One day later.

Mary Geoise, Pangea Castle, Room of Flowers.

"..."

Imu held the latest newspaper from the World Economy News Paper.

"The Zodiac: A Declaration to Change the World?"

This was the front-page headline, and the content naturally needed no further explanation — it detailed the 'Big Event' that had spread across the world in just a single day.

"Lord Imu, please calm Your anger — we didn't expect those wretched insects would dare to do such a thing. We will go deal with 'Morgans' right away..."

In front of Imu, the Five Elders were all kneeling on the ground, apologizing in fear.

"There's no need."

But at this time, Imu gave an unexpected response.

"For things that have already happened, venting anger is meaningless."

He said coldly.

Both the Five Elders and Imu understood this well — the report from the World Economy News Paper itself had nothing to do with Morgans. The latter was imprisoned in the prison of Mary Geoise and couldn't possibly transmit intelligence out.

Killing Morgans now would just be venting anger, and would even cause the World Economy News Paper to completely lose control.

Imu did not begrudge killing some insects, nor would He feel pity for them, but the premise was that after killing them, the surroundings would at least become a bit quieter.

"Take good 'care' of him. Ensure his vitality declines to the extreme."

Imu calmly made the judgment.

"...Yes."

Hearing this, the Five Elders' hearts skipped a heavy beat, but they still hurriedly accepted the order and nodded.

They all understood Imu's meaning.

Torturing Morgans' vitality to decline to the extreme would cause Morgans' Vivre Card in the hands of the World Economy News Paper to burn down to just a single thread.

Imu was using this method to issue a warning to the World Economy News Paper for acting independently.

The matter of Morgans ended there.

The Five Elders observed Imu's expression and tremblingly brought up another, even more important matter.

"Regarding that ship 'Aster', Lord Imu... are we still not taking action?"

The Five Elders asked, their words shedding their caution, replaced now with a trace of killing intent.

Yes.

Ever since yesterday, when The Zodiac announced the existence of the 'Aster' to the whole world and established the rules of the Twelve Trials, the Five Elders had already prepared to launch an attack against them at any time.

"The three Admirals have currently all been recalled, along with the Holy Land Guard and the Aerospace Guard... we can strike at any time..."

"There's no need."

The Five Elders' words were only halfway through before being directly interrupted by Imu.

"It is not the time yet."

His answer left the Five Elders somewhat stunned.

Not the time?

The Zodiac was practically dancing on their faces. If now wasn't the time to strike at them, when was?

But Imu clearly had no intention of explaining Himself to the Five Elders.

"Where is Shamrock?"

He only asked this.

"He has already contacted the Holy Land via Transponder Snail. He should be back very soon..."

Saint Mars answered instinctively.

"Mm."

Imu nodded: "Since that's the case, you may all step down."

As the words fell, this King of the World flicked His long robes, about to turn and leave.

Hearing this, the Five Elders glanced at one another.

In each other's eyes, there was nothing but unease and vigilance.

"Lord Imu!"

While the remaining four Five Elders were still hesitating, the newly appointed 'Warrior God of Scientific Defense', Saint Garling, had already spoken first: "Shamrock is my heir. That he has sworn himself to Your service and become Your blade is the greatest honor our Figarland Family could ask for."

"Please believe that, as his father, I am also willing to become another sharp sword in Your hands."

He knelt on the ground with a solemn grand gesture, speaking with genuine sincerity.

Seeing this, the other Five Elders also hurriedly followed suit.

They glanced at Saint Garling, all able to understand the reason behind their new colleague's words at this moment.

Judging from the situation just now, Imu's current attitude conveyed a rather bad signal — although they were still the 'Five Elders', managing the operation of the world's wheel for Imu and handling the many affairs of the World Government's affiliated countries, they had clearly already lost Imu's true trust.

They no longer had the right to know Imu's true thoughts. Even for a 'major event' like what The Zodiac had done this time, Imu had absolutely no intention of keeping them informed.

This was a very dangerous signal — it meant they were breaking away from the true core circle.

And this was clearly something Saint Garling could not endure.

He had finally managed to become one of the Five Elders with great difficulty; how could he endure being squeezed out of the Government's core circle just like that?

"Please give me a chance, Lord Imu — I assure You, the kind of failure that happened during Saturn's tenure will absolutely not occur again."

"Please let me swear my loyalty to You, and to the world."

Saying so, Saint Garling buried his head even lower, his white hair like a crescent moon faintly brushing the ground.

