Sengoku sat with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes closed. Everyone in the room waited in silence for his verdict.
"Then let's take both of them," Sengoku finally spoke, but his words left everyone bewildered.
What did he mean by "taking both"? There was only one vacancy among the Warlords.
Sengoku continued calmly, "Moria... does he still have the mettle to serve as a Warlord?"
In a single sentence, Sengoku made his intentions crystal clear. He planned to strip Moria of his title and replace him with either the man Laffitte mentioned or the hideous brute standing before them, Weevil.
"Fuffuffuffu... 'Sengoku the Buddha' is unexpectedly terrifying, plotting to drag a sitting Warlord off his throne," Doflamingo sneered.
"Garbage belongs in a trash can sooner or later. You might be next, Doflamingo," Sengoku countered coldly. He turned his gaze to Weevil. "What about it? Can you do it, Weevil?"
Weevil, whose intellect was sorely lacking, couldn't possibly process the implications. Everything was handled by his mother, or rather, the woman claiming to be his mother, Miss Buckin.
Gecko Moria, once known as a "Hero," had vanished without a trace after his crew was annihilated by Kaido of the Beasts over a decade ago. Since becoming a Warlord, no one knew exactly what level his strength had reached.
However, the fact that Sengoku wanted to replace him suggested his power was on the decline rather than the rise.
"So his seat is up for grabs?" Miss Buckin asked.
"It's settled then." Sengoku decisively handed over Moria's last known location.
The Seven Warlords were subordinates of the Government. Although Moria played a game of hide-and-seek with the world, he still had to provide the Government with contact methods and coordinates, unless he wanted to forfeit his title.
Blackbeard, through Laffitte, would prove his strength by capturing "Fire Fist" Ace. Weevil would prove his by taking down Gecko Moria.
If they could deliver these results, the new Warlord positions would be theirs.
After the meeting concluded and the Marines were returning to Headquarters from Mariejois, Tsuru, who had remained silent during the latter half of the proceedings, finally spoke up.
"Sengoku, you agreed to let this 'Blackbeard' capture Fire Fist Ace. Do you realize how severe the consequences will be?"
"Of course," Sengoku said solemnly. "It means all-out war with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"If you know that, then why—"
"Once we're back, I have something to show you. Then you'll understand why I must do this."
They soon arrived at Marineford, and Sengoku signaled for Tsuru to follow him.
Meanwhile, on a different sea route far from Mariejois, a ship flew a pirate flag bearing the initials "SB"—the abbreviation for Sabo's name. Sabo was speaking into a Den Den Mushi.
"Help me track down Fire Fist Ace's recent movements."
Sabo hung up and raised his telescope. He saw the winged figure of Laffitte receding further into the distance.
"Dammit, this small boat can't keep up." Sabo struck the railing, muttering to himself, "Blackbeard... what kind of man is he, trying to defeat Ace just to secure a Warlord seat?"
Half a month later, the rulers of over 170 allied nations began to arrive. The topic for this massive gathering of monarchs was the land-dwelling rights of the Fish-Man and Merfolk races.
Although the New Fish-Man Island had provided a territory for them to live on the surface, that land was granted by the Immortal Pirates and lacked Government recognition. If Fish-Men went to the Sabaody Archipelago, they would still face slaughter by pirates, and Merfolk would still be snatched by kidnappers to be sold as slaves.
This conference aimed to address this by granting Fish-Men equal rights to live on land, essentially banning their killing and sale, and providing them with legal protection and equality.
The announcement of this topic stunned many citizens of the allied nations.
What's going on? Since when does the Government care so much about equal rights?
However, Queen Otohime was overjoyed. She believed the era of Fish-Men and humans living in harmony had finally arrived. This way, the hero of Fish-Man Island, Fisher Tiger, could finally rest in peace. Thus, upon receiving the news, she ignored the protests of her Left and Right Ministers and insisted on attending.
"King of the Bastore Kingdom, Grand Line, has arrived."
"King of the Santiago Kingdom, West Blue, has arrived."
"King of the Windas Kingdom, South Blue, has arrived."
"King of the Junduke Kingdom, Grand Line, has arrived."
The names of the kingdoms reported through the Den Den Mushi reached the ears of the Gorosei one after another. After a long list, they finally heard the names they were waiting for.
"Queen Otohime of Fish-Man Island, New World, has arrived."
"King Nefertari Cobra of the Alabasta Kingdom, Grand Line, has arrived."
"King Riku Doldo III of the Dressrosa Kingdom, New World, has arrived."
"The Hydra Kingdom, North Blue, has arrived."
"Finally," the blond member of the Gorosei said, uncrossing his legs and resting his hands on his knees.
"Let her enjoy her moment first. Once the meeting is over, 'invite' her here," the Elder with the scimitar-mustache said coldly, barking orders to the Government agents on the other end of the line.
At the harbor where the allied nations entered Mariejois, the monarchs were greeting one another. King Riku III of Dressrosa, father of Scarlett and Viola, was an old friend of King Elizabello II of the Prodence Kingdom. The two greeted each other warmly upon meeting.
Loli A stepped off the massive ship of the Harald Kingdom. From a distance, she could see the soaring heights of Mariejois, the place where the Gorosei and the Celestial Dragons resided. The Warlord meeting two weeks prior had actually taken place on a slightly lower level.
"How sickly," Loli A sneered. Behind her, Cnut and the other two Kings of the North Blue felt a deep-seated terror in their hearts.
They had brought a Pirate Yonko right into the heart of Mariejois!
"It's truly magnificent, isn't it?"
A woman's voice drifted from nearby. Loli A turned to see a beautiful young girl with blue hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a desert-style gown. She was staring at the palace of Mariejois with an expression of pure awe.
It was the Princess of the Alabasta Kingdom, Nefertari Vivi.
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