What the hell?
Even the well-informed Five Elders froze for a moment.
It wasn't as if just anyone could call them…
Much less a pirate.
Topman Warcury immediately barked, "What is wrong with you people? How dare you disturb us over every trivial matter?"
The staff member collapsed to his knees with a thud.
"R-reporting to Warcury-saint… Sith Oguro contacted Spandam and threatened that if he couldn't speak with the Five Elders, he would make the Pluton blueprints public!"
"What?" The Five Elders were stunned.
Topman Warcury growled, "Those are the Pluton blueprints. He would really be willing to expose them?"
"Uh… that's what he said…" The staff member trembled.
"Hahaha…"
The Warrior God of Environment, Marcus Mars, burst into laughter.
"Looks like we underestimated this young man."
"Bring the Den Den Mushi. I want to hear what he has to say."
The staff member handed over the call, and Oguro's voice echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
"So you're the Five Elders. Your reputation truly precedes you."
Topman Warcury's tone was icy. "A no-name pirate dares to call himself a king. You insignificant clown, what do you want from us?"
"Heh. The World Government has existed for only eight hundred years and you really think that makes you rulers of the world?"
"You can't even face your own history. All you can do is cover it up. What exactly are you so proud of?"
Oguro's response was even sharper, trampling the entire World Government underfoot.
"Impudence!"
Topman Warcury shot to his feet. His overwhelming Conqueror's Haki erupted like a raging storm, shaking the room.
The Den Den Mushi trembled violently and nearly died from the pressure.
The Void Century was an absolute taboo for the World Government. No one was allowed to touch it.
"Sith Oguro! Don't think that just because you survived a Buster Call you can do whatever you want."
"I know Nico Robin is under your command. If you dare investigate the Poneglyphs, I guarantee everything you are will be wiped clean from this world."
For matters involving the Void Century, even the Five Elders dropped any pretense of elegance and went straight to threats.
Oguro clicked his tongue.
"Who cares about your history? It's just the story of one winner and one loser. I've heard hundreds of versions of that kind of tale."
In his previous life, ancient civilizations had thousands of years of history.
Stories about regime changes and rising and falling dynasties were already worn out from repetition.
Altering records and slandering previous rulers were common.
A world that covered up a hundred years like this one seemed laughably low level in comparison.
Topman Warcury felt a pressure rise in his chest. It wouldn't go up or down, stuck uncomfortably.
He wanted Oguro to stop researching the Void Century…
Yet Oguro's tone showed he didn't even care enough to take a serious look.
That made the Five Elders' paranoia look ridiculous, like clowns guarding a secret no one wanted.
It was infuriating.
And without realizing it, even the Five Elders failed to notice…
In this negotiation, Oguro had quietly taken control.
Oguro calmly shifted the topic. "Anyway, I didn't call to talk about history. I'm concerned about the future."
"If I'm not wrong, you're probably thinking about how to destroy Water Seven and my empire right now."
"Heh. A pirate-built nation calling itself an empire. You're not afraid you'll bite your own tongue from bragging?" Warcury seized the chance to mock him.
Too bad such mockery didn't affect Oguro at all.
He replied lightly, "Charlotte Linlin's Totto Land is thriving too. Its name spreads across the Grand Line."
"And I don't see you managing to wipe that pirate nation off the map."
"Guess when it comes to actual power, your mouths are still what you rely on most."
The staff member holding the Den Den Mushi nearly collapsed again.
Good god…
Was this man insulting the Five Elders to their faces?
Would he be silenced afterward? Would he be killed just for hearing this?
He deeply regretted ever approving Spandam's request.
But the Five Elders were still the Five Elders.
Ruling the World Government for so many years, they recovered quickly.
Topman Warcury forced down his rage and sneered.
"So all this talk is because you want us to treat you like Totto Land and leave you alone?"
"What makes you believe you're comparable to Charlotte Linlin?"
While the world treated Admirals and Yonko as equals…
True experts knew that in a one-on-one fight to the death…
An Admiral would lose without a doubt.
The title of Yonko carried immense weight.
Oguro remained composed. "Did Aokiji not tell you… Soifon is only the Captain of my Second Division."
"What makes you so sure I don't have other Captains under me?"
Silence filled the room.
Emotionally, they didn't want to believe Oguro had more Admiral-level subordinates.
The Grand Line simply didn't have many such individuals. No faction except the Marines and the World Government could gather two Admiral-class fighters.
Not even a Yonko could.
But rationally…
They had to consider the possibility.
If Oguro really had more than two such fighters…
Any operation to destroy Water Seven would fail without question.
The risk was too high.
From their investigations, they couldn't find any reason why so many powerful individuals suddenly appeared and all chose to follow Oguro.
This mysterious unknown made them uneasy.
Was he bluffing? Or was it true?
At that moment, Oguro continued.
"And you should also know… the Pluton blueprints are no longer in Water Seven."
"Not even Iceburg knows where Franky went. But he said if Water Seven or Iceburg were harmed, he would immediately reveal the blueprints to the world."
"Each Yonko and the Revolutionary Army would get a copy."
"Are you sure you want to start a war with no reward and countless risks?"
Topman Warcury snarled, "This is not a war without reward. This is the dignity of the World Government."
"Tch." Oguro let out a cold laugh. "If the blueprints fall into the hands of ambitious monsters, it won't just be your dignity. The stability of the entire World Government will shake."
"Maintaining mutual peace isn't better? Isn't your top priority keeping the so-called balance?"
The Five Elders' eyes sharpened.
"So you know that much?"
"Haha, not as much as you think."
Oguro chuckled, then his tone hardened.
"And aside from the Pluton blueprints, don't forget that Soifon is a genuine powerhouse who can match an Admiral."
"And she can fly."
"If you fail to capture her, are you sure the Celestial Dragons in Mary Geoise can withstand her retaliation?"
***
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