One Piece: The Strongest Trait System novel Chapter 98

Chapter 98 - [98] : The Empty Throne! Imu!

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Pangea Castle.

"SKY SOVEREIGN ROWEN!!"

The four Five Elders remaining in the spacious office—Saints Mars, Warcury, Ju Peter, and Nusjuro—stared with incredibly grim expressions at the Transponder Snail that had automatically connected.

The five of them shared a deep understanding—even without direct communication or Transponder Snails, they were aware of what was happening at Saturn's location.

They knew the one wantonly unleashing Conqueror's Haki in the Holy Land was none other than Sky Sovereign Rowen—the man they now desperately wanted eliminated.

Through some unknown means—via a Transponder Snail, he was projecting his Haki.

And now, he had forcibly connected to their private Transponder Snail here.

If even their snail could be forcibly connected to—didn't that mean every Transponder Snail in Mariejois was vulnerable to this brat?!

What kind of power was this?!

The Five Elders' faces darkened further...

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Back in Mock Town.

Several unconscious Transponder Snails now lay around Rowen.

Their communication Traits had all been plundered by Rowen, enhancing his own telepathic communication ability.

And because Rowen was directly using his spiritual power—infinitely stronger than any snail's—to utilize these communication Traits, he could forcibly establish a spiritual link with any Transponder Snail within a certain range.

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At the Warlord Meeting Room in Mariejois.

"To achieve this feat—you brat..." Saturn Saint's expression was utterly grim.

"What happened, Saturn Saint?" Garling Saint asked, noticing Saturn's grave demeanor.

"This brat has forcibly connected to the Transponder Snails throughout the Holy Land—"

Saturn Saint stated, glancing at Garling and the others present.

There was no point hiding such news now...

"WHAT???!" Sengoku and the others' faces paled drastically, staring intently at the Transponder Snail still relaying Rowen's voice.

Forcibly connected to the Holy Land's Transponder Snails?! And communicating with multiple snails simultaneously?!

WHAT KIND OF ABILITY IS THIS?!

Then, a horrifying realization dawned on Sengoku and the others.

Didn't this mean... after recovering his Haki... this brat could once again unleash his Conqueror's Haki wantonly throughout the Holy Land?!

While such a tactic wouldn't faze powerhouses like themselves... the Celestial Dragons residing here couldn't withstand such Haki blasts!

The Holy Land, Mariejois, repeatedly subjected to a pirate's Haki attacks?! Celestial Dragons continuously fainting under the pressure?!

The mere thought made even Sengoku, who held little affection for the Celestial Dragons, feel his scalp tingle.

For a pirate to possess such a troublesome ability... Sengoku and the others looked utterly grim.

"Are you trying—to declare eternal war against our World Government?! Sky Sovereign Rowen!" Saturn Saint demanded coldly.

"As if we aren't already in a state of war!" Rowen's laughter boomed back, as if he'd heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Don't get too cocky, brat! It's only because we haven't dispatched our true forces to apprehend you... Previously, you weren't considered a priority—But if you continue this wanton recklessness, we will have no choice but to risk upsetting the balance and eliminate you with lightning speed! Since you know of the God's Knights' existence, you should also understand what kind of power you are facing!"

Saint Topman Warcury, the most hot-tempered of the Five, snatched the Transponder Snail and roared.

Continuously subjecting the Holy Land to Conqueror's Haki blasts, keeping the Celestial Dragons under constant threat—this was something the Five Elders absolutely could not tolerate...

Their forces were needed to deal with the Four Emperors and various other global powers, to maintain the balance of the seas, true.

But against this outrageously irritating brat constantly testing their limits—they wouldn't hesitate to deploy the God's Knights and UTTERLY ANNIHILATE HIM!

"Too bad~ Before you manage to catch me—the Holy Land, Mariejois, will just have to keep trembling under my Conqueror's Haki,"

Rowen laughed mockingly, completely unfazed by the Five Elders' threat.

They were about to ascend to Skypiea—why would he fear them? Even the Five Elders couldn't pinpoint their location if they didn't broadcast it.

'Threaten him? Then let Mariejois get a good, long taste of continuous Haki blasts!'

"WAIT!"

Seeing Rowen undeterred, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter interjected gravely.

The sea was vast; hunting down a single pirate—especially one possessing such power—was no easy task.

Strength alone wasn't enough...

Look at Roger—they poured immense resources into pursuing him for years, yet failed.

Too many factors could lead to failure.

And this brat, with his bizarre ability to forcibly connect to their Transponder Snails—who knew what other unknown powers he has?

If they couldn't capture him quickly, were they truly to allow the entire Holy Land to be constantly battered by his Haki?!

What would become of the World Government's dignity?!

"Well?! Shall we dispatch the God's Knights and eliminate this insolent brat?!" Warcury demanded telepathically to the others.

"We don't know what other tricks this kid has. What if we can't capture him quickly?" Mars countered.

"Risking our years of preparation for this brat is not worth it," Ju Peter argued.

"Ultimately, all this kid wants is a title change..." Mars added.

"THAT WOULD MEAN WE ARE BOWING TO HIM! WHAT A JOKE!" Nusjuro seethed.

"Let the Navy change the title. It's not us bowing down. This matter can be handled by the Navy—" Saturn Saint stated slowly.

The Five Elders fell silent for a moment, then concurred.

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In the meeting room, Saturn Saint gave Sengoku a look.

Sengoku, with his Buddha-like wisdom, instantly understood Saturn's meaning.

'Once again, the Navy is being made the scapegoat.' Veins throbbed on Sengoku's forehead, but he could only turn to the Transponder Snail.

"Your request—we understand. Vivi's title will henceforth be changed to—Desert Princess," Sengoku announced reluctantly.

"JUST CHANGING THE TITLE ISN'T ENOUGH. You need to clarify—that Vivi was not the one attempting to overthrow Alabasta," Rowen's voice came through again.

"DON'T PUSH YOUR LUCK! ARROGANT BRAT!" Saturn Saint roared.

Changing a title was one thing.

But clarifying the Alabasta incident?!

What kind of sick joke was this?!

The World Government had already broadcast to the entire world that the Alabasta incident was an act of extreme malice orchestrated by Sky Sovereign Rowen and Nefertari Vivi!

For the World Government to retract that now—would be a complete and utter loss of face!

"Don't want to? Well then... let's continue. Let's see who can outlast whom. Or, I have an idea—WHY DON'T YOU JUST MOVE OUT OF MARIEJOIS???" Rowen's laughter echoed.

That laughter made the Five Elders' faces turn incredibly gloomy.

Move out of Mariejois?! What a joke!

As the Five Elders, they knew the world's true secret...

Under the power of the Ancient Weapons they controlled, the sea levels of this world would continuously rise, eventually submerging most islands and continents.

And the Holy Land—Mariejois, perched atop the Red Line, the world's highest point, would naturally remain above the waves.

For a mere pirate to suggest such a thing to them—UTTERLY OUTRAGEOUS!

VMM!

As Rowen's words faded, the Transponder Snail began to visibly charge with Conqueror's Haki again, clearly about to unleash another blast.

"WAIT!" Saturn Saint commanded grimly.

"Hmph." Rowen smiled. He knew these old geezers wouldn't dare let him continue. Because in Mariejois, the ultimate authority wasn't the Five Elders.

Click!

WHOOSH!

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Pangea Castle, the Empty Throne!

Tap! Tap! Tap!