Chapter 251: The Fish-Man Race Has Become a Delicacy

Holy Land Mary Geoise, Ancient City.

In the spacious and bright Room of Power, the Five Elders took their poses in turn, yet the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

Seeing no one speak, Saint Saturn opened his mouth.

"Now that Bartholomew Kuma has escaped prison, do any of you have a suitable candidate for the Pacifista?"

Following Kuma, Akainu, and the Red Count, the Five Elders once again restarted the search for a Pacifista candidate... as if the Pacifista were forever in the planning stage.

Saint Vegapunk's eyes suddenly lit up.

"How about the son of Rocks?"

"After all, he is of the D. family and Rocks' biological son; his talent and bloodline certainly cannot be poor, and he even managed to escape from Saint Garling and Sakazuki."

"Hmm?" Saint Saturn was somewhat tempted.

If Blackbeard Teach were modified, not only could they control the sole heir of the D. family, but they could also implement the Pacifista plan.

Thereby mass-producing Pacifista robots.

Truly killing several birds with one stone.

"Feasible." Saint Saturn raised his hand in agreement.

"Then the question arises." Saint Nefertari D. Luffy took up the thread: "How shall we capture Blackbeard alive?"

Even with Saint Garling going personally and Sakazuki assisting, they failed to catch Blackbeard.

Saint Saturn was confident: "Do not forget, Warlord Tiger is also a Fish-Man."

"We need only order Tiger to cooperate with Borsalino's operation; we will surely capture Blackbeard alive."

Kuma is protected by Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, so there is no way.

The Red Count has now escaped prison, so there is no way.

Who is willing to shelter Blackbeard?

Just as one always squeezes the softest persimmon, Blackbeard is the easiest of all Pacifista candidates to capture alive.

"Seconded." X4

Thus, the Five Elders unanimously passed the plan to arrest Blackbeard and issued the order to Navy Admiral Kizaru and Warlord Tiger.

"Now, let us proceed to the second agenda item." Saint Saturn led the content of the Five Elders' meeting.

"Regarding the conscription of Fish-Man soldiers."

"Neptune seems to have been frightened; he is still lying in bed receiving treatment. Is ten thousand Fish-Man soldiers perhaps too many?"

The Fish-Man Island population is 5 million, the second most populous nation after the Kingdom of Alabasta.

The Kingdom of Alabasta has a population exceeding ten million and possesses a standing army of approximately 600,000.

According to this ratio, the Fish-Man Island with 5 million people could maintain approximately 200,000 to 300,000 standing soldiers.

Therefore, when Saint Vegapunk initially proposed conscripting ten thousand Fish-Man soldiers, it was actually not much.

But for some reason, upon receiving the news, King Neptune fainted directly and fell seriously ill upon waking.

"Halve the number?" Saint Vegapunk tested the waters: "How about conscripting five thousand Fish-Man soldiers first?"

The other four Five Elders nodded in turn.

"Seconded."

Saint Nefertari D. Luffy added: "I heard the Saint Saint Saiwen Warlords' banner of Saint Saint Saint Saiwen hangs over Fish-Man Island; it would be better to ask Saint Saint Saint Saiwen to go and negotiate with Neptune."

If the Fish-Man soldiers were not useful, the World Government would absolutely force the conscription.

The Ryugu Kingdom would have to give, whether they wanted to or not.

"This plan is excellent." Saint Saturn nodded.

"With Saint Saint Saint Saiwen's short-tempered nature, Neptune and Fish-Man Island have no choice."

"This matter must be handled as soon as possible; I received news that Sakazuki, representing Sengoku, will also visit Fish-Man Island soon; it seems the Navy is also tempted."

It is not that no one previously discovered the strength of the Fish-Man race, but the upper ruling class was unwilling to accept the Fish-Men.

Now that Blackbeard escaped due to being a Fish-Man and the Red Count escaped from the deep sea, all of this is urging the World Government to make changes as soon as possible.

Otherwise, such accidents will continue to repeat.

"The Fish-Men have indeed become a delicacy."

Saint Saturn muttered a complaint and continued speaking.

"If we entrust Saint Saint Saint Saiwen to negotiate with Neptune, let Sakazuki go to Punk Hazard to rotate the defense."

"They do not get along well."

