Mariejois.
The World Conference was still in progress.
Three days had passed, and the kings were still unaware of what had happened in Alabasta.
However, the Marines and the World Government knew the news almost immediately.
Upon receiving the news, they chose not to publicize it, but instead to suppress it. After all, the actions of Crocodile, one of the Seven Warlords, were not something that could be openly revealed.
The World Government's plan was to quietly dispatch a Marine admiral to pursue the remaining members of Baroque Works and then attribute the credit for defeating Crocodile to that admiral.
They aimed to minimize the presence of the silver-haired group in this incident.
The goal was to downplay the impact of such a serious and egregious event, where one of the Seven Warlords, Crocodile, who was under the World Government's jurisdiction, attempted to steal a nation.
Even if the impact couldn't be completely erased, it needed to be reduced to the bare minimum.
After all, it was the Marines who ultimately defeated Crocodile and Baroque Works, not pirates, wasn't it?
However, the thought was beautiful, but reality was cruel.
Much like the incident on Mineral Island, while they were still deliberating which Marine admiral to assign to Alabasta, a news report about Alabasta, about the Seven Warlord Crocodile, and about the great pirate "Silver Hair" reappearing on the seas, emerged.
It spread from the headquarters of the World Economic News Paper, flying across the world.
In less than a day, the detailed account of what had transpired in Alabasta had spread to most regions of the world.
Why detailed, you ask?
Because this news report not only mentioned the reappearance of the silver-haired group and their killing of Crocodile, but it also revealed that Crocodile was the leader of Baroque Works.
Furthermore, it detailed all the wicked deeds that Baroque Works had committed in Alabasta.
Of course, a significant portion of this information was thanks to Robin.
As the former second-in-command of Baroque Works, she had issued many of the orders. With her involved, there was no shortage of information about Baroque Works.
This news spread like a storm, sweeping across the entire world in an instant, weakening the credibility of the World Government to a certain extent.
After all, the Seven Warlords were, nominally, under the direct jurisdiction of the World Government.
And it was the World Government that granted the Seven Warlords their privileges.
Now, a scandal of a Seven Warlord attempting to steal a nation had emerged. It so happened that the World Conference was in session, and most of the kings from the World Government's affiliated nations were in Mary Geoise and couldn't receive this news.
But… the World Conference would eventually conclude, and at that time, the World Government would surely be in a state of turmoil.
After all, this was not the original timeline.
In the original timeline, everything was hidden. Even those who knew only believed that the Marines had apprehended Crocodile, with no involvement from pirates.
But now, in this Alabasta incident, there was no sign of the Marines from beginning to end. It was pirates, the silver-haired group, who discovered Crocodile's plot and thwarted his plan to steal the nation, with no involvement from the World Government or the Marines.
This event had thoroughly turned into a scandal for the World Government.
And a very significant scandal at that.
Such an exhibition of incompetence would greatly diminish the World Government's authority in the eyes of the kings.
Ultimately, the core of power stemmed from the grassroots.
Once problems arose at the grassroots, the flames of revolution would spread like wildfire across the plains, causing the towering edifice of power to collapse, only to be swept into the dustbin of history by future generations.
Bang—!
It was the same room, the same sofas, and the same five old men on those sofas.
The Five Elders, the pinnacle of power in the World Government.
The bald Five Elder with a V-shaped mustache slammed the newspaper in his hand onto the coffee table with force.
"Damn Morgans, what does that guy want? What is he doing!"
As he spoke, he turned his head and stared at a CP0 kneeling on the floor in front of the coffee table, wearing a mask, and asked angrily, "How did that guy know about Alabasta?"
The kneeling CP0 didn't dare to raise his head. With his head bowed, he calmly replied, "According to the news from the photography king, there seems to be a team of reporters from the World Economic News Paper accompanying the silver-haired group. It appears these reporters have been following the silver-haired group since Bass Island."
"In that case, has Morgans formed an alliance with the silver-haired group?"
"That is not the case."
The CP0 paused, then continued, "They are likely in a cooperative relationship. You know Morgans' personality; he always craves sensational news, and the silver-haired group has been creating big news since they set sail. Therefore, their cooperation is understandable."
"Understandable!"
Just then, a bald Five Elder in a white robe, holding a long sword, standing next to the V-shaped mustache bald Five Elder, stared at the CP0, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Does his 'understandable' excuse allow him to disregard the World Government's reputation and make the World Government look bad?"
The CP0, prostrate on the ground, trembled. Even with his status and strength as the head of CP0, he broke out in a sweat under the bald elder's killing intent and imposing aura.
No one knew better than him how terrifying these old men were.
The bald Five Elder's killing intent came and went quickly. Soon, his expression returned to normal.
He looked at the CP0 and said calmly, "Can you determine that guy's specific location?"
"We can, but…"
"Speak whatever you have to say."
"Yes!"
The CP0 pondered for a moment and calmly replied, "Morgans is too cautious. The moment there's any movement, he immediately relocates his headquarters. He has only just moved not long ago, and while the photography king can know where they've moved to, if we make a move and fail to capture him, it will be very difficult to find him again. After all, dispatching a spy to his side is too challenging."
"And we still don't know his true appearance."
"Then what is your suggestion?"
"My suggestion is to wait. After all, both the Marines and the World Government need this guy now. When we are truly prepared, we will capture him in one fell swoop and make the World Economic News Paper completely belong to the World Government."
The Five Elders exchanged glances and nodded in unison.
What the CP0 said was correct. The World Government and the Marines indeed needed this guy's strength, and the timing was not yet ripe. The photography king alone couldn't capture him.
And if they were to send more people, given that guy's cautious nature and his countless carrier pigeons, their people might be detected before they even arrived, and he would flee.
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary and until they were fully prepared, it was not advisable to act rashly against him.
The V-shaped mustache bald elder turned to the CP0 and said, "Alright, handle it like this! You may leave!"
"Understood!"
The CP0 bowed his head and kowtowed on the ground, then stood up, turned around, and quickly walked towards the door.
"Oh! Right."
Just as he was about to exit the door, a voice called out from behind him.
Upon hearing the voice, the CP0 stopped immediately and turned to face the Five Elders.
The white curly-haired Five Elder, seated on the single sofa on the right, turned his head and instructed the CP0.
"Wait a moment, and then head to the Marines. Tell Sengoku to be prepared. This time, at least one admiral must be dispatched. I want the silver-haired group to go to hell sooner rather than later."
"Understood."
The CP0 replied, then turned and walked out of the room.