"Glory?"
Imu pondered over the word carefully, then suddenly smiled and said, "So that's what you think, Orrick."
"Oh? Did I say something wrong?"
Orrick's expression remained unchanged as he looked up at the decayed and weathered ceiling. "800 years of vigilance, 800 years of waiting, 800 years of burden-bearing… If it's not glory, then tell me, what is it?"
Imu remained silent and then turned his head.
"What it is, does it even concern you?"
"Is that so?"
"That's exactly why I'm so frustrated!!!"
Suddenly, a powerful aura surged forth, making the air thick and oppressive like mud. An overwhelming sense of menace emanated from Orrick as his face contorted in rage, and he clenched his fists.
"I am a Nibelung, a wolf, not like those sheep..."
"If you won't say it, then I'll take it myself!"
Boom!!!
In Pangaea City, Vic, looking pained, personally cuffed Lirisk with Seastone handcuffs and forced him to stand up.
At that moment, a sudden explosion rang out, and Rowen's eyes narrowed as he quickly said, "Something's wrong, it's the Room of Flowers!"
"What?!"
Vic's face changed drastically as he quickly said, "Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), you're fast. Please head there immediately for support."
"No problem... Wait, Imu Sama is out; he's fine."
Before Rowen could finish speaking, his Heavenly Network detected that the aura that had always shrouded and isolated the Room of Flowers had dispersed.
Imu's terrifying life force, as deep and vast as an abyss, filled the surrounding space like a small sun rising from the ground, radiating with brilliance.
Since Imu still had the time to announce his presence, it meant he wasn't harmed in the least.
It was a signal he was sending out.
"Phew… That's a relief!"
Vic also understood this and immediately let out a sigh of relief. Then, dragging Lirisk along, he said, "In that case, I'll take Lirisk back to report… Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), please continue to monitor Mary Geoise. Don't let any criminals escape!"
Whether or not Imu was in danger, as a servant, Vic had to rush over.
No doubt the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars) were also rushing to the Room of Flowers at top speed.
"Understood!"
A sharp glint flashed in Rowen's eyes.
Imu wouldn't randomly set off explosives in the Room of Flowers, so it was almost certain that Orrick had done something, perhaps he had even confronted Imu.
However...
With just a single tremor, Imu had resolved the issue and then declared his presence to calm everyone down.
The implications behind this were chilling!
It represented a strength so powerful it was unimaginable!
"But, the Room of Flowers, huh?"
Rowen silently pondered.
Since Orrick appeared there… perhaps there really was something in that place that the government feared— something that, just as Whitebeard had said, could completely overturn the world.
But now wasn't the time to explore such matters.
With Imu in charge, the Room of Flowers was absolutely secure.
Moreover…
"Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), please come to the Ark at once!"
Zero's grave voice rang out amid the chaos. He knew that Rowen was currently monitoring everything through his Heavenly Network, so he revealed his presence, standing out like a beacon amid the turmoil.
"Tch, they found out so soon?"
Rowen smirked.
The security measures protecting the Celestial Dragons were extremely thorough. The assassin arranged by Tesoro didn't immediately commit suicide after completing his mission because he feared his body would be discovered too soon, potentially disrupting the plan.
But despite this caution, Zero had still detected something amiss early on.
…
In the remodeled hall of Ark Maxim, the atmosphere was incredibly tense. Until Imu issued new orders, no Celestial Dragons dared to defy orders and leave.
Masked Zero sat in a corner, glaring darkly at Bald Zero, who returned his gaze with equal intensity. The temporary commander of the Ark stood nearby, drenched in cold sweat and trembling with fear.
"W- We've found out, sirs."
"It's this guy!"
The commander carefully presented a photo. "He was originally just a servant, but somehow he ended up wearing Marine attire and hiding in a storage room."
"Rest assured, sirs!"
Desperate to survive, the Commander continued, "My men have already cornered him in a dead-end, and he should be captured soon."
However…
"Fool!!"
Masked Zero's face turned ashen upon hearing that and he kicked the officer so hard that he slammed into the opposite wall, causing the sturdy steel plates to dent deeply. Blood oozed from the officer's mouth and nose as he lay there, barely clinging to life.
Since the culprit dared to poison the Celestial Dragons, they couldn't have planned to escape alive. If there had been a way out or a glimmer of hope, they might have been captured alive. But without those, suicide was inevitable.
Sure enough, shortly afterward, a bloodied messenger rushed in, panic-stricken as he reported, "It's bad, sirs! The prisoner committed suicide!"
"The upper echelons of the Holy Land's command aren't as smart as those in Marine Headquarters."
Bald Zero cast a disdainful glance at the officer, silently shaking his head. He didn't want to discuss the reasons further, so he asked, "What do we do next?"
"He must have had accomplices!"
"We need to find out quickly if there's an antidote!"
Masked Zero cursed inwardly at the officer's incompetence but forced himself to calm down. He then asked, "Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), have you discovered anything?"
Zzzt...
As soon as he finished speaking, blue electric arcs crackled in the empty space, and countless threads of lightning gradually outlined a figure as Rowen stepped forward into the hall.
"I don't even know what happened, so how could I have?"
"However, I can guarantee that all the entrances and exits of the Holy Land are under Marine control… and so far, no one has passed through my lightning net blockade."
Hearing Rowen's assurance, both Zero agents sighed in relief.
At least, if no one had left, the culprits were still hiding somewhere within the Holy Land.
The remaining task was to find his accomplices among the masses and extract the answers through interrogation.
"So, can I know what happened?"
Rowen feigned ignorance and asked, "I still have other tasks to handle, and if there's nothing else..."
"Indeed!"
At that moment, an elderly Celestial Dragon stepped out from the crowd and asked, "Even if Imu Sama wants us to stay here, you should at least tell us what's going on, right?"
For those Celestial Dragons who weren't secretly in contact with Orrick, everything that had happened today was completely baffling.
To them, this was just another routine, high-society gathering in their privileged lives— nothing more than a chance to watch the spectacle.
But then, Orrick's manipulated broadcast signal informed them that a rebellion was taking place in the Holy Land.
Before they could even get angry, Zero's gloomy expressions and their deathly glares further confused them.
What exactly happened?
This was the question the Celestial Dragons most desperately wanted answered.
Both Zero agents' faces grew even darker. After a long silence, Zero slowly replied, "Nothing at all."
"Hmm?" Rowen raised an eyebrow upon hearing that.
Masked Zero was planning to...
"Are you joking, you bastard!" The old man flew into a rage, "Who was that prisoner you mentioned earlier? What did he do?"
"Are you looking down on us?!"
"I said..."
"It's nothing at all!!!"
Shua!
Suddenly, Zero stood up, and the Admiral-level terrifying aura of the CP0 Two Mountains spread throughout the room, making all the Celestial Dragons feel as though they had plunged into an icy abyss, their hearts pounding in fear.
"If you have any questions, take them up with Imu Sama... For now, please remain silent and wait for Imu Sama's orders."
"You...!!" The old man broke out in cold sweat, his frustration unbearable.
But against Zero, who had Imu's backing, there was nothing he could do despite his anger. He could only snort in frustration and storm off.
It was easy to imagine that after this incident, Zero's position as CP0 Chief would be as good as over.
Even if he was the Gorōsei's (Five Elder Stars) planted eyes, the Celestial Dragons would never tolerate a CP0 Chief who dared to defy their orders.
This was a matter of principle that could not be compromised!
Bald Zero gave him a deep look, shook his head, and suddenly asked Rowen, "Vice Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon), can your lightning net monitor underground locations?"
"Hmm? Why do you ask?"
---
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