"Can the World Government still control the Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Sengoku's voice wasn't loud, yet it rang clearly across the Hall of Power.
"If they're beyond your control, then the Navy won't hesitate to act. We'll cut them all down."
The vast chamber fell utterly silent.
The Five Elders exchanged glances, shock flickering across their ancient faces.
What's gotten into Sengoku?
He had barged in without announcement, his words brimming not just with fury toward the Seven Warlords system but open defiance toward their authority itself.
The Elder wearing a black suit and flat hat, with a long scar down his left cheek, slowly reached out and picked up the document Sengoku had slammed on the table.
He was Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
One by one, he flipped through the pages in front of him. The only sound in the room was the faint rustle of paper.
As he read further, his brows furrowed more tightly. When he finally finished, he looked up, the shadow in his gaze deepening.
So… it was true.
Donquixote Doflamingo had crossed the line.
Once a Celestial Dragon, he and his family had been exiled after "betraying the gods." Years later, when Doflamingo tried to return to the Holy Land, he was rejected. The Celestial Dragon aristocracy refused to accept a family of traitors.
And now, he had gone so far as to plant a spy a Vice Admiral no less within the Navy's ranks.
It was excessive.
Saturn's gaze swept over his fellow Elders, and without a word spoken, their minds connected through silent telepathy.
"What's the situation?" asked Topman Warcury, the bald Elder in a dark suit and the Warrior God of Justice.
"Doflamingo's top executive, Vergo, infiltrated the Navy and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral," Saturn replied mentally. "He was caught red-handed passing classified information to Doflamingo. Sengoku captured him personally."
The others fell silent.
"This time, Doflamingo went too far," muttered Marcus Mars, the Warrior God of the Environment, his long white hair flowing down like silver silk.
"But does that justify Sengoku's behavior? His outrage borders on rebellion," said Shepherd Ju Peter, the blond and bearded Warrior God of Agriculture, his tone skeptical.
"Rebellion? It's outright insubordination!" snapped Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, the katana-wielding Elder clad in white robes the Warrior God of Finance. "He's questioning us. Has the Navy forgotten its place?"
He paused, his sharp mental voice cutting through the link. "And don't forget how Doflamingo became a Warlord in the first place."
That reminder fell like cold water over them all.
Doflamingo, once a fallen Celestial Dragon, knew secrets dangerous secrets about the World Government and Mary Geoise itself. Years ago, he used that forbidden knowledge as leverage, along with the Heavenly Tribute incident, to secure his title among the Seven Warlords.
That man could not be touched carelessly.
If he were killed, the chain reaction might shake the foundations of the World Government itself.
So they came to the same conclusion in unison better to sacrifice the Navy again.
Saturn looked up, his face composed, his tone cool and commanding.
"Sengoku, we understand your anger. Doflamingo's actions were inappropriate."
"However, the Warlord system remains vital to maintaining the world's balance. It cannot be easily dismantled. We will investigate this matter ourselves. For now, return to your post."
A faint, humorless smile tugged at Sengoku's lips. Cold as ice.
He stepped forward, and an overwhelming pressure flooded the hall his aura, vast and suffocating, like the wrath of a golden Buddha.
"Five Elders," he said, his voice calm but thunderous, "I didn't come here to negotiate."
He raised two fingers.
"The Navy is giving you two choices."
"First immediately revoke Donquixote Doflamingo's title as a Warlord and allow the Navy to publicly hunt and execute him."
"Second if you insist on protecting him, fine. Then compensate the Navy for every single loss caused by this incident."
The chamber exploded into chaos.
The Elders shot to their feet, composure shattered.
"Sengoku! Have you lost your mind?!"
"Do you even understand what you're saying?!"
"Are you declaring war on the World Government itself?!"
"You still want next year's military budget, don't you?!"
But Sengoku merely looked at their fury and smiled in quiet satisfaction.
Once, he had bowed his head for those budgets. Once, he had endured humiliation for the sake of the Navy's survival.
But not anymore.
"For years, the Navy has been the one making sacrifices!" he roared. "We've stepped back again and again but not this time!"
"If you won't give us an answer, then we'll burn the bridge behind us!"
"If a single berry is cut from our budget then the Navy will withdraw from the New World entirely!"
"We'll abandon the surveillance of the Four Emperors. Let those monsters roam free."
"I'd love to see whether your precious CP organizations and your Seven Warlords can handle them alone!"
The Elders froze.
The air grew heavy.
Their eyes darted between one another, each seeing the same thing reflected back fear.
Raw, unfiltered fear.
This was no bluff.
Sengoku the man who had once been the Government's most loyal soldier was now threatening them openly.
He had leverage.
If the Navy truly pulled out, the world would plunge into chaos.
And if one of the Emperors say, Kaido decided to "visit" Mary Geoise with his Beast Pirates, not even the God Knights could guarantee the Holy Land's safety.
The death of Celestial Dragons, the collapse of order the consequences would be catastrophic.
They had no choice but to calm him.
"Marshal Sengoku," Saturn said at last, his tone softening, attempting to regain control. "Be reasonable. The Government will handle Doflamingo's punishment appropriately."
He paused, as though conceding something enormous.
"To show our sincerity, the World Government is willing to grant the Navy ten billion berries in compensation."
A fortune. Enough to sway any man.
Except Sengoku.
"Pathetic."
With a thunderous crack, his palm slammed down on the table.
"You think I'm some beggar to be tossed scraps?!"
"One hundred billion!" he barked, his glare burning through them.
"Not a single berry less!"
Silence.
The Five Elders stared at him, stunned into disbelief while Sengoku, the Buddha of the Navy, stood tall and unflinching.
For the first time in history, the Navy no longer bowed its head.
This was not the plea of a subordinate.
It was the demand of an equal.
And in that silent chamber, under the gleam of the Holy Land's sacred light
the balance of power began to shift.
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