Noisy chatter filled the air at the Levely venue as people bustled about in a flurry of activity.
Unsurprisingly, no one noticed Kojin's departure. Nefertari Cobra's gaze darkened slightly as he tightened his grip on the chair's handle. But, recalling what his younger brother had said earlier, he soon let out a long breath. His expression calmed and he refocused on the meeting.
A man dressed in black led the way, while Kojin followed at a steady pace.
At 3.3 meters tall, nearly twice the height of the other man, Kojin's stride was naturally much larger. The guide almost had to jog to keep up, while Kojin kept pace effortlessly with long strides.
"Are we there yet?"
After about fifteen minutes, having realized that they had already ventured deep into Mary Geoise, Kojin frowned.
"Almost there! Please wait a moment, sir!" The man in black replied nervously, wiping sweat from his forehead.
He recognized Kojin, of course... a powerful Vice Admiral in the Marines and also a Celestial Dragon. Someone like that was not to be provoked.
But this invitation had been issued by the Five Elders.
After a while, they reached the heart of Mary Geoise.
"It's just ahead, inside that palace. Please proceed forward, sir!" The man spoke cautiously.
Kojin nodded, narrowing his eyes slightly at the palace ahead. Without hesitating, he stepped forward. Inside the magnificent palace, five elderly men were standing or sitting in various positions.
Suddenly... the palace doors were pushed open and a towering figure strode in.
"He's here!"
The five elders' eyes sharpened as they all looked towards the newcomer.
Standing at 3.3 meters tall with a powerful physique, Kojin exuded the same imposing presence as a wild beast at first glance.
His strength was almost visible to the naked eye.
Yet there was a faint smile on his face. Even when he entered and faced the five of them, his expression did not change.
"Nefertari Kojin!" One of the elders, who was bald with a mustache and wearing a dark green suit, called out in a deep voice.
Kojin walked up to them and looked down at them, saying calmly: "Shouldn't the five of you introduce yourselves first?"
"Hm?" The sword-wielding elder glanced over, and in an instant, a chilling aura swept through the entire palace.
The surrounding servants trembled and their faces turned pale.
"Everyone else, leave." Another elder in a black suit said flatly.
The servants felt as if they had been pardoned and hurriedly exited, closing the doors tightly behind them.
In that instant, the atmosphere between Kojin and the five elders changed completely.
It was suffocating. Oppressive. Solemn. Heavy.
It was as if mountains were pressing down on the air, squeezing out all the oxygen.
"You should already be able to guess who we are." The elder in the deep blue suit said, his long white hair and mustache framing his face.
"Guessing and proper etiquette are two different things." Kojin raised an eyebrow and swept his gaze across them.
"Isn't that right?"
Silence filled the palace once more. The five men's faces turned cold and gloomy.
Suddenly...
Buzz!
An immense pressure crashed down on Kojin, causing him to tremble slightly. That was only the first wave; soon, four more followed.
"Hah!" Kojin smiled suddenly as an equally overwhelming aura burst forth from his body.
"You're underestimating me!"
His fully unleashed Haoshoku Haki surged outwards, shattering the coffee cups on the table with a sharp crack.
At the same time, the atmosphere became even more oppressive.
Six powerful auras collided and intertwined, splitting the palace into two opposing forces.
"As expected, just like the rumors say. You're quite the domineering man." One of them said in a low voice.
"Very well. As you wish, we will introduce ourselves. You've likely already guessed… we are the five who hold the highest authority in the world. The world calls us the Gorōsei (the Five Elder Stars)." The elder in the dark green suit spoke slowly.
"I am Topman Warcury."
"The one in the white robe is Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro."
Nusjuro gave a slight nod; his expression was calm.
"The one in the crimson suit is Shepherd Ju Peter."
Ju Peter remained expressionless.
"The one in the dark blue suit is Marcus Mars."
"And the one in the black suit with white curls is Jaygarcia Saturn."
After introducing all five, Warcury gestured.
"We invited you here because there are some matters we wish to clarify."
"Please, sit down."
Kojin nodded, ignoring their cold attitude completely. He sat down on the sofa and crossed his legs.
Seeing this, the five elders frowned slightly.
"Let's not waste time. If you have any questions, just ask." Kojin said calmly.
"Very well." Warcury nodded, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes. "Regarding the Ohara Incident, what explanation do you have?"
Hearing this, Kojin laughed.
