Chapter 70: The Five elders can go meet me in person!

Five kilometers away from Beehive Island, a ship flying the World Government's flag was anchored on the calm sea.

On the front deck of the vessel, three men stood side by side, each dressed in immaculate white suits with dark ties, their faces concealed by distinctive masks. They were agents of CP0—the elite organization directly under the Celestial Dragons, known as the "strongest shield of the Celestial Dragons." It was the highest level of all CP spy organizations, boasting the most formidable agents in the world.

"This is taking too long... How much longer do we have to wait?" grumbled the shortest of the three, a man standing at approximately 195 cm tall. His mask featured one black eye and one white eye, giving him an eerie appearance. His name was Gurnir.

"The Hive Emperor has the right to flaunt his power now that the Marine Buster Call fleet has just been defeated. Be patient," replied the man on the right, his voice as cold and indifferent as his demeanor.

He was a towering figure, easily over three meters tall, wearing a dark red mask contorted into an expression of fury. His name was Gismonda.

In the center, the third man raised his left hand and glanced at his wristwatch, noting that they had been waiting for a full hour. Representing the Five Elders, their patience was wearing thin, even if their mission was to negotiate with one of the most powerful figures in the New World.

His name was Gregory, the captain of CP0. Standing over two meters tall, he was a commanding presence. Despite the frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior, he maintained his composure. Negotiating with the Hive Emperor required a delicate approach.

Gregory's gaze shifted towards the sea ahead, where [Weiyang] hovered in the air, its wings beating rhythmically as it blocked their path with its arms folded across its chest. Weiyang was a clone of Admiral Sengoku—no, he should be called the clone of Fleet Admiral Sengoku now.

"Mr. Weiyang, since we're waiting anyway, why don't we have a friendly chat?" Gregory suggested in a gentle tone.

Weiyang remained silent, his golden star eyes reflecting no emotion, merely observing them with an unwavering gaze.

"The war over the past few days was a misunderstanding, and the World Government believes it is unwise to continue hostilities against your Beehive Island..." Gregory trailed off, realizing that the clone had no intention of engaging in any form of communication.

CP0 agents were renowned for their unwavering loyalty to the World Government. Gregory, as their captain, could command CP1-9 at will, wielding significant authority. Each member had undergone rigorous testing, their loyalty to the Celestial Dragons beyond question.

Yet, despite this loyalty, Gregory couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort. If the Five Elders ordered one of them to take their own life, he knew there might be a moment of hesitation. But these Earthly Branches—the clones under the Hive Emperor's command—wouldn't hesitate for an instant. Their loyalty was absolute and terrifying.

Just like now. Without any word from the Hive, Weiyang remained silent and immobile. Being "the same kind," Gregory understood the unwavering dedication. An Admiral-level clone with such fierce loyalty was a terrifying prospect.

Suddenly, he noticed movement. Turning his head, Gregory saw a warship slowly approaching from the port. It was one of the nine warships [Chen Long] had captured yesterday, now trophies of the Heavenly Father. The first thing they had done was alter the sails, replacing the Marine seagull insignia, a symbol of peace, with the Hive's own flag, designed by the Heavenly Father himself.

Beneath the flag were the letters [H·R], standing for the Hive Research Institute.

Momousagi stood on the deck of the warship, a blank expression on her face. Beside her was the Earthly Branch [Shenhou], who maintained a vigilant stance. The crew operating the ship were all clones dressed in uniform, their appearances eerily identical.

Gregory watched as the ship drew closer. The situation had shifted. The mere presence of these clones, each a perfect replica of the other, and the sight of the former Marine warship now bearing the Hive's insignia, only served to underline the growing power and influence the Hive Emperor wielded.

As the warship finally pulled up alongside the World Government vessel, the CP0 agents stood ready. Whatever the reason for their arrival, they knew that negotiations with the Hive Emperor would be anything but straightforward.

"Why did you ask me to come?" Momousagi demanded, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Shenhou. "And why are you still wearing your mask? The other four have already taken theirs off."

Shenhou's response was cold and direct. "This is an order from Heavenly Father. You are not Heavenly Mother, so you have no authority to order me to remove my mask."

