"So, you guys were sent by the Five Elders to establish contact with me?"
Sitting in his chair, playing with the mask unique to CP0 members, Nicholas looked at the CP0 members below with a playful expression.
Despite Nicholas' seemingly condescending tone, the CP0 members didn't dare to refute. In their perception, it felt like they were trapped in a terrifying ghost lair. Every person in the hall watching them exerted significant pressure.
Especially the most powerful gazes, which made their hair stand on end and their minds sound alarms.
"Yes, the Five Elders wish to communicate with you," said the leader, a blond man who appeared to be around forty, as humbly as possible.
"Oh, those five guys? Well, let's see what they have to say."
Nicholas casually set the mask aside and smiled at the CP0 members before him.
With Nicholas' words, the leading CP0 member carefully took out a golden Den Den Mushi from his coat.
After dialing the number, the sound of the Den Den Mushi rang out.
"Oh, a Den Den Mushi like the one used for the Buster Call?"
From its distinctive appearance, Nicholas immediately recognized it as the same kind as the one used for the Buster Call.
Soon, the call connected.
Nicholas squinted slightly, stretched out his hand, and the Den Den Mushi floated from the CP0 member's hand into Nicholas'.
Ignoring the shocked CP0 members, Nicholas picked up the receiver and answered the call.
As the call connected, the appearance of the Den Den Mushi began to change.
Nicholas glanced at the Den Den Mushi and recognized one of the Five Elders by their distinct features.
"Albert Nicholas," came an old, steady voice from the Den Den Mushi.
Nicholas looked at the Den Den Mushi and said, "Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro and the others hearing, You guys really went all out just to talk to me. Aren't you worried this CP0 squad will all die in Wano?"
"..."
The hall fell silent as the CP0 members became even more tense.
After a brief pause, the Five Elders on the other end responded, "That's up to you. They've already completed their mission. Dying now would be an honorable death."
"How cold-hearted of you, Five Elders," Nicholas coldly remarked, staring at the Den Den Mushi.
The Five Elders, not wasting any more time, said directly, "Nicholas, a man like you is already qualified to stand at the very top of this world, so I believe we can have at least one common topic."
"???"
Hearing this, Nicholas frowned slightly.
What is this?
He silently stared at the Den Den Mushi, thinking quickly.
He initially thought the Five Elders were contacting him to issue threats or intimidate him. But now it seemed things weren't so simple, and their attitude was oddly strange.
The Five Elders on the other end hadn't anticipated Nicholas' reaction, leaving them unsure how to proceed.
The room became awkwardly silent.
Since the Den Den Mushi was on speaker, everyone in the hall, including the CP0 members, heard the Five Elders' words.
The people of Wano were merely puzzled, while the CP0 members were utterly stunned. This was not the image of the supreme rulers of the world that they had in mind.
Some even turned their curious eyes toward the Den Den Mushi, eager to hear what would come next.
"You are now qualified to stand with us, Nicholas. So, come and join us, become one of us," the Five Elders invited Nicholas directly.
"What?"
Everyone in the hall was stunned by the Five Elders' words.
Although shocked, they remained silent, as Nicholas had not spoken.
In the hall, Nicholas silently stared at the Den Den Mushi.
He didn't say anything, and the Five Elders on the other end also fell silent, seemingly waiting for Nicholas' response. They had enough patience.
As for the CP0 members present, they were starting to feel like their brains couldn't keep up.
If they hadn't known that this Den Den Mushi was from the Five Elders, they would have suspected that someone was impersonating them. After all, this conversation seemed too absurd.
The Five Elders inviting Nicholas to join them?
If that happened, wouldn't the Five Elders become the Six Elders, with Nicholas becoming their actual superior?
Is there no law? No justice?
The CP0 captain almost wanted to ask the Five Elders in Mariejois, "Have you asked for our opinion before suddenly finding another boss for the World Government?"
The hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
"Five Elders, what do you really want?" Nicholas asked coldly, clearly not believing this was some windfall.
Upon hearing Nicholas' words, the Five Elders on the other end first chuckled coldly before speaking.
"Nicholas, haven't you realized yet? In this world, only the strong can rule everything. The common people of the seas exist only to serve those in power.
And now, your strength has earned the recognition of that great one. So, he is willing to share some of the power that controls the world with you.
You should know about the Ope Ope no Mi, right? We have that fruit in our possession. If you join us, you will become the next recipient of the Perpetual Youth Surgery."
Nicholas stared blankly at the Den Den Mushi. From the Five Elders' words, he gathered a lot of information. Most notably, the decision to invite him into the highest ranks of world power wasn't made by the Five Elders, but by Im, the one above them.
Also, the Ope Ope no Mi was now in the hands of the World Government.
Nicholas responded in a deep voice, "Do you think I'll believe your words so easily?"
"Whether you believe it is up to you. This is merely an opportunity for you. After all, compared to your short life, we have all the time in the world," the Five Elders replied, their voice full of cold arrogance.
Without waiting for Nicholas to respond, they abruptly hung up.
Nicholas stared coldly at the now-closed Den Den Mushi without saying a word.
"Captain."
"Nicholas..."
Everyone present looked at Nicholas.
The CP0 members, on the other hand, were extremely tense, fearing that Nicholas might order them to be chopped into pieces.
"Alright, you can go. And take a message to the Five Elders for me," Nicholas said, looking at the CP0 members.
"Please, go ahead," they replied, their respect for Nicholas now ingrained in their bones. After all, this was someone who had almost become their highest leader.
"Old age without death is akin to theft. Relics of history belong in the museum, not clinging to laughable power, refusing to let go."