The negotiation meeting continued until noon.
Many of the conditions proposed by Orion were agreed to by Im, though some were rejected. However, Orion wasn't concerned, as those rejected conditions had been deliberately put forward to create confusion.
Outside the Holy Land palace, Shamrock and Gunko stood side by side, both gazing at the tightly shut palace gates. Behind them, apart from the five God Knights who had been sent flying after following Gunko through the teleportation array to the Navy headquarters, were several other God Knights who had previously stood behind Garling.
Unlike the five God's Knights standing behind Shamrock and Gunko, the names of these knights were all suffixed with the character "Saint." As was well known, among the Celestial Dragons of the Holy Land, the names of men were always suffixed with "Saint."
This meant that these God's Knights were not specially recruited from outside the Holy Land but were instead powerful individuals selected from among the Celestial Dragons residing there.
The two God's Knight were Killingham and Sommers. Both were core combat members of the God's Knights and Devil Fruit users.
Killingham was a user of the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Mythical Zoan: Kirin. Since his Devil Fruit abilities had long since awakened, he now appeared in his humanoid Kirin form, with a long neck surrounded by white clouds, dressed in a splendid military uniform and the signature cloak of the God's Knights.
Though standing, Killingham had his eyes closed, as if asleep, muttering incomprehensible words in his sleep.
Sommers is a Paramecia-type Thorn-Thorn Fruit user. Despite his advanced age, his muscles are incredibly developed, and his physique is exceptionally burly, exuding an aura of strength without any attempt to conceal it.
However, despite his age, Sommers has a somewhat irreverent demeanor. At this moment, he was squinting his eyes as he looked at Gunko.
"Sommers—" Noticing that Sommers gaze was somewhat improper, Shamrock, who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Gunko, frowned slightly and said in a deep voice.
"Watch your eyes!"
"Ahaha, caught red-handed!" Sommers laughed heartily as he shifted his gaze from Gunko attire to the tightly shut palace gates. With his irreverent tone, he asked.
"Gunko, you really don't need to wear that cape, you know."
Hearing this, Gunko blinked slowly, then her eyes widened in realization. Her face, not covered by bandages, flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly turned around to adjust her cape.
Shamrock, unable to tolerate this any longer, spoke up again.
"Sommers, please be serious at a time like this."
"I'd like to be serious" Sommers said innocently, spreading his hands.
"But Gunko outfit is just too eye-catching."
Before anyone could respond, Sommes suddenly changed the subject, his expression turning serious.
"Shamrock, what are your thoughts on this situation? I don't think Im-sama needs to negotiate with Orion. There's no denying his strength, especially his Conqueror's Haki—he's the strongest Conqueror's Haki user I've seen in years! But his group is only seven people, while the Holy Land has not only the God's Knights but also the Five Elders and Im-sama!"
"The Holy Land has the absolute advantage over those seven. Why not take this opportunity to crush them once and for all?!"
"As long as we eliminate Orion and control the three Admirals, the Marine Headquarters won't be a threat. Kirllingham and I can go and subdue them all."
Shamrock shook his head at this.
"It's not that simple. Orion dared to bring only six people to the Holy Land not just because of his own strength and ability to protect himself, but because he has the loyalty of Marine officers and soldiers at all levels behind him. You could say that the Marines can exist without the World Government, but the World Government absolutely cannot afford to lose the Marines right now!"
"Alright, alright" Sommers waved his hand dismissively. He wanted to glance at Gunko again but was immediately stopped by Shamrock stern look.
Finally, he shrugged helplessly. "An event of this magnitude is beyond our authority. With Im-sama personally overseeing it, I'm sure it will be resolved properly soon."
...
In the Pangaea Castle Meeting room.
Im, who had agreed to all the conditions Orion had proposed, watched as Orion suddenly stood up and walked around the Five Elders to stand before them. Im dark red rippled eyes narrowed slightly as they said in a deep voice.