Momousagi raised an eyebrow, a spark of curiosity in her eyes. "If I were Heavenly Mother, could I give you orders then?" she asked, as if discovering a new loophole in Edie's rigid system. The thought of that stinky man actually delegating command over a powerful fighting force like the Earthly Branches to one of his women amused her. No wonder that little girl Hancock had been so arrogant earlier—she could crush a country with a single word. The thought was truly frightening.

She rolled her eyes and said, "Well, I'll soon be Edie's woman and your Heavenly Mother. So why don't you tell me where the rest of the people on the island are, besides you five Earthly Branches?"

Shenhou regarded her as if she were an idiot. Though a clone, he was no robot, nor was he artificially stupid. Despite only being in this world for two years, he possessed his own thoughts and intelligence. And even if she were Edie's woman, there was no way he would divulge information that could compromise Heavenly Father's interests. Not unless directly commanded by Heavenly Father himself.

"No chance," Momousagi sighed, frustration evident in her voice.

She had been on the island for several days, yet had found no valuable information. She even suspected that the other seven Earthly Branches either weren't present or hadn't been created yet. But she was reluctant to leave empty-handed. She hadn't even stepped foot in the secret underground laboratory, and whenever she got close to it, Edie would quickly catch her and send her back. She couldn't figure him out. Like now, she had no idea why he wanted her to meet the CP0 agents.

Silence hung in the air as the warship drew closer to the CP0 vessel. However, the conversation between the three masked agents suddenly made Momousagi's heart sink.

"Is that Vice Admiral Momousagi from Naval Headquarters? What's she doing on that ship?" one of the agents murmured.

"She's not dead, but she's clearly a prisoner. And not even in chains. She must be a traitor, right?" speculated another, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Did she leak the Buster Call information?" the third one asked, their voices intertwining with suspicion.

The three agents exchanged glances, a deadly resolve passing between them. As CP0 operatives, they had the authority to execute traitors on sight.

In that tense moment, just as the agents' killing intent flared, Weiyang and Shenhou both frowned. Two powerful waves of Conqueror's Haki crashed down upon the trio, making their bodies stiffen in shock. Although Momousagi wasn't Heavenly Mother yet, she was still considered Heavenly Father's prisoner. Touching what belonged to him in front of his loyal clones was a suicidal move.

The CP0 agents' faces twisted in discomfort beneath their masks, and they quickly abandoned their murderous thoughts.

Momousagi was stunned. Was this the real reason Edie wanted her here—to provoke this kind of reaction? That sneaky bastard! She had assumed the World Government would offer money to ransom her back, but the moment CP0 saw her, they had immediately wanted to kill her!

"Where is the Hive Emperor?" Captain Gregory demanded loudly, his voice carrying over the waves. "Are you Shenhou?"

"Yes," Shenhou replied calmly. "I am here on behalf of Heavenly Father to explain the purpose of your visit."

"We need to meet your Heavenly Father!" Gregory's tone was serious. "This matter is of great importance and requires direct discussion."

"What's the point of waiting an hour just to talk to another Earthly Branch?" one of the other CP0 agents grumbled under his breath.

"State your business clearly," Shenhou said flatly. "You have one minute. If you exceed the time limit, you will be forced to leave the ten-kilometer territorial waters of Beehive Island. If you refuse, we will sink you!"

Hearing this, the two CP0 agents flanking Gregory exchanged looks of shock and anger, their expressions hidden behind their masks.

They had carried out countless missions on behalf of the World Government, receiving the highest honors and courtesies wherever they went, even in non-member nations. This was the first time they'd encountered such blatant disrespect.

"What is the meaning of this?" Gregory took a deep breath, struggling to maintain his composure.

"If you wish to see Heavenly Father, the Five Elders must come in person. You are not worthy," Shenhou stated, his voice laced with contempt. "You have fifty seconds left."

"You…!" Gurnir's anger flared.

Gregory raised a hand, stopping his colleague from speaking. His eyes narrowed as he made a quick decision. "The Five Elders will not come to the hive. But your Heavenly Father can meet them in Mariejois, near the Empty Throne."

