Bang—!
The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
In a castle, one of the Five Elders, clad in a dark blue suit, with long straight white hair and a long beard, whose name is unknown, slammed the newspaper in his hand onto the coffee table before him. kanShuWu.ξà
"Damn Morgans, to claim the incident on Ore Island was just a paparazzi shot of Silver Hair's crew that was released by accident."
This transparent lie infuriated them.
However, they were powerless against Morgans, as both the World Government and the Navy needed him.
If it weren't for the fact that he controlled the messenger birds, constantly maintained his Devil Fruit powers, and frequently moved his headquarters, they would have eliminated him long ago and replaced him.
After speaking, he stood up, frowning, and asked Sengoku, who was standing outside the coffee table in his Marine Fleet Admiral coat.
"Sengoku, is this the answer your Navy has given us?"
"Why did the news of Ore Island fall into Morgans' hands?"
Sengoku bent down, picked up the newspaper from the coffee table, and began to read.
He had received a summons from the Holy Land long ago and rushed over.
Looking at the news in the paper, he was slightly taken aback.
He hadn't expected there to be a reporter from the World Economic News Press on Ore Island at that time.
This Buster Call was launched in secret, and the Navy and World Government could not have leaked it. Even if it were leaked, the newspaper wouldn't have been able to get there so quickly.
Therefore...
He looked at the newspaper, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Do you have anything to say, Sengoku?"
Another of the Five Elders, dressed in a dark green suit, bald, with a mustache, and a birthmark on his forehead, asked.
Sengoku finished reading the newspaper, placed it gently back in its spot, and looked up at the bald Elder, speaking slowly, "This operation was a secret one, so this reporter must have gone with Silver Hair's crew."
He then adjusted his glasses, "Silver Hair must have had a prior arrangement with the Economic Press and proactively provided footage, which allowed that reporter to capture so many photos."
"From the angles of some of the photos, it's evident that the reporter was likely filming not far from Silver Hair."
After speaking, he bent down, opened the newspaper, and pointed to a few photos.
"Such close-up shots, without Silver Hair's permission, should be impossible to obtain."
The Five Elders looked at the newspaper simultaneously and nodded.
"Let's put the newspaper aside for now."
One of the Five Elders, clad in a white Taoist robe, bald, wearing glasses, and the only one not in a suit or sporting a beard among the Five Elders. He held a katana in his hands.
He stared silently at Sengoku, his pupils beneath his glasses cold, his brow furrowed.
"There is something that greatly concerns me."
Everyone turned to look at the bald, sword-wielding Elder.
"What is it?"
"Why..."
The bald Elder stared at Sengoku, an invisible aura rising.
"Why were all the CP0 and CP organization members who went this time killed, while your Navy only suffered a few injuries and no deaths."
"Sengoku, how do you explain this?"
As he spoke, he seemed to recall something and continued, "And why did the base commander of G10 branch, 'Melasenne,' assist Bass Hata in transporting slaves belonging to the World Government?"
Sengoku looked at the bald Elder, meeting his imposing aura without flinching.
"They've arrived?"
From the moment he received Kizaru's report, he knew he would be held accountable by the Five Elders. For this Buster Call, no one in the Navy had died.
Compared to the CP organization members, this was too obvious.
Anyone with eyes could see that Silver Hair had shown mercy when facing their Navy.
If this wasn't handled well, it could even shake the Navy's standing in the eyes of the World Government.
Furthermore, there was Admiral Melasenne of the Navy, who had assisted Bass Hata, who was considered an enemy at the time.
Even so, his expression remained calm, and his tone was even calmer.
He looked up and said, "The Buster Call arrived only after the CP organization was defeated. As for the complete annihilation of CP0, I can only express my deepest regret."
"As for the Navy, I am unaware, but based on Silver Hair's past actions."
He paused, though he didn't want to admit it, he already had an answer in his mind.
He shrugged and said helplessly, "It's that Silver Hair is a true, non-lethal practitioner of justice."
"Justice?"
