"Are you... certain that if we all act together, we can definitely capture Michael?"
"If even that isn't enough to take him down, we might as well just wait at home for death, don't you think?"
Garling grinned broadly, but his words darkened the expressions of everyone around him.
Indeed...
If Michael were truly so powerful that even the Five Elders couldn't handle him...
Then wouldn't the only one capable of dealing with him be... Imu-sama themself?!
Figarland Garling had been pushing for the Five Elders to launch a full-scale assault—partly to eliminate or capture Michael, but more so to make these five old bastards experience the same pressure he had faced when fighting Michael back then.
And, of course, his foolish son too.
Just as Garling was about to escalate further...
"Enough. All of you are far too noisy."
A woman's voice rang out, freezing everyone in place.
The voice carried a slightly less somber tone this time.
Yet, the Five Elders instantly recognized its owner—
It was none other than Imu, whom they had served for centuries.
"Imu-sama!"
No matter where they stood in the council chamber, all immediately dropped to one knee, bowing their heads that bore the pride of their noble lineages…
For in Imu's presence, they were merely the ruled.
Even Figarland Garling was no exception, kneeling beside Shamlok.
However, behind those sunglasses…
There was little reverence in his eyes.
Only wariness.
"Rise, all of you." Imu's voice echoed in their ears.
Obediently, the Five Elders stood.
But the moment they lifted their heads, they seemed to witness something utterly unbelievable…
"Imu-sama… This…"
"What is it? Does seeing my true appearance shock you so?"
"No... Imu-sama, we are not surprised at all... we just can't believe we would one day be granted the honor of seeing your divine appereance."
Nusjuro replied with fearful reverence, his constantly trembling pupils betraying his lie...
How could they not be surprised.
Before them, Imu-sama appearance remained that of a beautiful young maiden, with cascading blue hair flowing down her back.
And Toki of Kozuki, who had been invited from Wano Country, stood beside Imu with an odd expression on her face.
"Your earlier plan is feasible, but I wish to try another method..."
"Imu-sama, the entire world is your possession, and that naturally includes us."
After experiencing shock and excitement, the mightiest among the Celestial Dragons had now composed themselves, kneeling before Imu once more in unison.
"This time... which light do you wish to extinguish?"
"The Revolutionary Army's headquarters are located at Baltigo... Your task is to drive Michael to Baltigo, and then... Uranus will end everything." Imu twirled a strand of her blue hair between her fingers.
"This so-called light of revolution... it's time for it to fall."
"As you command... Your will, will be done."
Led by the Five Elders, the Celestial Dragons responded in unison.
The earlier infighting among them seemed never to have occurred.
"Now... you may go." Imu raised her head, staring at Michael in the Video Transponder Snail's projection, momentarily lost in thought.
"Alike... so alike... But unfortunately, he is not you."
Kozuki Toki parted her lips slightly.
But said nothing.
Yet her eyes suddenly brightened with realization!
Uranus... Baltigo... Lunar Technology!
In that instant, all the pieces connected into a clear line of reasoning!
The Lunar Technology lacked sufficient energy for activation, while Uranus—the most powerful Ancient Weapon—required the eternal flames of the Lunarian Race to operate.
The tremendous power generated could perfectly recharge the technology.
So this was it...
Was this the moment when Father traveled to the past?
"Toki, what are you thinking about?"
"Nothing. I just think you... are truly pitiful." Kozuki Toki shook her head helplessly. "Even after living eight hundred years, crossing the river of time to meet me again... the you now is no longer the you back then."
"You're just as fond of pretty words as you were eight hundred years ago."
Kozuki Toki curled her lip.
Unreasonable.
Thankfully, when her Time Fruit powers had suddenly gone out of control and sent her Father away, this woman had already left...
Otherwise, she might have been turned into a time-traveling tool by this yandere.
"Have you never considered that this Michael might actually be the Michael we knew?"
"Impossible." Imu declared resolutely. "He is sacred! He is immortal! He is eternal! He is perfect! How could he possibly be this half-grown fledgling!? Over these eight hundred years, I've killed countless Human-Human Fruit: Mythical Zoan, Seraphim users! The imperfect ones... don't deserve that fruit! This Michael is strong... but equally unworthy!"
"Let me ask you this—is it possible that you've idealized Father's image in your mind?"
"Silence! You are forbidden to call him Father!"
"Alright, alright, I won't. Happy now?" Kozuki Toki sighed as she watched Imu's outburst. "Why must you do this... You know full well that he cherished you as his precious daughter back then..."
"I.am.not! His daughter!" Imu's crimson eyes bore into Kozuki Toki's face. "Never was, never am, and never will be! He abandoned me! Even if I have to chase him to the ends of time, I will make him... pay!"
"On one hand, you keep embellishing this perfect figure in your mind..." Kozuki Toki met Imu's gaze fearlessly.
"And on the other, you want to tear this perfect being into shreds and devour him... Isn't that... just too twisted?"
"How could you, who possesses the Time Fruit and can leap directly into the future, ever understand me...? How could you know what I endured through eight hundred lonely years?"
"Well, clearly, you didn't just 'endure'... From what I see, you've been lording it over the world for quite some time..." Kozuki Toki frowned. "Have you forgotten who it was that helped the Twenty Kings establish this so-called World Government?"
"That's exactly why I must destroy it completely! Only then... will he come back to me!"
Imu spread her arms wide.
In that moment, she didn't resemble an eight-hundred-year-old tyrant at all...
But rather, a lovesick maiden.
For once, Kozuki Toki's expression twisted in conflict.
"I can no longer tell... who you are now?"
"Are you the great sovereign of the Celestial Dragons, Norona Imu..."
"Or..."
"Nefertari D. Lily?"