"Everyone, I bring great news! After my tireless efforts, I have finally secured the aid of the World Government! To mark this glorious occasion, the noble and exalted Celestial Dragon, Saint Charlos, has graciously dispatched his loyal guards from CP7 to assist us. Let us welcome them with the warmest applause!"
The rotund Gilbert, round as a ball, led a group of suited, masked agents up onto the banquet platform. With trembling excitement, he reached out his pudgy hand to accept a transponder snail, enhanced for amplification, from a young and beautiful maid, then spoke with visible pride.
World Government support!
Saint Charlos, a Celestial Dragon!
CP7, the Celestial Dragon's guards!
As Gilbert's words echoed through the hall, those phrases instantly filled the minds of everyone present. Seeing the masked men remain silent, and their leader even stepping forward to stand beside Gilbert, the nobles erupted in wild cheers, shouting with manic enthusiasm.
"Ah, so they're just the lapdogs of the Celestial Dragons. No wonder I felt sick just looking at them."
Upon learning the identity of the mysterious masked group, Aaron lowered his head, his expression twisting with disgust and hatred.
Williams wore a similar look. He too lowered his head, hiding the changes in his face that betrayed his emotions.
The CP organizations were nothing more than the Celestial Dragons' lackeys agents raised and brainwashed from childhood to worship those "gods," obeying their every command without question.
In Mary Geoise, both Aaron and Williams had interacted with these lackeys far more than with the Celestial Dragons themselves. To protect their masters, these dogs would go to any length to torment the slaves, crushing their will, erasing their hope, and turning them into broken toys for the Dragons' amusement.
Some of the more twisted ones even abused their power for personal pleasure, torturing slaves simply to satisfy their warped desires.
So, the two men's hatred for the Celestial Dragons' servants was no less than their hatred for the Dragons themselves.
"Aaron, what do we do now?"
Williams quickly composed himself, lowering his voice as he spoke to Aaron, who had also regained his composure.
He didn't want to admit it, but Gilbert now held an overwhelming advantage.
In theory, even if Gilbert won the civil war, his claim to power would still be illegitimate. Many officials and citizens would resent him. But with the World Government's official recognition, his rule had become "lawful." Under their protection, the stain of illegitimacy vanished almost overnight.
And now, with the aid of a Celestial Dragon and the powerful CP7 unit, a team skilled in espionage and assassination, Gilbert's position had become truly formidable.
With them at his side, the royal army's high command could no longer sleep in peace.
It was clear: Gilbert now held a stack of winning cards. The scales of victory were tipping rapidly in his favor. Unless Gresham's faction had some hidden trump card, this war's outcome was nearly decided.
Williams also understood that the time to choose sides had come.
Obviously, Gilbert's grand banquet served two purposes: first, to flaunt his recognition by the World Government and the aid of the Celestial Dragons, boosting his army's morale; and second, to force the remaining undecided elites in the city to take a stand.
And perhaps… the war was already beginning.
"Buru-buru-buru~"
Suddenly, the sound of multiple ringing Den Den Mushi echoed through the hall.
Williams's own transponder snail began ringing as well. He quickly pulled it out and lifted the receiver.
"President, bad news! The Blizzard Legion has launched a surprise attack on Snowstorm City, they're currently locked in fierce battle with the Royal Army's Second Corps!"
The moment he picked up, the snail's face twisted into one of panic as the message blared out.
The Blizzard Legion was clashing with the Royal Army's Second Corps!
That was the same message all the merchants at the banquet were now receiving.
The Blizzard Legion was Gilbert's elite army, ten thousand strong, hardened by years of training in the icy mountains outside Vilia Port. They were not only disciplined and heavily armed but also the same force that had once repelled the pirate coalition invasion, earning them the title of Drum Kingdom's strongest army.
Aaron's subordinate, Lombarton, had come from that very legion.
Now that the Blizzard Legion was attacking the Royal Army, it could only mean one thing, Gilbert had declared war.
"Hahaha! As expected of the sharpest merchants in the city—you always get the news so fast! That's right! One hour ago, I gave the Blizzard Legion the order to march. Before long, Snowstorm City will be mine!"
Seeing the stunned faces of his guests, Gilbert burst into loud, triumphant laughter.
To prepare for this war, he had paid an enormous price—not only vast sums of money, but even by betraying the Drum Kingdom's interests to gain the World Government's recognition and the Celestial Dragons' support.
But he knew it was worth it. As long as he could sit on that throne, everything was justified.
As Gilbert openly admitted to initiating the war, those who had already secretly allied with him raised their glasses in salute.
Gilbert, grinning, accepted a glass of wine from a lovely maid and held it high. But instead of drinking, his sharp gaze swept over the crowd, fixing on those who had not yet lifted their glasses.
Without question, this was a test. A demand for allegiance.
Under his piercing stare, the remaining hesitant nobles slowly raised their glasses as well, bowing to him in submission. Gilbert nodded approvingly at each of them.
His gaze finally landed on Williams, with a trace of expectation glinting in his eyes.
Though Gilbert looked down on Williams, he valued the man behind him, Aaron.
Even Gilbert, arrogant as he was, had to bow his head before true strength.
After all, the World Government was not omnipotent. It could not protect him forever. The Government's authority could cow the common folk, but not powerful individuals. Showing arrogance toward such men was the fastest way to lose one's head.
Unfortunately for him, Gilbert's expectation went unmet. Williams did not raise his glass. Which could only mean one thing, Aaron had yet to choose a side.
"Ungrateful scum. Once I've taken control of the Drum Kingdom, I'll make sure to crush you foreign filth. Still… since you refused Gresham as well, I suppose I'll spare you, for now."
Gilbert's glare turned venomous as he looked at Williams before turning away.
He knew he couldn't move against the Shining Gold Chamber of Commerce just yet. If he forced Aaron, an elemental Devil Fruit user, to defect to his brother's side, it would be disastrous.
"Is this really fine, Aaron? He looked pretty angry back there. I wouldn't be surprised if he's already plotting how to kill us."
Williams' voice was low and uneasy. Rationally, siding with Gilbert now would have been safer.
"Don't worry," Aaron replied calmly. "He won't make a move on us yet. And you saw how he acted toward us, pretending to be polite while still looking down on us. A man like that will never truly accept us, even if we side with him. He probably wants us dead already."
"Agreeing to his terms or not, it changes nothing.
If we agree, he'll give us nothing of real value. We're not that important to him while he still has plenty of other cards to play. If we refuse, he still can't touch us, not until the war's over.
So instead of groveling now, we stay neutral, watch, and wait. When both sides are desperate, that's when our worth skyrockets."
Williams nodded slowly, understanding dawning on his face.
Aaron turned toward the grand doors of the banquet hall, his eyes glinting with quiet anticipation.
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