Upon hearing this, the Five Elders were stunned, and then anger flashed across their faces.
Thud—!
One of the Five Elders, dressed in a black suit, with white curly hair, a bushy white beard, a flat hat, and a scar on his left cheek, let's call him the "Bearded Elder"!
The Bearded Elder pounded his spiral-shaped scepter forcefully on the floor.
"Don't joke, Sengoku. If this guy is a man of justice, then what are we and your Navy?"
"Also, Sengoku, don't forget your place. Your Navy is merely the face of the World Government, while CP0 is the substance."
Although he believed Sengoku's explanation internally, they still had to assert their position as the righteous party.
He glared at Sengoku and continued, "Calling a pirate a man of justice, Sengoku, don't you find that amusing?"
Sengoku did not answer the Bearded Elder's question.
Some things were best left unsaid between them; there was no benefit in arguing.
"Alright."
The Five Elder dressed in a dark red suit, without a necktie, with golden hair and a golden beard, and a scar on his chest, the "Golden-Haired Elder," spoke up. "Since the incident has already occurred and was distributed to the whole world by the detestable Morgans, what are your Navy's plans for dealing with Silver Hair's crew next?"
"And your Navy's Vice Admiral, Melasenne."
Sengoku turned to the Golden-Haired Elder. "Melasenne resigned upon returning to G10 branch."
"Resigned?"
The Golden-Haired Elder nodded.
It was better for those who disobeyed the World Government's orders to resign.
They didn't care about an elderly Vice Admiral. This was their way of demonstrating the World Government's stance to Sengoku and the Navy.
That is, the World Government's will and orders must be carried out.
"Silver Hair's crew..."
Sengoku hesitated, his head aching. "I don't know how to deal with them either."
"You should know how troublesome that guy is by now!"
He shrugged afterward.
"Uh..."
The Five Elders were speechless.
They genuinely had no idea how to deal with Silver Hair, otherwise, they wouldn't have summoned Sengoku immediately upon seeing the news.
They weren't particularly concerned about the defeat at the Bass Kingdom and Ore Island.
They had annihilated countless countries in their lives, and such matters held no significance for them.
As for Ore Island, they could always find another one if it was lost. Regarding the matter of Bass three years ago, it was merely a casual remark on their part.
Sometimes, it's like this: those at the pinnacle of power don't concern themselves with the process of how their subordinates carry out their tasks; they only care about the results. If the results are as desired, they couldn't care less about the demise of a small country, nor about its citizens.
What concerned them at this moment was that Silver Hair had killed all members of CP0, which severely challenged the authority of the World Government.
Unable to find an answer, they could only look at Sengoku.
"You're telling me your Navy can't even handle a pirate who has only been at sea for less than a month."
Sengoku was at his wit's end and decided to completely give up. He shrugged, a smile creeping onto his lips.
"My apologies, esteemed sirs. Our Navy currently cannot deal with that guy. Unless we summon Garp and two Admirals, then there might be a slight chance."
"And we would have to prepare for a long-term pursuit, because a single Admiral poses no threat to this guy, while a Vice Admiral would be sent to their death."
"You are well aware of his abilities, aren't you!"
"Long-term pursuit?"
The Five Elders shook their heads simultaneously.
If the headquarters and the New World were to lose the legendary Marine, Garp, and require the assistance of two Admirals, who would protect the Holy Land?
And how would they maintain the balance of the seas?
The Five Elders looked at a photo of Kong on the newspaper with a headache.
"Alright, that's all for now! Your Navy should quickly discuss and issue a bounty for Silver Hair's crew as soon as possible!"
There was no other choice. The Five Elders could only increase the bounty on Silver Hair's crew. Perhaps some desperate bounty hunters, with sheer luck, might manage to take Silver Hair's head.
This was similar to the situation with the Four Emperors in the New World; they were equally powerless.
To maintain the balance of the seas, neither the World Government nor the Navy could dedicate all their efforts to a single person or a single faction. Doing so would only lead to the pirates uniting.
At that point, winning or losing would be beyond their control.