Meanwhile, inside the restroom Rowan had just used, a dark figure quickly slipped out through the window, rolled into the nearby bushes, and disappeared without a trace.
When Rowan had claimed he needed to use the restroom because he was nervous, he had deliberately chosen one on the first floor.
The reason was simple. He wanted to avoid dropping from a great height and risking detection.
For now, this still wasn't the ideal time to investigate. His real body first needed to leave Mary Geoise. Only after some time had passed would the Shadow Clone begin its mission.
Thanks to obtaining the Steel Body talent, his Shadow Clones were far stronger than before. Unlike in the past, when they only benefited from the Golden-tier Constitution Card, each clone could now wield roughly one-third of his true strength.
Even just one-third was leagues beyond what they had been capable of before.
One clone remained inside the restroom.
The other hid within the bushes.
Both entered complete silence, reducing their energy consumption to the absolute minimum.
Half an hour later inside the reception chamber, Rowan finally met one of the Five Elders.
Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense.
Together with Spandine, Rowan bowed respectfully.
Saturn sat down in the seat of honor while the two of them remained standing.
"You're young."
"But you have courage."
Saturn looked directly at Rowan.
"You're Rowan, correct?"
"You should understand that everything you possess today was given to you by the World Government."
As he spoke, Saturn glanced sideways at Spandine.
"Whether it's the authority you've obtained within the Navy or the wealth you've acquired through certain special channels none of it would exist without the World Government."
The single sentence made Spandine's body tremble uncontrollably.
The fear inside him instantly grew without limit.
Rowan, however, remained calm.
Keeping his head lowered, he respectfully bent forward.
"This subordinate has always understood that everything I possess has been bestowed upon me by Your Excellencies."
"That is precisely why I wish to obtain even more."
"And only by doing so can I better devote my humble efforts to serving Your Excellencies."
Calling himself this subordinate referring to everything as something that had been bestowed he was making his position perfectly clear.
Everything he had existed only because they had granted it to him.
After a brief silence, Saturn spoke again.
"It has been a very long time since I've met someone as intelligent as you."
"Very good."
"You understand exactly who can grant you power."
He paused before continuing.
"The World Government's purpose has always been to preserve the stability of the world."
"But there are times when the Navy insists on carrying out its own justice."
"As someone directly involved in the South Blue incident you should know exactly how that operation unfolded."
"Perhaps Kuzan wasn't the one who leaked the information."
"But there was undoubtedly someone within the Navy involved."
Saturn stopped speaking.
Rowan waited a moment.
Nothing more came.
So it was his turn to answer.
"The Navy's actions were foolish."
"The World Government is the true foundation of this world's stability."
"The Navy's justice is not absolute justice."
"Allowing the bloodline of evil to survive out of personal feelings is a kind of justice that should never exist within the Navy."
Personal feelings for the first time, Rowan realized this was how the World Government interpreted the compassion some Marines had shown toward those innocent women and Roger's unborn child.
So this was how they viewed it.
Saturn narrowed his eyes.
"With the support of the World Government you will become an Admiral."
"And after Sengoku steps down it would not be impossible for you to become the next Fleet Admiral."
He fixed Rowan with a penetrating gaze.
"So tell me can you do it?"
"Can you lead the Navy to carry out the World Government's justice without reservation?"
As the words fell a visible flush spread across Rowan's face.
It looked exactly like the excitement of someone whose greatest ambition had suddenly become attainable.
Facing the temptation of such immense power over the entire Navy, a young man barely in his twenties was being offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
And since Rowan's established persona had always been someone who craved power and wealth, his current reaction was perfectly natural.
Bang!
Rowan dropped to one knee and lowered his head.
"I am willing to give my life for the World Government!"
"The Navy will become the World Government's loyal hound."
"And I, too, am the World Government's loyal hound!"
"Give your life?"
For the first time, Saturn's normally impassive expression showed a hint of interest.
"What an interesting choice of words."
"But you should understand the World Government is neither the Navy nor a pirate crew."
"A loyal hound is rewarded with more and it does not die so easily."
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Saturn stood up.
"This so-called accountability meeting was merely a formality."
"Word of today's audience will spread."
"It will further enhance your prestige within the Navy."
"The Navy's highest combat force has always consisted of the Three Admirals."
"There has been dissatisfaction before, but there have never been four Admirals."
"Demonstrate the strength worthy of a loyal hound."
"If you continue to satisfy us then even a Four-Admiral system is not impossible."
Still keeping his head lowered, Rowan's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.
"Understood!"
Saturn departed under the respectful bows of Rowan and Spandine.
Only after Saturn had left did Spandine finally collapse to the floor, as though he had just been pulled out of the water.
"B-Brother... give me a hand."
Rowan pulled him to his feet.
"The money we've been making is only pocket change."
"As long as we do our jobs properly, Their Excellencies won't care."
Spandine let out a long breath.
"I seriously thought I was about to be executed."
"But now I understand why they've taken a liking to you."
"Just listening to that conversation, I nearly ended up crawling on the floor."
The World Government's concept of justice conflicted with the Navy's.
And the South Blue Incident had been Spandine's operation which had ended in failure.
Under those circumstances, it was only natural that he had been terrified of being casually executed.
However, it was equally obvious that Rowan's value in the eyes of the Five Elders had changed.
