One Piece : Brotherhood Chapter 244

Room of Authority, Marie Geoise

The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, the tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. The Five Elders, who usually radiated an aura of untouchable authority, now sat in a rare state of unease.

Their ticulously laid plans, which had been executed with the precision and ruthlessness of a well-oiled machine, had suddenly backfired in a grand and public way. The reason? A newspaper—just sheets of inked paper—circulating throughout the world like a plague, revealing secrets they had guarded with their lives for centuries.

Elder Saturn’s eyes blazed with barely contained fury. His aura, a manifestation of his imnse power, flared montarily, reducing the newspaper in his hands to a pile of ash. The others watched in silence, their own tempers simring beneath the surface.

Even Saint Figarland, whose usual cunning nonchalance was his trademark, had abandoned his facade. This ergency eting was too critical for posturing. The World was learning of so of their most closely guarded secrets, and the worst part? They had no idea who was responsible.

"Every detail," Elder Saturn hissed through gritted teeth. "Every cursed detail of what happened in the Sorbet Kingdom—published for the entire world to see. Even the deaths of the Celestial Dragons! We’ve been compromised. And they dare to insinuate... to cast doubt on whether the World Governnt is truly in control, or if so shadowy figure pulls the strings behind the scenes!"

Elder Nusjuro, usually the most composed of the group, was visibly trembling with rage. He clenched his fists around the hilt of his blade so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

"How... how did it co to this? How in the world did they manage to gather all this information?" His voice was thick with the urge for violence, his mind already envisioning the heads he wanted to roll.

Figarland, though tense, managed to retain a sliver of his wit. He turned to the lone figure standing at the edge of the room, his face obscured by a mask—the Director of Cipher Pol Aigis Division, the shadowy enforcers of the World Governnt.

"Is it possible to stop the distribution of these newspapers?" Figarland asked, though his tone betrayed little hope.

The tall man in the white suit, the epito of stoic professionalism, spoke with an unsettling calmness.

"It’s too late, Figarland-sama. Even if we attempt to intercept now, it would be futile. The opposition is not relying solely on News Coo for distribution; they are using unconventional thods to ensure the newspaper’s reach extends to every corner of the world." His lack of emotion was almost unnerving in the midst of such a crisis.

Elder Ju Peter, his frustration palpable, offered a desperate suggestion. "We should declare that anyone propagating the World Tis will be seen as criminals and dealt with accordingly. We need to curb this damage before it spirals out of control."

But Elder Saturn, ever the strategist, quickly shot down the idea. "No! That will only give the World Tis more traction. Even those who doubt the claims will start believing them if we suddenly launch a crusade against the masses. We cannot afford to add legitimacy to this attack by reacting rashly."

Figarland, unable to resist a small jab despite the gravity of the situation, smirked. "So, you want to leave the situation as it is? Is that your brilliant suggestion?" His tone was laced with sarcasm, but the usual amusent was absent. This was not the ti for their petty squabbles, and they both knew it.

The room fell into a heavy silence as the weight of their predicant settled over them. Despite their imnse power, they were keenly aware of the precariousness of their situation. The World Governnt had maintained its grip on power for over eight centuries, largely due to its control over information. Now, that control was slipping through their fingers, and the consequences could be catastrophic.

The mory of Joyboy lingered in their minds—a figure of imnse strength, who had nonetheless fallen under the combined assault of a united front. Joyboy’s downfall was a stark reminder that even the most powerful could be brought low if enough forces united against them. The Five Elders understood that if the world were to turn against them, even they might not survive.

Elder Warcury, unable to contain his anger any longer, turned on the CP0 Director with a scowl.

"See what your incompetence has cost us! Were you not ordered to find the source of the newspaper and neutralize it? Months have passed, and you’ve made no headway. Whoever is behind this seems to be playing a ga they know all too well—always three steps ahead of us!"

The Director did not flinch under the harsh scrutiny. "We are dealing with an adversary who is exceptionally skilled in the arts of subterfuge and misdirection. Every lead we’ve pursued has turned out to be a dead end or a deliberate trap. But rest assured, we will find them."

Saint Figarland, who had been silent during the exchange, finally spoke up, his tone somber.

"You’re all forgetting one crucial thing. With Zephyr’s death, tensions within the Marines are boiling over. This newspaper will only exacerbate those tensions. The Marines will start blaming the World Governnt, and as much as you might underestimate them, have you considered the potential backlash if the Marines were to turn against us?"

