Hearing Imu's words, the Five Elders held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
As beings whose lives were directly controlled by Imu, the Five Elders felt nothing but obedience and terror toward their master.
After all, Imu could end their prolonged lives at any moment.
"Have there been any abnormalities in the surveillance of Alabasta or that Vice Admiral Crocodile?"
"No abnormalities were detected... It seems they have not pursued any further investigations into the assassination attempts against the women of the Nefertari family back then."
"Good... What about that woman from Wano Country, Kozuki Toki?"
"K-Kozuki Toki?" Saturn was taken aback, not even having time to consider why Imu-sama would ask about Kozuki Oden's wife rather than the Marine or Oden himself.
After quickly gathering his intel, he continued, "During the recent war in Wano, Kozuki Toki initially stayed in the rear to care for her children rather than going to the frontlines... However, when Doflamingo's two top executives went to the Flower Capital to capture Oden's family, they were killed by Toki. She then joined forces with Vice Admiral Boa Hancock to pursue Doflamingo."
"I see... She seems quite spirited."
Imu nodded slightly before falling silent again.
Only after confirming Imu had finished questioning did they dare continue reporting other matters.
"Imu-sama, Sengoku of the Marine has arrived at Mariejois with the three Admirals."
"The Marine? Oh, Mu isn't interested... Whatever their business is, handle it yourselves."
With that, Imu stood up and walked toward the direction of the Flower Room.
The Five Elders looked up at each other in silence.
"Imu-sama's meaning is..."
"It appears that in Imu-sama's eyes, not even the entire Marine is as important as those who interest her."
"Then what should we do about the Marine's matter?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
After this exchange, the Five Elders left the Empty Throne and returned to their council chamber.
By now, Sengoku, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji had already been waiting there.
However, instead of standing, they had Mariejois attendants bring sofas for them to sit on.
"My, my, where have you Five Elders been? Surely you weren't delaying this meeting intentionally?" Kizaru lounged with his legs crossed, filing his freshly trimmed nails and blowing on them casually.
The Five Elders pretended not to hear Kizaru's blatantly provocative remark.
Only after taking their seats did they turn their attention to the Marine's leadership.
"As the Marine, you are the claws of the World Government, weapons of the Celestial Dragons. Is this really the attitude you should be showing now?"
"Tch, Saint Nusjuro, let's not waste time with meaningless talk." Sengoku, seated at the center, lifted his head, his icy gaze piercing through the Five Elders.
"The current relationship between the Marine and the World Government—you understand it better than anyone. So perhaps you'd care to explain why, during Kaido's invasion of Wano, his forces were in possession of enough Dyna Stone to blow the entire country sky-high?"
"Are you interrogating us, Sengoku?"
Topman Warcury attempted to dominate the conversation first, but to his surprise, Sengoku wasn't having any of it.
"That's exactly what I'm doing! Dyna Stone is strictly prohibited from circulation in markets or black markets, controlled entirely by the World Government. So why was it in Kaido's hands?!"
Sengoku suddenly stood up, taking two aggressive steps forward before pointing an accusatory finger directly at Warcury face.
Though there was still some distance between them, Sengoku's attitude was akin to slapping the Five Elders right across the face.
Through Michael's subtle influence on Sengoku and the entire Marine forces, coupled with the growing rift between the Marines and the World Government over the years, the current Sengoku was no longer the man who upheld "Absolute Justice" and displayed blind loyalty to the World Government.
It could be said that over these years, Sengoku had become thoroughly disillusioned with the World Government.
Especially when compared to the Revolutionary Army's strongholds, the World Government's actions seemed even more deplorable.
Not to mention…
Three years ago, the World Government had already begun cutting off the Marines' funding in an attempt to force their compliance.
"During the Egghead Island incident, there were traces of the World Government behind Shiki's new Flying Pirate Fleet… but at least you bothered to put on a show back then."
"But when Kaido invaded Wano, you didn't even pretend anymore!"
"Do you really think the Marines are that easy to fool?" Sengoku said coldly.
Yet the Five Elders still refused to address the issue directly, instead shifting their gaze to the Three Admirals.
"So, is this the stance of the Three Admirals as well?"
"I've never held any stance from the beginning to the end," Aokiji said, his hands clasped over his knees.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku's stance is our stance… Soldiers follow the orders of their superiors."
"Stance? What kind of stance do you want? I've had enough of you fools." Kizaru chuckled lightly, his eyes unusually sharp with a rare glint of coldness.
"Originally, I didn't care either way, but you actually threatened Vegapunk—my dear friend. Do you really think, under these circumstances, I'd still obey you like before?"
Kizaru's fierce and unmistakable attitude was unexpected, not just by the World Government, but even by Sengoku himself.
Of course, they didn't know that Michael had laid bare his true goals to Kizaru on Sabaody Archipelago.
That was why Kizaru was standing his ground so firmly.
If they're already planning to overthrow the entire World Government, what's the point of playing nice anymore?
Screw diplomacy—let's just do this!
"Haaah…"
Meanwhile, Akainu ignored the Five Elders' oppressive glares and their faces darkening with fury.
He lit a cigar, took a deep drag that burned through half of it in one go, then slowly exhaled, filling the entire hall with the thick scent of smoke.
Then, he pulled the cigar from his lips and crushed it against the armrest of the sofa—right on the decorative emblem symbolizing the Celestial Dragons.
Akainu, the most hot-tempered of them all, hadn't said a single word.
But in a way, he had said everything.
"So… what exactly is the Marines' position?"
"Nothing in particular." Sengoku turned and walked away, leaving behind one final remark. "We're just here to deliver a unilateral notice, dear Five Elders…"
"From today onward, the Marines declare their independence!"
"You have three days. If the World Government's agents and the spies you've planted within the Marines aren't withdrawn, we will conduct a thorough internal purge…"
"Consider yourselves warned."
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