Chapter 2: Taking the Helm of the World Government Personally!

Loneliness makes the night deeper; loneliness sublimates in the night.

The ancient full moon releases its cold light in solitude.

Even though it is surrounded by a dense cluster of twinkling stars, they cannot bring it the slightest warmth.

It just gazes silently down at the ancient castle below.

Suppressing the four seas, ruling the world, the center of the planet's highest authority, the supreme holy land recognized by all.

All these titles refer to this city standing atop the Red Line.

Mary Geoise!

Even in the dead of night, it shines brilliantly like the most magnificent golden crown.

And this ancient castle, known as Pangea, is the very core of the Holy Land.

Here reside the legendary Five Elders, who control the situation and direction of the entire world.

However, within the core, there exists an even more central existence.

The Empty Throne!

To the world, this golden-red throne, which symbolizes peace and equality, is meant to be placed upon the triple dais only as a symbol; no one is ever to sit upon it.

Moonlight spills from above, serving as the only light source for this Empty Throne Room.

It makes the entire interior space appear vast and cold.

The towering, pointed throne is bathed in the majority of the light.

Yet, in this quiet, late hour of the night.

A deep figure sits upright on the throne amidst the moonlight, back turned to the World Government emblem on the back of the chair.

Those golden, rippling eyes look down upon the five people kneeling on the floor below.

The Five Elders!

"Im-sama, Gol D. Roger has been successfully arrested by the Navy and is currently being escorted to Impel Down by Sengoku and Garp."

"His wife, Portgas D. Rouge, has also been placed under house arrest in Marineford according to your instructions, guarded by the female unit led by Vice Admiral Tsuru."

Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro spoke first.

Then, Saint Topman Warcury, kneeling to his right, took over.

"After discussion, we are considering a public execution in Roger's hometown, Loguetown in the East Blue, to intimidate the nations of the world and suppress the growing arrogance of the pirates. What do you think?"

"Denied!"

This response from the one on high startled the five people kneeling on the cold floor.

It left them stunned for a moment.

They truly had not expected Im-sama to reject this proposal.

No matter how one looked at it, a public execution had many benefits.

Moreover, based on past experience, Im-sama generally did not interfere much in such 'minor matters.'

But what they did not know was that the person sitting above them, while maintaining a cold and aloof expression on the surface, was feeling incredibly conflicted at this moment.

As a transmigrator, he naturally understood that, by conventional logic, a public execution would have a positive effect on the World Government.

But also because he was a transmigrator, he knew even better what the subsequent developments would be.

Who knows, maybe Roger was just waiting for a public execution!

He didn't believe for a second that the declaration that kicked off the Great Pirate Era was something Roger only thought of because someone happened to ask.

In any case, he felt that even if no one had asked, Roger would surely have shouted something similar.

Otherwise, wouldn't his surrender and death have been in vain?

"Hold the public execution in Marineford to avoid any accidents, and during the broadcast, play only Sengoku's voice, keeping it muted for the rest of the time to prevent Roger from saying things he shouldn't before he dies."

Im, sitting on the Empty Throne, came up with a compromise.

Accidents... things that shouldn't be said...

The Five Elders pondered these two keywords carefully.

Soon, Saint Marcus Mars, kneeling on the far left, seemed to understand something.

He habitually stroked his long white beard that completely covered his mouth, and then a look of pleasant surprise appeared on his face.

"Im-sama is wise!"

The four on the right glanced at him in confusion—what did you understand?

"The reason this Roger became the world-recognized Pirate King is that he collected the four Road Poneglyphs and reached that Laugh Tale."

"In other words, he must have some knowledge of the history of the past, so we must guard against any words he might speak during the public execution."

"So that's it!"

The other four suddenly realized and nodded in agreement.

"Hmm."

Im hesitated for a second before tacitly agreeing.

Although it was slightly different from what he was guarding against, what the other party said did indeed make sense.

"Let's handle Roger's matter this way. Next, let's talk about the future; this is the main reason I summoned you here."

But what he said next completely shocked the Five Elders who were still kneeling.

"I have seen the future!"

"Twenty-four years from now, an unprecedented rebellion of the four seas will break out, leading to a massive war that will directly threaten the rule and lives of all Celestial Dragons!"

Although he uttered such terrifying words, Im's tone remained as cold as ever.

It was as if there was nothing in this world that could make him change his expression.

Coupled with the cold moonlight on his body, he appeared so lonely.

But the five people below had their expressions change drastically.

Their eyes widened, and they looked up in disbelief, unable to speak for a long time.

What could they say?

Say it was impossible?

They couldn't say such thoughtless things; to say so would be treasonous.

Having been the de facto highest power holders for decades, they weren't lacking in political acumen or intelligence.

Secondly, they had no doubt in their hearts about the ability to foresee the future.

Although it sounded fantastical, it was a real ability that existed in this world.

At most, one could call it rare or uncommon.

And for their great master, Im-sama, to possess such an ability was, if anything, perfectly reasonable!

So, the Five Elders were only shocked by the future situation in the prophecy!

Rebellion of the four seas?

A massive war?

Im had no intention of catering to their emotions and continued to speak calmly.

"And the source of this rebellion and war lies in the slaves and the Celestial Dragons."

"Given this situation, I will personally control the direction of the world from now on. You five must cooperate; everything is for the rule of the World Nobles."

After hearing this, the Five Elders' emotions slowly calmed down, and they understood what Im-sama meant.

Before this, unless there were 'flames' outside that needed to be erased from history, Im-sama basically lived in seclusion within the Flower Room, enjoying the peace of time.

But now, he was going to personally steer the giant ship that was the World Government.

As for the five of them, while they still held the helm on the surface, how to turn the ship was no longer up to them.

Even so, the Five Elders had no resistance.

As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss, but they were the opposite—they knew too much and dared not have any improper thoughts.

"We obey your will!"

The five old men spoke in unison, their voices echoing in the vast, dark hall, their kneeling heads bowing even lower.

"Then, let's start with this year's Reverie."

Im's gaze, which had been looking down on everything, flickered with a firm starlight.

Since he had now become the master of the World Government, he would not allow that great upheaval twenty-four years later to happen.

The Revolutionary Army, pirates, Elbaf... I will solve them one by one!

Im looked up at the sky, at the galaxy of stars accompanying that huge, bright moon.

"First, completely control this world, and then, using this planet as a ship, venture out into that sea of stars."