His words struck a chord of unease among the Elders. The Marines were the sword and shield of the World Governnt, the enforcers of their will across the seas. If that sword were to turn on its master... the consequences would be dire.

Zephyr had been an emblem of integrity and justice within the Marines, and his death, especially under such suspicious circumstances, had already sown seeds of doubt among the ranks. Now, with this newspaper circulating, those seeds could sprout into full-blown rebellion.

Elder Saturn’s mind raced as he tried to piece together a solution. The situation was spiraling out of control faster than they could manage, and they were running out of ti. "We should have handled Zephyr’s matter much more discreetly," Figarland continued, his voice heavy with scrutiny.

"If I had known what you planned, I would have advised against it. There were more subtle ways to eliminate him, but you chose to strike at the heart of the Marines’ morale. Zephyr was in his pri, with deep connections across the ranks. Even the next generation of Admiral candidates were grood by him. Now, you’ve turned him into a martyr."

The room fell silent once more, the gravity of Figarland’s words settling over them like a shroud. The implications of their actions were becoming clearer by the mont, and the full extent of the damage was beginning to dawn on them.

Elder Warcury clenched his jaw, his frustration palpable. "What we need now," he began, his voice tight with determination, "is to contain this situation before it spirals any further. We need to find out exactly how much the publishers of the World Tis know and who is feeding them this information. We need to root out every mole, every traitor within our ranks, and eliminate them."

"And what of the Marines?" Elder Mars interjected. "If they begin to fracture, if they start to doubt us..."

"We will deal with that when the ti cos," Saturn replied, though the uncertainty in his voice was undeniable. "For now, our priority must be regaining control of the narrative. We need to remind the world of our strength, of why they have feared us for centuries. We must make an example of those who would dare challenge us."

The room, already thick with tension, seed to grow even heavier as Saint Figarland stood up, his gaze sweeping over the Elders with a mix of disdain and impatience. He had only attended this ergency eting out of obligation, having been sent by Imu-sama to deliver a ssage that none of them could afford to ignore.

"Well, it was the respected elders who created this ss," Figarland began, his voice carrying a cold edge that sliced through the room’s silence.

"So, I hope you clean this up before you get a personal summons from Imu-sama. We must consider the worst-case scenario—whoever is behind this may already know about the Void Century and even the matters related to Imu-sama. And you should know better than anyone what happens if Imu-sama decides to intervene personally."

His words hung in the air like a death sentence, the threat implicit but unmistakable. Without another word, Figarland turned on his heel and exited the room, leaving the Elders to grapple with the aftermath of his ominous ssage.

"Damn him!" Elder Mars roared, slamming his fist onto the table, his frustration boiling over. The recent string of failures had only added to the tension between the Elders and Figarland, whose smug deanor had beco increasingly insufferable.

The bitter mory of their recent humiliation over the Ope Ope no Mi still stung, where they had been forced to concede to Figarland’s demands, even relinquishing Tsuru’s prized technique.

"Forget him!" Elder Nusjuro snapped, his voice sharp as a whip. "We must focus on what our next move will be." The ssage from Imu-sama had been clear, more of a warning than a suggestion.

In recent tis, their failures had been piling up, and like Figarland had pointed out, if Imu-sama decided to take matters into their own hands, even the Elders’ lives could be forfeited.

Elder Saturn, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke, his voice calm but with an underlying urgency.

"First and foremost, we need to keep the Marines in check. We cannot afford to have them fracture away from us." He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the glass table, his mind racing with potential solutions. "It’s ti one of us made a visit to Marineford personally."

He turned his gaze to Elder Ju Peter. "You will make the trip to Marineford and remind them who is truly in control. With Zephyr now out of the picture, the Marines will need a new Admiral. Let’s promote Sakazuki."

Elder Warcury frowned, questioning the sudden shift in their strategy. "Sakazuki? Why Sakazuki? Borsalino has seniority over him if we go by rank and age."

Elder Nusjuro sneered at Warcury’s naivety. "Borsalino? Do you really want to promote him after the blunder at Punk Hazard?" Nusjuro’s eyes narrowed as he continued, understanding Elder Saturn’s intent.

Elder Saturn nodded, appreciating Nusjuro’s insight. The situation was more precarious than it seed on the surface. "Indeed. Promoting Sakazuki will send the right ssage. His ruthless sense of justice will help keep the Marines in line, and he’s less likely to have sympathies that could cause fractures. We cannot risk instability within the Marines, not now."

