The North Blue could no longer be trusted. Saint Nusjuro believed the North Blue had completely defected to the enemy.
"We need to send people to the North Blue immediately to investigate and see what's really going on!" Saint Mars said at once.
Ortoren holding the New World alone was certainly a serious problem, but for the World Government, it still wasn't entirely unacceptable. After all, for nearly a century, they had never managed to truly bring the New World under effective control in the first place.
Even if Ortoren monopolized the New World and then came to negotiate terms, it was still something they could negotiate. They could still talk.
But if Ortoren held the New World and also seized the North Blue, then there would be nothing left to discuss. The World Government would never allow a territory as vast as one of the Four Seas to fall into someone else's hands.
Lose the North Blue, and the World Government would effectively lose a quarter of its foundation. Who could possibly accept that?
And the North Blue wasn't the only problem right now.
The East Blue had been in turmoil these past two years, but with the Revolutionary Army's Eastern Army wiped out in the East Blue, the region had returned to firm World Government control. It could be said to be the cornerstone of their rule.
The West Blue was still manageable. Mafia culture was strong there, violence was common, and the people were tough. But in the World Government's eyes, the mafia holding power and nobles or royal families holding power were all the same. As long as you maintained order, upheld World Government rule, and supported their policies, did it matter whether you were mafia or nobility?
So up to now, the West Blue had remained relatively stable, without any major issues.
The South Blue was the real headache. It was the sea where Revolutionary Army ideology and influence ran the wildest. Over the past decade, riots erupted every year, countries were overthrown year after year, and every year the World Government had to send large forces to suppress them.
On its own, the South Blue wasn't enough to put unbearable pressure on the World Government. But if the North Blue was lost too, wouldn't that mean half the foundation of the Four Seas was gone?
That was why the World Government would never allow Ortoren to take the North Blue. There was no negotiating that.
From a strategic perspective, even if Ortoren controlled the New World, to the World Government it would still be like a dead man walking. As long as Mary Geoise wasn't overturned in one blow, when it came to depth and endurance, Ortoren couldn't outlast the World Government.
But if he also had the North Blue, a massive base and rear support, then it was a completely different story. And the Five Elders understood this very well. The World Government's great ship was riddled with internal problems. People's hearts were unsettled. Compared to that, Ortoren's New World Marines faction was like the rising sun, young and full of vitality. The two were not comparable in terms of internal cohesion.
Soon, Saint Nusjuro began rummaging through the file cabinets in the office again.
Not long after, he pulled out a thick dossier. Without saying a word, he immediately began reading it carefully, his brows tightly furrowed.
After a long while, he finally cursed under his breath, "Damn it…"
Saint Saturn asked, "What did you find this time?"
"For nearly ten years, the number of North Blue trade ships using the Mary Geoise route hasn't increased. It's actually been declining," Saint Nusjuro said through clenched teeth. "That doesn't match the way the North Blue economy has been growing at all. I should've noticed this long ago… but I let it slip."
"What do you mean?" Saint Peter asked, still not quite following.
"It means… most of the merchant groups in the North Blue already have new routes that bypass Mary Geoise and enter the New World," Saint Nusjuro said, tapping the nautical chart spread across the table as he spoke. "In other words, we can't restrain Ortoren's economic growth by shutting down the shipping lane between the North Blue and Mary Geoise. And if I'm not mistaken, that route…"
His finger landed squarely on the Calm Belt between the North Blue and the New World.
"It's in the Calm Belt. Ortoren has most likely already opened up a secure route connecting the New World's northern Calm Belt to the North Blue. And more than that… he's probably already started developing the Calm Belt itself. Given how patient he is and how he operates, I'm basically certain he's hiding something big in there. A lot of power, a lot of leverage."
Saint Warcury's eyes flickered with realization. "You're saying the grain industry that can support more than two hundred thousand Marines, and that mysterious shipbuilding base… they could both be inside the Calm Belt?"
Just as the Five Elders were analyzing Ortoren's situation, there was a gentle knock at the door to the Chamber of Power.
Without looking up, Saint Warcury said, "Come in."
A moment later, the head of the CP organization entered, holding a file. "Five lords, the reply from the New World has arrived."
"From whom?" Saint Warcury asked, lifting his gaze.
"It was delivered by Stussy," the CP chief said. "It's a reply regarding Benn Admiral. The contents are classified at a very high level. I don't have the authority…"
He was baffled himself. Stussy was the Queen of the Pleasure District, but within the CP system she was still technically his subordinate. How was it that a mission she handled carried a classification level even he couldn't access?