Even Spandine himself had benefited from that attention, which was precisely why he had been ordered to bring Rowan to Mary Geoise.
"Let's go."
"You should hurry back to Enies Lobby and get some rest. You don't look so good."
As Rowan spoke, he walked toward the door.
After opening it, the two guards outside remained expressionless, showing not the slightest curiosity.
Because inside this castle, anyone with too much curiosity had long since died.
From Rowan's memories, there was a legend among Mary Geoise's guards about a mysterious phantom that wandered the castle.
That so-called phantom was most likely Imu.
Imu's existence was a secret that absolutely no one could know.
Even if one of Mary Geoise's guards happened to catch a glimpse showing even a little too much curiosity would probably result in that person quietly disappearing forever.
After leaving Mary Geoise, Spandine rushed straight back to Enies Lobby as though some terrifying monster were chasing him.
Rowan, meanwhile, returned to Marine Headquarters.
This time, Sengoku did not summon him.
Instead, he deliberately maintained a measured distance.
Clearly, everything that needed to be said had already been said.
Now that the trip to Mary Geoise was over, the World Government would naturally begin promoting Rowan, while Marine Headquarters would go through its usual ritual of bargaining before carrying out the order.
Night fell.
Within Mary Geoise, the Five Elders had gathered once more instead of retiring early for the evening.
Their discussion centered on selecting the first of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Pirates won't obediently follow the World Government's orders the Seven Warlords system may not function as smoothly as we anticipated."
"The decision has already been approved."
"There's no point discussing that anymore."
"What we need now is to choose the first Warlord."
"The newspapers have already announced the establishment of the Seven Warlords system."
"Quite a few pirates have even gone to Marine bases to recommend themselves."
"Recommend themselves?"
"The kind of trash that volunteers isn't what we're looking for."
"If the first Warlord we choose is defeated by some unknown pirate shortly afterward, then the Seven Warlords system will become a complete joke. The deterrence we intend it to have over pirates will be meaningless."
"Most of the pirates who volunteered don't have the achievements to prove themselves. However, there is one worth considering."
"Who?"
"The user of the Logia-type Sand-Sand Fruit, Crocodile. He once challenged Whitebeard and was defeated, but managed to escape with his life. That alone meets the standards we set when selecting the Seven Warlords."
"A Logia user who survived a fight with Whitebeard. That reputation alone is enough to intimidate other pirates."
"Then is he confirmed as the first one? If so, the CP organization will send him an invitation. According to the intelligence department's assessment, he most likely won't refuse."
"...There are still six more."
"Gecko Moria, the Shadow-Shadow Fruit user, who was defeated after fighting Kaido in Wano."
"Kaido?"
"That pirate's condition is rather strange. However, because his territory borders Big Mom's, any move on our part could easily provoke both of those veteran pirates, who already have a complicated history."
"Kaido' still doesn't carry the same weight as Whitebeard."
Within the Chamber of Authority in Mary Geoise, the Five Elders continued selecting candidates for the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
"Immortal Kaido's reputation is growing throughout the New World. A year ago, the Beasts Pirates repeatedly attacked Big Mom's territory and successfully took away a group of people."
"People?"
"Yes. The population of Pudding Island. According to CP intelligence, the island's residents had originally joined Totto Land, paying one month of their lifespan each year in exchange for the right to live there. Later, however, they regretted the decision."
"They regretted it?"
Saturn spoke.
"So Immortal Kaido is actually a good person? He fought Big Mom so many times just for a group of ordinary civilians from one island?"
Mars replied,
"That's what the investigation concluded. As for the finer details, even the CP organization couldn't uncover them. After all, both Kaido's and Big Mom's territories lie outside the World Government's jurisdiction."
Warcury looked toward Saturn.
"They're just two remnants of the Rocks Pirates. There's no need to worry too much."
Hearing that, Saturn ended the discussion.
To the World Government gathered at the center of global power even the great pirates of the New World were nothing extraordinary.
The World Government possessed more than enough power to wipe out the pirates.
The problem was a world without pirates was not the world they wanted.
Their authority depended on the world remaining exactly as it was.
"Gecko Moria remains a candidate."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Next is another candidate."
"Since Roger's execution eight years ago, a great swordsman has traveled from Loguetown through the Grand Line, constantly challenging other swordsmen."
"Dracule Mihawk."
"'Marine Hunter,' is it?"
"Most swordsmen who receive systematic swordsmanship training reach that level through the Marines. That's why the nickname earned him such a massive bounty."
"What about his achievements? He hasn't fought any of the great pirates, has he?"
"Pending."
"Pending."
Finally, Saturn concluded,
"The Seven Warlords system doesn't require us to fill all seven positions immediately."
"If suitable candidates appear, they can be added at any time."
"And if one of the current Warlords is defeated, the one who defeats them may also be invited, provided they meet our requirements."
Mars nodded.
"Then let's end today's meeting here."
At that moment, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro planted the sheath of his sword firmly against the floor.
"What about that Marine?"
"How was his attitude?"
Saturn glanced at him.
"Very good."
"Judging by his behavior, he's more of an ambitious man than anything else."
"But ambition is not a bad thing for us."
Nusjuro remained silent.
Moments later the Chamber of Authority sank back into darkness.
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