MARINES - A ONE PIECE story (ENGLISH) - Part I

CHAPTER CLXIII - The King's council

In the great hall of the Brocelott fortress, the Emperor's closest advisors were gathered around a large stone table, as round as a well-made wheel of cheese. Lancelot, the knight in the long and blue satin cloak, was sitting at his master's side like a good sleuth. Morgan, on the other side, was twirling a lock of golden hair between her fingers, visibly excited by this exceptional gathering. There was also the knight Gawain, Bedivere, and many other pirates that Arthur did not know, or only by reputation. He himself was surrounded by his own men, the whole group being massed at the other end of the table, as uncomfortable as lost children at a political summit. Around them, the assembly was very agitated and all were busy bringing the Emperor something to write or drink. But soon he got tired of the commotion and dismissed all his men with a quick wave of his hand. After they had all left, only his closest advisors remained around the table. The last one to leave gently closed the door and soon there was silence. The discussions could begin.

- Good, the Emperor breathed to open the conversation. First of all, I would like to make official introductions : this is Juraquille Lancelot, commander of my first fleet, King D. Morgan, commander of my second fleet and, finally, Gawain, commander of my third fleet. They are the pillars of my organization, my most trusted men and the most powerful warriors of my crew. As for you, I present Arthur, captain of Justice.

He paused for a moment and looked into the eyes of the Golden Knight with his ravenous gaze.

- My son.

Both knights already knew it, but the gigantic Gawain couldn't help but smile as he looked at Arthur with his tender, almost naïve eyes.

- How crazy ! he exclaimed with wonder. He looks just like you, Captain. And just like my dear Morgan, too.

Immediately he turned to the young woman and tried to kiss her, but she slapped him so hard that he nearly lost his helmet. Lancelot, annoyed by this obviously usual situation, simply rolled his eyes up.

- Back away, Gawain ! Morgan huffed, pushing back another of his attempts. I am not a piece of meat on which the mutt you are can throw himself to his liking.

As he looked disappointed (even desperate), she turned to Lancelot. Her eyes were now shining with a thousand lights.

- On the other hand, my beautiful Lancelot, I am all yours if you wish it !

And as Gawain's whining increased, Lancelot rolled his eyes up again. The Emperor seemed to be overwhelmed by his men's behavior, so much that his usually noble eyes now seemed to be lost in the void.

- Stop your childishness, you morons ! he sighed with an exasperated air. You are making me ashamed ! Gawain, you will do a thousand push-ups to prove your strength to our guests. Morgan, you will make a thousand tractions. Understood ?

And as they nodded slowly, leaving Arthur and his friends in total confusion, the Emperor returned to the subject of their discussion. He rummaged in his cloak and threw on the table a recent newspaper, where Edward's photograph was taking the whole front page. "The strongest man in the world," the headline read.

- You saw that, right ?

Arthur nodded slowly.

- An entire dossier reserved to the fleet-admiral, where he is presented as the most powerful soldier in the history of mankind. But that is not what I am interested in.

His large hands grabbed the newspaper and flipped through it quickly. He presented them a double page where a paragraph was circled with a pen stroke.

- "The Government's confidence in the new fleet-admiral is such that it gives him unprecedented leeway : from now on, he will be considered equal to the Five Deans, the highest authority in the world, in the hierarchy of powers," Arthur read aloud.

He remembered reading that sentence and feeling his heart clench with worry. Edward was already frighteningly powerful, but knowing he was gaining political strength did not bode well. The Emperor's face was serious, but his voice was even more.

- You know what this means, do you ?

All remained silent, not knowing what to say to a question that could lead to so many answers. As usual, Haru's voice rose like a light in the room where the darkness of dusk was already spreading.

- Why would the Deans and the Government give him such power ? After all, the Marine has always served the Government. They may work in pairs, but they have never been on the same hierarchical level...

A wolfish smile appeared on the Emperor's face.

- Brilliant young lady. I see in her eyes the ingenuity of my dear Ygrine.

She immediately blushed, not knowing if she should be flattered or offended by words so intimate.

- Edward has cards in his hand, explained Utyr, which are still unknown to us. The Deans did not give him this power, he took it.

- He took it ? repeated Zell. But how ?

- By force, of course. He must have some way to put pressure on them that we do not know about. He has a secret, obviously.

All remained silent. A form of uneasiness settled in the assembly, which Arthur recognized at once : fear, that of the Leviathan. Only the Emperor remained brave and upright at the mention of this threat.

- My army has two thousand powerful knights, twenty of whom are of superior rank, capable of competing with powerful Marine officers. What about you ?

Arthur looked at his comrades and then naively began to count them.

- There are eight of us here. About fifteen Powathi warriors follow us.

The four knights seemed struck by lightning.

- What ?! Utyr cried. Are these your only forces ?

- But each of my men is worth ten ! Arthur answered firmly. Believe me, they are strong enough to...

- Strong enough to take on the hundred thousand Marine soldiers, on the fifteen thousand Government agents ? And what about Ankou and Luci, who are out to kill us and sow death in the New World ?

In his rush, he had risen from his throne and seemed furious. He glared at the table, as if he regretted their newly established alliance. Then, tired, he let himself fall back into his seat.

- Well, he breathed, I guess any help is good to take.

He grabbed his head with both hands and seemed to be absorbed in a reflective trance.

- We have no choice but to go and meet her.

- "Her" ? Morgan squeaked. You think she is still alive ?

- "She" ? Arthur repeated with a puzzled look.

- The most powerful woman in the world, Utyr answered.