188 With the Justice System

Holy Land.

Between the seats of power.

Five aged figures sat in a deathly silence.

On the screen before them, the final scene was frozen.

Shanks... dead?!

That man who carried the Celestial Dragons' bloodline — reduced to nothing by a single punch?!

"...."

"Figarland Shanks..."

Saint Warcury was the first to break the silence. "He's dead."

"Didn't Garling say earlier that if Shanks won, he'd have two sons?" Saint Mars's voice was dry.

"Now he only has one left..."

"..."

"Everyone, that's not the point!"

Saint Nusjuro snapped his eyes open.

"A sacrificial pawn dying—so what!?"

"The point is the Navy!"

His voice was like a drawn blade: cold and cutting.

"Their power has completely slipped out of the World Government's control!"

"Sengoku actually announced in front of everyone that the Navy will internally discuss candidates for a new Fleet Admiral!"

"Where did he put the World Government's reputation?!"

"..."

Silence fell again among the powers-that-be.

Indeed.

The Navy.

That instrument of violence the World Government had built to uphold their rule...

When did it become so strong, so bold, so... disobedient?!

The destruction of the Whitebeard Pirates was expected.

But...

The annihilation of the Red-Haired Pirates and the force Rayne Hawke displayed were completely beyond the World Government's expectations!

The entire state of the seas had slipped out of their hands!

"And on top of that... two Yonko fleets were wiped out by the Navy within a single day..."

Saint Peter's forehead bulged with veins.

"The New World is going to be thrown into utter chaos!"

"That's not necessarily bad."

Saint Saturn spoke slowly. "When an Emperor dies, new pirates will move in to fill the power vacuum."

"Chaos breeds more chaos, which can work to our advantage."

"But the problem now is that the Navy itself has become the largest source of uncertainty!"

"I think the root of this is that kid, Rayne Hawke."

Saint Nusjuro's fingers tapped rhythmically on the scabbard.

"And the G-3 branch he's with."

"All the CP0 agents we sent — they vanished without a trace. They evaporated."

"From the looks of it, they were dealt with by them!"

"We must find out exactly what happened within the Navy!"

"Hurry the squad of the God's Knights!"

"Go to the G-3 branch and dig everything out!"

"Agreed."

"Seconded."

The five exchanged a single glance and reached a consensus instantly.

The Navy's upheaval had to be connected to the G-3 branch.

They had to find the source of its strength before it ran completely wild, and then...

"I don't think that's enough."

Saint Warcury's voice was resolute.

"No matter what gives the Navy its confidence, their bloated size and frequent military operations must require massive funding to sustain."

"I propose we cut off all financial support immediately!"

"And military supplies!"

Saint Peter added, "From today onward, cut off all material supplies to the Navy!"

"I'd like to see what Sengoku will do without ammunition, without food, without medical supplies... how will he launch a 'Great Navy Era' then!"

"Whoo—"

The suggestion instantly lightened the atmosphere in the room.

The five old men's faces returned to the composed, unruffled calm of those who control everything.

Indeed!

The World Government was the true master of this world!

The Navy was merely a tool.

If a tool misbehaves, starve it for days, give it a few whacks.

They had done that for eight hundred years.

Never failed.

There would be no exception now.

"Very well. Do it."

"Send the squad!"

The Elders command flew by encrypted Den Den Mushi to every corner of the World Government without delay.

"The World Government and all member nations, effective immediately, halt all financial allocations and material aid to the Navy!!!"

...

G-3 branch.

Inside a newly built, heavily guarded, pure-white structure.

This was the Navy's new scientific stronghold — a top-secret laboratory personally designed by Vegapunk.

"Whirr—"

In the sterile environment, only the faint hum of precision instruments could be heard.

On the operating table at the center of the lab lay a hulking figure.

Bartholomew Kuma.

Vegapunk wore protective goggles, his expression concentrated to the extreme.

The tools in his hands were no longer cold wrenches and welding torches, but gleaming scalpels and cellular activators.

Under his control, the cold mechanical components inside Kuma were being carefully removed piece by piece.

In their place, from the adjacent life-support pod, vibrant, warm, human organs — perfectly replicated through cellular cultivation technology — were being installed.

A miracle of reverse modification was taking place.

The order had come from Rear Admiral Rayne Hawke!

Transmitted by Dane, the command was succinct.

Five years.

Kuma must serve Rear Admiral Rayne Hawke for another five years!

After five years he would be fully restored to human form, able to return to the South Blue with his daughter Bonny and live out his days in peace.

All surgical costs would be paid personally by Rear Admiral Rayne Hawke.

Five years later, Kuma would also receive a substantial pension!

"Sigh... Rear Admiral Hawke..."

Vegapunk still remembered the trembling feeling in his chest when he first heard the decision from Dane.

This was not merely an order.

It was a promise, an acknowledgement — a restoration of the cold codename "Pacifist" back to the living person "Bartholomew Kuma," with respect!

What kind of naval leader would not inspire someone to willingly give everything?!

"Brubru brubru"

A rapid Den Den Mushi chirp broke the lab's silence.

It was a specially encrypted Den Den Mushi; only a handful of people knew the number.

Vegapunk set down his tools, removed his gloves, and went to the Den Den Mushi.

"Ckak."

He answered.

"Doctor, it's me."

A pleasant, calm female voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

Vegapunk's planted CP0 mole — the Queen of Pleasure Street — Stussy.

"Situation has changed!"

Stussy's voice left no room for hesitation.

"CP0's mission objective has changed — from simple autonomous reconnaissance to 'assisting the squad of the God's Knights in investigating the G-3 branch.'"

"The squad of the God's Knights has already received orders from the Five Elders and are preparing to move."

"...."

Vegapunk's brow tightened slightly.

The squad of the God's Knights had been mobilized!

It seemed the Elders truly could not sit still!

"I understand."

"I will report the situation to Navy Headquarters immediately."

He paused, then added, "Stussy, get ready to pull back."

"Remaining inside CP0 is too dangerous."

"Understood!"

The call ended.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vegapunk dialed another Den Den Mushi.

"Brubru~"

The call was answered almost as soon as it rang.

"It's Sengoku."

Sengoku's steady voice came through.

Vegapunk repeated Stussy's report word for word.

On the other end, there was a brief silence.

A moment later, Sengoku's resonant voice sounded: "I understand."

"Let them come!"