Shenhou's gaze didn't waver as he replied, "You have thirty seconds."

"Tsk!"

Gregory frowned deeply, realizing that the other party had no interest in negotiations. With no other choice, he continued, "Regarding the conflict over the past two weeks, the Five Elders hope to put an end to it here. As for the great scientist Edie, Saint Saturn holds his scientific and technological prowess in high regard and is willing to bestow upon him the status of a Celestial Dragon."

Before he could finish, a sudden surge of red, thundering Conqueror's Haki emanated from the Hive Research Institute, five kilometers away.

Hive Research Institute, Inner Sanctum

Edie sat leisurely on a plush sofa, savoring the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that Hancock herself had prepared for him. His Observation Haki remained locked onto the CP0 agents, and when he heard Gregory's mention of "promising the status of a Celestial Dragon," a mocking sneer spread across his lips.

The next moment, his eyes narrowed, filled with a dangerous glint.

Boom!

A flash of lightning sparked in his gaze, and Conqueror's Haki exploded from his body, morphing into arcs of red lightning that streaked toward the CP0 captain with terrifying speed.

"Status of a Celestial Dragon?"

The expressions on the faces of the three CP0 agents changed dramatically. The red lightning, visible to the naked eye, struck their very souls. Their bodies stiffened as if paralyzed, a sensation akin to a venomous toxin spreading through their veins. A faint urge to kneel in the direction of the Hive gripped them, overwhelming their senses.

"What... what overwhelming Conqueror's Haki!" Gregory thought, his mind racing. He couldn't afford to kneel, not as a representative of the World Government. Gritting his teeth, he fought against the urge to submit and shouted up toward the sky:

"Hive Emperor!"

"I am here on behalf of the Five Elders. The war was a misunderstanding, just a minor friction and miscalculation."

"The Five Elders are willing to grant you the status of a Celestial Dragon!"

"You are a once-in-a-millennium genius scientist, and the government is eager to fund your research!"

"Everything I've said, you can discuss in person with the Five Elders in the Holy Land. Come with us and—"

Boom boom boom!

Red lightning crashed down once more, this time striking directly at his soul. With a gasp, Gregory collapsed to his knees, his head drenched in cold sweat and his body trembling uncontrollably. An indifferent voice descended from above:

"Leave now. If the Five Elders have something to say, let them come see me themselves. Show them the way out!"

The words echoed ominously, and in an instant, the red lightning dissipated, vanishing as if it had never existed.

Shenhou, his face void of emotion, spoke firmly, "Depart immediately. From this moment on, the waters within ten kilometers of Beehive Island are considered its territorial seas. Any unauthorized entry will be met with hostility."

The warship began to turn around, while Weiyang descended, landing gracefully on the deck. Momousagi stood motionless, her face pale with shock and confusion.

"The Five Elders promised Edie the status of a Celestial Dragon...?" she thought, stunned. If Edie were truly to become a Celestial Dragon, couldn't he just stroll into Marineford and command the Navy while mocking them openly? The notion was absurd, yet terrifyingly possible.

Her mind raced back to the events of the past few days. Why had the war started in the first place? Why did the Fleet Admiral have to die? She felt as though she were missing a crucial piece of the puzzle. Lost in thought, she unconsciously followed the warship as it sailed back to Rocky Port.

Meanwhile, the three CP0 agents remained kneeling on the deck of their own ship, drenched in sweat, their faces pale.

"..."

"What was that Conqueror's Haki just now? It felt like my very soul was quaking!"

"We need to retreat!" Gregory commanded, his voice strained. As he rose shakily to his feet, his legs continued to tremble. The Conqueror's Haki they had just experienced was unlike any they had ever encountered. He had the terrifying sense that if he had uttered even one more word, the Hive Emperor could have killed him from five kilometers away!

"This situation is beyond our capacity. We must report everything to the Five Elders and let them decide."

Quickly, the CP0's ship turned around and sailed away, fear gripping the hearts of the agents. They dared not linger a second longer in the waters of Beehive Island, lest they invoke the wrath of the Hive Emperor once more.