"Orion, know your limits!"
"Don't worry, I'm not planning to remove your veil!"
Orion, now standing before Im, took out a document and placed it on the conference table. With a gentle smile, he said.
"Although you've agreed to all my conditions, words alone aren't enough. I'll need your signature on this document."
"What is this?" Im looked at the document placed before them, their lips twitching beneath the mask as they read the bold title.
"The Mary Geoise Treaty?"
Orion smiled and nodded.
"Sign the Mary Geoise Treaty, and our negotiations will come to an end. Of course, besides your signature, the Five Elders will also need to sign their names as this treaty needs to be copied and sent to all member nations."
Im decisively refused.
"My existence is currently known only within the Marine Headquarters and the Holy Land!"
"Ah" Orion blinked, then nodded in understanding. "My apologies, I was careless. The Five Elders are still the public face of the World Government's highest authority..."
As he spoke, Orion picked up the document and placed it in front of Topman Warcury of the Five Elders.
"This treaty will be signed by you all."
Hearing this, Topman Warcury quickly glanced at Im, who nodded in approval. Only then did he pick up the document and begin to read its contents. The contents of the treaty were all things Im had previously agreed to, with none of the terms he had refused.
It was clear that the conditions Orion had proposed, which Im had rejected, were merely a smokescreen! What Orion truly wanted was already laid out in this pre-drafted treaty!
After reading the treaty, Topman Warcury looked up at Orion with a meaningful gaze.
Earlier, at the entrance of the World Government headquarters, when Orion had unleashed his overwhelming Conqueror's Haki at the slightest provocation, Warcury had almost mistaken him for a reckless young man relying solely on brute strength.
Now, it seemed that this young man, whom he had judged as reckless, had calculated every move with precision. His depth of strategy and methods were truly chilling.
In no time, the Mary Geoise Treaty was signed.
"Everyone, let's go!" As soon as the last of the Five Elders signed the treaty, Orion swiftly collected the documents, as if worried that Im and the Five Elders might change their minds, and decisively turned to leave.
"Wait—" Just as Sengoku, Zephyr, the three Admirals, and Gion stood up, Im suddenly spoke.
"Orion, shall we talk alone?"
Orion turned back to meet Im gaze, his expression serious.
"Are you going to remove your veil and face me openly?"
Without waiting for Im response, Orion eagerly waved to Sengoku and the others.
"Wait for me outside."
Im also gave orders to the Five Elders and Garling.
"You all, leave as well."
The Five Elders and Garling did not dare to delay and quickly stood up, exiting the conference room.
Seeing this, Sengoku and the others did not linger and followed suit.
Soon, only Orion and Im remained in the conference room. As soon as the door closed, Im immediately looked up, their gaze intense as they stared at Orion, and spoke without preamble.
"You do not belong to this era!"
"???????"
Orion met Im gaze, utterly confused.
Before Orion could react, Im began to explain.
"If you were born in this era, your Conqueror's Haki could not possibly be so strong! I initially speculated whether your Conqueror's Haki might be the residual Haki stored by that man, but after my recent observations, it is clearly not."
"There is only one answer, like me, you do not belong to this era!"
"So, are you from eight hundred years ago, or an even more distant past?"
"That man you mentioned is Joy Boy, right?" Sensing the faint confusion in Im rippling eyes, Orion couldn't help but chuckle and said.
"Don't worry, I'm not Joy Boy, nor am I Nika. I'm just me. However, if you agree to one more condition, I'll tell you where I'm from."
Im' eyes lit up, and their pupils dilated slightly. "What condi..." Before they could finish, Im suddenly snapped back to reality and refused without hesitation.
"There's no way I'm taking off my veil!"
Orion shrugged slightly, feigning helplessness.
"Alright, you have a mysterious appearance and gender that piques my curiosity, and I have an origin you can't figure out. That's fair."
[Damn im tired writing they, them , their when im speaking, can oda hurried up reveal im gender or something]
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