emperors Alliance is unrealistic.
Within that alliance, aside from Big Mom, whose power is somewhat inferior, both Kaido and Marco are beyond what a single admiral can handle.
Kaido is manageable—two Admirals working together should be enough to bring him down. But Marco's strength is too overwhelming; dealing with him would require the Gorosei themselves to act.
…Aboard the phoenix, Marco was still on the Den-Den Mushi with Kaido and BIG MOM.
Kaido asked, "Marco, it's already the third day. Vegapunk said he'd contact you after three days. Do you know where he is now?"
"Not really. He still hasn't reached out," Marco replied, shaking his head.
He added, "He only gave that time frame because Bartholomew Kuma's Paw-Paw Fruit can send people flying for three days and three nights. Once he contacts me, I'll let you guys know right away."
"Tch… that old man isn't planning to stand us up, is he? " Kaido muttered irritably. "By the way, Marco, didn't you make a vivre card for him?"
"There wasn't time back then!" Marco shot back.
"But what you said isn't impossible. If he doesn't contact me on his own, I really have no idea where he is. Let's wait. If he still hasn't contacted us by tomorrow, then it means Vegapunk has betrayed me."
Hearing this, Kaido and Linlin both nodded. Linlin sneered, "I hope he doesn't make the wrong choice. Now that he's betrayed the World Government, if he wants protection, only our Three Emperors Alliance can give it to him."
"It's good you called," Marco went on. "I happen to have a plan ready. If you both agree, I want to announce it under the name of the Three Emperors Alliance."
"What plan?" Kaido asked, intrigued.
A confident smile crossed Marco's face. "A full-scale bounty on the Marines."
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