Chapter 401: The Siege on Whitebeard Pirates? The World Government's Move!

"Edward Newgate... has surpassed the power of Joy Boy..." A mysterious figure sits on the Empty Throne, symbolizing the world's highest authority. In this dim and oppressive environment, it's hard to make out the person's face.

Below the Empty Throne, five towering figures kneel. These are the Five Elders, who have come together to see Im.

"Imu-sama, we believe... the Whitebeard Pirates must be eliminated," says Saint Sante, bowing his head. "The threat they pose to us is no less than Joy Boy once did, perhaps even more terrifying."

"Joy Boy is dead, truly dead. But Whitebeard... as everyone knows, he was killed during the Summit War. Who would have thought he'd 'come back to life'? Whatever power he's using, it's enough to put us on alert."

Nusjuro also speaks up, "Perhaps, if we gather all the forces of the World Government and launch a large-scale siege on the Whitebeard Pirates, we can completely eradicate them."

Saint Bitt agrees, "The Marines, CP, and the Seven Warlords of the Sea, if these groups unite, we can fight the Whitebeard Pirates! And if we add the Knights of God, we're certain to annihilate the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Saint Wochuli also speaks, "The Whitebeard Pirates are doomed! As long as Imu-sama, issue the supreme command, we will follow your orders."

Saint Mars says, "With just a nod from Imu-sama, the Whitebeard Pirates, a brief spark in history, will be extinguished forever!"

Listening to every word of the Five Elders, Im, seated on the Empty Throne, remains silent, seemingly deep in thought.

Time ticks away, and after what seems like an eternity, Im finally speaks, "Mother Flame, how is it?"

"Imu-sama, you... could it be that you want to use 'that'?" Saint Sante is startled and quickly responds, "If we plan to use 'that,' the Whitebeard Pirates are indeed not a concern. But Vegapunk's research is nearing completion, yet it's not ready for actual use. It might take another year."

Im's fingertips gently tap on the Empty Throne, the sound is very faint, yet it strikes a chord in the hearts of the Five Elders, causing cold sweat to break out on their foreheads.

Clearly, even they feel a bit nervous in the presence of the supreme Imu-sama.

"Do as you say, but remember to handle it cleanly. I don't want a light that's been extinguished to light up again."

"Your servants obey!!!"

The Five Elders depart one after another.

They prepare to start contacting the various departments of the World Government, ready to make their move against the Whitebeard Pirates.

They do not wish for someone who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Joy Boy to appear on the seas, let alone someone who surpasses him.

Any hint of such a person emerging will be completely eradicated by the World Government with the most powerful force! All threats to the World Government must be nipped in the bud.

But is the Whitebeard Pirates, already a colossal force, really just an infant in the cradle?

The faces of each of the Five Elders are grave.

Because without the ability to use Mother Flame, relying solely on the power of the World Government's departments...

They cannot guarantee the complete eradication of the Whitebeard Pirates.

However, they must certainly try.

...

However, when the Five Elders begin to issue orders to the institutions below, the first organization they contact gives them an unexpected rejection.

"Kuzan... what are you talking about? What do you mean?" Saint Peter, holding the transponder snail, his old face darkened, he asked through gritted teeth: "What do you mean the Marines currently can't organize an effective force to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates?"

"You're all just a bunch of dogs we've raised. When we need you to do something, whether you can do it or not, you must try to do it!"

On the other end of the transponder snail, the voice of the current Marine Fleet Admiral Kuzan came through: "Saint Peter, please show the proper respect to the Marines. The Marines exist for justice, not to follow orders blindly."

"Besides, it hasn't been more than half a year since the Summit War ended. The Marine headquarters hasn't been fully rebuilt yet. How can the Marines dispatch forces to the New World?"

Kuzan paused, then continued: "We're planning a world-wide recruitment soon to replenish the Marines' lost strength. Let's talk after that!"

Click—

Kuzan hung up the transponder snail.

Saint Peter was stunned; it was the first time he had seen a Marine Fleet Admiral dare to hang up on the Five Elders.

It was also the first time he had seen a Marine Fleet Admiral dare to defy the orders of the Five Elders with such an attitude! When Sengoku was the Fleet Admiral, although there were often verbal disagreements with them due to ideological reasons, he would still carry out the orders from the World Government.

But now, the newly appointed Fleet Admiral Kuzan seemed to be a real "thorn in the side"! Especially during the conversation, his tone clearly showed some dissatisfaction with the World Government.

"Damn it! I said this guy should never be Fleet Admiral! That useless Sakazuki, he actually lost to this kind of person!"

Saint Peter crushed the transponder snail with one hand, veins popping on his forehead: "I will strip him of his Fleet Admiral position and have him roll back to being a Marine Admiral!"

Nusjuro frowned deeply: "Changing Marine Admirals twice in such a short time will make the whole Marine organization restless, and it might make this dog even more disobedient.

"What should we do?" Saint Bitter said with a dark face: "Imu-sama has given an order. If we can't even command the Marines, what would Imu-sama think of us?"

Saint Mars suddenly made a suggestion: "We don't need to give orders to the Marine Fleet Admiral directly. We can order Admiral Sakazuki directly to organize the Marine personnel."

This statement woke the others up from their reverie.

Indeed, they could directly order Akainu to organize personnel, bypassing the Fleet Admiral's authority, as this was the highest directive from the Five Elders.

Then, Kuzan, the Marine Fleet Admiral, wouldn't be able to say anything.

So, they found a new transponder snail.

And started contacting Akainu.

...

"Blub blub blub—"

"Blub blub blub—"

The sound of the transponder snail rang in the office of the Marine Fleet Admiral at Marine headquarters. Kuzan looked at Sakazuki and said, "I told you, they would definitely contact you. Aren't you going to answer it?"

