— — — — — — —
Shiki smirked and scoffed, "A bunch of troublesome brats… Whatever! Let's call it a day."
"Jihahahaha!"
Turning around, he looked at Sengoku with a mocking expression. "What a brilliant plan! You really thought you could use me as your pawn? That I'd grovel for a measly Logia-type Devil Fruit?"
"Hmph!"
Without another word, Shiki waved his hand, lifting himself into the air. Behind him, the Flying Pirates had already returned to their ship.
With a swift motion, Shiki and his crew disappeared into the horizon.
Truth be told, it wasn't just Shiki, Roger, and Edward who chose to leave. Even John, Wang Zhi, and Silver Axe followed suit.
They all have the same idea: What a joke. Did they really think we'd dance to their tune?
If they had truly wanted to stop the Charlotte Family, with their strength, they could have ensured that no Charlotte left here alive.
This whole thing was just a farce. Or rather, this war was merely an entertaining spectacle for them.
As one after another left, Sengoku shook his head with a look of resignation.
"Hahahaha!" Garp ran over, grinning ear to ear. "That was exciting! Absolutely exciting!"
Sengoku sighed. "Garp, you should start thinking about how we'll explain this when we return."
Garp paused, then waved his hand dismissively. "Explain what? What's there to explain?"
"Hmph!" With a snort, he added, "I saw pirates and chased them. What, am I supposed to sit around waiting for Big Mom's crew? That'd be a damn joke!"
Hearing Garp's words, Sengoku hesitated. When put that way…What were they supposed to do? Just stand there as Marines—no, as Marine Admirals—and watch pirates walk past them?
That would've been even more ridiculous.
Realizing this, Sengoku stopped overthinking it. After all, they were two Marine Admirals and one legendary Marine hero. Who would dare question them?
At most, the World Government would just grumble a bit, but who cared?
---
"Heh…" Joey chuckled. "Looks like the curtains have finally closed on this battle. But… I suppose those guys are about to make their move."
Whoosh!
As soon as Joey spoke, two figures burst out from the depths of the sea, landing on the deck.
Dressed in white suits and eerie masks, their identities were obvious to anyone with half a brain—CP0 agents.
As if he had been expecting them, Joey remained calm. "How flattering… The Five Elders must really think highly of me, sending two CP0 elites."
He let out a small sigh, as if helpless.
Honestly, his growth shouldn't have been a threat to the World Government for now. If anything, his existence had actually benefitted them.
But the issue was simple: the Five Elders wanted absolute control over everything.
Just like this whole operation—they assumed the pirates would play along like obedient dogs. But they forgot one crucial thing: these so-called "dogs" were all ambitious leaders in their own right.
Expecting them to follow orders was laughable.
"Kill you, and this all ends here."
The CP0 agents spoke coldly, devoid of emotion.
These weren't ordinary operatives. They were CP0 veterans, their humanity long stripped away, existing only as lethal weapons for the World Government.
Two warriors of Silver Level 3 strength. The Five Elders had sent two fighters on par with Big Mom herself.
That level of power, and they sent two of them? Truly, only the World Government had such overwhelming resources.
Joey smirked. "Impressive, as expected from the World Government. No one else could afford to deploy such powerful assets. But… you won't kill me."
He spoke nonchalantly. "You overlooked one key factor—you didn't stop those brats."
Clang! Sparks flew as the battle erupted.
At the same time, twenty massive swords materialized around Joey, intercepting the CP0 agents' strikes.
Joey remained unshaken. "Those brats will be back soon. And as strong as you two are, against a full-on assault from my crew, you won't win. Looks like today's assassination attempt is a bust."
He shook his head with an amused chuckle.
His floating swords held off their attacks.
"ROAR!"
Just then, a thunderous roar echoed. The Charlotte siblings had returned.
Perospero and the others observed the battle from above, perched on an ink cloud conjured by Perospero's powers.
With the siblings joining in, the battle was already decided.
"RETREAT!"
Without hesitation, the CP0 agents attempted to flee.
They knew it. The mission had failed.
