Chapter 380: Supernatural Forces
Red Line, Holy Land Marijoa, Pangea Castle.
Though the leaders of the allied nations silently cheered Cobra's proposal, none were bold enough to voice their enthusiasm outright. Instead, they exchanged cautious glances and their eyes flickered with calculated restraint.
After a moment, several kings spoke up, carefully aligning their words with Cobra's proposal while emphasizing the benefits to the World Government.
"I believe this matter is worth considering," one king said diplomatically.
"Indeed," another chimed in. "By allowing more nations to join the World Government, its influence and power would only grow."
"I agree with King Cobra," a third added, nodding solemnly.
As these voices broke the silence, other kings, emboldened by the momentum, joined in. The room buzzed with chatter, resembling a lively marketplace. Even those who might have sought to curry favor with the Five Elders held their tongues, unwilling to challenge the growing consensus.
The Five Elder with a bandaged mustache, Saint Warcury, cleared his throat sharply. The clamor ceased instantly, and all eyes, tinged with nervous anticipation, turned to him.
Saint Warcury scanned the room, reading the emotions etched on the faces of the assembled leaders: anxiety, unease, excitement, and quiet triumph.
"Lowering the Heavenly Gold would indeed allow more non-member nations to join the World Government," he began, his voice measured but laced with skepticism. "But…"
His sharp gaze swept over the room like a bucket of cold water, dousing the budding enthusiasm.
"Are you truly willing to make such a sacrifice? You must understand that the number of pirates in this world is rising. The Marines' strength, while formidable, is not limitless."
He leaned forward, his tone low and deliberate. "Protecting these new nations would stretch our defenses thinner. Your own safety would be compromised. Are you willing to jeopardize your own security for the sake of others?"
The kings faltered and exchanged uncertain glances. Saint Warcury's words had struck a nerve, sowing doubt where confidence had briefly flourished.
But Cobra was undeterred. "Five Elders, there's no need for such rhetoric," he said firmly. "The Sun God King himself is watching this matter closely. I trust you'll give it due consideration."
His bold words stunned the room. The other leaders blinked. They were taken aback by Cobra's audacity. To speak so directly to the Five Elders, the pinnacle of global authority, was unheard of.
The Five Elders' expressions soured, as if they had swallowed something vile. Though their faces were partially obscured by bandages, the tension radiating from them was palpable.
Saint Warcury took a deep breath, visibly reining in his irritation. During the aftermath of the battle between the two gods, King had returned and explicitly mentioned reducing the Heavenly Gold. His words, spoken with the weight of a deity capable of sundering the world, had reached the ears of nearly every allied leader present.
Who could dismiss such a decree lightly?
When Cobra raised the issue, it was no surprise that most rallied behind him. With a godlike figure backing the proposal, slashing the Heavenly Gold seemed not only feasible but inevitable.
"King Cobra, you seem quite confident," Saint Warcury said in his tone dripping with sarcasm.
The other leaders caught the undercurrent of menace in his tone. Cobra, for all his bravery, had just provoked the Five Elders, the world's highest authority. Such defiance would surely come at a cost. The Five Elders wielded countless ways to undermine a kingdom, and crossing them was a dangerous gamble.
This was why many kings had hesitated to take the lead, being targeted by the Five Elders often spelled doom. Perhaps only Cobra, a descendant of one of the twenty founding royal families, could afford to stand so boldly.
"Hmph. If that's the case, let's put it to a vote," Saint Warcury said coldly, his patience exhausted.
There was no point in further debate. Cobra's invocation of King's will left them little room to maneuver. They could deal with him later, for now, they had to yield.
The vote was swift, and the proposal passed with an overwhelming majority. Despite Saint Warcury's earlier warnings, the immediate relief of a lighter financial burden outweighed future risks for most leaders.
"Then let us proceed to discuss the specifics of reducing the Heavenly Gold," the chairman said, moving the summit forward.
---
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
In the Fleet-Admiral Office.
Fleet-Admiral Kong sat with the latest newspaper spread before him. Though he had already received detailed reports of the events, the World Economic News Agency's vivid recounts of the cataclysmic battle still felt surreal.
King, the Sun God… such world-shattering power.
One thought dominated Kong's mind: Thank the stars he is with the Marines.
Without King, the Marines would stand no chance against the Demon God Ryomen Sukuna. No, calling Sukuna a mere pirate no longer sufficed. The World Government had withdrawn his bounty, along with those of his Demon God Apostles.
These apostles, who had led the demon invasion on Marijoa, should have faced severe charges and astronomical bounties. Yet the Five Elders, wary of provoking another divine conflict, had ordered the Marines to cancel the rewards entirely.
Fear drove their decision. The invasion of the Holy Land, a direct assault on the World Government's seat of power, had gone unpunished. It was the first time in history. To the public, this signaled weakness, but the Five Elders framed it differently. By not labeling the demons as pirates, they cast the conflict as a clash between rival powers, a flimsy excuse, but a necessary one to save face.
In truth, it was dreadful of the Demon God's wrath. No one could predict Sukuna's thoughts, and the Five Elders weren't willing to bet on whether King could intervene in time if another war erupted. Revoking the bounties was their insurance policy.
Kong shook his head. He couldn't fault the Five Elders' caution, but the precedent was unsettling. A terrifying, transcendent force had attacked the Holy Land and walked away unscathed and bounty-free. It made the era feel like a fever dream.
But Kong had more pressing concerns. The Marines faced a mountain of tasks in the wake of the recent disasters.
The global impact of the gods' battle was staggering. Crop failures alone, triggered by the relentless storms, quakes, and floods, promised to spark a food crisis. Hunger would drive desperation, and desperation would fuel chaos. People without enough to eat often had turned to extremes.
It was all too easy to foresee: the number of pirates worldwide would surge.
The Marines needed to brace for this impending crisis, preparing for a battle not just against criminals but against the unraveling of order itself.
"Why…" Kong sighed, setting the newspaper down.
The Battle of the Two Gods had unleashed a cascade of consequences. A single clash had birthed a global disaster, with ripple effects that would plague the world for years, perhaps centuries.
The cost was astronomical.
If he could have his way, Kong would beg King to avoid further battles with Sukuna. Better yet, they should coexist peacefully.
This world simply couldn't withstand their turmoil.
(End of this Chapter)