Damage Control

[ Third Person POV ] 

Pangea Castle, Mariejois

It had been a two weeks since Whitebeard's attack on Mariejois.

The top priority for the World Government was to ensure the safety for all the World Nobles. The attack had killed a major number of slaves, and only a couple of Minor World Nobles who were distant relatives of the major families had died. The damages on the other hand, were innumerable, half of Mariejois was currently in rubbles. Pangea Castle itself was partially destroyed as well, and this was no thanks to that bastard Boris, or so the Five Elders claimed. 

Speaking of which, the Five Elders were currently within the throne room. Their Lord had summoned them, and they were about to get the reason as to why they were summoned.

"We have heeded your call, My Lord," Saint Warcury announced.

Sitting on the throne was the Lord of the World. He had remained passive throughout the entire ordeal, but now was his time for him to take action. He looked down on the Five Elders who kneeled in front of him. 

"The World cannot know of my existence," the Lord stated, "Supress the news outlets first, then repair Mariejois."

The Elders immediately complied with the Order, and promptly bowed their heads before leaving. Their Lord had given them simple orders, but the Five Elders wanted to add a little bit more to it than a simple cover up.

When they got back into their normal meeting room, they immediately sat down and promptly began to have a conversation on how they should move forward with the Whitebeard Pirates.

"We have already declared a cease fire with them, so we can't directly antagonize them," Saint Nusjuro reminded the Five Elders.

"Then let's increase the bounty for them, specifically that bastard Boris and Whitebeard, also let's put another one on that woman who left the World Government, Stussy," Saint Warcury declared.

The other four Elders agreed with the proposal, but they didn't want to stop there; at least that was what Saint Marcus felt. 

"We should soon start devising a plan to take down Whitebeard and Boris, this should be something we should never let them get away with."

"I agree, this will further incentivise the allied nations to remain within the World Government," Saint Ju Peter agreed. 

"However, let's think about this after we handle Roger. There are reports that he got to another Road Poneglyph recently. Though he doesn't know its contents, he is looking for someone who can," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn added. 

It was clear that they had much to do before they could devise a plan to elimenate the two powerful pirate groups. This discussion was to clearly align all their ideas together, so that they wouldn't be debating this matter any further in the future. For now, at least, they needed to perform damage control to prevent any of these news from leaking out to the World. 

If the allied nations were to find out about this, they would begin to doubt the World Government's power. Leading to a slow, yet sure dissolution of the alliance, leaving the World Government without a stable source of annual passive income. 

It would also raise the esteem of the Whitebeard Pirates, giving out the notion that they were a group that couldn't be touched by other pirate groups. This was something that they definitely didn't want to happen. The Lord would be enraged should this happen, so they immediately set their sights on the World Economic News Agency.

"Have the CP organization quelled the blooming curiousity of that News Agency?" Saint Nusjuro asked casually.

"Indeed, they eliminated the former president before planting the Albatross Morgans. He'll be a good asset for us to have; so long as he follows our decisions," Saint Saturn replied confidently.

"What of the slaves? These reports coming in from the World Nobles is beginning to annoy me," Saint Warcury asked with his right hand holding a bunch of papers, while his other hand gently massaged his sinuses.

"I suggest we hold an auction for slaves, we can send the CP organization along with some other World Government agents to purchase some slaves from the Underworld," Saint Ju Peter suggested.

"I agree, we can also put out a bounty for the freed slaves," Saint Marcus added. 

The other remaining Elders agreed, and passed the motion easily. However, a remaining concern lingered for Saint Warcury.

"What of the World Nobles who try to leave Mary Geose?" 

This comment immediately made the other Elders silent. Boris had an already negative reputation for killing the World Nobles on the outside. The Whitebeard Pirates invasion would easily be the straw that broke the camel's back. Though the auction would solve the slave deficit, it wouldn't be a direct appeasement to how they felt about the attack. 

The World Government took anything concerning the Celestial Dragon's seriously. In fact, it was so serious that there wasn't a nation or island in the World who didn't know of the prestige of the World Nobles. It was going to be complicated trying to figure out a way for this to blow over, and they were about to. Until they heard a knock on their door, the person opening the door was none other than the leader of the God Knights, Saint Garling.

He didn't even wait for the Five Elders to talk, he immediately stated. 

"The World Nobles are already demanding the capture of the Whitebeard Pirates. This is their petition," Figarland handed over the vital documentation to the Five Elders. 

The Five Elders immediately took the paper and read through its contents, and the World Nobles who cosigned the petition. There were alot, and the critical component to this was that a majority of the 20 founding families also signed the document. Petitions like these were vital because at the end of the day, these families also had influence over Marie jois. 

Even the Lord himself declared that the 20 founding families had an influence in which even he couldn't simply ignore. It was their form of partial democracy, to appease the original heads of the 20 founding families. So this was a petition that they had to comply with whether they wanted to or not. 

However, the catch was that they had promised the Whitebeard Pirates a non-antagonization before hand. They more than believed Boris' promise to revisit Mariejois for another round with the six of them. It wouldn't be helping if they break the comprimise right at that point of time. Hence, leading to the current dilemma that they were currently in.

Saint Figarland Garling remained silent as he waited for the Five Elders to create a proper decision. He also wanted revenge on Whitebeard for his prior defeat, and he wasn't about to let the Five Elders pacify this situation. This was a decision that warranted the Whitebeard pirates to suffer, ideally, it would be beneficial if they were all executed in for the World to see.

"We already have a plan to eliminate the Whitebeard Pirates, but this plan will take time for it to be executed. Tell them to wait for a while," Saint Warcury ordered. 

"Unfortunately, that won't work. The World Nobles who signed the petition are all currently outside waiting for an official response from you, or the Lord above," Saint Figarland argued.

"Fine, we will all go out to make the decree ourselves. You are free to follow us if you wish," Saint Warcury replied.

The Five Elders all set out to address the people of the Holy Land, Saint Garling scoffed in displeasure before leaving. He could only hope that the World Nobles wouldn't be satisfied with their response.