"Honored Five Elders—"

  "The father of Saint Hanic, Saint Hars, along with the families of Saint Fenix and others, are requesting an audieh you outside!"

  At the summit of the Red Line, in the Sacred Land of Mary Geoise, within the grand Pangaea Castle—the power ter of the Wover—a flustered attendaered cautiously to deliver his report.

  "eous—"

  "Send them back!"

  The Five Elders, holders of the highest authority within the Wover and revered as the [Warriods], showed visible irritation.

  "Tell them we have already instructed the Navy and CP to duct a full iigation into the whereabouts of the criminals, and we are devisihods to rescue the three kidnapped Celestial Dragons!"

  The tall, slender, white-haired Elder dressed impeccably in a bck suit raised an eyebrow in frustration. "Reassure them that the Wover will not tolerate those who dare defile the divine bloodlines of the Creator's desdants! Once ture any member of the Fallen Angel Pirates, they will be publicly executed, their deaths broadcast worldwide—a thousand cuts, a slow and agonizing end, as a warning to all!"

  The [Warriod of Enviro], Saint Marcus Mars, then gred coldly. "With the blood of these wretched scum, we will show the world the fate of those who challehe divine!"

  "Uood—"

  The attendant respectfully exited.

  With a "bang," a nearby orea table shattered, its priceless teacups splintering across the floor.

  One of the Elders, wearing a bck suit and tie, with a bald head marked by a birthmark, was seething. This Elder, the [Warriod of Justice], Saint Topman Valkyrie, ground his teeth in fury. "Unbelievable—the audacity of that 'Fallen Angel' El! He dares to attack the Celestial Dragons ialiation for the Wover's extermination of the Lunarians!"

  "It was a grave miscalcution," added the tall, blond-haired Elder in a crimson suit, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter. "Who would have thought the st surviving Lunarian could grow so powerful i? And now, the Navy has suffered devastating losses."

  "Not only did we lose Iron Cw Admiral Hark, but five or six capable Vice Admirals as well."

  The [Warriod of Agriculture], Saint Shepherd Ju Peter spoke gravely. "Acc to Fleet Admiral Hammons William's report, both the G-1 and G-5 Fortresses were pletely destroyed, reduced to rubble. Only a few patrol ships on duty and some Marines on leave survived. At least twenty thousae forces from the headquarters and New World tis have been lost—an unpreted blow!"

  "Those losses be addressed with a rge-scale recruitment campaign," remarked the [Warriod of Finance], Saihan Baron V. Nasujuro. Wearing a loose white robe and leaning on a katana resembling the fabled Supreme Grade Sword, Shodai Kitetsu, he tinued, "But what demands serious attention is El, this Lunarian prodigy. William's report suggests that after his battle with Admiral Hark, he bore not a single visible wound."

  "Whether due to his innate Lunarian resilience or extraordinary durability, El poses a gehreat," added the [Warriod of Defense Sce], Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, who sat beside Saint Topman Valkyrie. Tapping his e, he observed bluntly, "At the very least, El now has the power to kill a Navy Admiral. Sending just one Admiral after him is futile. Capturing him will require two Admirals or equivalent forces."

  They exged grim looks. Even the Holy Knights, despite deploying a Mythical Zoan Thunderbird user, had failed to capture El. The Lunarian possessed not only a pair of bck wings for flight but also a unique racial ability: a choice between two powerful states. When the fmes on his head bzed, he could enter a nearly “invincible” defeate, impervious to attacks. Wheinguished those fmes, his speed, strength, aion time increased in an "attack state."

  "So, that Lunarian brat El believes himself unstoppable simply because of his abilities…” Saint Marcus Mars frowned as he paced. “Capturing him will require fwless preparation.”

  "Foolish and fearless," muttered Saihanbaron V. Nasujuro, his grip on the hilt of Shodai Kitetsu tightening. "El has paved his own path to death!"

  "So, should we meet his demands?" Saint Shepherd Ju Peter asked, his brows furrowed. "Twenty Devil Fruits, including two rare Logias, two Mythical Zoans, and three A Zoans… he’s asking for a fortune."

  "An eously ambitious demand," added Saint Topman Valkyrie angrily, g his fists. "We ot iate with him, but we must retrieve the kidnapped Celestial Dragons first… None of us want this lunatic broadcasting something disgraceful worldwide."

  One of the hostages was a member of the Topman family. While Saint Topman Valkyrie cared little for this distaive’s wellbeing, he could not allow his family’s honor to be so publicly tarnished. Better they perish than suffer such degradation.

  "Agreed," Saint Marcus Mars added coldly, "We ot allow the sanctity of the gods to be defiled!"

  "Deploy the Holy Knights and instruct the Navy to prepare thhly. Ohose three Celestial Dragons are secure, eliminate El and his crew without hesitation!" added Saturn.

  At that moment, the doorbell rang.

  "Enter!" the Elders ordered, halting their versation.

  An attendant rushed in and k. "Sirs, this is not about the Celestial Dragons. It’s from the Navy—they report that after learning she was to be transferred to the Red Line for punishment by Saint Fenix, Rear Admiral Tsuru took her own life."

  "Fleet Admiral William requests that her death not be publicized widely to maintain morale within the Navy."

  "Taking her own life? How ve." Saihanbaron V. Nasujuro pushed up his gsses with a scoff.

  "We haven’t eveioned William on his responsibility for this debacle, yet he dares to advise us," Saint Jaygarcia Saturn s the kneeling attendant. "Tell him the Wover doesn’t take orders from him."

  "Enough. The timing is poor for internal fri," Saint Marcus Mars interjected with a wave of his hand. "William had a point; Tsuru was close to those potential Admiral didates. Saint Fenix’s punishment will have to suffice."

  "It’s settled, then. Her role was minor; there’s no need for excessive publicity. Deliver her remains to Saint Fenix."

  "Uood, sirs.”