Chapter 134 - 22

Chapter 224"So what? What the world needs is balance, not endless expansion. The Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Four Emperors, and Marine Headquarters—the three factions maintaining a delicate balance is enough.What about the Navy's prestige? You dare speak of the Navy's prestige in front of us? What is the Navy's prestige compared to the absolute authority of the World Government?""No matter what,"Sitting next to Saint Pithor, the Environmental Warrior God, Saint Marcus Mars, who wore a dark green suit, was bald, had a handlebar mustache, and a birthmark on his forehead, said in a hoarse voice,"The lives of the Celestial Dragons are always paramount. Moreover, this time, three Celestial Dragons have fallen into the hands of pirates. If we ignore it and allow pirates to successfully extort us using Celestial Dragons as leverage, the World Government's credibility and the sacredness of the Celestial Dragons will suffer an unprecedented blow! Such incidents might become endless in the future."His gaze fell on a special bounty poster on the table, which showed an image of Monkey D. Luffyin Gear 5: Nika Form."Furthermore, this Straw Hat Luffy, Monkey D. Luffy, is becoming more and more outrageous, just like his Devil Fruit, full of uncertainty and danger.""The Nika Fruit has awakened."Sitting on another single sofa, the Financial Warrior God, Saint Topman Warcurry, dressed in a dark blue suit with long white hair and a long beard, slowly continued, his tone carrying a hint of undetectable apprehension,"For the past eight hundred years, we have tried to control this legendary fruit, but it always manages to escape in various ways. Now, it has awakened in a brat from the Clan of D, which is no coincidence."Saint Saturn turned around, his gaze sweeping over his four colleagues, finally settling on the bounty poster on the table, and said in a deep voice, "However, the matter of the Celestial Dragons is still the biggest problem at hand. Countless eyes worldwide are watching Sabaody Archipelago.For now, the top priority is to protect the lives of the Rosward Saint family. Agree to Straw Hat Luffy's terms of trade to get the Celestial Dragonsback.As for other matters, we will deal with them separately after the transaction is complete."His meaning was clear: first, play along to rescue the hostages, and then find an opportunity to completely eliminate the Straw Hat Crew and reclaim the Nika Fruit.Saint Mars nodded: "Then let's order Sengoku to do so. In the name of the Gorosei, let him agree to the trade, exchanging Fire Fist Ace for the Rosward Saint family."The others nodded slightly, reaching a preliminary consensus.Although it would affect the Navy's strategy, sacrificing a plan involving the Pirate King's bloodline was not unacceptable in the face of maintaining the Celestial Dragons' absolute authority and the World Government's public prestige.However, just as Saint Saturn was about to contact Sengoku to convey this decision again,A detached yet supremely authoritative voice suddenly echoed in the empty hall, directly reverberating deep within the minds of the Gorosei:"Imu's opinion."Just a few words, but the faces of the five highest-ranking authorities in the world, who had been sitting or standing, changed drastically.Without hesitation, all five rose simultaneously, turned towards the empty throne at the deepest part of the conference room, knelt on one knee, bowed their heads deeply, their posture extremely respectful."Lord Imu!" the five exclaimed in unison.Their voices held an undisguised reverence."Kill them all."Imu's voice rang out again.Without a ripple.As if speaking of a trivial matter.Saint Saturn trembled, subconsciously raising his head, a look of disbelief on his face: "But Lord Imu, the Rosward Saint family is still in their hands. If we act forcefully, they might…"His words were cut short.Because a cold will instantly enveloped him.No words were spoken, but the absolute authority and a hint of faint displeasure contained within that will made Saint Saturn feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, cold sweat instantly soaking through his clothes.He understood.In Lord Imu's eyes, the lives of three Celestial Dragons were a price that could be sacrificed compared to maintaining the World Government's inviolable absolute authority and completely eradicating the potential threats posed by the Will of D and the Nika Fruit.Allowing the trade itself was a compromise, a damage to authority.Only by using the most ruthless and decisive means to eliminate the provocateurs along with the defiled descendants of the gods could that unquestionable absolute majesty be re-established!"Yes, we obey your will!"Saint Saturn had no further questions, burying his head even lower, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly.That vast will receded like a tide, as if it had never appeared.The Gorosei remained prostrate on the ground, and after a long while, slowly rose, looking at each other, their eyes filled with solemnity and a hint of shock.Saint Saturn took a deep breath and picked up the special transponder snail beside him."Notify Sengoku—no, connect directly to Kizaru.""plan changed.""You are authorized to use extreme measures.""Primary objective: ensure the complete elimination of Straw Hat Luffy and his crew, and all unstable elements within the target area."At the same time the Gorosei issued their command.The Sabaody Archipelago became chaotic.Not just the Straw Hat Crew, but almost all the Supernovas scattered across the Sabaody Archipelago witnessed Luffy and Kizaru's clash and the subsequent negotiations.It seemed like the Navy had agreed to the negotiations, but the