RNP Chapter 133: The Fear of the Fifth Old Star, First Encounter with the Smoke Mirror
Chapter 133: The Fear of the Fifth Old Star, First Encounter with the Smoke Mirror
Chapter 133 The Five Elders' Fear, First Encounter with the Smoke Mirror
The gaze shifted from the tense preparations at the Great Temple in Katarina to Albana, the capital of Alabasta.
The atmosphere in Albana at this moment was completely different from the tense atmosphere in the red team's controlled area.
The streets were packed with people, with countless people chanting the name of "Dark Sun" with fervor, the atmosphere of faith so strong it was almost tangible.
Public opinion, deliberately manipulated by Crocodile and Tescatlipoca, attributed all the disasters brought by the rainforest to the incompetence of the royal family and the invasion of paganism, while attributing the rainforest's blessings and temporary peace to the protection of the "Black Sun".
King Cobra, who lived deep within the palace, was extremely anxious, like an ant on a hot pan.
He had just received news that shocked him immensely.
Without any orders from him, the main force of the Kingdom's army began to assemble in the southeast, intending to quell the rebellion.
"What on earth is going on?!"
Cobra growled at his two remaining trusted ministers, his voice filled with anger and helplessness.
"I never gave such an order! Bell, Jaka, do you know that?"
Guard Captain Bell and his adjutant Jaka both wore grim expressions; they knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty, we have only just learned of this. These past few days, Crocodile has been presiding over court sessions, and we have been unable to get close to the core of power."
"But how can the army function without His Majesty's seal and personal orders?"
Little did they know that Crocodile, using his identity as a hero and God's representative, had already infiltrated and taken control of the Kingdom's army's middle and high ranks.
Those officers were either opportunists, changing sides at the drop of a hat.
Tempted by the promise of merit and divine favor, they willingly obeyed orders.
The King's Seal?
Imitation is not difficult. As for the king's own wishes?
In the face of absolute power and inflammatory faith, they have long since become insignificant.
The mastermind behind all this, Crocodile, is currently sitting leisurely in a luxurious side hall of the palace.
He was sitting opposite Tescatlipoca, enjoying tea.
Tescat Lipoca was still wearing that modern trench coat, looking languid, as if all the outside conflicts were none of his concern.
"The army has already begun to move."
Crocodile exhaled a smoke ring and said calmly.
"Your followers are working very hard. It seems it won't be long before you wipe out all those rebels and Red Army scum."
Tescatlipoca picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, and a mysterious smile played on his lips.
"With all this commotion, the guests should be arriving by now."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow: "A guest?"
Just then, a huge commotion and the sound of cannons erupted outside the palace!
A Baroque Works agent rushed in to report.
"President! A World Government ship! The Five Elders—the Five Elders themselves have arrived! The Navy is lined up to greet them!"
A strange glint flashed in Crocodile's eyes, followed by a playful smile.
"A big shot has indeed made his appearance. The death of the Celestial Dragons and your black sun trick have alarmed them as well."
According to etiquette, all Black Faction members and their heroic spirits in the capital city are required to go and greet the World Government's highest authority—the 115 Elders.
The scene at the port was extremely grand.
The naval soldiers stood in formation, with Sengoku Garp and Kuzan at the very front.
Smoker, as well as Rob Lucci, who had just recovered from his injury but looked gloomy, and other CPO members were also present.
The members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the Black Faction also appeared one after another. Doflamingo arrived late, with a smile on his face as he watched the show.
Quetzalcoatl stood beside Smoker, while Taigong Wang stood leisurely. However, among the Heroic Spirits, one of the most crucial figures was missing—Tescat Riboca.
The Five Elders, five dignified old men, slowly stepped off the incomparably luxurious World Government ship.
Their gazes swept over the welcoming crowd, and they instantly noticed the empty seat; their expressions immediately darkened.
They had learned through intelligence about the Black Sun faith that was ravaging Alabasta.
They were almost certain that the Heroic Spirit summoned by Crocodile was the so-called Black Sun Tescatlipoca!
A god!
This in itself is a huge leap forward!
Heroic Spirits should behave like Heroic Spirits, existing as tools of the World Government, not establishing their own beliefs and misleading people!
What's more, they actually dared not come to greet them?!
"Sha Crocodile!" the Golden Emperor, wielding a sword, spoke in a cold voice.
"Where are the heroic spirits you summoned? Why haven't they come to pay their respects?"
Another Saturnian added, his tone filled with undisguised disgust and murderous intent.
"And that so-called Black Sun faith—end it immediately! The World Government neither needs nor will allow a second god to exist!"
"Disobedient heroic spirits, even gods, have no reason to exist!"
Just then, Garin Sei-I—Shamrock's father and the current captain of the Knights of God—suddenly stepped forward.
He slapped Lucci hard across the face, who had just recovered from his injury!
"Useless!" Garin roared, his eyes filled with the pain of losing his son and his rage.
"You couldn't even protect your master! And you lost a precious Heroic Spirit! You've completely disgraced the World Government!"
