"Warlord Ryan, do you hear me!"
The voice from the Den Den Mushi sounded again, but Jaygarcia Saturn's tone had lost its previous authority, now mixed with clear impatience. Ryan's silence had evidently worn thin the Five Elder's patience.
"Is the information confirmed?" Ryan rubbed the cold shell of the Den Den Mushi with his fingers, his voice carrying just the right amount of "doubt." "Did the Straw Hat Kid's crew really kill a Celestial Dragon? Could you have made a mistake?"
The Den Den Mushi fell into brief silence before Saturn's unquestionable voice came through: "The information has been repeatedly verified. It was indeed the joint work of Straw Hat Luffy, Eustass Kid, and Trafalgar Law. There's no need for you to question it. Assist the Marines in arresting them immediately without delay."
"Understood." A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at Ryan's lips as he agreed, then hung up.
"The Straw Hat Kid's crew? And that Kid and Law? They actually dared to kill a Celestial Dragon?" No sooner had the call ended than Mikita rushed over, hands on her hips, her face exaggerated with disbelief. "Have their brains been soaked in seawater?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Porche quickly chimed in, her tone full of astonishment. "I've seen people who aren't afraid to die, but never ones so daring to cause trouble. They're really foolish... Ouch!"
Mid-sentence, she was abruptly cut off, clutching her rounded lower back, her cheeks flushing as she complained, "So annoying, Captain, why did you hit me?"
Ryan glanced at Porche, then at Mikita, and said irritably, "Why bother with what others do? Mind your own business."
These two foolish women were making indirect remarks. If it weren't for their cooperation on the ship, that slap would have made them howl in pain.
"Captain, this matter is too unbelievable." Zala ignored the trivialities and stepped forward to remind him, "Although the Straw Hat Kid's crew acts recklessly, they aren't the type to kill indiscriminately. Celestial Dragons are, after all, 'descendants of the gods' and the World Government's bottom line. How could they dare to actually kill one? Killing a Celestial Dragon is like putting themselves on a roasting fire."
Ryan, of course, knew the Straw Hat crew's nature. Despite their life-and-death struggles in every adventure, not a single one of them had actually died.
But now wasn't the time to discuss that. He had clearly instigated Boa Hancock to kill Saint Charlos in the corridor behind the auction house. How had the culprits suddenly become Luffy, Kid, and Law?
Had the World Government made a major blunder in their investigation?
The thought barely surfaced before Ryan suppressed it. The CP organization under the World Government was most adept at tracking and cleaning up. By simply reviewing the auction house's personnel movements, they could easily identify Ryan as the prime suspect!
Surely, they didn't really think the World Government, which had ruled the world for 800 years, was full of idiots!
Yet, the World Government hadn't even gathered evidence and had directly issued a verdict. Combined with the Five Elders' earlier pause, Ryan felt it wasn't simple.
Perhaps this was intentional on the World Government's part.
As long as Ryan hadn't "openly" admitted to killing a Celestial Dragon or actively raised a rebel flag to challenge the World Government's authority, the Five Elders would never easily break ties with him over a troublesome good-for-nothing.
After all, the Seven Warlords were not disposable pawns, but a crucial component in maintaining the balance of the three great powers at sea: the "Marines - Four Emperors - Seven Warlords."
The loss of one Warlord meant the scales of power would tip further toward the Four Emperors, potentially destabilizing the entire ocean's structure.
Moreover, these were extraordinary times. With Fire Fist Ace captured and Marine Headquarters already targeting Whitebeard, a war that could shake the entire seas was imminent. The Marines needed the combat power of the Seven Warlords more than ever to fill the gap in their confrontation with the Four Emperors.
Ryan's ability to slay Golden Lion and secure his position as a Warlord through sheer strength made his combat value in the "confrontation with Whitebeard" plan far more significant than the life of a worthless Celestial Dragon like Saint Charlos. Sacrificing military balance and potentially driving a Warlord to rebellion over such trash was a losing business deal the Five Elders would never make.
With this realization, Ryan's doubts completely vanished. He could even imagine that the World Government had likely already handled the "evidence"—whatever it took to make "the Straw Hat Kid's crew killing a Celestial Dragon" appear seamless, making the entire world believe this was the "truth."
After all, it wasn't the first time the World Government had erased truth and altered "facts." From the Buster Call on Ohara to the "heroic legends" of East Blue, every instance served their "interests."
Of course, the possibility of a "mistake" couldn't be entirely ruled out, but Ryan considered it extremely unlikely. Since this was an order directly from the Five Elders, it must have undergone layers of deliberation and calculation, with every step centered around "maximizing benefits." It could never be a simple "investigative error."
This was the logic of politicians: no absolute "right or wrong," only eternal "interests." As long as you possessed sufficient value, even if you crossed the line, they would "adjust" the rules for you. But if you held no value, even as a Celestial Dragon, you were merely a pawn to be discarded at any time.
Ultimately, this was the rule of the pirate world—the strong reign supreme.
"Why overthink it?" A playful smile curled at the corner of Ryan's lips. "Since the World Government is 'forcibly summoning' me, I might as well go join the fun. Whether they're intentionally finding scapegoats or there's some hidden truth, since the Five Elders have actively provided a 'narrative' and pinned the blame on the Straw Hat Kid, Eustass Kid, and Trafalgar Law, why bother exposing it?"
"After all, the privileges of being a Warlord are quite 'sweet'—they help avoid a lot of trouble."
With that, Ryan turned and descended from the deck, his steps light and clearly unconcerned about this "forced summons."
"Captain, are you going alone?" Mikita quickly chased after him, stopping on the deck as she called out to inquire.
"It's just 'going through the motions' to join the fun. Why bring so many people?" Ryan didn't even look back, merely waving his hand dismissively before adding, "There are plenty of pirates hiding on Sabaody Archipelago. If you're bored, find your own entertainment on the island."
As Ryan departed, the deck fell into temporary silence.
Rob Lucci said nothing, being the first to step down from the deck. The other CP9 members immediately understood, following Lucci's lead in tacit understanding without another word.
After a brief exchange, Ryan leaped off the ship and headed toward Sabaody Archipelago.
Daz Bones watched Lucci's group depart with a slight frown, then turned to the remaining crew and stated concisely: "Among the Shichibukai's 'responsibilities' is assisting in suppressing Pirates."
Zala glanced at Daz Bones, understanding he was restless and seeking worthy opponents to test his skills. Without exposing this, she simply added: "We can go, but someone must guard the ship."
"I'll stay behind to organize the medical supplies," Hogback promptly offered from the other side of the deck, adjusting his glasses.
No one questioned Hogback, recognizing him as the doctor responsible for managing supplies and handling medical emergencies. After nodding approval, Ryan turned to Absalom and Perona floating nearby: "You two will also stay to guard the ship."
Though somewhat reluctant, Absalom didn't object. Perona pouted, hugging her plush doll while muttering "so troublesome," but ultimately acquiesced.
"Alright, the three of you will guard the ship." Without further instructions, Zala turned and disembarked. "We're leaving."
Daz Bones took the lead, followed by Mikita floating down with her green parasol, Porche swaying her silk scarf, and BABE hefting his heavy hammer. The group quickly left the ship and ventured deeper into Sabaody Archipelago.
No one worried about Hogback, Absalom, and Perona attempting escape. Ryan's deterrent hung over them like a suspended sword - having witnessed his power firsthand and understanding his methods, they dared not entertain thoughts of fleeing.
Rather than seeking their own demise, it was wiser to obediently guard the ship.