Chapter 110

At the Navy headquarters, tension hung heavy in the air as if time had frozen.

Seated at his desk, fleet admiral Sengoku read a piece of paper with important information in his hand, silence reigned in the room, but abruptly, he rose from his seat and strode outside, his destination set for the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

In the sanctum of the Holy Land, within the council hall where the Five Elders convened, Sengoku presented the information to one of the elders with a solemn tone. "We can't afford to delay any longer. This individual must be dealt with immediately." (T/N: I would use the elder's real name but right now I'll just leave it be)

"How do you propose we handle this?" queried one of the Five Elders, a gaunt figure, regarding the Marines with a cold gaze. "Is the Navy incapable of handling such matters? Shouldn't this individual have been dealt with when he first emerged in the East Blue? The responsibility lies squarely with you!"

"At that time, we didn't anticipate his rapid rise in power," replied Sengoku with a rueful smile and a shake of his head. "Now, with Crocodile's demise at his hands, his threat level demands our attention."

"He bested Hawkeye Mihawk before, and now he's taken down Crocodile. What course of action should we take? Deploying a single admiral might not suffice. What if they failed?" intoned a stout elder.

"Sending all the admirals after him seems excessive," frowned a shorter elder.

"No," interjected the last elder, gripping a long sword firmly. "Deploying all three would only escalate tensions. They must remain here to maintain order in the New World. Besides, those four entities require a strong deterrent."

"Then what do you propose?" inquired the stout elder.

"Perhaps..." mused the tall, slender elder, "With Crocodile gone, we could use this opportunity to recruit him. Offer him a position within the Seven Warlords. What say you?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, the other elders stirred, contemplating the potential advantages and pitfalls of such a move.

Sengoku however frowned deeply. Unlike the political maneuverings of the World Government, they approached such situations as military leaders, focusing on neutralizing threats rather than negotiating with them. To them, the idea of extending an olive branch to Ron seemed unfathomable.

Nevertheless, the 5 Elders saw potential benefits in recruiting Ron. As a rising star among pirates, his allegiance could greatly bolster their influence and reputation.

"Offer him a position among the Seven Warlords?" Sengoku's voice was laced with skepticism. "I don't believe that's a prudent course of action. Ron has shown little regard for authority. Granting him such a title would only sow discord within the ranks. Furthermore, I doubt Ron would accept such an offer."

"Not necessarily," countered an elder confidently. "Despite the changing tides brought by Roger's era, our authority remains unchallenged in much of the world. Ron would be wise to align himself with us. With our backing, his potential for growth is immense."

"Indeed," agreed the other elders in unison. "Extending an invitation to Ron would be mutually beneficial. It's a gesture of recognition and an opportunity for him to thrive under our banner."

Reluctantly, Sengoku acquiesced. "Very well. If this is the consensus, then so be it." With a heavy heart, he departed, leaving the Elders to enact their plan.

That day, messengers from the World Government and the Navy Headquarters sailed towards Ron's location aboard a warship, offering him the coveted position among the Seven Warlords. Meanwhile, the Marines halted plans to dispatch the admirals to apprehend Ron, hopeful that their offer would lead to a peaceful resolution. However, they refrained from publicizing the news, wary of the repercussions should Ron reject their proposal.