Half a day later...
A ship flying the World Government's flag sailed into the inland sea of the Red Line. After docking, its passengers switched to a carriage, entering Mary Geoise in secret.
Inside the smooth, rocking carriage, Lone Wolf wore a fawning smile, cautiously asking the silent Stussy seated across from him, "How are you feeling? If you need, the organization has excellent doctors. I can arrange a full checkup to make sure there are no lingering injuries."
Stussy, wearing a medical mask, replied indifferently, "No need. I've mostly recovered."
Only then did Lone Wolf breathe a sigh of relief. His face darkened in anger as he said, "Those damn Marines, how dare they lay a hand on you!"
"Don't worry, I won't let them get away with it!"
Stussy glanced at him through her mask, then suddenly smiled.
"Thank you."
Lone Wolf froze, and then his heart exploded with joy, his face beneath the mask flushing bright red.
She smiled at me!
Soon, the carriage stopped before an ancient and majestic building.
The two of them stepped down from the carriage.
Stussy subconsciously lifted her head to look at the towering, sacred castle in front of her. Her eyes behind the mask filled with complicated emotions as she stood there in a daze.
The snow-white walls glistened under the sunlight, and the emerald-green roofs rose like obelisks, piercing the sky with awe-inspiring grandeur. The mottled scars on the stone walls and the vines winding through them gave the fortress a feeling of weathered solemnity.
Mary Geoise, perched atop the Red Line, overlooked the entire world, a symbol of the Celestial Dragons' supreme power and status.
And the castle before them stood at the very summit of Mary Geoise, dominating the Holy Land below.
The castle walls, situated ten thousand meters above sea level, were shrouded in rolling white clouds. From Stussy's vantage point, she couldn't even see the peak, making the scene all the more humbling.
This was Pangaea Castle.
The power center of Mary Geoise—and of the entire world.
"The Five Elders summon you."
While Stussy was lost in thought, a ghost-like figure appeared silently behind them.
Dressed in a ghostly white robe and wearing an eerie mask, the figure moved without a sound, like a breeze.
Even though he was standing right there, his voice sounded distant and hollow, sending a chill down their spines.
"Yes."
Stussy and Lone Wolf immediately knelt.
Led by guards clad in silver armor, the two of them passed through the grand hall of Pangaea Castle and arrived at a finely adorned chamber.
The room's atmosphere was serene.
A pot of tea simmered on a charcoal stove, releasing gentle curls of steam into the air.
Stussy and Lone Wolf knelt on one knee, bowing low.
"Greetings, Five Elders."
Five aged figures, each exuding an aura as deep and still as a bottomless pool, stood or sat casually, glancing at them with detached indifference.
It was just a fleeting glance, but Stussy instantly felt her whole body tighten, her pupils contracting sharply. It was as if five terrifying monsters had locked onto her, filling her with a primal fear.
This was the ultimate authority of the World Government—the Five Elders.
Just a glance from them was enough to freeze her in place, unable to move.
"Not a bad reaction. It seems handing the Pleasure District over to you was indeed the right decision."
The one who spoke was a Five Elder wearing a white robe and glasses. He sat cross-legged on the floor, a long, jet-black sword resting horizontally across his knees, polishing the blade with quiet concentration.
One of the Five Elders—the Warrior God of Finance, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro.
As he spoke with a calm smile, the oppressive force that had frozen the air around Stussy suddenly lifted, and she regained control over her body.
"Thank you for your appreciation, Saint Nusjuro. It is my honor," Stussy whispered, not daring to lift her head.
The blond Elder poured himself a cup of clear tea, took a gentle sip, then fixed his gaze on Lone Wolf and asked, "So, how did the mission go?"
"Reporting to Saint Shepherd Ju Peter! Your subordinate has successfully completed the task!"
Lone Wolf knelt on the ground in fear and answered,
"Admiral Sengoku of the Marine Headquarters has been notified and has promised to thoroughly investigate the incident as soon as possible!"
The Warrior God of Environment, Saint Marcus Mars, nodded slightly.
"Hm. Sengoku is still quite trustworthy."
He wore a dark blue suit, with long straight white hair and a long beard.
"Who's in charge of the investigation this time?"
Lone Wolf hesitated, a flash of hatred flickering in his eyes, before answering in a low voice,
"It's Vice Admiral Rogers Daren from Marine Headquarters."
He paused, then added,
"But in my humble opinion, Rogers Daren is arrogant and unruly. He may not be trustworthy."
Upon hearing this, Stussy, who had remained silent, showed a slight change in her expression.
"Oh?"
Saint Nusjuro, dressed in a robe, glanced at Lone Wolf.
"It seems this operation didn't go so smoothly."
At that moment, another of the Five Elders, with curly white hair, a fluffy beard, a flat hat, and a scar on his left cheek, sneered coldly.
"What exactly happened?"
Seated with both hands resting on his cane, he squinted at Lone Wolf.
Hearing the question from the Warrior God of Science and Defense, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, a glint of cunning flashed through Lone Wolf's eyes.
He knew this was his chance!
If he could seize the opportunity to slander that damn Marine, and if luck was on his side, the Five Elders' fury might lead them to execute him directly!
Quickly gathering his thoughts, he spoke bitterly,
"Reporting to Saturn-sama! Rogers Daren directly disobeyed orders and attacked both Fox and me... If Sengoku hadn't intervened, he would have succeeded!"
"This man has no respect for government authority. Even knowing that I represented the government, he still acted so recklessly!"
"I truly cannot tolerate this!"
He spoke hoarsely, his face twisted with resentment.
"This is a provocation not only against the government but against all of you as well!"
Lone Wolf firmly believed that with the supreme authority and pride of the Five Elders, they would never allow anyone to challenge them!
Sure enough...
"How dare he!!"
Saint Saturn exploded in fury, his wrinkled hands slamming the cane heavily onto the ground.
"To think such a ridiculous thing could happen!"
A strange red light rose from his eyes, and the intense killing intent he unleashed made the air tremble and ripple around them.
Success!
Feeling the Five Elders' growing anger, Lone Wolf cheered inwardly, his hands trembling slightly from excitement.
"Are you speaking the truth?"
Saturn asked coldly as wisps of jet-black, flame-shaped clouds began swirling around him, dancing through the air.
"Lone Wolf, raise your head. Look at me and answer."
A triumphant smile crept under Lone Wolf's mask as he lifted his head and declared firmly,
"I wouldn't dare deceive you, my lords!"
The smile on Lone Wolf's face grew even wider. He knew that Marine was finished!
"Very good," Saturn said, staring at him deeply.
Then...
A flash of eerie red light gleamed in Saturn's eyes.
The smile on Lone Wolf's face froze instantly.
Smack!
His head exploded like a watermelon, red and white matter splattering across the floor.
Kneeling beside him, Stussy's pupils shrank to thin slits as she stared at the scene in horror, barely able to believe her eyes.
Just one glance—just one—and Lone Wolf's head had burst apart!
With a dull thud, his headless body slowly collapsed, the mixture of blood and brain matter soaking his white robe and spreading across the floor.
A chilling air filled the room, and the thick stench of blood assaulted the nose, making one want to retch.
The other four Five Elders remained calm as they watched the scene unfold, sipping tea, smoking, wiping their blades—none showing even a flicker of surprise.
"Take it away. Clean this place up,"
Saturn ordered lightly as the black flames around him gradually faded.
A sneer twisted the corners of his mouth.
"CP0's quality is dropping lower and lower. They actually dared to try using us... How absurd."
Stussy bowed even deeper, a cold sweat sliding from her forehead beneath her mask.
It was like walking on thin ice...