To think Elio would give such an answer… Gion's beautiful eyes widened in surprise. Then she sighed softly and shook her head with a bitter smile.
Indeed, the Elio she knew hadn't changed, not even after launching a mutiny and seizing full control of the Marines.
From the moment he joined Marine Headquarters up until the start of the rebellion, Elio had always come off as a witty and humorous young man. Even when sitting on the tribunal's stand under the scornful eyes of the judges, he could crack a joke like, "I enjoy lighting my cigars with Berries." It always drew reluctant smiles.
"Everyone's here?"
Elio didn't linger on the topic. He lifted his head, scanning the gathered officers with calm eyes and an even voice. "Before we begin the meeting, there's something I must inform you of."
"If you're not already aware, then the Revolutionary Army and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo, should both now know of the mutiny and have begun to act."
"Of course, it's not because their spies within Marine Headquarters are exceptionally skilled. I let them know on purpose."
He paused for a moment and turned his head slightly toward Borsalino. "The Revolutionary Army probably found out even earlier than Doflamingo. After all, the mole they placed inside the Marines holds a rather high rank."
"As for Doflamingo's spy, since that one isn't stationed at Headquarters, I leaked the information through a Vice Admiral from one of the branch bases. You could say I nudged him to act."
Hearing Elio bring up spies before the meeting had even started, Sengoku, who was silently observing from the sidelines, raised his head in astonishment.
As the former Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, Sengoku was, of course, aware that infiltrators from outside factions had slipped into the organization. While he had quietly dealt with some through his own channels, he always suspected that some still remained undetected.
Yet judging by Elio's tone, it was clear that he had long since grasped the full scope of these spies.
Unlike Sengoku's silence, several Vice Admirals at the meeting couldn't hold back their voices.
"Doflamingo actually planted a spy inside Headquarters?!"
"Who is it?! Not stationed at HQ? Could it be a branch base commander?"
"Fleet Admiral, why not round them up and eliminate the threat?"
Elio lifted a hand, motioning for silence, and replied with a warm smile, "There's no need to expose them all. Sometimes, letting a spy remain in place is far more useful than eliminating them."
"And now, their usefulness is starting to show."
"News just came in from the Sabaody Archipelago. The Revolutionary Army has mobilized all five of its armies after hearing of the mutiny within the Marines. I can assure you, with the Holy Land making a grand display in response to my rebellion, the Revolutionary Army will seize this chance to expand their territory and influence."
"And Doflamingo, upon receiving the intel, will inform one particular Emperor of the Sea, Kaido. You didn't mishear me. Doflamingo, a Warlord of the Sea, has another identity, codename, Joker. He's deeply rooted in the underworld and has very close ties to Kaido."
"Once Kaido learns of the breakdown between us and the World Government, what do you think someone like him, who dreams of this world's destruction, will do?"
"Even though the news will soon spread across the globe, allowing the world to eventually know what we've done, there's still a timing gap. The Holy Land will absolutely try to end this rebellion before the truth reaches everyone, striking fast and hard."
"I dared to launch this mutiny because I'm not afraid to wage war against the World Government. But the real question is, what will the other factions do once we go to war?"
"The Revolutionary Army likely won't attack us at this moment. They've always aimed to overthrow the World Government. Rather than strike us down, they'll probably send envoys to establish ties. For them, this is the perfect opportunity to turn the Marines to their side."
"But for everyone else, especially the unruly pirates roaming the Grand Line, the Marines are the greatest threat, not the Government."
"That's why I deliberately stirred things up ahead of schedule, to make the Holy Land think twice. If they believe the whole world is hesitating, they'll be more likely to sit down and negotiate peacefully."
After finishing that long explanation, Elio suddenly turned to face Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr, who were sitting in the observation seats, and smiled, "I'm sure you three are especially curious to meet the one I mentioned, the true ruler behind the World Government, Imu."
"Of course, I'm sure many of those present here today are curious about this person as well."
"If the Holy Land is willing to talk, you'll all see him soon."
"After I blasted those members of the God's Knights back to the Holy Land, Imu's existence ceased to be a secret to us. The only reason Imu hasn't acted directly is because he doesn't want the Revolutionary Army or the D Clan to profit from an all-out war with us. But you'll be seeing him very soon."
"Buru Buru~"
Just then, the transponder snail placed quietly in front of Elio rang out.
A familiar voice came from the other end, "This is Gunko."
Everyone's eyes turned toward the source of the voice. Sengoku and Garp even unconsciously reached for a box of senbei each, casually popping them into their mouths.
"Miss Gunko, I take it you're unharmed by my Conqueror's Haki?" Elio narrowed his eyes slightly. "That puts me at ease. After all, we haven't fully torn off our masks just yet. Who knows, we might even end up fighting side by side soon."
On the other side of the transponder snail, standing atop the Holy Land's royal palace, Gunko glanced nervously at the figure radiating immense pressure on the throne behind her. She dared not waste time on small talk. "Lord Imu wishes to meet you."
"Gladly," Elio replied without hesitation. "When?"
"Tomorrow."
Elio nodded. "Then tomorrow, I hope to see Spandine and his son standing beside him."
With that, he ended the call and looked up at the room full of curious gazes, shrugging lightly. "Looks like the Revolutionary Army and Kaido are about to be busy for nothing."
Meanwhile, at the Holy Land…
World Government Headquarters – CP9 Chief's Office
Spandine sat at his desk, face pale and expression lifeless. He stared blankly at the transponder snail in front of him.
Moments ago, he had received devastating news.
The warships he had dispatched from Enies Lobby to Marine Headquarters had been completely destroyed. Not a single soul survived.
The deaths themselves were tragic, but what truly struck fear into his heart was the fact that Marine Headquarters had sunk ships bearing the flag of 'Judiciary'. That made it clear, between him and Elio, one of them would pay for this rebellion with their life.
Judging from the reaction in the Holy Land, Spandine, a master of calculation, could already guess what was about to happen. The World Government wasn't planning to go to war with Elio's newly unified Marines, at least not yet.
No war meant compromise.
And compromise meant sacrifices had to be made. That sacrifice, more than likely, was him, the Chief of CP9, offered up to quell the fury of the man who had overturned the world.
"Father! Father!"
A frantic voice came from outside the office. Before Spandine could react, Spandam burst through the door and dashed up to the desk in a panic. "The God's Knights! They're on their way here!"
At those words, Spandine collapsed into his chair, his eyes flashing with despair and terror.