"Seconded." X4

"Regarding the recent uprisings of the Revolutionary Army, the threat must be thoroughly eliminated; order the Navy of the Four Seas to quell the rebellion and wipe them out completely."

"At the same time, dispatch spies to infiltrate the Revolutionary Army to grasp the Revolutionary Army's movements at the first opportunity."

"Seconded." X4

"The next agenda item: Garp..."

By all rights, since the leader of the Revolutionary Army is Garp's son, Garp is absolutely unsuitable to continue serving as a Navy Vice Admiral, but Garp's prestige within the Navy is too great.

The World Government cannot easily move against Garp.

"Now is a time when we need people; Garp... let it be for now; it is not as if he has not done more absurd things."

During the God Valley incident, Saint Saturn, possessed by Imu-sama, personally experienced Garp's Iron Fist: the left fist deals high damage, the right fist deals high damage.

Moreover, compared to the other threats, Garp hardly counts as a threat.

"Imu-sama has ordered: command us to find the Gomu Gomu no Mi as soon as possible."

Upon hearing these words, the Five Elders all fell silent.

If the Gomu Gomu no Mi could be found, the prophecy of Joy Boy eight hundred years ago would become a joke, and the World Government would absolutely hold the victory in its hands.

Had no idea how to lose.

The strange thing was they could never find the Rubber Fruit.

The Rubber Fruit seemed to possess its own consciousness; whenever the World Government received news and rushed over, they were always a step or two behind.

How many years had passed without finding it?

"Leave this matter to CP9."

"Seconded." X4

The Rubber Fruit was of immense importance; the Five Elders rarely entrusted others with the search, and even the Marines were unaware of the Rubber Fruit's secrets.

However, Saint Saturn thought: previously, he had obtained the Elbaf national treasure through Saint Saint Saint Saiwen.

"How about asking Saint Saint Saint Saiwen for help? At least the Morning Star Group is more reliable than the Marines or CP!"

"Seconded!" X4

If this were before Saint Saint Saint Saiwen signed a contract with Imu, the Five Elders' trust might have been reserved, after all, it was the Rubber Fruit.

At this moment, Saint Saint Saint Saiwen had already signed a contract with Imu and was a die-hard insider.

Then what was there to hesitate about?

As the saying goes, the capable bear more burdens; since Saint Saint Saint Saiwen and the Morning Star Group had the ability, entrusting the search for the Rubber Fruit to Saint Saint Saint Saiwen was fine.

Saint Voly pulled out a Den Den Mushi.

"I will inform Saint Saint Saint Saiwen."

"Very well."

Paradise, the White Land Island of Baltigo.

Saint Saint Saiwen, who was fishing alone by the seaside with his back to all living beings, suddenly felt the Den Den Mushi in his pocket vibrate.

"Moxi Moxi."

"Saint Saint Saint Saiwen, this is Saint Voly."

Upon hearing the two requests mentioned by Saint Voly, Saint Saint Saiwen's expression became strange.

The World Government and the Marines simultaneously conscripting Fish-Man soldiers—wasn't this exactly what Princess Shirahoshi hoped for: the Fish-Men integrating into human society?

Then why did King Neptune fall ill?

Feigning illness to negotiate terms?

"No problem, I'll go."

Hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Saint Saint Saiwen put away his fishing rod and the empty fish basket; he had struck out again this afternoon.

It seemed the fish felt that Saint Saint Saiwen was using the Age-Age Fruit ability to imitate Imu's Devil Fruit power, which scared them away.

Hmm, it must be so.

As for the other matter raised by Saint Voly: assisting the World Government in searching for the Rubber Fruit, Saint Saint Saiwen agreed to that as well.

Agreeing was one thing.

Whether to go or not was up to Saint Saint Saiwen.

Whoever wanted to go could go; Saint Saint Saiwen had a very clear understanding of himself: because he had sold Devil Fruits on a massive scale, his connection to Devil Fruits was extremely shallow.

After sailing for so many years, obtaining only a single Gorilla Fruit was the best proof.

The Vampire form didn't count; that was found by Saint Saint Saiwen using his God's Eye view.

Speaking of the Vampire form, after acquiring the Pure Gold Ring, the Red Count refused to eat Devil Fruits.

The reason was very sound: if he ate a Devil Fruit, it would be harder to escape from Impel Down next time he was imprisoned there.