"Hmph!" Sakazuki snorted coldly, ignoring the ringing Den Den Mushi in his pocket, making no move to answer it.

He locked eyes with Kuzan, saying, "You've surprised me, going against the orders of those old guys."

Kuzan's expression was grave as he replied, "I judge everything from a standpoint of justice. The Marines need time to recuperate. We can't afford another great war, or the entire force will be weakened."

"If we fall or our strength is greatly reduced, who else will keep the other pirates at bay? The Whitebeard Pirates are indeed a thorn in the side of the Marines, but we need to keep an eye on many more pirates out there."

Kuzan paused, then continued, "Or... you could simply think I really can't stand those five, and I absolutely won't follow their orders."

A firm determination, long absent, flashed in Kuzan's eyes behind his round-framed sunglasses.

Once, after many trials, he had become disillusioned with justice.

The justice that burned bright had turned into a lazy justice.

Thinking this, Kuzan glanced at Sakazuki, whose spirit had been dampened for a long time by the Ohara incident.

Now that he is sitting in the position of Marine Fleet Admiral meant he had the chance to change the Marines, justice, and everything!

"It's time to make the changes that Sengoku was unwilling or unable to make," Kuzan declared calmly, his words final.

The Marines would not participate the so-called operation to encircle the Whitebeard Pirates, 

Neither Sakazuki nor Borsalino could deceive him, acting beyond their authority to command the lower ranks of the Marines in cooperation with the Five Elders.

That's why Kuzan had called these two to his side.

He intended to watch them closely.

"How terrifying," Borsalino shook his head helplessly, "Kuzan, if the higher-ups hold you accountable, you, as the Fleet Admiral, will have to bear the weight of against the god!"

Sakazuki, with his legs crossed, remained silent. He didn't agree with Kuzan's sense of justice, but he found Kuzan's rebellious attitude towards the Five Elders interesting.

Even though Sakazuki had been supported by the Five Elders to become Marine Fleet Admiral.

That didn't mean he had to like those old men.

Otherwise...

In the original trajectory, he wouldn't have been constantly arguing with the Five Elders.

...

"Damn! Damn! Damn!" Saint Charlos crushed another Den Den Mushi, frustrated for having waited over a minute, as that bastard Sakazuki hadn't answered his call.

"That bastard Sakazuki, we went to such lengths to support his appointment as Marine Fleet Admiral. And what does he do? He doesn't even answer my call?"

"What's he trying to do? Bite the hand that feeds him? Despite not becoming Marine Fleet Admiral being his own fault, clearly because he couldn't beat Kuzan!"

"Damn! Damn!!!"

Saint Charlos was extremely irritated, and he also realized the severity of the situation. The world was developing in a direction he couldn't control, and the Marines were becoming disobedient.

In his eyes, the Marines were nothing more than a dog kept by the World Government, but what a strong dog it was! When such a dog became disobedient, even Saint Charlos, one of the Five Elders, felt uneasy.

The Marines...

If they were to break free from the control of the World Government, this immensely powerful force would cause the World Government a great deal of trouble.

"Sakazuki won't answer the call? Huh..." Saint Sante sighed, his expression grim: "The Marines... after we deal with the Whitebeard Pirates, let's give the Marines a thorough cleanup!"

"A cleanup?" Nusjuro asked, puzzled. "What do you mean? Aren't we using the power of the Marines this time to besiege the Whitebeard Pirates?"

"Do you really think we can still command the Marines with their current attitude?!" Saint Sante retorted.

"Damn it..." Nusjuro clenched his teeth.

Saint Wochuli said, "Without the power of the Marines, our chances of successfully besieging the Whitebeard Pirates will be greatly reduced. Relying only on the CP organization and the even more disobedient Seven Warlords of the Sea, even if we add the Knights of God, at best we'll only be on par with the Whitebeard Pirates."

"Maybe we can suppress the Whitebeard Pirates a bit, but if we only suppress them a little, the ensuing battle will cause heavy losses for both sides. In such a case... it's very likely that the World Government will find it even harder to control the turbulent seas."

Saint Saturn took a deep breath: "We still have one more force we can use."

"What force?" Saint Mars asked, confused.

Saint Saturn glanced at him and slowly uttered two words: "Us!"

The other four fell silent.

Indeed...

The Five Elders are indeed a force not to be underestimated.

But to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates, it would mean these five men, standing at the pinnacle of world power, would have to act together.

Isn't that giving too much credit to Whitebeard? Isn't that lowering themselves too much? But...

The biggest problem now is that they really have no one else they can use.

They can't command the sharpest dog in their hand right now.

"Huh—" After Nusjuro exhaled with his sword, he said in a deep voice: "Then let's take action ourselves! After we cleanly resolve the Whitebeard Pirates, we'll immediately clean up the Marines. Kuzan... such a disobedient dog, can't be kept!"

The others did not voice any objections.

It was taken as an agreement to the plan.

...

On the other side, the Whitebeard Pirates were holding a grand banquet.

A group of pirates from the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, they dare not run away, staying here for fear of being wiped out by the Whitebeard Pirates, in a very awkward situation.

Fortunately, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates didn't do anything to these "defeated soldiers."

"Ah... Mom was captured by the Whitebeard Pirates again."

A minister from many nations, his head bandaged and his foot in a cast, frowned: "What should we do... What method can we use to exchange Mom back from Whitebeard?"

The Beasts Pirates were even more at a loss.

"Is Boss Kaido dead, or what? King-sama, I think I saw him being fished out of the sea by the Whitebeard Pirates and then tied up."

An executive of the Beasts Pirates scratched his head.

"Should we just surrender to the Whitebeard Pirates?"

He felt that following the Whitebeard Pirates might offer a brighter future....

...

(End of Chapter)