Gloriosa pulled a crumpled newspaper from inside her clothes and slapped it onto the table.
The front page was dominated not by some old incident at Sabaody, but by the crisis now consuming world politics: the accelerated Reverie, the sudden mandatory summons issued to the Warlords, and renewed speculation that the entire system might soon be dismantled.
"Look at what is happening."
Gloriosa's voice was sharp.
"This is not the time to think only about friendship, pride, or who insulted whom."
Her staff struck the floor again.
"The Warlord title remains Amazon Lily's strongest political shield."
She looked directly at Hancock and her sisters.
"If you throw it away carelessly, the Marines will no longer need to pretend this island is beyond their reach."
The old woman's expression hardened.
"And not every child, elder, or ordinary citizen here is capable of fighting off a Marine fleet simply because our warriors know Haki."
Marigold's jaw tightened.
Sandersonia looked away.
Neither had an easy answer.
They hated the Government.
They hated the idea of obeying people connected to the Celestial Dragons even more.
But Gloriosa was right about one thing.
Their decisions did not affect only themselves.
Hancock remained leaned back in her throne, yet the disgust in her eyes had become more complicated.
Mary Geoise.
Even after all these years, the name could still summon memories she wanted buried forever: chains, heat, laughter, and the smell of burning flesh.
Her fingers tightened against the armrest.
Gloriosa saw it.
Her own expression softened slightly.
"And there is another reason to go."
Hancock's eyes shifted toward her.
"This entire summons is clearly connected to whatever the World Government is doing around Zaraki."
Gloriosa tapped the newspaper.
"If you stay here, you will know only what the newspapers decide to print."
She paused.
"But if you answer the summons, you can see what the Government is preparing for yourself."
Hancock's expression changed.
Gloriosa continued carefully.
"I am not telling you to attack the Five Elders."
A pointed look followed.
"I am very specifically telling you not to do that."
Marigold coughed.
Sandersonia suddenly found the wall fascinating.
Hancock ignored all three.
Zaraki's face had already appeared in her mind.
That reckless man would never simply remain still while other people arranged his future for him.
If the Government was drawing him toward the same political storm, then she would rather see it herself than sit on Amazon Lily waiting for news.
That did not make the thought of returning to Mary Geoise pleasant.
Her stomach still tightened at the name.
Her skin still seemed to remember the brand that had once been burned into it.
But fear had ruled enough of her life already.
Hancock slowly straightened.
"I see."
Gloriosa released the smallest breath of relief.
Then Hancock smiled.
It was beautiful.
And deeply dangerous.
"If those rotten old men are so desperate for my presence, I suppose I can be generous enough to appear."
"Snake Princess—"
"And if this turns out to be another scheme against Zaraki..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"I'll decide what to do after I see it with my own eyes."
Gloriosa relaxed slightly.
That was almost reasonable.
Then Hancock added:
"But if one of those old men lays a hand on him, I'll kick his bones apart."
Gloriosa's face collapsed.
"THAT IS EXACTLY THE PART I WAS TRYING TO PREVENT!"
Hancock had already turned away.
"Prepare the ship."
Her red dress moved lightly behind her.
Marigold and Sandersonia exchanged glances and followed.
Gloriosa remained alone in the hall.
Slowly, she closed her eyes.
Mary Geoise was the center of political power in the world.
It was not the private battlefield of a lovestruck Empress.
Unfortunately, Hancock did not appear particularly interested in that distinction.
Gloriosa tightened both hands around her staff and prayed that Zaraki possessed at least a little more political restraint than the woman currently heading toward him.
The thought did not inspire much confidence.
...
At the summit of the Red Line stood the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, a place so carefully separated from the seas below that even its air seemed unnaturally clean.
Deep inside Pangaea Castle, the Chamber of Authority remained quiet except for the occasional crackle from the fireplace.
Director Dapus stood before the Five Elders.
As field director of CP0's Aegis Execution Unit, he had been granted access because the operation against Zaraki had become his responsibility. That did not make him an equal to the five men seated before him.
"The Warlord summons have been delivered," Dapus reported.
"Every currently recognized seat has acknowledged receipt."
Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro sat with Shodai Kitetsu resting across his knees.
His fingers paused against the sheath.
"And the additional asset?"
Dapus placed a remarkably thin file on the table.
Only one page sat inside.
No photograph.
Just a codename and several short lines summarizing the subject's history.
Nusjuro picked it up.
His eyes moved across the page before his brow furrowed.
"This move..."
He looked toward Dapus.
"Isn't it too dangerous?"
Distrust sharpened his voice.
"That thing is an untrained mad dog."
"You intend to point it at Zaraki?"
Nusjuro's eyes narrowed.
"It may bite through the hand holding its leash before it ever reaches him."
"A mad dog is useful precisely because it does not behave like an ordinary soldier."
Dapus remained standing.
"Conventional projections have already failed repeatedly."
"Vergo's failure proved that. So did Sabaody."
His expression cooled.
"Every attempt to measure Zaraki according to normal assumptions about physical limits, restraint, or swordsmanship has produced the wrong answer."