Sengoku clenched the newspaper so tightly it nearly crumbled in his hands. His voice cracked in disbelief as he rasped, "You've got to be joking… Douglas Bullet has also submitted to Ian—he's become Ian's vanguard!"
"Sengoku, are you talking about Douglas Bullet?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru couldn't hide her shock. "Are you serious?"
Sengoku grit his teeth and handed the newspaper to Tsuru.
Tsuru glanced at it, and on that page was a photograph—Bullet the Giant clashing head-on with the Azure Dragon, Kaido.
She still found it hard to believe. "What exactly did Ian do? I've heard about his previous conflicts with Bullet, but how could Bullet suddenly submit to him?"
This was bad.
Sengoku already felt the danger.
That was the Demon Heir, Douglas Bullet!
The very monster Sengoku had personally taken down years ago by issuing the Buster Call!
The Beast Pirates had already been terrifying enough after merging factions, but now with him joining—
Sengoku couldn't help but draw a sharp breath.
At this point, the Beast Pirates' actual strength on paper probably surpassed the Marine Headquarters itself!
How terrifying was that!
In all of history, only one pirate crew had ever achieved such dominance: the Rocks Pirates!
No.
Even the Rocks Pirates were nearly fractured at the time, and few truly obeyed Rocks.
But the current Beast Pirates? They all genuinely followed Ian.
Could the Beast Pirates become even stronger?
The very thought made Sengoku want to curse.
The Marines were declining, and now, an unprecedentedly powerful enemy had appeared at the worst possible time.
And Bullet wasn't even the most crucial factor.
"Wait!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru's eyes trembled as if she had witnessed something impossible. "Morgans said Kaido was helpless against Ian? Crushed completely?"
Sengoku replied, a pained expression on his face, "At least from the photo, when Ian gutted Kaido, not a speck of dust even touched him."
"Oh wow, is it really that exaggerated?"
Kizaru couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment. "Now I can somewhat understand why Kaido would submit to Ian."
If he really was that strong, it wouldn't be impossible.
Vice Admiral Tsuru's face had darkened to the extreme.
"So Morgans didn't headline today's news as 'The Birth of the Strongest Pirate Crew in the World,' but instead—"
"The Strongest Person in the World!"
Even more terrifying than the emergence of the world's strongest pirate crew was that the person leading it was the strongest person in the world!
"I must see the Five Elders!"
Sengoku said directly.
This was no longer a situation the Marine Headquarters could handle alone.
The World Government had to fully intervene!
Almost simultaneously.
Bruru bruru bruru.
The Den Den Mushi rang.
Sengoku answered immediately.
"Sengoku! Come to Mary Geoise!"
The Five Elders wanted to see him as well.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku rushed without a moment's pause, arriving at Mary Geoise at the earliest opportunity.
By the time he entered the power chamber, the Five Elders had already been scolding furiously, glaring and blowing their beards for quite some time.
Sengoku even saw a familiar face. "Kong-san? You're here too?"
"Why couldn't I come," Kong, former Fleet Admiral and now Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's forces, sighed.
"That bastard Ian finally quieted down for a while, and now it's blown up this badly."
"Sengoku, what's the Navy's stance on this?"
The bald elder, Warcury, asked bluntly.
"Though it's hard to accept, the fact is that the power Ian commands now surpasses the Navy," Sengoku said, his heart filled with despair.
To think that the Navy, order of the seas, had been outdone by a group of pirates—it sounded terrible when spoken aloud.
"The Beasts Pirates are far too dangerous now! Even more so than the Rocks Pirates back in the day! At least with the Rocks, nobody knew whether the One Piece existed!"
The Five Elders nodded with grim expressions.
In their hearts, they couldn't help but curse Roger harshly.
If it weren't for that bastard, no one would have known that the legendary One Piece was actually real.
If the One Piece didn't exist, why would they need to be so wary of the Beasts Pirates?
They could have dealt with them just like they did with the Rocks Pirates back in the day.
"We can't allow the Beasts Pirates to exist any longer!"
Sengoku said seriously. "Your Excellencies, the Navy alone isn't enough at this time. We need the World Government's help! No! Or rather—"
"Now, the World Government should gather all its strength to crush the Beasts Pirates!"
"That's why we called you here."
The Five Elders looked at Sengoku with eyes full of approval.
Too strong!
The Beasts Pirates have become far too strong!
Strong enough that the World Government can no longer tolerate their existence!
They must be annihilated!
Even if it comes at a heavy cost, the Beasts Pirates must be wiped out!
Especially that monster, Ian. He cannot be allowed to live!
He's only seventeen!
Still not even an adult!
If things continue like this, reaching—or even surpassing—Joy Boy's level is inevitable!
This world does not need another person capable of threatening the Imu-sama!
"The government will fully support you!"
Saturn said seriously. "Besides summoning the Seven Warlords, I will accompany you with all the veteran CP0 officials."
Where he goes, it represents the presence of all the Five Elders.
"Your Excellencies, will you personally take action as well?"
Sengoku asked, astonished.
He knew the Five Elders possessed formidable strength, but he had never seen them fight before.
"At the necessary moment," Warcury said, "the God's Knights will also be deployed."
Sengoku's eyes widened.
The God's Knights are the Celestial Dragons' strongest force, the ultimate guardians of Mariejois.
Even they were going to get involved?
The Celestial Dragons… even the gods of this world felt fear toward Ian?
"I understand!"
Sengoku nodded deeply.
"Even…"
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro adjusted the golden-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. "The power of pirates isn't something we can't make use of."
"Pirates?"
Sengoku looked up, shocked.
He had never considered such an idea before.
"Right now, the terror of the Beasts Pirates is so great that even our World Government must give it everything we've got," Mars with the long beard said calmly.
"But what about the other pirates in the same seas? Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Redfield, even Zephyr—what do they think of the Beasts Pirates?"
Sengoku fell into deep thought instantly.
Indeed, compared to the Navy and the World Government, these dangerous New World players would be the first to face the misfortune of the Beasts Pirates.
Would they want such a strong and aggressive neighbor?
"I understand."
Sengoku nodded once more.
He wasn't a rigid man—so what if it meant using the power of pirates?
In fact, it might be even better to leverage it.
Let a group of damned pirate dogs tear each other apart—wouldn't that be perfect?
"Let's begin the operation!!"
The Five Elders gave the command.
**********
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