["What is it?",] Saint Warcury asked.
This matter was under his charge, after all, Rosse's identity was special, and Saint Saturn needed to avoid suspicion.
And since everything this time had been handled by Rosse, naturally they had to hear his opinion.
Of course, the most important thing was. Rosse's strength and ability now shown were already worthy of their attention.
In less than ten years, Rosse might inherit Saint Saturn's position and be on equal footing with them.
Not all of the Five Elders held their posts until death, many handed off their roles after a few years to enjoy a comfortable life.
Judging by Saint Saturn's attitude, he seemed to have intentions of early retirement.
After all, letting the juniors take over early also ensured their family's position wouldn't be snatched away by others.
"Otohime will become my third wife, and will establish the Mermaid Kingdom, with her as the first queen," Rosse stated bluntly.
He knew very well, arguing with the Five Elders was pointless. It was better to state his demands directly.
He was also a victim in this matter and had resolved it.
Though Rosward was still dead, that had nothing to do with him. He didn't need to take responsibility. For the Five Elders, it was a matter of compensation.
["Fish-Man Island must be destroyed,"] Saint Warcury said coldly.
Upon hearing this, Rosse didn't show much expression.
Celestial Dragons were just like that, always talking about exterminating this and that.
But the mermaids below who had not yet left were completely stunned.
Clearly Rosse had spared them, did that mean they still couldn't avoid death?
Despair immediately spread among the mermaids.
Even if the sea was their home, without Fish-Man Island, they truly had nowhere to go.
Perhaps... they could only drift endlessly.
"But, Ryugu Kingdom is a member nation," Otohime suddenly spoke.
["Otohime?"]
Though Saint Warcury posed it as a question, his tone held certainty.
["Member nation? From the moment Neptune attacked a Celestial Dragon, it was no longer one,"] Warcury said coldly.
"What Neptune did has nothing to do with Ryugu Kingdom!", Otohime argued. [T/N: BS]
What she said was reasonable, just because a member nation had a legendary pirate, didn't mean it should be stripped of status.
Of course, her biggest backing in daring to argue with the Five Elders was Rosse.
Precisely because of Rosse's earlier words, having officially made her his wife, she now had the qualification to speak to the Five Elders.
Otherwise, the Five Elders wouldn't bother to acknowledge her at all.
["The events on Fish-Man Island are too vile. Ryugu Kingdom must be removed, and Fish-Man Island must be purged, the rest can be negotiated,"] Saint Warcury said coldly.
He was an old fox, he clearly saw Rosse was negotiating for compensation.
As long as it wasn't too excessive, he could agree.
Though he also wanted to wipe out all fish-men and mermaids, due to their prowess in the water, completely exterminating them was a difficult task.
Fish-Man Island lay ten thousand meters under the sea, destroying it would not be easy.
Most importantly, if these fish-men and mermaids wanted to flee, they truly couldn't be caught.
Most of the World Government's powerhouses were Devil Fruit users, completely incapable of going into the sea.
A few who could fight underwater might still not catch many fish-men or mermaids.
After all, the sea was just too vast.
This was why Warcury was willing to compromise.
If this had been a land-based member nation, it would've been wiped out long ago.
"Give me ten days!", Otohime suddenly said.
["What do you want to do?"], Warcury frowned.
Ten days, one could do a lot.
"Evacuate the Mermaid Kingdom's citizens from Fish-Man Island. The Mermaid Kingdom is already a registered member nation, certified by Saint Saturn and Saint Rosse," Otohime said calmly.
This had been part of the plan all along.
And for member nations, as long as one could pay the Celestial Tribute, one could apply.
Moreover, with Rosse and Saint Saturn's influence, even if the Mermaid Kingdom didn't pay, they could still make it happen.
As soon as Otohime said this, not just Warcury, even the mermaids below understood what she was doing.
Wasn't this basically protecting them?
As long as they immediately became members of the Mermaid Kingdom, they wouldn't have to perish along with Fish-Man Island.
Maybe there were some stubborn fish-men and mermaids on Fish-Man Island who wanted to resist the World Government to the end.
But most would likely choose to join the Mermaid Kingdom.
To oppose the World Government... was suicide. Did they not see Neptune barely clinging to life, nailed to a wall?
["Approved,"] Saint Warcury fell silent for a moment, then ultimately agreed.
If the fish-men and mermaids wanted to run, they couldn't be caught anyway. If they fled recklessly, they might even cause more malicious incidents.
Letting Otohime manage them and prevent chaos, this was good for them too.
["Ten days later, launch a Buster Call on Fish-Man Island,"] But for Fish-Man Island, Warcury showed no mercy.
The people, they could be spared. But the island must be destroyed.
As for how to destroy an island ten thousand meters below sea level, that was a matter for later planning.
"I can cleanse Fish-Man Island myself, eliminate all those who resist the World Government. Can you cancel the Buster Call?", Otohime still argued on reason, but as she spoke, even she felt it was unlikely.
Her actions now, were starting to seem like overreach.
But this was what she and Rosse had agreed upon beforehand, and Rosse had been giving her encouraging glances, which kept her going.
["Impossible!"], Warcury's tone immediately turned angry, ["Queen Otohime, don't push your luck! I granted you the right to speak, not because you're a queen."]
His harsh voice rang out, making the listening mermaids instinctively shrink their necks.
Just hearing his voice gave them a sense of the sky collapsing.
After all—that was one of the lofty Five Elders, a being ten thousand times nobler than Neptune.
"Then is my identity enough?", Rosse curled his lips, "I represent the Marine in refusing to carry out the Buster Call."
It wasn't his men who died, what Buster Call? If every Celestial Dragon death resulted in such a fuss, who would dare touch them?
And if no one dared to touch them, then who would help him test the strength of the one on the throne?
In fact, when it came to the campaign against Whitebeard, he was planning to set aside revenge and let Whitebeard burn more of the World Government's resources.
Anyway, in this Whitebeard crusade, the Marine would not be contributing.
If anyone had to go, it'd be Sengoku or Garp, and if they died, he wouldn't be sad.
["What exactly are you trying to do?"], Saint Warcury was completely enraged, 'What is this supposed to mean?'
He had considered Rosse one of his own, yet Rosse didn't treat him as one?
["If you won't carry it out, there are others in the Marine who will,"] Saint Saturn's voice suddenly rang out, surprising the other Five Elders.
'What is this Saturn family playing at?'
But seeing Saint Saturn's calm demeanor, the others suppressed their thoughts.
Since Saint Saturn agreed, the matter was settled.
No matter what Rosse planned, it wouldn't affect the outcome, that was enough.
["That's that then!"]
Saint Warcury coldly snorted and decisively hung up.
Now that everything was said, he no longer wanted to hear Rosse's voice.
If they kept talking, he really feared he might blow a gasket.
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