"Insulting me, old man?" Ritter's patience snapped. "Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido we're all at the top. Are you really going to pick a fight with us?"
The Five Elders exchanged tense glances.
(Ritter: Idiots. Just so you know, Whitebeard and I share one head, Charlotte Linlin and Kaido share another, and I've got my own. Once again, praise the river god's greatness.)
Ritter's words barely left his mouth before the tension around the Five Elders softened for the briefest moment.
Scientific Defense God Satan Saint's posture relaxed slightly. "Ritter, you jest, surely. Don't you want to be the sole emperor of the seas? Isn't dividing the ocean into four parts too much?"
"Is that so?" Ritter leaned lazily into the sofa, crimson mist coiling around his fingertips.
Satan Saint continued carefully, "Shanks was raised by you, so he's naturally close to you. And Shanks' Celestial Dragon lineage cannot be erased. If he restores his status, with Shanks as the link, the seas will enjoy a little more peace. It allows you both to wait for the destined person to appear, doesn't it?"
He glanced at Shanks. "What do you think?"
Shanks, still bent over picking at fruit, lifted his head sharply at the mention of his name.
Ritter, meanwhile, ignored Satan Saint entirely. He knew Shanks was still too young to fully resist the Elder's coaxing.
Eight hundred years of World Government rule didn't make Shanks illiterate, and Ritter certainly wasn't about to believe otherwise.
"Oh? So confident, huh?" Ritter teased.
Legal God Peter Saint snorted. "The World Government has ruled the seas since its founding…"
"Cut the act," Ritter interrupted, sitting upright. His blood-red eyes pierced the Five Elders. "Isn't Shanks supposed to be from the Figland family? Where's his kin? Dead?"
Satan Saint pushed up his glasses. "The Figland clan head is currently occupied with tasks in the Divine Knight Corps and cannot be spared."
"Really?" Ritter raised an eyebrow. "More important than greeting his own blood?"
Environmental God Volruli Saint explained, "The Divine Knight Corps answers directly to Lord Im. From your knowledge of the World Text, you should understand that task priority…"
"Enough." Shanks cut him off, his straw-hatted gaze sharp as a blade. "I'm not interested in claiming blood ties. As for you…" He scanned the Five Elders, eyes cold, "If all you wanted was to discuss this, Ritter and I will leave."
Ritter didn't object.
Shanks' blunt refusal was heavily influenced by Ritter. With Ritter by his side, Shanks knew the seas could never descend into chaos. Together, they could stabilize the entire ocean.
(In the original plot, Shanks approached the Five Elders for three possible reasons: to protect Luffy, to counter Blackbeard, or because Kaido and Charlotte Linlin were teaming up to disrupt the seas. The third reasoning fits best here. Even with the Red-Haired Pirates' strength, Shanks alone couldn't stabilize the crumbling seas; negotiations with the Five Elders were necessary.)
Shanks rose, his straw hat tilted at a daring angle. His gaze swept over the Five Elders, calm but resolute. "If all today's discussion is about this, Ritter and I will be taking our leave."
Ritter stretched lazily, crimson mist spiraling around him, and grinned. "What's the matter? Can't bear to see us go? How about inviting us to a meal first?"
Satan Saint intervened, "Shanks, don't you want to know the truth about the Figland family? Your bloodline, your mission "
"Mission?" Shanks chuckled, adjusting the brim of his hat with a finger. "My mission is on the seas, with my crew, not sitting at a round table in Mary Geoise."
"Well said, little brother!"
Nasuro Saint snorted. "Arrogance! Do you think you and Ritter can take on the entire World Government?"
Ritter's eyes gleamed red, a radiant smile spreading across his face. "Old man, you wanna try?"
The hall froze. Servants held their breath. Peter Saint quickly intervened to smooth things over. "Gentlemen, there's a misunderstanding. We do not intend confrontation; we hope to cooperate."
"Cooperate?" Shanks arched an eyebrow. "Cooperate on what?"
Volruli Saint spoke up, "The balance of the seas must be maintained. Whitebeard, Kaido, Charlotte Linlin their powers are growing daily. If nothing is done, the seas will fall into endless war."
Ritter snorted. "Why should we care? You think we're good people? If everyone dies, no one's paying heaven gold, and who cares? Not me, that's for sure."
Satan Saint's voice grew firm. "Shanks, you were a member of Roger's crew. You should understand what the seas need. Instead of letting madmen disrupt the world, you can lead a new order."
Shanks paused, eyes sweeping over the Five Elders before resting on Ritter. Ritter shrugged nonchalantly, the picture of unconcern.
"Lead an order?" Shanks chuckled softly. "Not interested."
Agricultural God Mas Saint slammed his hand on the table. "Impudent! You "
"Enough." Shanks cut him off, his tone icy. "I came today only to give you face. But if all you want is to exploit my identity, this conversation ends here."
Ritter rose, crimson mist roiling around him. He patted Shanks on the shoulder. "Come on, little brother. My ears are starting to blister from all this old man babble."
The Five Elders exchanged uneasy looks. Satan Saint took a deep breath. "Shanks, we hadn't wanted to resort to last measures, but… if we release all the captured remnants of the Roger Pirates we have, you should know not all members are as powerful as Rayleigh or Jabura."
Shanks hesitated. Ritter's blood mist flared suddenly, and the Black Tide Greatsword tore through the air toward Satan Saint's head.
"What the hell, trying to play dirty with me?!"
Satan Saint's glasses shattered instantly. He hastily raised his scepter in defense, but the sheer force pushed him to one knee, the floor cracking beneath him.
"You're insane, Ritter! Aren't you afraid of killing them?"
Ritter's sword collided with Satan Saint's scepter, sparks flying. The scepter's strange runes glowed dark purple, barely holding back the strike.
"You can actually hurt me?" Satan Saint's voice held disbelief. His suit had been sliced open by the sword energy, leaving a shallow cut across his skin.
"What Rocks could do, I can do too." Ritter grinned. The blood mist recoiled, condensing into countless hair-thin needles, striking Satan Saint from all directions.
Satan slammed his scepter into the ground, forming a black barrier. The blood needles struck, clanging together like metal on metal in a violent symphony.