Shortly after the holy maiden left one of the elders with a 3 tattooed on his forehead looked at a silver-haired figure rocking a goatee while wearing orange-tinted sunglasses and opened his mouth:

"We should pay more attention to the selection of the next holy maiden, the past 2 maidens were sorely disappointing. Also start the preparation for the fruit hunting festival, since we don't want our family heirloom leaking outside."

All the elders nodded, showing their agreement with what they'd just heard. Then an elderly female with the number 2 on her head reminded:

"What about the research island? Has there been any update from Sofiyas's side? We have to give an answer to the world government pretty soon as well. since they've also invested in our research on ones."

Hearing this the silver-haired figure who was the chief secretary of the council said:

"Respected counselor, according to Sofiya there is nothing left on the island. Not even a shred of dust remains from the lab. Also, both king Louise and Algard have requested an audience with the council."

Saying his piece, he could see a frown on some of the elder's faces. Then the same elder with the number 2 said:

"Tchh... those damn unloyal pests. At least they haven't forgotten their roots. Just because they are far away from the council, they think they can get away from the rule and authority of the family."

After hearing this another elder with the number 8 then said:

"Yes, they are becoming more arrogant as the years goes by, even going as far as not sending the heavenly tribute through us, but instead they've been directly communicating with the world government. Plus I've been hearing that they are actively cutting down on their annual slave's quota to the council."

Then a burly and stern-looking elder with the number 7 also said:

"I've been telling you, fellows, for a long time that we should take back the control of Prosopon island from the Louise branch. In the first palace if we had control over that island being so close to their kingdoms, would those two dare to stand in our way?"

Hearing the elders' dissatisfactions with their own family members for the hundredth time, the Elder with the number one tattoo said :

"You all know that we didn't have any part in conquering and developing that island. Plus technically that island also belongs to our family as a whole. So what gives us the right to ask for the control of that palace from Louise?"

Hearing the first elder's words, then the same burly elder angrily said:

"I believe that I've told you all countless times of the strategic importance of that island. Being on the boundaries of the clam belt and Paradise would open up the gateway of trade to the grand line from our island of Oltea and east blue."

Feeling more excited he raised his voice:

"Meaning that we would be free from the dangerous reverse mountain or the government's official channels and taxes when dealing with the numerous opportunities and commerce of the grand line."

At this point the seventh elder was almost shouting:

"But those fools of Louise branch instead of developing the island as a commercial hub, and injecting money into the Armstrong family. Proposed a peace deal with the defeated aboriginal the Onis, even giving the control of 3 quarter of the island back to them."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Finishing his long monologue the seventh elder was an inch away from pulling his hair out from the anger and excitement.

Then another Elder with the number 10 on his cheek said:

"Actually we don't need to ask for the Prosopon directly. You know that the World government has long expressed their interest in our shipbuilding technology, especially the paddle ships capable of crossing the calm belt. So I was thinking whether we could ask for help from our good friends when the next heavenly tribute comes up."

Hearing these, most elders had an approving look on their faces. But the fifth elder raised a question:

"But in that case, we will be losing our seafaring superiority."

The 10th elder responded:

"Let me fill you all in on some details. I believe you all have heard about the name and reputation of MADS."

"Well, I found out that the head figure of MADS and probably the smartest being in the world has joined the rank of world government. So probably it won't be that long before we see the ships of world government docking at our ports."

Taking a deep breath he then added:

"So why don't we make use of the current advantage that we have, asking for a higher bidding price. Plus we don't have to give them everything, like the way that we avoid a head-on clash with sea kings, etc..."

Seeing the still hesitant look of some Elders, 1oth elder then added :

"Old friends we have already thrown in our lot with the celestial dragons 200 years ago, so our ancestors, and we decided to betray the D we have to help our new allies and gain some trust as well."

The 10th elder's last words were like a nail in the coffin getting the unanimous agreement of all elders.

Seeing the hysterical behavior of the seventh, the scheming words of the tenth, and the approving looks of the rest. The first elder had finally realized that he and the rest of his peers might have been beaten to death if their ancestors from the age of heaven knew of their insidious actions of betraying the ancient kingdom as well of as their own blood.

Feeling genuinely disturbed by his peers, he was reminded of the words of the holy maiden. Then he murmured:

"Sigh...perhaps we have long been abandoned by the wheel of fate. Because of our act of betrayal."

.........................

On an island in the grand line. Sitting between Prosopn and the Drum kingdom. Sounds of monstrous magnitude could be heard. So loud that even being in proximity to the shore of the island would cause the bursting of your eardrums.

The reason for these sounds was a very large and muscular man with wide broad shoulders and his hair slicked back into a cowlick. After destroying an allied kingdom, still he was not satisfied. So he started punching the mountains and the very land he was standing on, seemingly trying to destroy the whole island.

This was the mighty Douglas Bullet's way of mourning for the passing of the strongest person in the world (at least in his opinion) Gold Roger.

As he was stripped from his dream of beating Roger in a one-on-one fight, he was feeling lost. The only thing on his mind now was to get revenge from the government for taking away his chance of becoming the strongest person in the world by defeating Roger.

On the shore of the said island, there was a paddle ship carrying Edward and his subordinates. Being attracted to the ruckus on the island Edward came here because he thought that there might be some clues to the disappearance of the council's research island.

As soon as Edward and his men got off the ship, all of his hair stood at their end. Noticing an insanely monstrous aura entering his range of observation Haki the only thing that Edward could do was a shout for his men to run away. Then activate his fruit power of Phasing, turning his whole body into an immaterial and untouchable state.

But alas his warnings proved useless as a few seconds later a giant figure came crashing down on their head-turning everyone and everything into scattered pieces just like a meteorite.

Returning to his normal state the first thing Edward noticed was his destroyed ship and lumps of flesh scattered all over the island as if his men have gone through a flesh grinder.

He then saw the huge figure using his deceased man's flesh to make some abominable construct as if their remains were just some dirty pebble on the road. Enraged Edward pounced toward Douglas while phasing through the big hand that was coming for his head.

Punching through Bullet's stomach Edward then runs ahead for several meters.

Bullet thinking that he might have been impaled looked at his belly. But he was surprised to find out that there was no blood or puncture on his abdomen, even his clothes were still intact.

As the bullet was puzzled, all of a sudden an alarming pain shook him to the core, then some blood could be seen in a corner of his mouth.

Opening his hand Edward was shocked to find a large bloody kidney in his hand. Then he cursed:

"Damn it, do you know LIFE RETURN, I clearly went for your..."

But before he could continue he noticed a strong blackened grip on his left hand, and then helplessly, he was thrown up like a rag doll. The last thing Edward saw was a humongous punch getting close to his face.