situation didn't look very optimistic.Although the specific content couldn't be heard, the tense atmosphere and Luffy's intention to let his companions leave first revealed one thing."Tsk, it seems like the negotiations broke down."Eustass Kid spat, "Even Celestial Dragons can't make the Navy compromise? How much pressure is the Fleet Admiral under right now?"His face showed unwillingness and solemnity.From Kid's perspective, it was certainly annoying to see the Straw Hat Crew hogging the limelight, but it would be even more satisfying to see the Navy and Celestial Dragons suffer a setback.The current inconclusive situation made him itch.Although Kid was arrogant, he also knew that once an Admiral got serious, or more Marine elites arrived, their situation as so-called Supernovaswould be extremely dangerous."Captain, we should retreat," Killer calmly reminded him.His expression under the mask was unclear, but his tone was very solemn.On the other side.Law pulled down the brim of his spotted hat and said in a deep voice, "Bepo, Shachi, Penguin, prepare to evacuate. This place will soon become the eye of the storm.""Understood, Captain!""Hohoho, it seems the gods do not favor this place today."Urouge, carrying his giant pencil, also planned to retreat.He still seemed to be chuckling strangely, but his eyes were full of vigilance.Almost out of a certain unspoken understanding among pirates in times of crisis, several groups chose relatively hidden directions away from the main battlefield when evacuating.They maintained distance from each other, subtly giving a sense of mutual support and shared risk.This was an unspoken understanding among pirates.Normally, pirates would clash, but when facing the Navy, they would first take out the Navy.Chapter 313: Broken Deal, Chaos DescendsThere's strength in numbers, after all.And, always ready to make the other party a decoy and then escape.This was also a passive talent of pirates.However, this fragile understanding did not last long.Law, who was at the forefront, was the first to stop, his gaze sharply fixed on the street corner ahead."Hey, hey, hey, why is this guy here?"Law's incredulous voice came out, cold sweat dripping down his face.Kid followed his gaze and saw an unusually tall and burly figure, wearing a black jacket and white shirt, a bear-eared hat, and an expressionless face, blocking their path like an iron tower."Bartholomew Kuma!""It's a Shichibukai! Why is the Tyrant here?""What are you afraid of!"Although Kid's heart tightened, his reckless personality immediately ignited his fighting spirit, "It's just a Shichibukai, isn't it? Just fight through him!"Even so, the hearts of all the Supernovas present sank.If they encountered a Navy Vice Admiral, they wouldn't care at all; they'd just charge head-on.But facing the long-renowned Seven Warlords of the Sea, these individuals, who could become a cornerstone in balancing the world's pattern, were definitely not comparable to these Supernovas.Why did the Seven Warlords of the Sea become the Seven Warlords of the Sea?They themselves were great pirates who troubled the World Government!Not far away.Vivi, Robin, and Chopper were also evacuating in this direction.Robin followed everyone's vigilant gaze, and when she saw the tall figure, her pupils slightly contracted."Kuma? Doesn't quite feel like him."Robin whispered.She had seen this Shichibukai in the Thriller Bark, and although he and Luffy had not clashed at the time, the powerful sense of oppression he exuded was even stronger than Moriah's.It wasn't like this now.It was as if he was just an empty shell.Whether it was his attire, physique, or his expressionless face, everything was identical, yet there was a sense of incongruity."Fortunately, his target doesn't seem to be us."Chopper patted his chest.However, no sooner had Chopper's words fallen than another identical tall figure appeared silently like a ghost at another fork in the road, diagonally ahead of them."Waaah! Why are there two Kumas?!"Chopper jumped up in fright.It wasn't just two Kumas.Meanwhile, on another path leading to the port.Nami, Bonney, Merry, and Zoro, who was covering their retreat, also encountered an interception."Is that Kuma?"Nami's face changed as she looked at the tall figure blocking the middle of the road."Father!"The moment Bonney saw that familiar face, her emotions completely spiraled out of control. She screamed and rushed forward recklessly.Too many questions, too much grievance, too much longing… all erupted at this moment.She just wanted to rush to that man and ask him why he had disappeared without a trace, why he had become like this!"Bonney, calm down!"Nami, quick-witted, tightly hugged Bonney's waist from behind, "Look closely, there's something wrong with this man!""Let go of me, he's my father!" Bonney struggled fiercely, tears welling up in her eyes."Calm down, Nami is right."Zoro had already bitten wado ichimonji, holding sandai kitetsu and black blade shusui in his hands, and said with an extremely solemn expression as he blocked them, "This guy doesn't feel like the previous Kuma. Although his appearance is the same, his aura is completely different."Just then, a muffled voice came from the side."The Pirate Hunter is right."Everyone looked over to see a large man with a sturdy, wrestler-like physique slowly approaching.His face and hairstyle resembled a girl's, and he had a scar from his eye to the corner of his mouth on his left cheek.He wore a red bellyband on his upper body, with a three-magatama and a peculiar pattern printed in the center, a large rope knot around his waist, shorts on his lower body, bandages wrapped around his right hand and left foot, and he was carrying a large axe.