"Outrageous! Arrogant!! Unreasonable!!"
"He has trampled upon the dignity of the World Government spanning eight hundred years!!"
"A mere descendant of an obscure race dares to disrespect us like this!!"
"The decision lies with us... How dare he say that!!"
Room of Authority.
The Five Elders were rarely so agitated.
Only Saint Warcury and Saint Nusjuro remained relatively calm, their faces dark as they exchanged glances with Saint Garling seated opposite them.
"Saint Garling, what do you think..."
Saint Garling, who had just lost his son, showed no trace of sorrow on his face and spoke impassively: "Shamrock is dead, that is the fact. Anger is meaningless."
"I quite agree with that young man's words. Revenge need not be shouted; delivering a fatal blow at the opportune moment is sufficient."
...
Sengoku was too naive.
Killing a Celestial Dragon—there was no such option as 'accidental killing,' no room for explanation.
Only one's own power could instill fear.
Garp even dared to attack Imu yet received no punishment whatsoever—was it due to negotiation and mediation?
Pirate Emperors entrenched in the New World, establishing Marine forbidden zones, freely killing CP members—was it because of private dealings with the World Government?
No, it was because of their pinnacle-level strength!
...
Griffin, with Fruit Awakening and possessing the Mangekyou Sharingan, undoubtedly had already ascended into the ranks of top-tier powerhouses.
He was absolutely not someone who could be dealt with arbitrarily!
Most importantly...
...
"Like Saint Miya..."
Saint Warcury said gravely: "It wasn't merely killing; the mark belonging to Saint Shamrock was also erased."
"Such incidents occurring repeatedly have angered Imu!"
"If it weren't for that incident at God Valley..."
"In short, we must ascertain whether the Lunarian Uchiha Clan possesses means to counter the Deep Sea Contract."
"Whether Uchiha Griffin inherently possesses it or learned it through those eyes."
"The Bloodline Secret..."
...
"Then we need not compromise either. Directly issue orders to arrest Uchiha Griffin and forcibly conduct research!"
Saint Nusjuro looked at Saint Saturn and said calmly: "Just like Garp back then..."
"Have the Marines arrest their revered 'hero'?"
Saturn was momentarily speechless. Saint Nusjuro continued: "We all know the Marines are not completely obedient weapons under our command; they have their own thoughts."
"This is unavoidable. The Marine ranks are too vast; they cannot be cultivated like the CP Organization."
"You've all seen the intelligence submitted by CP."
"He has deep personal ties with Kuzan, knew Borsalino from early years, and reportedly has recently been closely interacting with Sakazuki's faction."
"Sengoku's doing... these past years, many Marines joined because of him. His prestige among the lower ranks rivals that of Garp!"
"A tail too big to wag... we have indulged him too much!"
...
"If we order the arrest of Uchiha Griffin, the best scenario is successful arrest, costing only some lower-rank Marines' defection. The worst scenario..."
Saint Warcury drew out his tone and said gravely, "Right now, it's not just the Marines and the God's Knights there... but also Roger's old crew!"
"Since we've already torn off the mask, Rayleigh won't miss the chance to oppose us!"
"As for this matter... Garp most likely won't intervene."
"If we let Uchiha Griffin escape... catching him again will be difficult."
...
"And there's also the Whitebeard Pirates."
Another one of the Five Elders said coldly, "I have no doubt that once he breaks free, he will definitely join the Whitebeard Pirates."
"This guy... might have already foreseen today and left himself a way out..."
"Deeply scheming!"
"Pretending to be bad at pretending, quite the act!"
...
"For now, let's keep his Marine status. At the very least, he'll consider his friends and teachers in the Marines, bound by emotions."
"Later, whether Vegapunk gets results or Imu can descend to the mortal world again, we'll be able to deal with him!"
"Just like Harald back then..."
"Then reply to him... truly detestable!"
...
...
Saint Garling, who had been listening nearby, spoke up.
"I have no objections to your decision, but there's one thing..."
"Go on."
Saint Garling lightly tapped the armrest and said calmly, "Shamrock is dead. I need Shanks to survive and bring him back to the Holy Land."
"The child born to that woman is not bad. We should keep at least one."
...
"Agreed."
"One might say it's truly the bloodline of Saint Garling. After this battle, Shanks might reach that level."
"Just right to fill the vacancy left by Saint Sheperd."
"But... what if Shanks refuses?"
...
Saint Garling smiled faintly. "No matter how much he hates or despises me, he will return."
"He has no other choice!"
——
——
——
——
On the gradually calming sea surface.
Hearing the reply from the Five Elders, Garp couldn't help but laugh.
"Those old guys are quite reasonable after all!"
...
Sengoku had no mood to scold Garp and stared deeply at Griffin, who had dismissed his Susanoo.
"Was this... also within your expectations?"
"You're far more cunning than I imagined!"
...
...
What is this old man imagining out of nowhere?
I've always been a straightforward and honest person!
Griffin calmed his mind and looked at the entity in his Sea of Consciousness—the ferocious and terrifying monster roaring silently.
It's because I have the confidence to turn against them that I showed the Five Elders no respect...
...
Of course, Griffin wouldn't explain. He turned to look at Shanks, who was gradually regaining his senses.
"If you're fine, let's get back to work? The execution isn't over yet."
As soon as he said this,
Rayleigh and the others immediately distanced themselves from Garp and moved closer to Shanks' side.
Gaban looked at Gunko and grinned bitterly. "It would've been better to fight at Marineford. Now we have to deal with two more."
"Hey, this kid killed a Celestial Dragon, and you're really just going to ignore it? What about the World Government's dignity?"
...
...
"Let's end this..."
Gunko slowly put down the Den Den Mushi. She had already received orders from above.
Her heterochromatic eyes coldly looked at Sengoku.
"By order of the Five Elders, the highest authority of the World Government, the execution is terminated. Bring Shanks back to Mary Geoise."
...
"Terminate... after all this, are we supposed to tell the civilians this was all a farce?!"
Akainu stepped past Sengoku and glared coldly at Gunko. "Where does that leave the Marines' dignity?!"
Gunko's gaze did not waver: "What does the Marines' reputation matter? You're nothing but—"
...
"You should listen quietly when Admiral Sakazuki is speaking."
Gunko trembled, the icy and terrifying gaze once again fixed upon her.
Griffin walked to stand beside Akainu and spoke calmly: "Take whoever you want. We'll report that we executed Red-Haired Shanks."
He looked toward Shanks, whose entire body was filled with a lifeless aura: "If you want revenge against me, then abandon this name."
A cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"Live in disgrace, survive in a wretched state."
...
"Bastard..."
Beckman gritted his teeth, unable to restrain himself from raising his gun.
"Put down the gun, Beckman."
It was Shanks' voice, but this voice felt unfamiliar to Beckman.
Too cold.
Beckman had never seen Shanks with such an expression.
He couldn't even describe it.
...
"I will."
Shanks spoke with utter calmness.
"As you wish."
"Uchiha Griffin, before I kill you, no matter how painful or wretched, I will survive."
...
Griffin gave a faint smile.
"Now you look a bit more like it, though still far from me."
——
——
"Hunt Celestial Dragons – Figarland Shamrock"
"Hunt Difficulty Rating – Ultra-Hazardous Level"
"Task completion grants five..."
...
"Confirm extraction of High-Level Option, extracting"
"Selected product highly associated with holder——
——
[No.134 – Divine Tree Seed]
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