He disregarded the occasion and proceeded to punch and kick Lucci again.
Lu Qi gritted his teeth and endured it, daring not to resist in the slightest, but his eyes became even more sinister.
Crocodile watched this scene, his sneer growing even more pronounced.
He dismissed the arrogance and commands of the Five Elders.
Haha, end the faith? Get rid of Tescatlipoca?
You're such ignorant fools. You have no idea what you're dealing with.
The Five Elders were thoroughly enraged by Crocodile's nonchalant attitude.
"presumptuous!"
"It seems you're determined to be an enemy of the World Government!"
"Since he's not coming, then we'll go and pay our respects to this so-called deity ourselves!"
Lord Im's will may be watching this place in some way, and his silence is tantamount to acquiescence.
Therefore, the Five Elders decided to personally suppress this disobedient heroic spirit.
Gilgamesh last time was an accident; he caught them off guard.
They are now confident that with the combined strength of the five of them, plus the power bestowed upon them by Lord Im, they are capable of dealing with any Heroic Spirit, even a god!
With great momentum, they headed straight for the depths of the palace where Tescatlipoca was located, guided by Crocodile's kindness.
Crocodile followed leisurely behind, lighting a new cigar. He was eager to watch the show.
Passing through a deep and ornate corridor, they came to a courtyard that seemed to be shrouded in shadow. Tescatlipoca stood with his back to them in the center of the courtyard.
He was still wearing that trench coat, as if admiring the strangely shaped plants in the courtyard, which had been influenced by the rainforest of the Age of Gods.
"Tescat Lipoka!" Saturn shouted.
"Turn around! Face the supreme authority of the World Government!"
Tescatlipoca seemed not to hear them, still with his back to them.
The Five Elders felt slighted, and their anger intensified.
They exchanged glances, and the five of them simultaneously unleashed a powerful aura!
That was not just domineering aura, but a powerful force that combined the authority of the World Government for eight hundred years and contained some higher level of rule power!
Even ordinary admirals and sea emperors would probably feel their hearts pound and their breath catch in the face of this combined force!
however.
Just as their momentum was about to reach Tescatlipoca's back,
Tescatlipoca slowly turned around.
There was no earth-shattering energy eruption, nor any display of world-destroying divine power.
He simply turned around and glanced at them calmly with his eyes, which were as dark as the deepest night.
Just this one glance!
Thump! Thump! Thump! ...
The Five Elders, who had stood at the pinnacle of world power for hundreds of years, seemed to have all their strength and spirit drained away in an instant!
Their knees buckled uncontrollably, and they nearly collapsed to their knees on the spot!
A primal, deep-seated fear, originating from the very core of their souls, washed over them like ice water, freezing their blood and stopping their breathing.
What they felt was absolutely a difference in status!
What was contained in those eyes was not simply power, but something more essential, more ancient, and more indescribable!
It is the embodiment of mystery, the manifestation of chance, and the manipulator of fate!
In comparison, their pride in power, strength, and even the trace of void power bestowed upon them by Lord Im seemed so insignificant.
Their behavior was so ridiculous and so insignificant.
Like a tiny insect suddenly looking up and seeing the indifferent giant eye of stars covering the entire sky.
They had no doubt that if the "god" before them wished, they wouldn't even need to lift a finger.
Moving your fingers is not right.
A single thought was enough to completely erase the five of them, and even Lord Im, from the level of existence.
Cold sweat instantly soaked through their kimonos and suits, their bodies stiffened so much they couldn't even move a finger, their minds went blank.
All that remained was boundless fear and awe.
All the arrogance, anger, and murderous intent that had been there before vanished without a trace.
Crocodile, watching the Five Elders' bewildered and ghost-like appearance, almost burst out laughing, but quickly took a puff of his cigar to suppress it.
Tescatlipoca's gaze lingered on them for what seemed like an eternity, yet also as if it were only a fleeting moment.
A faint, mocking smile seemed to curve the corners of his mouth.
Then he spoke, his voice calm yet like the whisper of fate, resounding directly into the depths of the Five Elders' souls.
"Has this arrogant chess player finally decided to take a look at the pieces himself?"
"You think you're doing the right thing? Don't be so clever as to do something wrong with good intentions—"
"Tell the person behind the scenes to be patient and not to do anything unnecessary."
Before the words were even finished, the Five Elders were given no chance to react.
Tescatlipoca's figure vanished silently, like smoke blown away by the wind, leaving no trace.
It was as if he had never existed.
Only the world's highest authority remained, frozen in place like a stone sculpture, his body drenched in cold sweat.
The air was thick with an overwhelming sense of dread, and those incomprehensible words lingered in their minds like a curse.
In the courtyard, only Crocodile's smoke rings remained, slowly dissipating in the silence.
desolate?
No, what filled the hearts of the Five Elders at this moment was a fear a thousand times deeper than desolation.
For the first time, they truly realized that this Holy Grail War was not about summoning a few powerful henchmen.
The heroic spirits they will face may even exceed Lord Im's understanding and control.