One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 24: Mihawk! One Sword, A Chasm

"Besides Moria, I also discovered that another Warlord, Crocodile, is plotting to..." Gion then revealed Crocodile's scheme to usurp the Alabasta kingdom and seize the ancient weapon, Pluton.

Sengoku's expression shifted from shock to bewilderment, finally settling on understanding and fury.

Among the three legendary Ancient Weapons, Poseidon could command the Sea Kings, Uranus was rumored to be in the possession of the Celestial Dragons, and Pluton, a warship capable of obliterating an entire island with a single blast, while not a tool for world domination as he had initially feared, still posed a significant threat.

Both Crocodile and Moria were remnants of a bygone era, contenders who had failed to claim the title of Pirate King. They had challenged the likes of Kaido, one of the current Four Emperors.

Gol D. Roger, and Shiki, the Golden Lion, alongside Whitebeard, known collectively as legendary pirates, each possessing power comparable to an Ancient Weapon, capable of destroying islands and even the world.

Ohara, the renowned archaeological island in the West Blue, had been destroyed, with Nico Robin as the sole survivor. Sengoku was aware of this incident. Admiral Aokiji had confided in him, revealing that it was the dying wish of his friend, the giant Marine Vice Admiral, Jaguar D. Saul. Aokiji had spared Robin's life on the condition that she would be eliminated if she posed a threat to the world.

To claim that she possessed power on par with an Emperor was an exaggeration, but even a single Yonko couldn't withstand the combined might of two Admirals. Aokiji's promise to personally eliminate Robin if necessary carried significant weight, as an Admiral's words could influence the balance of power.

"Damn it! Those fools in the World Government! The Warlord system should never have been implemented!" Sengoku crushed the pen in his hand and slammed his fist on the desk.

He hadn't expected Crocodile to be so audacious, plotting to overthrow a kingdom and acquire an Ancient Weapon. And to think they had allowed Warlords to meet privately. These were serious offenses!

But Crocodile hadn't acted yet, and even if they were aware of his plans, they couldn't take action against him without concrete evidence. The very system designed to control pirates was now hindering their efforts. A leopard couldn't change its spots.

He rose and gazed out the window at Marineford's crescent-shaped harbor. Marines tirelessly worked towards a future of peace, yet there were those who constantly sought to undermine their efforts.

"Damn the Five Elders!" Sengoku echoed Gion's sentiment. The Marines lacked sufficient power to act independently, yet the World Government possessed resources far beyond the Marines' capabilities. They could easily resolve these issues if they desired. Ultimately, they feared the Marines' potential power and the threat it posed to their rule.

Doflamingo's takeover of Dressrosa was still fresh in their minds, and now Crocodile was following a similar path. If peace wasn't achieved during their lifetime, if they couldn't witness it with their own eyes, then their efforts would be meaningless.

But what could they do? The Five Elders were Celestial Dragons, and they possessed knowledge of a powerful secret, likely related to Uranus.

"Brrrt... Five Elders? Is that you?" Unable to resolve this issue himself, Sengoku contacted the World Government through a Transponder Snail, his voice calm despite his simmering rage.

"Sengoku? What is it?" An indifferent voice responded from the other end. A call from the Fleet Admiral, one of the three great powers, had to be something important.

But for those who ruled the world, even the greatest crises were merely minor inconveniences, perhaps even a source of amusement during their afternoon tea. The Marines were simply their public face, and they held little regard for their concerns.