One Piece: Conquering Wanokuni at Start Chapter 154: 154. Invitation From Allied Countries, World Co

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Holy Land, Mariejois.

In the top-floor office of the World Governnt, the light was bright, but the atmosphere among the Five Elders was oppressively heavy. The source of this tension was unmistakable: the direct call from the Den Den Mushi, which bore the visage of Alex.

"I told you," Alex's voice ca through sharply. "This was a ga I had to win from the start. I only ca to you to minimize my losses. If the Beasts Pirates hadn't arrived late, my forces might've stumbled ."

His words carried an edge. "Even with the battlefield tilted by their interference, I didn't see any of those coalition forces you ntioned. And now, here you are, brazen enough to demand I honor our agreent?"

The Den Den Mushi's expression twisted further as Alex added mockingly, "Do you take for a philanthropist? Or just a fool?"

Silence imdiately fell between the powers.

Words wielded like that could cut deeper than blades.

After a long pause, the Elder clad in a kimono and gripping Shodai Kitetsu spoke in a grave tone, breaking the silence. "You've claid the entire Totto Land territory in the New World. Many would envy such a feat. Even as a sea emperor, there are always fools willing to challenge you—let alone Whitebeard."

"The last ti was Marine negligence. This ti, we won't repeat that mistake. CP-0 will assist."

The Elder responsible for diplomacy suddenly interjected, his tone asured. "There is... another path. Considering the scope of Wanokuni under your control, we could extend a sincere invitation for you to join the World Governnt as a special mber state. You wouldn't even need to pay the Heavenly Tribute."

The room shifted. The other Elders wore expressions of shock. This proposal was not only unprecedented—it was unthinkable. Since the formation of the World Governnt, no nation had ever joined without paying the Heavenly Tribute, let alone a nation born of piracy and defiance.

The Den Den Mushi's eyes widened briefly, followed by a burst of laughter.

"If your goal was to make laugh, congratulations—you succeeded."

The diplomatic Elder's face darkened, but he continued. "mber states receive the Marine's protection. They gain access to global trade, accelerating developnt. We ensure fairness among all mber nations, and your voice would carry weight at the Reverie, where global concerns are addressed."

"Fairness?" Alex's voice dripped with disdain. "You expect to believe that childish nonsense? Do you think I've co this far only to be swayed by hollow promises?"

He knows about the so-called 'Empty Throne' and the one who sits upon it—Im, the absolute ruler of this world.

'The idea of no singular king ruling this world has always been a lie.'

"A franchise nation? I couldn't care less. Besides, have you forgotten your place? It's not my choice on the table—it's your desperation."

"I won this war alone. If anyone—Whitebeard, your World Governnt, or anyone else—wants the spoils, they can co and take them."

Click.

The Den Den Mushi went silent as the line abruptly disconnected.

Whether through words or actions, Alex had managed to ignite anger in many.

Still, none of the Five Elders allowed their frustration to show outwardly. Instead, their expressions were uniformly grim, brows furrowed in deep thought.

"It seems completely defeating Big Mom and Kaido has boosted his confidence considerably," one of them remarked.

"He's not only absorbed the power of the Beasts Pirates but also claid their territories and resources. Even after the toll of war, his forces remain vast. Combined with the inherent might of Wanokuni, his position in the New World is unmatched."

The blonde Elder continued, "From the start, he orchestrated this with precision. By proactively defending Wanokuni, he brought his army back ho while simultaneously absorbing the warriors of Wanokuni into his forces. He's also acquired Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit and has ford an alliance with the new ruler of Amazon Lily. Step by step, he's consolidating power and deepening his foundation."

"This is no ordinary pirate. He's a beast, constantly growing stronger. And once he fully develops, there's no guarantee he won't set his sights on the World Governnt."

The Elder previously in charge of diplomacy spoke, his tone weighty. "Allowing Wanokuni to join as a franchise nation wasn't just about weighing the benefits—it was a way to test Alex's intentions."

"Given the situation, perhaps we should report this to him. If left unchecked, Alex could very well beco the next Rocks."

But one of the others shook his head. "During the Rocks era, we inford that figure as well. Yet he showed no interest, offering no orders or intervention. At the ti, even though Rocks D. Xebec targeted the Valley of the Gods, the Lord remained silent. Alex's threat, while concerning, hasn't reached that sa level. It's unlikely he'll act now."

"It's a thorny issue," the blonde Elder muttered. "If that's the case, the decision falls to us. Even if we can't eliminate the threat outright, we must take steps to restrain Wanokuni during the cleansing period ntioned by the Lord."

"Restraint?" the Elder with a birthmark scoffed, his tone laced with frustration. "We've discussed such asures ti and ti again, yet every attempt has failed. anwhile, the innovations revealed by Wanokuni are things we need—man-made Devil Fruits, energy weapons that shone on the battlefield, and those advanced combat suits."

The room fell into a heavy silence as the Five Elders exchanged glances. Each knew the truth of his words.

Alex's confidence, his audacity to speak to them so brazenly, stemd from these technological advancents. And as things stood, the Marines were in no position to mount an effective strike against Wanokuni, especially in the New World.

To make matters worse, with the Totto Kingdom now under Alex's control, any attempt to counter him had grown exponentially more difficult.

"Marine equipnt is, to so extent, still lacking," the Elder wielding Shodai Kitetsu admitted. "anwhile, Wanokuni continues to gather superior resources and power reserves. We cannot ignore this imbalance."

"Whether as a precaution or for the sake of future developnts, we should consider strengthening Marine forces. I propose we expand the Marines' reach and implent the plan for a World Military Draft."