"Digging up something from the past isn't very interesting. Besides, didn't the outcome satisfy you?"
At these words, Nusjuro, the sword-wielding elder, looked at him immediately. "Kojin! Be aware of where you are. This is not the West Blue!"
Kojin looked up and sneered. "Do you want Mary Geoise to sink?"
"It's people like you who don't understand the situation!"
He paused.
"Regarding the Ohara Incident, you and I already reached an understanding through Monkey D. Garp. Bringing it up again now only tarnishes your dignity."
"But if you insist on settling old scores..."
At this point, the smile on Kojin's face disappeared, replaced by a cold, chilling gaze.
"Then I don't mind honoring the words I once spoke during that battle!"
The expressions of the five changed drastically as his words fell, turning extremely grim.
"You've got some nerve, Kojin!"
"Do you think you can act recklessly in this Holy Land?!"
"Don't compare us to Sengoku and Zephyr, brat!"
"If it weren't for your status as a Celestial Dragon, do you think you'd even have the right to sit here and speak with us?!"
"Damn it! Are you looking to die?!"
Angry voices erupted one after another, and fury appeared on all five faces.
Five terrifying, invisible auras surged forward once more, bearing down on Kojin.
"If you want to fight, then let's fight. If you want to talk, then show the proper attitude for a conversation! There are many in this world who fear you, but that doesn't mean I'm one of them!'
Kojin suddenly stood up and drew his blade in one swift motion.
His eyes swept coldly across the five figures. Even deep within enemy territory, he showed not the slightest fear.
"At worst, I'll smash straight through this Red Line today! I'll reduce Mary Geoise to dust and bury all the Celestial Dragons here!" Kojin sneered.
Crackle!
Lightning burst forth, sweeping across the vast hall and scorching black marks into the ground.
"Bastard! Are you threatening us?!" Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro roared.
Kojin merely sneered, not answering.
He didn't deny that it was a threat. When one possesses the power to flip the table and drag everything down together with them, even deep in enemy territory, it is the opponent who should be cautious.
"Enough, enough! Everyone, calm down!" Jaygarcia Saturn pressed his forehead, suddenly shouting.
Looking at Kojin, who looked ready to fight at the slightest provocation, he felt a headache coming on. Before this, the five of them had never expected Kojin to be so fearless and audacious after coming here.
'Was it because he had something to rely on?'
Thinking of his terrifying 'undying' body, Saturn's expression darkened slightly. They had discussed it before and unanimously agreed that Kojin's most frightening trait was not his strength, but his immortality.
According to intelligence reports, Kojin had died countless times in battle from the moment he joined the Marines until now, which was far beyond imagination.
That alone gave them a severe headache. If a battle broke out here, Mary Geoise might not survive, and it could alert that person. Once that person's existence was exposed to the world, it would cause major problems tied to a secret from eight hundred years ago.
"Since you invited me here, state your purpose. I don't have time to waste with you, Gorōsei." Kojin said coldly.
"You're too arrogant! Let me see just how strong the power you rely on really is!" Nusjuro retorted.
He didn't draw his sword. Instead, a formless, terrifying shadow rose behind him, instilling instinctive fear.
"Nusjuro!" Topman Warcury's expression darkened. Then a sinister shadow rose behind him as well, spreading its claws like a demon.
"Make him remember this! Let him understand where he stands! The strength you take pride in means nothing before us!"
Behind Shepherd Ju Peter, Marcus, and Saturn, ghostly shadows also emerged.
In an instant, the light within the palace seemed to be completely devoured, plunging everything into darkness.
A chilling aura spread, invading Kojin's body.
The terrifying pressure filled the void, causing Kojin's eyes to narrow.
Facing these five, whose strength was unknown and unfathomable, even he could not afford the slightest carelessness. The five shadows were vague and horrifying, like five monstrous beings staring at him.
One had horns.
One had flowing ribbons.
One resembled a bird.
One had an elephant's trunk.
The last was indistinct, its grotesque, demonic form barely visible.
Suddenly... a thunderous sound erupted.
Five thunder drum symbols appeared behind Kojin. Purple lightning intertwined, and his black hair lengthened to his waist. Lightning ribbons surged forward, infused with Haoshoku Haki.
A terrifying aura surged forward without hesitation and collided violently with the five shadows.
The Gorōsei's pupils contracted in response.
"He actually...!?"
"He's developed the Goro Goro no Mi to this level?!"
(End of Chapter)
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