Elder Warcury, though still unconvinced, saw the logic in Saturn’s reasoning. The Elders had always relied on subtlety and control, but the events of the past few months had pushed them into a corner. Now, they needed to act decisively.

"Speaking of Borsalino’s failure, even with Vegapunk’s relocation, Punk Hazard remains a ticking ti bomb, holding many of our most sensitive experints. If any of those details were to leak, it would open a Pandora’s box of problems we’re not prepared to handle." Elder Nusjuro’s voice was grave, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward.

"And it’s not just about the experints. The Donquixote family now controls the island, and from what we’ve gathered, they seem intent on claiming it as part of their territory. If they’ve uncovered even a fraction of what we were doing there—especially the experints involving the giants—they’ll seize the opportunity to retaliate for our attempt to eliminate Doflamingo in North Blue."

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. "And that’s not the worst of it. The Donquixote family could easily use this information to rally Elbaf against us. The giants have long mories and even longer grudges. If Elbaf were to turn on the World Governnt, the consequences would be catastrophic. We’re talking about a force that not even the full might of the Marines could easily suppress. If they join forces with other discontented nations or pirates, we’ll be facing a war on multiple fronts."

Elder Warcury, who had been thinking until now, frowned deeply. "Are we certain the Donquixote family has this information? Doflamingo has always been a wild card, but this... this could destabilize everything."

Nusjuro sighed, rubbing his temples as if trying to ward off a migraine. "We don’t have concrete proof yet, but we know Doflamingo’s connections run deep, and he’s always had a way of sniffing out secrets. He has an eye for opportunity and a grudge against us. It’s only a matter of ti before he makes his move."

Elder Saturn’s expression remained unreadable, but his mind was clearly working at full speed.

"If Doflamingo has indeed learned of the giant experintation, which he surely will, he won’t just sit on that information. He’ll leverage it to the fullest, turning it into a weapon against us. And if he manages to incite Elbaf to rise against the World Governnt, we’ll be forced into a corner. A direct confrontation with the giants would be disastrous; their strength, coupled with their numbers, would exact a heavy toll on our forces."

Warcury’s eyes darted between the other Elders, his anxiety palpable. "So, what do we do? If we confront Doflamingo directly, we risk escalating the situation further, especially with how fast they are growing. But if we let him continue unchecked, the repercussions could be even more severe."

Elder Saturn’s thoughts drifted to the Donquixote brothers. If those two could be brought back into the fold, many of their current problems could be mitigated. Especially Imu-sama’s wrath—if they could present an alternative power source for the ancient weapon, they could quell the storm brewing within the World Governnt.

The reserves they had were insufficient; at best, they could fire the ancient weapon a dozen tis, maybe even less. But that wouldn’t be enough if the entire world turned against them. They needed sothing more, sothing to tip the scales back in their favor.

"We must secure a reliable power source for the ancient weapon," Saturn said, breaking the silence. "If we can do that, we won’t need to worry about any backlash. We’ll sink a few islands, silence the loudest dissenters, and the rest of the world will fall back in line. It’s how we’ve maintained control for centuries—through fear and overwhelming power."

Elder Mars, still fuming, added, "But we can’t afford to act recklessly. If we misuse the ancient weapon, we might provoke a full-scale rebellion. The world is already on edge after the revelations in the World Tis."

Elder Saturn nodded. "Exactly. We need to be strategic. That is why I will be personally making a trip to Dressrosa. It is ti I had a talk with Doflamingo myself, we can no longer ignore the threat that the Donquixote brothers pose, and I want to gauge what exactly a man like Doflamingo truly wants."

The rest of the Elders were taken aback by Elder Saturn’s decision. Even the usually stoic CP0 director showed a flicker of surprise. Sending Elder Ju Peter to Marineford was a strategic move, but Elder Saturn personally making a trip to et two exiles was unexpected. Yet, everyone in the room understood that Elder Saturn’s decision carried a deeper, more significant aning.

******

Elbaf, New World

"Boom...!"

A colossal tree splintered into countless pieces, the force of the impact echoing through the ancient forests of Elbaf. Prince Loki stood amidst the devastation, his chest heaving with fury. His enormous fists clenched, trembling with barely contained rage. The news he had received from Donquixote family had ignited a fire within him that even the mightiest of storms could not quench.

Rosinante, using the transponder snail that Jaguar D. Saul had provided, had contacted Elbaf to deliver a ssage—one that shattered any remaining patience the giants had maintained for centuries.

