Chapter - 53

The council walked mostly in silence heading to the fortress's court yard ready to head off to the Fishman Island.

Luffy and his two emperors were signaling to open up the castle's gates. The council met with queen Ivankov who stood with none other the former warlord Bartholomew Kuma and another familiar face, Bartolomeo captain of the Barto Club. The three approached the high councilor and his constituents.

Bartolomeo the first one to greet the high councilor as if he'd hadn't changed.

"L-Lu- I mean high councilor Luffy, it's an honor!" The super rookie shouted with stars in his eyes. He still thought the world of him even though he's no longer that same straw hat captain.

It had only been a week and the former straw hat captain felt he wasn't the same man he once was. The good man Bartolomeo admired was long dead, only a shell of man with the need for revenge remained. Would he still want to follow a ruthless killer like him?

The green haired super rookie began to cry dramatically bursting into tears.

"Forgive me for not being there Luffy senpai! I'm sorry for what you lost!" Bartolomeo cried on his knees. "I won't fail you again, please— allow me to pledge myself to you once more!" The man was down on his hands and knees begging him to join his regime.

Luffy could use all the help he could get on his war path. "Oi wipe those tears Bartolomeo!" The high councilor said snapping the man out of his sorrow.

"Don't ever question my decisions." Luffy added with a menacing tone.

"Of course not! I would never high councilor!" Bartolomeo shouted holding his hands together in prayer.

"Then stand up, second division command—" Luffy couldn't even finish his sentence.

The super rookie was embracing the high councilor tightly lifting him slightly off to ground to the surprise of the others. Bartolomeo seemed like he could give two shits what Luffy did. He just wanted to follow his hero around. But Luffy always insisted even to himself even before this all started—he was no hero.

"Alright enough." The high councilor spoke forcing the newly acquired second division commander to release him.

"S-sorry Luffy Senpai." The green haired man said grinning while rubbing the back of head. Luffy couldn't help but see his old self in Bartolomeo. Naive to the What the world truly is. But he was a changed man now, and he was determined to change the world along with it.

"Welcome to the club!" Raleigh shouted with the rest of the council waving.

The super rookie's eyes lit up again. "L-legends, legends everywhere." He said prancing around introducing himself to everyone. Luffy shook his head with a slight smile—he was glad some things never changed.

His attention turned to Bartholomew Kuma the former warlord who separated he and his friends all those years ago on Saboady. The only question was, what the hell did he want? Last time he checked Kuma served the World Government and allied himself with the Navy.

The cyborg assassin walked past Ivankov to stand directly in front of the high councilor. Kuma dropped a book at the feet of Luffy, the title read simply "Bible."

"What is this?" Luffy asked not sure what the former warlord meant by the gesture.

The quiet cyborg finally spoke. "That book, is how I navigated through the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. Without that book I was persecuted for my beliefs. So I carried it around as protection. Seeing as the old government is no more, I would like you to burn my false beliefs and allow me to follow you." Kuma said softly taking a knee bowing his head.

Luffy regarded the book at his feet a moment before picking it up. The high councilor burned the book into ashes in front of everyone.

"The old government is dead, join my regime and help me rebuild the world, the right way." Luffy said holding his hand out for the cyborg to take.

Kuma let out a silent gasp of surprise before taking Luffy's hand pulling him to his feet.

"Now come on we're already behind schedule. Bartolomeo!" Luffy commanded.

"Right boss!" He answered summoning a barrier encasing the entirety of the council except Luffy.

The High Councilor became encased in cerulean and black flames emerging in his dragon form. Everyone in the vicinity took a step back in fear except the group encased in the barrier. Wasting no time Luffy wrapped his rubbery arms around the large barrier, taking flight once more tearing through the heavens with a thunderous clap.

Luffy and company arrived floating directly above Fishman Island. The council stood on the barrier floating on the water waiting for King Neptune to arrive.

Yawning loudly some members began to nap enjoying the open ocean and sea breeze.

Luffy could feel something about this wasn't right. He didn't want to have to use force if it came down to it. But he couldn't help but feel in his gut he would have no choice.

In the distance a lone merman appeared popping his head out, breaking the ocean surface. It was defiantly the king, he looked unsure of the situation as well.

The barrier platform glided slowly over the ocean surface closing in on the merman. Neptune rose his torso out of the water to greet the incoming council.

"Ah! The high councilor decided to grace us with his presence, the Ryugu Kingdom is honored." Neptune said as his royal guards surrounded him.

"I'll make this quick, surrender your forces to my cause and I'll provide you protection." Luffy stated crossing his arms.

King Neptune and his guards started to laugh among themselves. They knew he wouldn't go as so far to destroy Fishman Island, the new regime would be threatened in its infancy stage if that happened. Neptune knew even the High Councilor wasn't that crazy—still it worried Neptune about what he and his council were capable of.

"Stop wasting my time, you've seen what I can do. So I'll say it one last time— join the regime or become my enemy." The viciousness dripping from Luffy's tone.

King Neptune rose further from the sea getting closer to the group.

"You damn land dwellers come here and threaten me and my people?! You may be high councilor boy, but your voice does not reach the ocean where I rule." Neptune said crossing his arms—he knew inevitably they were headed for battle.

"Is that your final answer?" Luffy asked his hat covering his eyes.

Neptune nodded. "Yes, we won't bow to you, consider this a show of strength." The King said snapping his fingers. Moments later gigantic tentacles belonging to none other than the legendary kraken rose from depths.