Seeing the Five Elders in their deteriorated state, Garp chuckled and said, "Ahahahaha! Claudius, you're really sothing, huh?"
Claudius also smiled slightly and replied, "Everything follows the plan and serves a purpose. I'm soone who gets things done by any ans necessary."
Joking aside, Claudius didn't co here to have a casual chat with the Five Elders. His primary objective today was to seize absolute authority, abolish the power of the World Governnt, and establish a new regi.
If circumstances were different, Claudius wouldn't mind sitting down with the Five Elders, but if there's a more efficient and secure way to accomplish his goal, of course, he'd choose that option.
The poison was prepared specifically for the Five Elders. Mihawk and the others were a contingency plan, if the poison wasn't effective, they would use force to subdue them.
After all, the Five Elders have ruled the World Governnt for countless years. Who knows if they possess any hidden strength?
But now, it seed they couldn't withstand it. In a way, that made things easier for Claudius.
Nusjuro, the bald elder, felt the effects taking hold. A flicker of hesitation crossed his eyes before he subtly pressed a button on his cuff.
This was the Five Elders' ergency directive. However, with the Marines already siding with Claudius and CP-0 rendered useless, their only hope lay with the CP organizations scattered across Mariejois.
Mariejois had a considerable number of guards—technically, they could be called an "army," but they lacked formal organization and functioned more as a security force.
If the CP agencies could mobilize effectively, they might have a chance to rescue the Five Elders and rally with the guards to turn the tide.
However, the mont Nusjuro pressed the button, alarms blared at CP headquarters within Mariejois. This was the highest-level alert—upon receiving it, all CP units were to rush to the Five Elders' location and carry out ergency rescue and security operations.
But this ti, there was no response from CP headquarters.
Spandine leaned against the wall with a smirk, listening to the blaring alarm. Then, he reached out and flipped a hidden switch on the wall, silencing it.
"What a sha… no one is coming to save you," Spandine chuckled.
At the sa ti, Gis, who was gripping a seastone-forged nightstick, was dumbfounded.
Hearing Spandine's words and recalling his own experiences, Gis quickly pieced things together. If he still didn't understand what was happening, he'd be a fool.
"Spandine! You betrayed the World Governnt! You turned your back on the Five Elders! Have you also betrayed His Highness?!" Gis demanded, struggling to make sense of the situation.
In his mind, Claudius was still a Celestial Dragon. He initially thought Spandine and the Marines were up to sothing sinister.
But instead of answering, Spandine suddenly swung his hand, landing a vicious slap across Gis's face. The force shattered his mask, revealing his pale, shocked expression.
"Gis, you can say I betrayed the World Governnt, and you can say I turned my back on the Five Elders, but one thing you must never say don't ever claim I betrayed His Highness! My loyalty to His Highness… is sothing you could never comprehend!" Spandine said coldly.
Hearing this, Gis was stunned. He had to consider the worst possibility, could it be that Saint Claudius himself was the mastermind behind this entire operation?
And was Spandine so devoted to him that he dared to follow Claudius in such an audacious coup?
Ignoring Gis, Spandine turned to his subordinates and commanded, "The alarm has been triggered. That ans His Highness has begun. Start the operation occupy and suppress Mariejois!"
The Five Elders never expected that their ergency signal would not only fail to activate the CP agencies but would instead serve as Spandine's cue to launch the takeover.
Standing behind Spandine, Momonga nodded and said, "Per Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders, the Marine Headquarters will fully cooperate with CP-X for this operation. Spandine, you are the commander this ti."
"Much appreciated," Spandine replied with a smile.
Deep down, he was grateful. His Highness Claudius had entrusted this critical mission to him—a man with no combat prowess. That level of trust was beyond words.
Taking out a Den Den Mushi, Spandine spoke calmly into it:
"All units, follow orders. Proceed with the plan—take full control of Mariejois! Suppress all resistance. If any obstacles arise, ignore casualties—eliminate them without hesitation!"
The mont Spandine's command was issued, hidden forces across Mariejois sprang into action.
In the Marine base within Mariejois, Dragon held a Den Den Mushi, listening to Spandine's voice on the other end.
In terms of strategic planning, Dragon was not inferior to Spandine, the master tactician. However, when it ca to familiarity with Mariejois, Spandine had the upper hand. That's why Dragon followed his lead for this operation.
Stowing away the Den Den Mushi, Dragon smiled and said, "Alright, it seems His Highness has started. As planned, the Revolutionary Army's target is—"
"The World Governnt headquarters building," Sabo interjected.
"Correct. Then let's move, secure everyone inside. No one is allowed to escape!" Dragon declared.
anwhile, at the port, Marine officers who had been negotiating with the guards received their orders. Without further delay, the warships opened fire, bombarding the port.
Marine Vice Admirals quickly led squads to seize control of the six main ports that connected Mariejois to the rest of the world, completely sealing off all routes of entry and exit.
At the entrance of the Holy Land's residential district, Gion finished her call and pulled out a slim lady's cigarette. She placed it between her lips, lit it, and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
Onigumo glanced at her but didn't comnt on the sight of a beautiful woman smoking. Instead, he asked, "Vice Admiral Gion, shouldn't we act now?"
Their mission was to secure the Celestial Dragons' residential area. Initially, they only needed to guard the entrance. But with the operation fully underway, they now had to eliminate all resistance and subdue the Celestial Dragons themselves.
Gion exhaled another puff of smoke before replying, "No rush. The port should already be under our control. Our Marine reinforcents will arrive soon."
The Celestial Dragons' estate was heavily guarded, with many powerful fighters among them. Rushing in prematurely would be reckless. They needed to wait for their forces to consolidate before making a move.
Onigumo nodded. Since Gion was the Admiral candidate here, she had the final say.
Sure enough, before long, reinforcents arrived. A Marine Vice Admiral led a large contingent of soldiers toward them.
The man in charge wore black sunglasses and had a shaved head, exuding an imposing presence. However, there were still so food crumbs at the corner of his mouth, leftovers from his last al, which seed to have been hot pot or oden.
Beside him was a Marine Rear Admiral with three cigars in his mouth and sunglasses of his own. His deanor was sharp and aggressive.
"Vice Admiral Vergo, Rear Admiral Smoker," Gion greeted them with a nod.
Vergo, fully aware of the hierarchy, gave a humble nod in return. Gion wasn't just another Vice Admiral; she was an Admiral candidate and, more importantly, Claudius's woman. She was his superior in every sense.
Having a good relationship with Gion, Vergo then asked, "Reinforcents are here. Vice Admiral Gion, please give the order."
A cold gleam flashed in Gion's eyes as she declared,
"All Marine officers, listen up! Comnce suppression of the Holy Land—now!"
***
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