The Five Elders froze, pupils contracting to pinpoints.
Five secret shipping routes. Eight supply ships. All sunk!?
How could this be possible!?
How could that brat Rogers Daren know about the World Government's secret transport routes!?
Is there a traitor within the government?
At such a critical time, did someone leak classified information to Daren?
But who could it be?
Their expressions darkened as they instinctively turned toward Kong.
He quickly raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and said calmly,
"My lords, while I am in charge of transporting supplies and overseeing logistics, I do not have sufficient clearance to access the government's secret routes."
"At least, not with my current authority as Fleet Admiral."
Kong wasn't even sure why he made that odd gesture. He'd only ever seen Borsalino do something like that, but somehow it felt natural.
Faced with the grim, cold expressions of the Five Elders, his shoulders began to tremble even more.
The Five Elders paused.
What he said was true.
Only internal government personnel had access to those routes, and Kong, as part of the Marine system, did not have that kind of authority.
Then who could it be?
A high-ranking CP agent?
Or someone from within the World Nobles themselves?
Damn it!
The Five Elders' expressions turned increasingly grim, veins bulging on their foreheads.
And it had to be now, of all times!
Another chilling thought hit them.
If Rogers Daren had access to this much confidential information, there's no way it could have been gathered in just a day or two.
This could only mean he had been preparing for a long time.
No—he had likely been waiting for this day, waiting to declare war on the World Government!
"Ahem... My lords, if the eight transport ships on those five routes were sunk, that means all five routes have been completely blocked by the five warships of the North Blue Fleet."
At this moment, Kong couldn't help but speak up.
"With the external supply channels to the Holy Land now entirely cut off—and considering most of the internal warehouses were destroyed in the earlier bombing—under extreme conditions, all food and medical supplies in Mary Geoise will be exhausted within thirty days."
"Thirty days?"
Saint Mars, the Warrior God of Environment, took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. He let out a cold laugh.
"That's more than enough time for us to find that brat Rogers Daren and eliminate him."
But Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, who had remained silent until now, shook his head and spoke hoarsely,
"We don't have thirty days... we might not even have five."
Saint Warcury blinked in confusion.
"Why? Even if the capitals of those ten countries were razed, so what? Insects are still insects. No matter how many die, they'll just multiply again."
"As long as we have the resolve and strength, such weak threats won't shake us."
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro let out a long sigh.
"Warcury, you're the Warrior God of Justice, commanding all levels of the CP departments and overseeing the World Government's legal authority... but you're not well-versed in matters of supply and finance."
As the Warrior God of Finance, he turned slowly to Kong.
"Kong, explain to Warcury what we mean by 'extreme conditions.'"
Kong hesitated for a moment before answering.
"All supplies are rationed by wartime standards—minimum food and medical support... Well, to put it simply, it's enough to keep people from starving to death."
Warcury: "..."
This so-called minimum standard might be tolerable elsewhere.
In fact, for many countries across the seas, such rations would be considered generous.
But for the Celestial Dragons, born into absolute privilege, it would be completely unacceptable.
"If we were to follow normal standards instead, with the current supply levels in Mary Geoise, how long could we hold out?"
Warcury asked, his face dark.
"One day, maybe even less."
He thought for a moment, then added with a look of distress on his face,
"In fact, many Nobles in the Land of the Gods have already begun fighting over supplies and medical resources. From last night to today, there have been more than ten violent conflicts."
"All levels of government have sent requests for additional supplies to the Ministry of Internal Affairs... The speed at which supplies are being consumed is much faster than expected."
The Five Elders fell silent again.
They realized that just today, they had remained silent more times than they had in the past ten years.
"...So, we have less than a day to deal with Rogers Daren?"
Saturn's eyes were grim as he said,
"Otherwise, there will be serious riots in the Holy Land due to shortages of food and medical supplies?"
Kong tried hard to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips. With a sad and troubled look, he nodded and sighed,
"I'm afraid that's the case, Saturn-sama."
"That despicable Rogers Daren is really too cunning!"
"He actually predicted your plans and, with a fleet built in just a few years, used these insidious and cunning tricks to threaten the World Government, which has a vast history of 800 years..."
At this point, Kong didn't wait for the Five Elders to react, and suddenly changed the subject:
"But at least there is one piece of good news. Although the North Blue Fleet overlooks all the Member Nations, they don't seem to have any intention of attacking... This means that Daren still wants to maintain the current world order..."
"Kong! We have already said that we will not accept any negotiations!"
Warcury coldly interrupted Steel Kong and said bluntly,
"Does that Rogers Daren think he can threaten us like this?"
"That's underestimating the government too much!"
Hearing this, Kong could already predict what would happen next, and he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Warcury waved his hand majestically, his eyes flashing with wisdom, and said coldly,
"Fish-Man Island is our breakthrough!"
"As long as the warships led by 'Yūtora' capture Fish-Man Island, that fertile underwater paradise will become an inexhaustible treasure trove of resources for Mary Geoise!"
"The final battle will be on Fish-Man Island!"