The atrocities committed by the World Governnt were no longer just whispered rumors; they were now undeniable truths. Loki had already known about the giants imprisoned at Enies Lobby and the sinister history of Mother Carl, who had betrayed their race by selling them out to the World Governnt. But this latest revelation... it was the final breaking straw.

The giants of Elbaf had waited, bided their ti for over eight centuries since the fall of Joyboy, always holding out hope for a day of retribution.

But this—this was a humiliation that cut deep into the very soul of their people. Giants, proud warriors by birth, were being butchered and experinted on like animals. Their warrior’s death, once considered an honor, had been twisted into a grotesque mockery by the World Governnt’s inhumane actions.

"It seems those bastards have forgotten what Elbaf truly stands for," Loki growled, his voice reverberating like thunder. The ground beneath him quaked as his Conqueror’s Haki surged, forcing the elite giants around him to take a step back, even though they were the most formidable warriors of their kind.

The air crackled with energy, and the very sky seed to darken in response to Loki’s fury. For too long, Elbaf had remained neutral, content to watch the world from its shores. But this... this affront could not be ignored. The ancient power of Elbaf, once feared and respected across the seas, would be felt once more.

"It’s ti the world rediscovers the true might of Elbaf," Loki whispered, though his voice carried the weight of a promise—a promise of vengeance.

"Loki, let’s not be hasty..." The eldest of the giants, a warrior who had seen centuries pass, stepped forward, his deep voice steady. "Let’s wait for Rosinante to send the bodies of our kin. We can decide our course of action from there. It’s not wise to antagonize the World Governnt now, especially with them revealing the ancient weapon."

Elbaf was a land steeped in history and tradition. Its people, with their long lifespans, were the keepers of knowledge passed down from generation to generation. The events of the Void Century, the secrets the World Governnt had tried so hard to bury, were known to them. If not for their overwhelming strength, Elbaf would have been razed long ago by the World Governnt. But even that strength needed to be wielded wisely.

Loki’s rage was palpable, his muscles taut with the need for action. "Do you expect to sit here, elder, sucking my thumb while our kin are slaughtered?" His tone was sharp, uncharacteristically disrespectful, but the elder remained calm. He understood the prince’s fury, for it was a reflection of his own. But he also knew that decisions made in anger were dangerous.

"No, Loki," the elder responded, his voice a calming balm against the younger giant’s storm.

"Rember what I have taught you. It is good that you react this way for the sake of your kin, but never let rage consu you. Any decision made in anger will surely lead to our downfall."

The elder’s words hung in the air, heavy with truth. Loki’s chest heaved as he struggled to reign in his fury. He knew the elder was right, but that didn’t make the situation any less infuriating. The World Governnt had crossed a line, and the prince of Elbaf could not simply stand by and do nothing.

Yet, the elder’s wisdom was undeniable. Charging into battle without full knowledge of the enemy’s strength or intentions could spell disaster, not just for Loki but for all of Elbaf. The ancient weapon the World Governnt had revealed was a threat they could not take lightly, and the elder’s caution was not born of fear, but of experience.

"Patience is not the sa as inaction, Loki," the elder continued, his tone gentle but firm. "We will have our justice, but it must be at the right ti, with the right strategy. The World Governnt has shown its hand, but we have yet to show ours. Let them think we are passive, that we will not react. It will make our strike all the more devastating when it cos."

Loki’s fists slowly unclenched, though the fire in his eyes remained. He nodded, albeit reluctantly.

"You’re right, elder. I don’t like it, but you’re right. We’ll wait for Rosinante’s report. But when the ti cos... we will make them pay."

The elder nodded in approval, his gaze steady. "When the ti cos, Loki, the world will tremble at the might of Elbaf. But until then, we must be patient. Our ti will co, and when it does, we will not hold back."

The giants around them murmured in agreent, their loyalty to Loki unwavering despite his earlier outburst. They too felt the anger burning within them, but they respected the elder’s wisdom. They would wait, bide their ti, and when the mont was right, they would unleash the full fury of Elbaf upon those who had wronged them.

As the sun began to set over the towering trees of Elbaf, casting long shadows across the land, Loki looked out over his holand. The fury in his heart had not lessened, but it was now tempered with resolve. The World Governnt had forgotten the might of the giants, but soon, they would be reminded.

Elbaf would rise. And the world would never be the sa.

*****

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