Unfortunately for them, Joey wasn't about to let that happen.
A subtle ripple spread through the air as the number of floating swords doubled from twenty to forty.
Forming diamond-shaped battle formations, the swords blocked all possible escape routes.
Meanwhile, the five Charlotte brothers—Opera, Counter, Cadenza, Cabaletta, and Gala—surrounded them, preventing any chance of fleeing.
Tick!
Tock!
Time passed.
And just like that, the two Silver Level 3 CP0 agents fell under the relentless assault of Joey's swords.
"Hmph."
Joey smirked, laughing softly. "So, that's how it ends? How tiresome… The World Government keeps targeting me, but this is all they can manage?"
Now, it was time to celebrate their victory.
However, there was still a problem—the hidden route near Totto Land.
The whirlpools surrounding the area made it nearly impossible for even Admiral-level fighters to enter while hidden from them.
Yet somehow, the CP0 agents had managed to sneak in through this hidden route.
If they had made it all the way to Whole Cake Island, that would've been troublesome.
"Heh…"
Joey exhaled slowly, murmuring, "By my calculations, the Reverie is ten months away. Totto Land's construction should be complete in nine months. Thankfully, we have enough time. Until then, we must also secure this hidden route."
As he pondered, one name came to mind—Daifuku.
His abilities made him the perfect candidate. After all, his labyrinth ability was ideal for guarding the passage.
"Heh…" Joey muttered with a smirk. "Five Elders, your preparations weren't thorough enough. Ten months until the Reverie… Don't disappoint me now."
" This game is just getting started, and if you fail to stop me, you'll soon find nations slipping out of your control."
— — —
Red Line—Mary Geoise
This was the center of power. And today, within the grand halls of Mariejois, the Five Elders had gathered.
Their real names? No one knew.
To the world, they were simply known as the Five Elders. That had always been their title.
"This operation was a failure."
"Yes, I didn't expect this outcome. Those pirates actually disobeyed? It seems the power of the Rocks Pirates has emboldened them. They now believe themselves strong enough to defy our will."
Before Roger became the Pirate King, before the Four Emperors ruled the seas...To the Five Elders, pirates were nothing more than insignificant pests.
If they wished, they could crush them at any moment. But now, these pests thought they could challenge their authority?
To the Five Elders, this was simply ridiculous.
Pirates should obediently follow orders. Behave, and perhaps they'd be given a place in the world.
But if they disobeyed? Then they were worthless.
That was their philosophy—simple and absolute.
"The Charlotte Family continues to grow stronger. After this battle, their power will likely increase even more."
Hearing this, the others remained calm.
It didn't matter. To the Five Elders, it was insignificant.
"Regardless, the Charlotte Family is becoming a problem. We can't simply wipe them out, and we can't act openly against them. Our best option is to eliminate Charlotte Joey."
"..."
"That's clear enough. But Joey is well-protected. His bodyguards remain hidden in the shadows, and even we have been unable to determine their identities."
"Hmm...From our analysis, this is likely due to the awakened ability of the Clear-Clear Fruit. It allows him to conceal his most powerful fighters. It seems Charlotte Joey had the foresight to train a hidden force long ago, specifically to guard himself."
"It's a logical decision. One's own safety is the top priority."
"Indeed."
"That's right."
The Five Elders all shared the same view.
To them, safety was paramount.
If someone as important as Joey died, then everything he had built would crumble. But as long as he lived, his influence would only grow.
"Still, no matter what, Charlotte Joey must be lured out of Totto Land. As long as he stays there, we have no chance of eliminating him in the light."
"What does he value most?"
"His collection, he is a perfectionist with an obsessive need to collect rare things."
"Right now, Totto Land is missing only one race—the Mink Tribe."
"But we have other options like...," he continued his plan. "So we can just....."
Finally, the Sword-Wielding Elder declared, "Then it's decided. Charlotte Joey must die."
"Agreed."
"Understood."
"That's the plan."
A quiet consensus was reached.
And throughout their discussion, their utter lack of emotion was what made them truly terrifying.
.
.
.