Chapter 103: Lioness

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Chapter 103: Lioness

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Sitting in his office, Akainu contemplated the things that had been happening recently. Being the Fleet Admiral wasn't easy, and every little thing required his attention.

Still, though, the most important thing was to have other highly positioned people who were willing to support him within the Marines. That would make everything easier. There was Kizaru, and even though they had known each other for quite a long time, Akainu had no idea what the light-man was even thinking most of the time. He always seemed too carefree.

There was another Admiral that had surprisingly supported him during the last meeting. Max could have turned the meeting around when they were discussing what to do about the New World. 

So the Five Elders calling the new Admiral over for a meeting was obviously so they could metaphorically put a leash on him. Max was just simply too wild for the World Government, he didn't care about them one bit. 

'Like I will let those old bastards shame one of my men!' Thought the Fleet Admiral angrily. What Admiral Higuma (Max) had done that was unrelated to the Marines didn't matter. "Come in."

Max came in with a casual smile on his face and looked around. "You should change this place a little. Show the people that you aren't like Sengoku."

Even Akainu was a little surprised at how calm he appeared. Saying that the man in front of him didn't already know where things were going was an insult to his intelligence. Max wasn't stupid, even the World Government who didn't like him had to reluctantly admit that.

As the Fleet Admiral, he knew things that others wouldn't. Aokiji's death, Max's takeover, and what the World Government knew about him. He had access to everything and it was surprising just how deep the roots Max had in the nations he controlled. 

"The Five Elders have called you as an initiation meeting. They just want to put you down and show that you are still under their control no matter how you act." He was honest with Max and didn't hide what was going to happen.

But contrary to his expectations, Max didn't seem bothered by it and shrugged. "It was bound to happen eventually. Still, though, I will remember your honesty. So thanks for that."

Max didn't show anything else but a carefree smile on his face and even Sakazuki felt like he couldn't see through the man in front of him at all. It made him a little uncomfortable, but he wasn't going to let his subordinates be used and die like dogs for the World Nobles. Just because they had the authority, who gave them power? Titles don't just magically give power.

"Well, I will set for Mariejois immediately then." Max turned around and walked out, the hypnotic smile never leaving his face.

**

Gion was there waiting for him and she noticed that something felt strange about Max, and the smile on his face seemed almost malicious. But the expression was back to normal a split second later. Gion wondered if she just imagined that?

***

At the top of the Red Line, Mariejois stood like heaven above the earth. In a big room stood five elderly Celestial Dragons, known as the Five Elders. They were thought to be the strongest authority of power within the World Government. 

The elder with the big white mustache took out a photo of Sharlia from his suit's inner pocket and put it on the desk. "She has started becoming a problem."

The youngest looking of the five elders, a man with blonde hair and beard frowned. "That's my niece you are talking about. Be careful what you say about her."

"She might be your niece, but if she keeps going like this. Sooner or later her authority will become the same as ours," an elder with a long white beard intervened. He seemed cautious while looking at the photo. 

Only the five men here knew just how fragile the world's balance was.

"She is skilled and has a good head on her shoulders. If it wasn't for her association with Bear D. Max, then she could have been a future member of the Five Elders." – explained the oldest-looking member, he was a bald old man with glasses.

The elder with the blonde hair's frown became even deeper. "That still doesn't make her bad. There is no solid proof that my niece is being manipulated by that man."

"Our spy told a different story. Max has Sharlia wrapped around his finger-"

Baam!

The blonde elder smashed his hand on the table. "So? Are you suggesting killing my niece?"

Seeing the angry man, the other elders sighed and tried to appease him before the situation got out of control. If the Five Elders fought between each other, then the World Government was bound to eventually fall.

"We never said that."

"Yes. We need to simply find a way to separate her feelings from Max."

"She just needs to have the World Noble's interests come first, not what that man wants. If she can accomplish that, then everything will be okay. But otherwise, we can't have an impostor amongst us."

*sigh* "I will try and convince her." The blondie relented.

"Well, this meeting is over then," said the bald man, being the first to walk out. 

But he stopped at the door and turned around one last time. "But remember, if things go out of order here, the world falls into chaos and we can't have that happen."

**

The youngest member of the Five Elders walked out of the meeting, and as he did so he saw Sharlia kicking her brother to the ground in broad daylight. Other World Nobles were too afraid to approach her and only looked at her in fear.

Baam! Baam! Baam!...

"Tch, you trash! Can't even do one thing right!" She didn't go easy on him either as her brother, Charlos, was spitting out blood.

*hic* *hic* "Sorry, Sharlia, I didn't mean it to end like that." Charlos apologized with tears in his eyes. 

Normally he was used to beating slaves to death, and no one would dare fight him. But now even the bodyguards couldn't do anything as Sharlia beat her brother half to death.

 The blonde elder hurriedly grabbed his niece by the shoulders and pulled her back. "Oy, oy, Sharlia! You are going to kill him."

"Let me go! I will kill that incompetent idiot!" Sharlia seemed mad and the Elder was surprised at how much force she came out of her small body. Though she couldn't overpower him, he still found it surprising.

"What happened here?" the Elder asked one of the guards in suits. But the man glanced fearfully at Sharlia and didn't answer.

'Hm? I am one of the Five Elders and yet he doesn't follow my orders and instead looks to gain permission from Sharlia. She has grown a lot, no wonder the elders are worried. Though we might have the power, we don't use it publicly too much. But she uses it, both to punish and reward the people around her.' - he contemplated.

The Elder found it strange but understood why the men were listening to Sharlia instead of him. Power that came from titles was like a shadow on a wall, something nonexistent. People could choose to not follow it, and if everyone didn't follow, then the system would collapse on its head and anarchy would run amok. 

"I told this stupid bastard to find me a strong slave, someone who is powerful. But instead, he comes with some useless pretty boys and girls." She growled like an animal at her brother, making him sacral on the ground like a cockroach.

"He made a mistake. Can't you forgive him? Charlos is still your brother. " The Elder tried to dissuade the situation and calm down the lioness he was holding back.

"No, I can't! World Nobles like him are the reason we appear weak to the outside. Without our bodyguards, we would be mauled to death." Sharlia calmed down and the Elder let go of her as she walked off. 

"I will look for Jalmack, that bastard will go down there and get what I need. If he doesn't, then I will kill him too. Useless bastards all around." she muttered before walking off.

The Elder saw her go off to torment another World Noble and he sighed. 

This was Sharlia's power, she could get everyone to look at her as an authority figure. Half the Celestial Dragons were already under her thumb and would listen to her as a student listens to a teacher.

Her temperament was like that of an overbearing pirate in the body of a World Noble. 

No wonder the rest of the Elders thought that her time with Max changed her drastically. She had stayed with a lion for so long that she became a wolf. To her, the rest of the World Nobles were like ants now.

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