It was a picture of utmost submission.

"..." x4

Those words, however, darkened the expressions of the remaining four Elders.

The failure that happened during Saturn's tenure?

What a joke — it wasn't just Saturn in office at that time. The few of them were also in office.

"This Garling... back in God Valley he was cut down to the ground by Rocks and fled in a panic in front of Star Lord..."

The remaining four Five Elders seethed inwardly.

However, they didn't dare to say anything more in front of Imu right now — or rather, although Saint Garling's words were unpleasant to hear, the goal within them was something they agreed with.

Those who had wielded the true highest power would absolutely never allow that power to fall into someone else's hands.

And after hearing Saint Garling's words, Imu paused His footsteps, turning His head slightly to look at the five of them.

"Rest assured."

No joy or anger could be seen in His eyes. He merely spoke softly, His words calm: "You will have opportunities to serve Mu."

As the words fell, the Five Elders were stunned.

But subsequently, just as they were preparing to ask Imu what He meant —

"Step."

"Step."

Outside the Room of Flowers, crisp footsteps sounded.

The Five Elders instinctively turned their heads, and saw Shamrock standing outside the Room of Flowers.

It could be seen that right now, Shamrock's expression still carried a trace of the urgency from hurrying back and the mark of the deep sea — although his body bore no injuries, his armor and the 'Seven Sins' in his hand had clearly taken some minor damage.

After seeing Shamrock, the words the Five Elders had been preparing to say died in their throats.

Furthermore, Imu had already gently waved His hand at them — the meaning was very simple. He wanted to speak with Shamrock alone.

However unwilling, the Five Elders had no alternatives. They could only take their leave one after another, departing from the Room of Flowers.

After the Five Elders had gone.

"Lord Imu."

Shamrock walked up to Imu and knelt on one knee: "Apologies. I failed to kill 'Uranus'."

He said, ashamed.

Imu was not surprised.

As the one who had bestowed power upon Shamrock, He naturally had ways to know what had happened to him. So He also knew that the person who had stopped Shamrock at the critical moment was exactly Loki, acting as 'Uranus'.

"Uranus has become the host of Nidhogg. And considering the Sea Kings near that ship called the 'Aster', has 'Poseidon' also awakened?"

Imu said in a deep voice, the sharpness in those eyes almost overflowing.

"Davy and Joy Boy... it's the 'power' those two left behind!"

As the ultimate enemy in Davy Jones and Joy Boy's plans, Imu more or less knew some of their intentions.

Just as He had always known of the existence of the Nidhogg Fruit, and also of the existence of Uranus and Poseidon — He knew those two had left them hidden in corners of the world, and that one day they would reappear to oppose Him.

"..."

Shamrock didn't speak further, lowering his head. In his bearing was, faintly, a mirror of his father's earlier display of submission.

He was clearly very dissatisfied with the result of his operation.

"It's fine, Shamrock."

Imu, however, appeared unexpectedly calm.

"You completed the most important part of the mission."

He looked at His subordinate.

To be honest, if it were in the past, He might have felt Shamrock had handled things poorly. But after the series of events in recent times, Imu could only conclude that compared to the others, Shamrock stood alone. The rest were utter trash.

Compared to those idiots who fell at the hands of The Zodiac and accomplished nothing, the person before Him had at least completed what mattered most.

It had to be said that on this point, Roy had read Imu's mind almost perfectly.

"The 'Seed of the Sea' has already been destroyed. Star Lord can no longer obtain its power... this is the most important thing."

He said calmly: "Even if he has already obtained the 'Seed of the Sky', as long as he does not completely gather all three seeds, he will not be able to truly obtain the power sufficient to kill Mu."

Yes.

For Imu, although the overall situation was not ideal, it wasn't cause for true alarm either.

Uranus and Poseidon had clearly emerged. The Fish-Man race and the Giant race had also joined under The Zodiac's banner — the plan arranged by Joy Boy and Davy Jones was being realized step by step.

But for Imu, while this was troubling, it wasn't terrifying.

After all, even against the real Davy Jones and Joy Boy, He had once defeated them head-on — it was nothing more than doing it all over again.

To Him, the existence He truly cared about, from beginning to end, was only one.

Star Lord.

Only him — as long as he did not obtain the power of those three seeds, as long as he did not obtain the mighty power to forge a world, then even Davy Jones and Joy Boy's plan would amount to nothing more than another massive war to Imu.

And now, He had ensured this.

"Thank You for Your mercy, Lord Imu."

