At the very same moment Rahu was plotting to visit Demon Island to "stretch his legs" by hunting a few Celestial Dragons, news of the stolen Heavenly Tribute had already reached the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Inside an extravagant chamber draped in gold and silk, five elderly men sat in silence, their expressions grim and commanding. Each bore the aura of a ruler accustomed to absolute power. Kneeling before them was a trembling Marine Vice Admiral, forehead nearly pressed to the floor as he delivered his report.
These five were none other than the Elders of the World Government, known across the seas as the Five Elders, each representing the celestial bodies Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. For centuries, they had ruled as the visible faces of the world's supreme authority, their reign unbroken for eight generations.
But at that moment, not one of them looked pleased.
"So," drawled one of them coldly, his golden hair gleaming under the chandelier's light, "you're telling me the Heavenly Tribute under the joint protection of both the Navy and Cipher Pol was stolen by two pirates?" His voice grew sharper. "And that someone from Cipher Pol betrayed us by leaking the Celestial Dragons' coordinates to the enemy?"
The speaker was Shepherd Ju Peter, the Elder who oversaw the CP organizations. Normally composed, his face was now twisted with fury. His own subordinates had defected, making him look incompetent before his peers. For a man who had ruled for centuries, the humiliation cut deep.
The loss of treasure wasn't what enraged him. Gold could be collected again. Devil Fruits could be replaced. But betrayal within the intelligence agency that was a different kind of poison.
While ordinary Celestial Dragons meant little to the Five Elders themselves, they represented the political power base of several ancient bloodlines. If those so-called "Gods" were slain, their families would howl for vengeance, and the Elders would be forced to waste precious time appeasing them.
Peter pressed his fingers against his temple. Dealing with those inbred aristocrats was like trying to reason with children if children had the authority to erase nations.
"How far was the ambush site from the nearest Celestial convoy?" asked another Elder, one with a neatly groomed mustache Topman Warcury, the most pragmatic of the five. His tone was calm, but the steel behind it was unmistakable. "Which Celestial Dragons are currently within that area? And which Admiral is assigned to their protection?"
While Peter seethed, Warcury stayed analytical. The survival of the Celestial Dragons was paramount. If any of them died under the protection of the Navy, the illusion of divine supremacy the foundation of their eight-hundred-year dominion would begin to crack.
"Reporting, Elder," the Vice Admiral stammered, voice shaking. "The Admiral assigned to protect the convoy in that region is Admiral Kong Steel Bone Kong. Headquarters has already notified him to prioritize the safety of the World Nobles."
The Elders exchanged glances. Kong was one of the Navy's strongest pillars, a man who embodied the government's iron will. At this point in history, the Navy had three Admirals: Kong, Zephyr, and Garp each a master of Haki and pure physical power.
Though Garp had never formally accepted the title of Admiral, his strength was so overwhelming that even the World Government couldn't deny it.
Together, they were known as the Trinity of Might, each bearing a title that reflected their physical dominance Steel Bone, Black Arm, and Iron Fist.
Warcury nodded slowly. "If it's Kong, then that's acceptable. His strength ranks among the finest on the seas. As long as he's there, the Dragons will remain safe."
Another Elder, an old man with crescent scars along his cheek, spoke up. "Perhaps it's time to promote him after this crisis. The current Fleet Admiral, Nertania, is a relic of the last era. Ever since his clash with Rocks, his spirit has been waning."
Warcury smirked faintly. "Agreed. A Fleet Admiral who's lost his will to fight is nothing but dead weight."
The others nodded. The decision was made with effortless unanimity. To them, Admirals were merely tools blades to be sharpened and replaced as needed. Kong was a sharp one, loyal and level-headed. He would serve as the next head of the Navy until they found another sword to wield.
Zephyr was still young and idealistic. Garp was too rebellious more likely to punch a Celestial Dragon than protect one. That left Kong as the perfect candidate.
"Now," said Peter, his patience thinning, "tell me who were the pirates responsible for this humiliation? Someone survived, didn't they? You must have seen them."
The Vice Admiral's forehead glistened with sweat. The pressure in the room felt suffocating.
"R-reporting, Elders... one of the Marines on escort duty was Lieutenant Commander Monkey D. Dragon, the son of Vice Admiral Garp. The pirates... they stopped chasing us after noticing him on board."
The chamber fell into dead silence.
The Five Elders exchanged cold, knowing looks.
If the pirates had recognized Dragon and spared the ship because of it it could only mean one thing. Someone within the Navy had ties to them. Whether it was coincidence or conspiracy didn't matter. The stain of doubt had been cast.
"Two pirates managed to slaughter over a dozen Cipher Pol agents," murmured Marcus Mars, stroking his long beard in disbelief. "One of those agents was CP0 trained in Haki. And yet they were all wiped out?"
His words echoed in the chamber. The age they lived in belonged to Rocks D. Xebec, the monster who ruled the seas with chaos. Every powerful pirate, every rising legend, had been drawn into his orbit. For two unaffiliated pirates to cause such devastation… it meant new monsters were being born.
"Yes," the Vice Admiral replied quickly. "According to our intelligence, one of them was an experimental subject who escaped from a Marine research facility a hybrid from a special lineage. Both possess all three forms of Haki. And... we've learned they intend to join the Rocks Pirates."
The Elders went silent once more.
The Vice Admiral's heart pounded. He had said everything every detail, every theory. He could only hope they wouldn't kill the messenger.
Finally, the samurai-looking Elder who always carried his treasured blade the First Generation Kitetsu gritted his teeth and shouted, momentarily reverting to his native Wano tongue.
"What did you just say, you fool?! Those two possess all three types of Haki and plan to join Rocks?!"
His outburst shattered the oppressive stillness of the room.
Outside the ornate windows, the clouds above Mary Geoise swirled like a storm brewing on the horizon. Somewhere far away, two rising stars Rahu and Kaido were already setting their sights on the era's most fearsome crew.
And the world was about to change.
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