Chapter 153: Five Elders: Buggy is a Celestial Dragon lost to the outside world!

If they cannot provide a satisfactory explanation to the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, Marine Headquarters will suffer a very great loss.

Their reputation will also be stained.

Aokiji changed his sleeping posture, feeling it was a bit of an overreaction, and retorted: "In that case, won't it make the commoners feel that the World Nobles lack magnanimity?"

"The dignity of the Celestial Dragons must not be profaned!"

Akainu practiced the philosophy of Absolute Justice.

If it would damage the strength of Marine Headquarters, he would painfully sacrifice even innocent commoners caught in the middle, let alone a mysterious man who caused such dire consequences.

He is not worth pitying.

It would be perfect to hand him over to the World Government to serve as a warning to others; if the many cruel punishments of the Celestial Dragons could be made public, it would surely make everyone feel fear, and from then on, no one would commit such absurd and ridiculous acts.

"Seconded."

Vice Admiral Tsuru pondered slightly, then nodded in agreement.

This is indeed the approach with the least impact on the Navy, unless the game merchant possesses strength equal to the four Pirate Emperors of the New World.

Otherwise, capturing him and bringing him to justice is the best policy.

Vice Admiral Tsuru added: "Judging from the footage transmitted back by the Image Den Den Mushi and the intelligence gathered by various branches in the East Blue."

"The mysterious man who calls himself a game merchant seems to control a sub-space called the Samsara Game."

"It is that pitch-black tower."

She extended her finger, pointing at the extremely conspicuous pitch-black tower in the image.

Onigumo, the Vice Admiral wearing a helmet engraved with a twin-dragon pattern, understood the meaning behind Vice Admiral Tsuru's words and asked: "I remember that Charlotte Brulee, the eighth daughter under the New World's Four Emperors Charlotte Linlin, is a Mirror-Mirror Fruit user."

Recalling a skirmish he once had with her, he said: "Her fruit ability is to open up a Mirror World; this game merchant is very likely, like that Mirror-Mirror Fruit user, to have eaten a space-type Devil Fruit."

"That's right, in that case, the voice that rang in our ears can also be explained."

Tokikake nodded repeatedly in agreement, and after finishing, he quietly glanced at Gion.

The tall Gion looked straight ahead and ignored him entirely.

The corners of Vice Admiral Tsuru's mouth curled up slightly, agreeing with Onigumo's analysis, and she said: "Therefore, the game merchant's strength is likely not weak; even if we dispatch Vice Admirals and Candidate Admirals, if we fail to restrain him with Seastone at the first opportunity, there is a possibility he could escape."

Space-type Devil Fruits are extremely rare, and the increase in strength brought about by the user developing the fruit cannot be underestimated.

The current Fleet Admiral, Sengoku, frowned slightly and asked: "What should we do?"

If it really is a space-type Devil Fruit, capturing him will be quite troublesome.

Vice Admiral Tsuru stood up, her figure appearing very slender among the group of Marines, and she said: "Do not act rashly; first, I will make contact with him to probe the game merchant's Devil Fruit ability and level of strength before making a decision."

"Seconded."

"Seconded."

"Seconded..."

Next came the discussion of detailed issues: countermeasures if they find the game merchant's strength is too great after making contact, countermeasures if the capture fails, and so on...

Just as the meeting was about to end,

Brrr, brrr, brrr...

The sound of a Den Den Mushi rang out.

Sengoku pulled the Den Den Mushi from his pocket, and after seeing clearly that it was the secret Den Den Mushi used specifically to contact the Five Elders, his head immediately began to ache.

There was no need to think; this was the Five Elders' accountability call regarding the leak of the incident involving the provocation of the World Nobles.

After all, with such a major event stirring up the entire East Blue, and with the added fuel from Morgans, the news president, it would be difficult for the Five Elders not to know.

Rising from his seat, Sengoku went into the adjacent lounge and braced himself to answer the Den Den Mushi, waiting for the storm to descend.

"Sengoku?"

"It is I, Lord Saturn."

Listening to the voice of the Scientific Defense Warrior God coming from the Den Den Mushi, Sengoku only felt his head ache more; this person was the busiest of the Five Elders, and he never expected him to take the initiative to call him.

"Do you know about the matter in the East Blue?"

"Marine Headquarters has already received the intelligence and is preparing to dispatch headquarters forces to capture the game merchant and hand him over to the World Government for processing."

Sengoku said this with trepidation.

Although he did not fear the Five Elders, he had the responsibility of Fleet Admiral on his shoulders; once the Five Elders were angered, the subordinate Marine Headquarters would likely face sanctions from all sides.

At that time, he, as Fleet Admiral, would be unable to shirk the blame.

After the Den Den Mushi was silent for a moment,

Saturn's voice slowly came through, saying: "Put the matter of the capture on hold for now."

"Hmm?"

After these words came out, Sengoku stood frozen in place.

In the past, when incidents involving damage to the reputation of World Nobles occurred, the Five Elders' orders were always to spare no effort in completely rooting them out, to warn all rebels who harbored any delusions.

This game merchant who provoked the Celestial Dragons was actually to be put on hold?

Although he was puzzled inside, Sengoku did not answer carelessly and immediately said: "Understood!"

Saturn's stern voice came through: "Dispatch people from Marine Headquarters to make contact with the game merchant; on the premise of not angering him, try your best to probe his strength and the ability of his Devil Fruit."

"This..."

Hearing this request, Sengoku's confusion grew even deeper.

Not being able to provoke the game merchant while still needing to probe his strength—the complexity of this request was even more troublesome than making contact with the Four Emperors of the New World.

Is a Devil Fruit user who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth worth the Five Elders going to such great lengths?

Sengoku did not know, and he did not want to think about it.

Having reached the position of Fleet Admiral, his political intuition was quite sharp, and he had already caught a whiff of something unusual.

If he continued to think about it, he would offend the Five Elders.

One can only say... the Game Merchant is not as simple as he appears.

Just as he was about to hang up the Den Den Mushi, Saturn's voice sounded again, "Pirate Buggy, once served as an apprentice crew member on the Oro Jackson, and has since been active in the East Blue region."

Sengoku was slightly puzzled; why bring up Pirate Buggy at a time like this?

Could it be that he wants to apprehend Buggy, who was swindled by the Game Merchant's rewards?

"He is very likely a Celestial Dragon living in exile. Pangea Castle contains detailed genealogical records and heritage data. We must not overstep protocol; you must bring him back to Mary Geoise unharmed!"

Saturn's voice struck Sengoku's mind like a heavy hammer.

Is this a joke!

Sengoku's heart pounded; how could such a coincidence exist?

The Game Merchant just happened to select Pirate Buggy, the prize was the Celestial Dragon Bloodline, and immediately after, Saturn confirms it for the other party?

The greatest possibility for this matter,

is that the Game Merchant possesses the secret of Buggy's Celestial Dragon identity, and after laying the groundwork in advance, deliberately exposed Buggy's Celestial Dragon identity by way of awarding a prize.

Because he holds secrets concerning the Celestial Dragons, even Saturn must handle this with caution.

That must be it, right?

It couldn't possibly be...

That a mere Pirate truly transformed into a World Noble because of a single Lucky Roulette draw from the Game Merchant?

What is that?

A God who can make wishes come true?!

(End of chapter)