Chapter 537: Seeking Cooperation with the Five Elders!
Meanwhile, in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
"Has the Aragami already appeared?"
Mars stared at the intelligence report in his hand, his brows sinking as irritation crept across his face.
"What exactly are those people trying to do?"
The more he read, the more questions surfaced. The situation had already slipped beyond what they had planned for.
"The current state of affairs has completely exceeded our original expectations," Figarland said, his tone heavy. "We should move as soon as possible."
He paused, then continued, voice darkening.
"Even Lord Roy and Lord Imu have boarded the Dragon Hunter Pirates' ship."
"If this continues…"
Figarland did not finish the sentence.
What had happened earlier had left bitter resentment in their hearts. Mars had died because of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, and yet Roy had chosen to approach Ryuunosuke for cooperation.
To Figarland, it was simply unacceptable.
More than that, they were all getting old. Many things were no longer fully within their grasp. They might have been part of this entire scheme, but right now, Figarland was already thinking about retreat.
Instead of chasing these insane plans, why not find someplace quiet and spend what time remained in peace?
The emergence of the Dragon Hunter Pirates had made him realize something cruel.
Power and strength were not eternal trump cards.
In front of the true unknown, they were no different from sand.
"You are thinking too simply," Ehtanbaron said with a weary expression.
"Once you and I accepted that man's cooperation, we lost the right to withdraw."
He let out a sigh.
"Do you really think those people will allow us to quit?"
In the current situation, it was no longer something they could decide by themselves.
Belubelu…
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in the middle of the room rang.
Saturn answered, and an unmistakable voice came through the receiver.
"Saturn. Are you ready?"
"I have already had the items delivered."
"You should make your move soon as well."
Saturn's eyes narrowed.
"Vegapunk. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"The World Government has already been abandoned. With our current fighting strength, we are not enough…"
"Just do what I say," Vegapunk cut him off coldly.
"The rest is none of your concern."
Saturn's face twitched.
"You…"
"We understand," Peter said calmly, interrupting before Saturn could explode.
He answered decisively, with no hesitation.
"Wait in Mary Geoise. They will arrive soon," Vegapunk said, sounding as if he was speaking to himself.
Then the call ended.
Saturn slammed the Den Den Mushi down, anger flaring.
"Peter, what are you thinking?"
"That man wants us to go die!"
"Rather than dying like that, I would have preferred to fall back when we fought the Dragon Hunter Pirates!"
"At least then, I could tell myself I did not betray my own pride!"
But now Vegapunk wanted to use them as experimental pieces.
It was disgusting.
"We will talk after they arrive," Peter replied, voice steady.
"Do we really have to go ourselves?"
"With so many people inside the World Government, the four of us can easily fool everyone."
Saturn froze, then slowly understood.
"You mean special combatants?"
Peter nodded slightly.
If they used substitutes, it could indeed create the desired effect.
But those special combatants had been modified by Vegapunk back then.
Vegapunk would recognize them instantly if he was not blind.
"They cannot really be considered 'them' anymore," Peter said, his tone oddly calm.
Figarland and the others also began to grasp what he was implying.
"You mean we let them use those things here," Figarland muttered, "then we send them over instead?"
Saturn still frowned.
"But if that is the case…"
He hesitated.
The effects of those things were completely unknown.
What if, after using them, they still retained their former intelligence and appearance?
Then there would be no difference between sending pawns and sending themselves.
Peter's eyes did not waver.
"Then we will not have any problems using them."
Saturn clenched his teeth, then finally nodded.
"Fine. We do it your way."
"When his people arrive, we will…"
"My lords. It has been a long time."
A familiar voice cut into their discussion.
The four elders turned, and their eyes widened.
A swordsman dressed in black stood in the shadows, his presence calm but sharp.
"Kazuto?"
The name spilled out almost automatically, filled with disbelief.
Kirito was one of the Dragon Hunter Pirates.
Why would he appear here carrying Vegapunk's delivery?
Why would a Dragon Hunter pirate represent Vegapunk?
None of it made sense.
"Do not look so shocked," Kirito said casually, smiling as if this were a friendly reunion. "We are old acquaintances. Try to act normal."
He lifted something in his hand.
"By the way, Vegapunk wanted you to receive this. I did not touch it."
Then his smile sharpened.
"But I did kill the person delivering it."
He stepped aside, and a body was tossed forward from behind him.
"Kikara?"
The four elders stiffened again.
They recognized him instantly.
Kikara was Carmel's brother.
He was also the only one who had retained both his original appearance and his original mind after being transformed.
So Vegapunk and Carmel had sent Kikara to deliver the item.
It was obvious what the true purpose was.
They wanted Kikara to monitor the four of them, to ensure they could not simply slip away.
But neither Vegapunk nor Carmel had likely anticipated that Kirito would intercept him.
"You know each other?" Kirito asked, amused. "Good. That makes things easier."
He folded his arms.
"What will you do next?"
"Proceed according to the original plan?"
"Or…"
His grin turned wicked.
"Do you want to cooperate with our Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
Ryuunosuke had given Kirito a clear mission.
Bring the Five Elders into a peaceful reconstruction of the seas.
The World Government was infamous, yes.
But if the Five Elders themselves stood before the world and declared peace, their influence would still be enormous.
As for Kirito catching Kikara, that had simply been luck.
Peter stared at him, confusion clear on his face.
"Cooperate with the Dragon Hunter Pirates?"
"Did I hear that correctly?"
"Under the current circumstances, why would your Dragon Hunter Pirates need to cooperate with us?"
He did not believe Ryuunosuke needed them at all.
At least, he did not think the four elders possessed anything of value to offer such a monster of a pirate crew.
"The captain said…" Kirito replied, then calmly relayed Ryuunosuke's entire arrangement.
He did not embellish anything.
He did not hide anything.
He told the truth, straight from beginning to end.
When he finished, the four elders fell silent.
For so long, they had lived and acted for the sake of the World Government.
Now, the sea itself had become the stage.
For a moment, the shift felt unfamiliar, even uncomfortable.
They were not used to it.
Not yet.
"I am willing to cooperate with the Dragon Hunter Pirates," Saturn said suddenly.
He was the first to stand up.
For him, it was the best option on the table.
Cooperating with the Dragon Hunter Pirates meant they would not be completely swallowed whole.
Cooperating with Carmel and Vegapunk, on the other hand, carried a terrifying risk.
A risk that one day, they might no longer even be themselves.
"A very wise choice," Kirito said, nodding.
He drew out the action plan.
"These are the concrete steps. I will remain here and assist you."
He paused, then smiled again.
"Oh, and remember my new name."
"Kikara."
Kirito raised a hand, wiped across his own face, and in the next breath his features shifted.
In an instant, he had transformed into Kikara's exact appearance.
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