Hearing that, a hint of anticipation appeared in Saint Warcury's eyes. "Leave it here. Go."
The CP chief didn't dare delay. He quickly placed the sealed document on the desk and withdrew from the Chamber of Power.
Once the man was gone, Saint Warcury hurriedly snatched up the file, tore open the seal, and began reading, his eyes filled with both expectation and unease.
He expected Ortoren to come to his senses. The Celestial Dragons had already laid out their terms. If Ortoren simply nodded, everything would be settled. They wouldn't have to worry about the situation anymore, and from then on, Ortoren would truly be "one of their own."
But he was also uneasy. The deeper their investigation into Ortoren went, the more they understood, and the more they felt how little loyalty he had. Saint Warcury feared he would reject this final concession and invitation.
"They're Celestial Dragons… World Nobles… he shouldn't… he can't… be that… clueless, right?" Saint Warcury thought.
In truth, the situation with Ortoren reaching this point put enormous pressure on him. The other Five Elders didn't say it out loud, but everyone knew it: back then, Saint Warcury had been the one to strongly support Ortoren, and this was the result.
And right now, Im-sama wasn't in Mary Geoise, and the matter still hadn't been reported. If Im-sama learned the truth, Saint Warcury would suffer for it.
That was why he desperately hoped Ortoren would turn back. As long as he agreed to join the Celestial Dragons, everything Saint Warcury had done before wouldn't be a mistake. It would become a tremendous achievement.
But as soon as he finished reading, Saint Warcury's weathered face twitched, and the anger and malice in his eyes grew sharper.
A moment later, he slammed the file onto the table, nearly cracking it.
The other four Five Elders took one look at him and immediately understood.
Their final attempt to win over Ortoren had failed.
"There's no room left to negotiate between us," Saint Warcury said, forcing himself to steady his emotions, his voice icy.
Saint Nusjuro let out a regretful sigh. "Then we begin purging the Navy. Use 'adjusting military expenditures' as the pretext and summon Sengoku to Mary Geoise to meet with us. Have the CP organization issue an investigation order, citing classified Revolutionary Army matters, and summon Garp to the CP organization to cooperate with the investigation. Using the evidence we currently have of Ortoren's corruption and collusion with pirates, suspend Tsuru's Chief of Staff position on charges like shielding criminals and dereliction of duty. Appoint Aramaki as the new director of the Navy's Criminal Investigation Bureau and detain her. As for Zephyr, that's easy. He's already stepped down and is officially retired. Order him to immediately shut down the Marine Headquarters military academy and confine himself at home. Have Aramaki keep an eye on him as well."
After Saint Nusjuro finished, Saint Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, added, "For the orders that need to be issued, issue them in the name of Commander-in-Chief Kong. Kong's prestige within the Navy is high. If the orders come from him, even if the Navy wants to resist, they'll hesitate, and internal stability won't be guaranteed."
Commander-in-Chief Kong had already been secretly placed under control and soft detention by the Five Elders a month ago. To the outside world, it was claimed that he was unwell and recuperating at the Mary Geoise medical center.
"Even so, we have to be prepared for them to lash out when cornered," Saint Saturn continued after a brief pause. "Order Figarland Garling to lead the God's Knights, along with the CP headquarters' elite forces, to Marine Headquarters and enforce these orders."
"That still isn't enough," Saint Warcury said, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes. "Transfer the Science Corps' Borsalino to Headquarters. Order Headquarters Admiral Sakazuki to cooperate with the God's Knights in carrying out these commands."
The Five Elders' goal was obvious. First, seize the key figures who still held significant influence over Marine Headquarters and place them under soft detention. That way, the top levels of command would be left with a massive vacuum.
Bringing Borsalino and Sakazuki into this wasn't because the Five Elders trusted them. It was a final test.
If the two of them obeyed and carried out the orders, then they could be used as "their own." At that point, the Five Elders would immediately push Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Aramaki into higher positions and take control of the Navy.
If they refused, then they were enemies, and the next step would be to eliminate them as well.
Saint Saturn nodded, agreeing with Saint Warcury, but still felt it wasn't entirely safe. "Fine. I'll go personally as well. If there's violent resistance, I'll summon you immediately so we can coordinate with the God's Knights and suppress Marine Headquarters."