Late that night...
Fleet Admiral Kong was abruptly awakened by his personal aide. Suppressing the irritation of being pulled from sleep, he boarded his flagship and made a night voyage to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
Upon reaching the inner river atop the Red Line, he transferred to an official World Government vessel, then switched to a carriage along the way. After three grueling hours of travel, the weary Fleet Admiral finally arrived at the inner sanctum of the Holy Land—Pangaea Castle.
Despite being nearly 80 years old, Fleet Admiral Kong showed no signs of frailty or decline. His spirit was sharp, his gaze piercing.
With a mohawk of steel-grey hair standing upright like needles, and a face etched with cold determination, he cut an imposing figure. His burly frame, bared chest chiseled with muscular definition, and bronze skin gave him a rough, violent beauty.
He radiated the towering majesty and overwhelming strength of a mountain. The marshal's cloak, adorned with golden wheat epaulettes, billowed in the wind, adding to his commanding presence.
Caked in dust from travel, Kong looked up at the snow-white stairs before him, as if they led to the realm of the gods. Under the watchful gaze of countless hidden, ghostly white figures lurking in the shadows, he stood tall, chest out and back straight. True to his title of "Marshal," he began his ascent up the sacred Celestial Stairway.
Before long, he completed the climb. Passing through a serene garden filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, he arrived before a small Western-style villa nestled among the blossoms.
The villa's walls were a pristine white, with ivy clinging to the corners. Time had left speckled marks across the surface, and the pointed dome rose sharply like a giant sword.
"Fleet Admiral Marshal Kong."
Two attendants in black suits and white gloves stood by the entrance, bowing slightly in greeting.
Kong gave them a nod, drew a deep breath, and pushed open the villa door.
Inside was a modest but elegantly furnished meeting hall. On an intricately carved coffee table, a pot of tea had already come to a boil.
Five elderly men stood or sat, each radiating an aura of unapproachable authority.
These were the highest powers in the World Government... the Five Elders.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, reporting to the Five Elders."
Kong stepped forward with steady composure, his tone firm and respectful, yet neither humble nor arrogant.
He glanced at the Elder seated furthest to the left—a bald man in a tailored black suit, sporting a drooping mustache and a striking scar across his face.
"Congratulations, Saint Topman Warcury, on your landslide election to the highest seat of power."
The newly appointed Five Elder, Saint Topman Warcury, waved his hand and said hoarsely, "Spare me the formalities, Kong."
"You should know very well why we've summoned you here this time."
Kong replied in a low voice, "Of course I do. But before that, there's something I need to ask…"
He paused, his gaze turning sharp.
"Why did you bypass me, the Fleet Admiral, and issue a direct order to Admiral Sengoku to retreat?"
"The operation to capture Byrnndi World had been in the works for a long time and was finally on the verge of success. If we let this chance slip by, it could spell endless trouble in the future!"
"Kong, are you questioning the government's decision?"
Saint Topman Warcury frowned, his tone turning cold.
"According to protocol, any offense against the Celestial Dragons must be punished by a Marine Admiral."
"Saint Xildes died in the North Blue, and we haven't even held your Marines accountable for their failure yet."
"Or are you saying that the life of a World Noble is less important than some arrest mission?"
At those words, the other Five Elders turned their cold gazes on Kong, and the pressure hit like a tidal wave.
Facing the highest authority of the World Government, Kong felt a chill run down his spine—but he didn't bow.
"The safety of the Celestial Dragons is, of course, important. But capturing Byrnndi World is just as urgent."
"He's dangerously ambitious and terrifyingly powerful—he holds the power to destroy the world!"
"Let's not forget, it was Byrnndi World's attack that led to Saint Xildes-sama's shipwreck in the first place."
"As long as Byrnndi World remains at large, this sea will never know peace."
"Besides, I can assign someone else from Marine Headquarters to investigate the cause of Saint Xildes-sama's death..."
"Who could you possibly send?" the blond Five Elder cut him off coldly.
A mocking sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.
"There are only three Admirals in Marine Headquarters. Zephyr has stepped down, and Garp has refused promotion time and time again... What now? You plan to send Garp to investigate a Celestial Dragon's death? Or are you going to the North Blue yourself?"
Hearing the relentless questioning, Kong opened his mouth but had no response.
Frustration welled up inside him.
Though he appeared to hold immense authority as Fleet Admiral, in truth, there were very few he could truly command.
Take Zephyr for example—after the tragedy he endured, he had long since stepped away from frontline duties.
If Kong hadn't personally pleaded with him, and if not for the bond they shared as teacher and student, Zephyr would have already left the Marines altogether.
Though he still held the rank of Admiral, Zephyr had all but withdrawn from active service, devoting himself entirely to training new officers.
Even Kong, as Fleet Admiral, couldn't go against his personal will.
And as for that bastard Garp...
Send him to investigate the death of a Celestial Dragon?
What a joke.
That bastard would probably celebrate the news with donuts in hand, laughing and saying, "Serves them right."
Given all this, Sengoku really was the only viable option.
Realizing this, Kong gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.
The danger level of the "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World was rated extremely high by Marine Headquarters—so much so that he even surpassed Roger and Whitebeard.
Roger and Whitebeard may have been stronger in terms of power and influence, but they didn't typically attack civilians or towns without reason. Roger, though known for following his impulses, usually didn't target non-combatants. He even "cooperated" with the Marines during the God Valley Incident. Whitebeard had little ambition; he roamed the New World, recruiting new crewmates and building his so-called "family."
But Byrnndi World was a different kind of madman.
His motto was "eliminate everything in my way." His methods were brutal, and he wouldn't hesitate to destroy towns, harm civilians, or even strike Marine bases to achieve his goals. He harbored a massive ambition to overthrow the World Government, and with the terrifying destructive power of the Moa Moa no Mi, the threat he posed to world peace far exceeded that of Whitebeard or Roger.
And they had been so close—so close to capturing him...
Saint Topman Warcury looked at Kong's unsettled expression and said slowly:
"Kong, CP has already infiltrated the World Pirates. Byrnndi World has nowhere left to run."
Kong was momentarily stunned.
CP... had already gotten to Byrnndi World's crew?
The bald elder, dressed in training robes and calmly polishing his katana, said flatly:
"This matter ends here. We're not wasting any more words on it."
"The death of a Celestial Dragon is tied to the reputation of the World Government. The truth must be thoroughly uncovered, and the Marines must fully cooperate to give us an explanation."
"And beyond that—lock down all information. This incident is to be kept strictly confidential."
"...Understood."
Kong knew that at this point, continuing to argue was pointless.
Not all Celestial Dragons were arrogant, spoiled fools, dripping snot and barking orders.
But being born into unimaginable power—granted immense privilege from birth—was a breeding ground for idiots, monsters, narcissists, and lunatics.
Even so, among them existed a small number of elites who possessed real talent, intellect, and strength. They received the finest education from the best tutors across every field, rigorously trained and selected until, upon adulthood, they gradually moved into the core leadership of the World Government.
If every Celestial Dragon were a deranged pig, the World Government would've collapsed long ago. There's no way it could've lasted for 800 years.
The Five Elders standing before him—wielders of the World Government's supreme authority—were the elite among elites.
Their lineage naturally aligned them with defending the rule and status of the Celestial Dragons. That was inevitable.
To them, the Celestial Dragons were supreme—gods of this sea.
That was their bottom line. Their iron law. Unbreakable. Non-negotiable.
Yet... from the Five Elders' final words, Kong sensed something else.
Keep it under wraps…
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake