"Where is Borsalino? I have not seen him since we entered the dream."
Shanks suddenly brought up the question, a hint of curiosity in his tone.
Former Admiral Borsalino, widely known as Kizaru, had been a crucial figure who set this war into motion. Yet after betraying the Marines, he had vanished without a trace, staying completely out of sight.
"He left Elbaf a long time ago," Shirogai replied with a faint smile.
"There are other matters he needs to resolve quickly. What just happened caught him off guard, and he has not had the time to deal with his own people within the Marines."
Shirogai continued, his tone relaxed.
"Truthfully, there was no need for everyone in Elbaf to enter the dream earlier. I could have interrupted Verglas's ability beforehand."
He gave a slight shrug.
"But since Borsalino asked me to hold the Marines here for a while, I simply went along with it."
Shanks let out a low breath, clearly impressed.
"The infamous Kizaru being an undercover agent within the Marines… in the past, that alone would have shaken the entire world."
His gaze shifted, sharpening slightly.
"But compared to the upcoming World Peace Conference, it almost feels insignificant."
"Oh? So you have heard about it too, Brother Shanks?" Shirogai asked, a subtle smile forming.
"Heard about it? That is putting it lightly," Shanks replied with a laugh.
"In every restaurant, every bar, every market across the seas, people are talking about nothing else. Even the most remote islands are paying attention."
His expression grew more serious.
"Everyone believes that if this conference fails, an unprecedented global war will break out."
He deliberately stressed the word global, his eyes locking onto Shirogai as if testing his reaction.
"A global war…" Shirogai repeated, a quiet chuckle escaping him.
"Brother Shanks, the scale of what is coming may exceed even that."
His voice remained steady, yet carried weight.
"Warn those under your protection to prepare themselves. This will not be confined to a few battlefields. It will sweep across the entire world."
Shanks' expression shifted, the usual ease in his demeanor fading.
"Larger than I imagined? So you are finally getting serious."
"Me?" Shirogai laughed lightly, waving his hand dismissively.
"I am just a minor participant in this conference. The real focus lies in the negotiations between the World Government and the Sky Island Alliance."
Despite his casual tone, his eyes held a quiet sharpness.
"Still, there are those who may take advantage of this moment. They might try to eliminate every unstable force that opposes them in one decisive move, removing future threats entirely."
Shanks' gaze instinctively dropped to his missing arm. When he spoke again, his voice carried rare caution.
"You mean…"
"He may no longer intend to remain in the shadows," Shanks continued, his tone turning grave. "He plans to step into the open during this conference?"
Shirogai shrugged slightly.
"I am only speculating."
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Perhaps he intends to destroy the world first, then reshape it. And under the admiration of the survivors he chooses, he may even rise as a god."
"Ascend to godhood…"
Shanks frowned, his thoughts turning heavy.
That possibility aligned far too well with the nature of Imu.
Mad, yet terrifyingly plausible.
But one question remained.
How exactly did he plan to achieve it?