Hearing Imu's words, Shamrock bowed his head with even deeper reverence: "I have already heard about the actions of The Zodiac. Do You need me to immediately head to that ship called the 'Aster'?"

Although he had only just returned to Mary Geoise not long ago, Shamrock was already prepared to set off and go to war again.

But...

"No. It is not the time yet."

Unexpectedly, Imu gave Shamrock the same answer He had given the Five Elders.

The difference was, towards Shamrock, Imu had the interest to explain: "That ship is an Ark built relying on 'freedom'; it cannot be sunk because of that foolish wish."

"Furthermore, Mu has some interest in the location named the 'Star Garden' — Starosia."

Speaking up to here, the coldness in Imu's eyes was like ice that would not melt for ten thousand years.

"That may be the location of Star Lord himself. Mu must confirm this."

"The current Zodiac... even Mu must admit it — looking back over all these long years, they are the most 'troublesome' insects He has ever faced."

He did not deny this.

He had ruled this world for eight hundred years — perhaps far longer.

In all those years, even Joy Boy and Davy Jones, though they unsettled and disgusted Him, were nothing beyond that.

But only in these past thirty years, these thirty years since God Valley.

That existence named 'Star Lord' — that mysterious, powerful being whose very essence was of the same level as His own — made Him feel true fear.

And exactly because of this, Imu made the judgment that the time had not yet come.

He had to admit that the current Zodiac, even if the World Government were to bring its full force to bear, would be a troublesome opponent.

And to the current Imu, the crux was not the war itself, but only Star Lord.

"Mu's 'Seed of Fire' — only one remains."

So He chose to wait.

He was very good at waiting — just as He had been when still a bound shadow within the Genesis Pillar.

He only needed to wait for the foolish insects to deliver themselves to His door out of greed. To wait for them to grow proud, to mistakenly believe they had grasped power and everything.

Then a flaw would appear — humans were always like this.

And then...

"Mu will completely destroy him."

After hearing Imu's words, Shamrock did not speak.

He buried his head even lower, bowing in reverent assent to the decision made by his God.

Imu also said nothing further about The Zodiac, and instead spoke: "Mu has two matters to entrust to you."

"Of course. If that is Your will."

Shamrock's expression became solemn.

"First, the person Mu previously had the Five Elders negotiate cooperation with... Mu wants you to make a trip personally. Bring him the power Mu gifts him, and tell him that Mu's promises are always fulfilled."

"The war he thirsts for — Mu will bring it to him."

Imu instructed softly.

"Yes."

Shamrock responded in a deep voice.

He clearly already knew who the collaborator Imu spoke of was.

"The second matter."

Imu switched to the second topic.

"Regarding the host of the Op-Op Fruit..."

He raised the matter.

Shamrock's back stiffened, and he immediately bowed and apologized: "That was my mistake, Lord Imu."

He had already learned of the Divine Servants being completely wiped out after encountering Rayleigh, and the Op-Op Fruit user being taken.

"No. The crux is not the 'Op-Op Fruit'..."

Imu, however, shook His head: "Lily and the previous generation's Davy planted two 'bindings' on Mu. Even if the power of the Op-Op Fruit were obtained, it would be difficult for Mu to rely on it alone to break free."

When mentioning Queen Lily and Rocks, Imu's words carried an undeniable disgust — though He forcibly suppressed it.

Yes.

Just as He said — the bindings He suffered were left behind by Queen Lily, who had wielded the power of the Op-Op Fruit long ago.

Originally, He only needed to find the Fruit again, cultivate someone outstanding enough to perform that special 'surgery' once more, and His freedom would be restored.

But thirty years ago, the appearance of Rocks had interrupted His plan.

That man was an Op-Op Fruit user no less capable than Queen Lily, and he too had given everything to deepen her 'binding' further.

This directly resulted in the fact that even if Imu found the Op-Op Fruit now, breaking free through this method had become far more difficult.

But during the escort of the Op-Op Fruit user this time, there had been an unexpected harvest.

Even Imu had not anticipated the other person who had appeared in the incident.

"..."

Imu gently raised His hand and threw an object toward Shamrock.

Shamrock caught it, and after just a glance, he froze on the spot.

Because in his hands was a photograph.

And in the photograph, a boy in a pure white straw hat was laughing heartily.

That posture was not unfamiliar to Shamrock — not since he had accepted Imu's 'Abyssal Servant Contract'.

Because what he was looking at was shockingly...

"Nika!?"

(End of Chapter)

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