The next day, the transponder snail rang again. It was Stussy's, and the caller was, once again, one of the Five Elders.
"What did you do to Stussy?"
The old swordsman's voice was laced with fury.
The long-haired elder barked, "Don't cross the line!"
"You'll die a miserable death!"
"This world can no longer tolerate pirates like you!"
While eating, Vane listened to the furious voices of the Five Elders and watched the emotion on the transponder snail's face. Rage—just rage. Was that all they had to show? The rage in the snail's expression mirrored theirs perfectly. Their synchronized fury, both in tone and expression, was almost comical.
Kill Vane. That's probably all they're thinking about right now.
Mouth full, Vane muttered, "Relax. I'm still eating."
"You…!"
"Damn you, Vane! You cannot withstand the wrath of the Holy Land!"
"Is Stussy dead?"
Vane shrugged. "Maybe. She struck first, so I hit back. Nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"You've crossed a forbidden line!"
Vane chuckled. "I'm in the New World. You can come find me if you want, but I'd suggest bringing backup."
He laughed, and that laugh rang in the Five Elders' ears. His mocking grin sent them into a silent rage.
They were furious—yet powerless.
Vane didn't fear them at all. Whether or not they could actually defeat him was beside the point. What could five old relics, hiding in Mary Geoise, really do? Vane was certain they'd never leave their sanctuary. So how would they kill him? Send CP0? Sure, CP0 agents were powerful, but so what?
If they dared show up, Vane would wipe them out along with their entire organization.
And honestly? The New World was massive. Finding him would be like chasing a shadow.
The Five Elders were just putting on a front. Vane didn't deny that they were strong—but age brings fear. They weren't Whitebeard.
They were just cowards.
Mary Geoise was the safest place in the world, the seat of the world's highest authority.
All five Elders scowled. Their pride wounded, their authority ignored—and none of it mattered. They had no say in the New World. They couldn't control it, not even a fraction of the sea.
"Did you undergo the Immortality Surgery? Rumor has it you've existed for a long time," Vane asked suddenly.
Of course, they didn't answer. That secret was tightly guarded—they still craved the benefits of the surgery.
Vane grinned. "Is your Lord Im a man or a woman?"
Im? Their faces changed instantly. How could he know about Im? Impossible!
To the world, Im's existence was a closely guarded secret. Im sat atop the Empty Throne—a throne that supposedly symbolized equality and impartial governance. No one was meant to sit on it. And yet, Im did.
But to the Five Elders, it was only natural that a god would sit on the highest throne.
Still, they remained silent. Better to say nothing at all.
"I know that Im has sat on the Empty Throne again and again," Vane continued. "You handed the power meant for many to one person—and now the world is rotting. The rise of pirates is your fault."
Shock overtook the Five Elders' expressions.
How did Vane know about Im's position on the throne?
If this knowledge spread, what would the 170 member nations of the World Government think? The consequences would be catastrophic—utterly uncontrollable.
A sly grin formed on Vane's lips. "You're wondering how I know, right?"
"Well, I've got a spy in Mary Geoise."
A spy? Nonsense.
But to the Five Elders, it sounded too plausible to ignore. How else could he know such secrets?
They remained silent. Sometimes silence is the safest choice.
"My spy is a Celestial Dragon. You're free to hunt them down. I'm sure they blend in well—after all, you're practically ruled by them anyway."
A Celestial Dragon turned traitor? The thought made them uneasy. The Elders exchanged uncertain glances.
It was unthinkable—yet disturbingly believable.
"Maybe," Vane said, his tone casual, "you don't have much time left. You might want to step outside once in a while. The world is beautiful, you know."
And with that, he ended the call.
The snail rang again shortly after, but Vane didn't bother to pick it up.
That was likely the last time he'd ever speak to the Five Elders.
Across the table, Kalifa struggled to contain her laughter. Esdeath, unfamiliar with the world and especially Mary Geoise, didn't understand the significance of the call. But Kalifa did.
A spy? Please. There was no such person. But Vane's words were enough to make the Elders panic. They'd probably scour all of Mary Geoise looking for a Celestial Dragon that didn't exist.
Kalifa was barely holding it together.
"If you're going to laugh, just do it, four-eyes," Esdeath muttered irritably. Kalifa wasn't even wearing glasses today. Esdeath once took them as a joke and discovered Kalifa was practically blind without them. But now, she wasn't wearing them at all?
Suddenly cured of nearsightedness?
When Esdeath called her "four-eyes," Kalifa snapped back.
"You're the one with the eyes! Go back to your torture hobby!"
"Just eat," Vane said calmly.
Both women quieted down at once.
Then Vane turned to Esdeath. "If that woman's dead, toss her into the sea."
The sea kings would love the smell of blood. It wasn't much, but it was still better than their usual prey.
Let Stussy feed the fish.
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