Akainu's eye twitched as Creed ignored him, choosing instead to greet a few Vice Admirals he knew.
"So, this brat doesn't even put me, an Admiral, in his eyes, huh? Hmph! I'll endure a little longer… let's see how long you can stay smug!"
He forced down his fury, but in truth, his hatred for Creed had seeped into his very bones. Once today's business was done, he would find an opportunity to speak with the Gorosei.
A father trying to overthrow the World Government, a grandson opposing it at every turn… what a mess. Garp, that old fool, must be removed from the Marines, even if he is a so-called Hero.
"Rear Admiral Creed, your seat is here."
The tall CP0 agent who had escorted him pointed to a wide, prominent seat at the very front.
"This seat… isn't it for Admirals? Why would I deserve this?" Creed was surprised.
The position stood out like a throne—fit for the Fleet Admiral himself. Was the World Government really showing him such importance? This meeting had to be aimed at Big Mom.
"Please don't be offended, Rear Admiral. All seats were personally arranged by the Gorosei. We ask that you comply."
With that explanation, Creed no longer refused and took the seat.
Just as he sat down, the front doors opened.
A tall, middle-aged man dressed like a judge entered, followed by a CP0 powerhouse whose aura made the room heavy.
Creed's senses swept over them. The judge was strong, SS-level. But the CP0 agent was SSS+-level:
[Name]: Abraham
[Attributes]: Strength: SSS, Agility: SSS, Endurance: SSS+, Spirit (Conqueror's Haki boost): SSS
[Abilities]: SSS+ Armament Haki, SSS+ Conqueror's Haki, SSS Swordsmanship, SSS+ Observation Haki, SSS+ Martial Arts, SSS+ Rokushiki
[Overall Strength]: SSS+
"Perfect—his Martial Arts and Rokushiki are worth extracting. Extract!"
"Ding! Extraction successful. Obtained SSS+ Martial Arts, SSS+ Rokushiki. Agility attribute enhanced."
"Ding! Agility attribute upgraded to SSS+."
Creed's heart surged with joy. His base attributes had long stagnated at SSS. Even with countless SSS+ abilities, his stats hadn't advanced—yet here, he finally broke through.
Suppressing his excitement, he glanced at the judge, Angus, who looked at him with thinly veiled disgust. To Angus, Creed was arrogant and insolent.
Unaware of that disdain, Creed tried probing Akainu's stats next:
[Name]: Sakazuki
[Attributes]: Strength: SSS+, Agility: SSS, Endurance: SSS, Spirit: SSS+
[Abilities]: SSS+ Armament Haki, SSS+ Martial Arts, SSS+ Observation Haki, SSS Swordsmanship, SSS Rokushiki
[Devil Fruit]: SSS+ Magma Fruit (Initial Awakening)
[Overall Strength]: SSS+
"So his Devil Fruit has awakened—that explains the surge. Still, he's not necessarily stronger than Katakuri…"
Creed smirked and quietly extracted Akainu's SSS+ Martial Arts.
At that moment, Angus and Abraham ascended the platform. The chamber fell silent. Angus raised his hand, ready to speak—
Clack! Clack!
Suddenly, mechanisms activated beneath Creed's seat. Restraints snapped shut around him, infused with the heavy scent of the sea.
Kairoseki…
Locked in place, Creed's eyes widened. The other officers rose instantly, blades drawn, staring in shock.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Creed demanded, glaring at Angus.
Ignoring him, Angus pressed a hand to a sacred tome. "The Trial Assembly of Creed begins now! I, Angus, swear loyalty to the Constitution of the World Government, to uphold its authority, and to fulfill my duty under the law…"
—
Deep within Mary Geoise stood a colossal structure, thousands of meters across, vast enough to hold hundreds of thousands. Towering pillars rose dozens of meters high.
At the center lay a three-tiered dais. The first tier was littered with swords—each once belonging to legendary figures of the Grand Line. The second tier bore stairs to the third, its walls marked with massive World Government crests.
Atop the third stood the legendary Empty Throne, its rounded guard engraved with the Government's symbol. Before it, more swords thrust into the ground—taken from rulers of the New World.
The throne had stood vacant for eight centuries, symbolizing that all kings were "equals."
But today, before it stood a robed figure, face obscured—the true master of the World Government, the ruler of the Celestial Dragons: Imu.
Before him, kneeling on the first tier, were five men—the Gorosei.
"Lord Imu, why have you summoned us so urgently?" the First Elder asked.
"Yes, Lord Imu. Creed's trial has begun without us—we are uneasy," the Second Elder added.
Creed's victory over Katakuri had forced them to reassess him—he was only a step below Admiral-level now.
"I will soon return to slumber. Before that, there are matters of great importance," Imu said slowly. "Monkey D. Dragon has toppled two more nations. At the next Reverie, within six months, you must declare him and his Revolutionary Army the greatest threat—and crush them quickly."
"And I have also received word… Neptune's daughter, Shirahoshi, may be the new Poseidon."
Exhaustion tinged his voice as he finished. "What do you think?"
The First Elder bowed low. "None of this matters compared to ensuring your eternal life, my lord."
The others chorused their agreement.
Imu's voice grew cold. "Yes. I seek eternity—to accomplish all I wish without haste. As for the D-Clan… their time is over. This so-called 'God-slaying Lineage' has disappointed me. It is time to erase them."
"Yes, Lord Imu!" the Gorosei replied in unison.
(End of Chapter)
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