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The construction of the Sky Kingdom, driven by Alex's immense prestige, naturally captured the attention of the entire world.
The Top of the Red Line.
Mariejois, the Holy Land of the World Government.
In the grand meeting chamber of Mariejois, the number of gatherings in recent months had skyrocketed, exceeding the usual tally of an entire year. Major events had been unfolding one after another, necessitating constant deliberation.
Seated around the central hall table were the Five Elders—the most powerful figures in the World Government. Their expressions were as cold and unyielding as ever, each exuding a grave seriousness befitting the weight of their roles.
This meeting, like many others, was prompted by a significant development.
Before the news even hit the headlines, the CP agency had secured exclusive first-hand information from Morgans, ensuring the World Government stayed ahead of the public narrative. The restructuring of Wanokuni under Alex's rule, particularly with the establishment of the Sky Kingdom, had become a topic of considerable concern.
The Elders were already aware of the recent clash between Alex and Whitebeard, secretly hoping that the legendary pirate might humble Alex. Though they were not overly concerned about Alex's growing power—due to the leverage they held with their "national treasure"—they were far from comfortable with his rapid ascent.
The recognition of Alex's crew as the strongest pirate group in the world only added to their unease. Comparisons to Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King of the last era, were already being drawn. While Alex showed no apparent interest in reaching the final island, Raftel, as Roger had, his ambitions were no less worrisome.
Instead of focusing solely on exploration, Alex's strategy mirrored that of Rocks D. Xebec: amassing tremendous power, expanding his influence, and gathering an army of formidable pirates. His presence evoked the shadow of Rocks, a pirate whose reign once threatened the world.
Even so, the outcome of Alex's battles wasn't the Elders' primary concern. Neither his war with Whitebeard nor his devastating defeat of the two Emperors rivaled the Elders' growing anxiety about one key issue: technology.
Elemental weapons and battle suits imbued with special abilities—these innovations emerging from Wanokuni didn't conflict with Vegapunk's current experiments but rather overlapped with key aspects of his research, such as energy manipulation and advanced combat enhancements. If these technologies could be acquired, the World Government's Seraphim Project could advance at an unprecedented pace.
This, above all else, had become the focus of the Five Elders.
Efforts to purchase or trade for these technologies had already been attempted but were met with predictable rejection. Neither Alex nor his forces were willing to compromise. The proposed terms—that they "borrow" Vegapunk for an entire year—were deemed unacceptable.
However, the ongoing reconstruction of the Sky Kingdom presented a potential opportunity for infiltration.
One of the Elders broke the silence, his voice cutting through the tension.
"Currently, the only operative with direct access to the Alex is Stussy."
"Should we deploy additional personnel to strengthen our hold? We could approach from the third region of the Sky Kingdom's archipelago under the guise of support."
The reconstruction effort, with its extensive personnel and infrastructure, offered a unique chance for agents to embed themselves. The third area of the kingdom, particularly its floating islands, was an ideal entry point for the World Government's operatives to infiltrate unnoticed.
Winning the leadership position at the annual Fire Festival would allow direct entry into the military reserve, and perhaps even a seat within the Royal court.
"This is one potential option. However, the key focus should remain on Stussy. From the structure of the first major region, Alex seems to be a dedicated hedonist," one Elder remarked.
"Indeed," another agreed. "Let Stussy concentrate on building closer ties with the newly-formed Sky Kingdom and develop a stronger rapport with Alex. From there, she might be able to discreetly uncover valuable information and gain insight into his core secrets."
The Five Elders discussed their strategy at length, their tone calm yet calculated. Ultimately, they agreed on using Stussy's beauty as a primary tool.
Stussy's allure was renowned worldwide, and they felt confident it would exploit Alex's apparent fondness for beauty. Moreover, Alex's growing power as a dominant figure in the New World had made him a top priority. Rather than spreading their focus across the remaining Four Emperors and various underground forces, the Elders decided to zero in on him.
While internal strategies were discussed, attention also turned to external forces, particularly the worldwide conscription campaign that had been running for months.
The conscription efforts had proven highly effective, yielding an influx of talent and strong recruits from across the seas. In just a few months, the Marine's ranks had expanded with over a dozen individuals reaching the level of Vice Admiral or higher. Even more remarkable was the discovery of a monstrous candidate with strength on par with an Admiral.
One of the most notable new recruits was Aramaki, a staunch follower of Akainu who pursued absolute justice. Wielding the Forest-Forest Fruit , Aramaki had quickly caught the attention of the World Government. His unwavering loyalty made him the ideal candidate for promotion. The Five Elders had already earmarked him as one of the new Admirals.
As for Issho, he had been stopped by agents of Catarina before he could act.
"Then it's settled," one of the Elders declared, signaling the group's consensus.
With the plan regarding Alex approved, the conversation shifted.
"In addition to this the matter of the Shichibukai must also be addressed."
The others leaned in, their attention sharpening.
The aftermath of Kaido's resurgence had left three vacancies within the ranks of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Russell and San Juan Wolf had been captured by Kaido, while Ochoku, though he escaped, had unilaterally severed ties with the Shichibukai system. Given this betrayal, the World Government could not consider reintegrating him.
"I have two candidates," the Elder clad in a kimono stated, drawing the attention of his peers. "Doflamingo and Bartholomew Kuma."
The room grew tense at the mention of these names.
Both men carried unusual and complex backgrounds.
Doflamingo, once a Celestial Dragon, had descended into piracy, a position that made him a dangerous wild card with knowledge of the World Government's darkest secrets.
Bartholomew Kuma, on the other hand, was the King of the Sorbet Kingdom, a nation allied with the World Government. His reputation as a fearsome warrior added weight to his candidacy.
While the room bristled with unease, no one interrupted—the Elder who spoke clearly had a rationale behind his proposal.
"Doflamingo's heritage makes it impossible for us to eliminate him outright, but placing him within the Shichibukai system would keep him under tighter control. And don't forget—he already has connections to Alex. This link could prove invaluable."
"As for Kuma," the Elder continued, "I have personally witnessed his strength and capabilities. He is undoubtedly a top-tier combatant, and his entry into the Shichibukai is straightforward. The Sorbet Kingdom has long faced difficulties with their Heavenly Tribute payments, has it not?"