Marineford, Marine Headquarters Plaza
Kong looked at the enemy standing opposite him and spoke.
"Lonely Red—Patrick Redfield! Are you trying to repeat Golden Lion Shiki's mistakes?"
Redfield swept his gaze over the soldiers surrounding him, his eyes arrogant and his expression disdainful, all of it barely more than a surface display.
"Kong, your Navy's younger generation looks pretty disappointing! Where's that recruit the newspapers have been bragging about? Bring him out and let me have a try!"
"Heh, still talking tough when you're at death's door!"
While the two old men traded barbs, Mo Xingchen and the other three arrived at the scene as well.
"Yo, Fleet Admiral Kong, what brings you out to greet guests today? Who's this guy? Your old flame?"
Mo Xingchen was no longer the Mo Xingchen he used to be. Today, he was Mo "Mantis Shrimp" Xingchen! My face is already bruised and swollen anyway. I don't care anymore! Who am I supposed to be afraid of?
"You little bastard! I'll deal with you later!"
Kong's blood pressure instantly shot through the roof. If not for the formidable enemy before him, he would have cleaned house first!
Vice Admiral Tsuru quietly told Mo Xingchen about the man before them.
Only then did he realize it. Oh! So he's that old bat who could form an army all by himself. But at this point, he probably hasn't eaten a Devil Fruit yet!
So he thought all his old acquaintances had faded away and life was no longer worth living, so he came here to grind the hell dungeon?
Redfield was also silently observing this glib, half-baked young man. He found that his Observation Haki could neither hear Mo Xingchen's thoughts nor sense his emotions.
That would not have been strange if it had happened with a veteran powerhouse, but seeing it in a young man carried an entirely different meaning.
Either this young man possessed strength comparable to an established powerhouse, or he was simply different from ordinary people. In either case, this young Marine was anything but ordinary.
"This young man is rather interesting. Want to have a life-or-death battle with me?"
Redfield had originally intended to face Kong in single combat, but Mo Xingchen had now caught his interest as well.
"Hey! Don't go picking on the young guy. If you want a fight, I'll fight you!"
Garp said carelessly, picking his nose.
"Forget it. I came for your boss! Kong, come on! Let the two of us put an end to the old era!"
Redfield glanced at Garp, then turned to Kong and issued his challenge.
The two immediately began fighting. Mo Xingchen could not remember who would win between them, but he did remember that Redfield would eventually be thrown into prison for labor reform.
As he grumbled to himself, he watched the medics enter the plaza and begin treating the injured soldiers. He went over to get some treatment too; after all, his face was still swollen.
Fortunately, Redfield had only wanted to make a scene with Kong and had not struck the lower-ranking soldiers too heavily. Even the burning warships suffered no major damage after emergency repairs, aside from several destroyed gun emplacements.
Mo Xingchen looked up at the battle in the sky. The difference in strength between the two was slight: Kong was stronger, while Redfield was faster.
A life-or-death battle between experts like them would take a long time, just like the later fight between Akainu and Kuzan for the Fleet Admiral position, which lasted a full ten days before a winner was decided.
Sengoku and Garp clearly understood this. Somehow, they had produced a picnic cloth, snacks, and hot tea, making the scene look like a spring outing. Mo Xingchen shamelessly joined the two old rascals for their outdoor meal.
However, the sounds of battle gradually drew many officers over. Zephyr casually joined Mo Xingchen's little group of three and began commenting on the battle below. Borsalino and the other officers stood with Vice Admiral Tsuru to watch.
Unlike the solemn soldiers around them, these were all seasoned Navy veterans. On one hand, they marveled that Fleet Admiral Kong was still as formidable as ever despite his age; on the other, they lamented Redfield's terrifying strength.
As expected of a damned criminal who could rival both Roger's and Whitebeard's pirate crews all by himself!
Political correctness, after all. The Navy could not praise pirates!
This was different from Golden Lion's invasion of Marineford. Golden Lion had obviously come just to vent his emotions, repeatedly unleashing one devastating move after another.
Though no one knew what purpose Redfield had come with this time, the damage he caused to Marineford was negligible compared to Golden Lion's.
Golden Lion had slaughtered people indiscriminately without purpose, while Redfield focused solely on fighting Kong. Even as more and more officers gathered at Crescent Harbor and the Gates of Justice closed, he remained completely unmoved.
"To be fair, Redfield counts as a true powerhouse!"
Mo Xingchen said as he sipped his tea.
Zephyr nodded at his words. "He's indeed much better than Golden Lion. I thought only someone like Golden Lion, whose head had been smashed by a ship's wheel, could do something this stupid. Turns out he wasn't the only madman."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The end-of-work bell rang. Before they realized it, the two had been fighting all afternoon. Borsalino dusted himself off.
"I'll come back tomorrow when I'm on duty."
"Seriously, sir? You're still sticking to nine-to-five in a situation like this?"
Borsalino looked at Mo Xingchen's incredulous expression and pushed up his amber sunglasses.
"Tch. I'm not like a little Field Officer such as you. Your superior here is very busy, you know~"
Hearing the exchange between the two clowns, Garp burst into laughter and shouted into the sky, "Old Man Kong! Work's over! Want to eat?"
"Get lost!"
Kong's fury hit its peak, leaving him no choice but to vent it on the future Count Red. He clenched his massive fist and smashed it toward Redfield.
Boom!
Redfield was sent flying backward by the blow! His cheeks bulged slightly, then his Adam's apple bobbed as though he had swallowed something.
Mo Xingchen had sharp eyes. Seeing that, he hurriedly shouted.
"Redfield! Did Fleet Admiral Kong punch you so hard that you threw up, then swallowed it back down?"
"Bastard!"
Count Red roared at those words. Did I throw up? That was blood! Blood! I forced it back down through sheer willpower! What do you know about the romance of men from the old generation, you little brat?!
Kong, who had been red with rage just moments ago, immediately brightened at Mo Xingchen's remark and laughed. His relentless attacks gradually slowed.
Vice Admiral Tsuru walked behind Mo Xingchen and smacked the back of his head. "We're about to eat. Don't talk about something so disgusting!"
The rice cracker in Admiral Sengoku's mouth was suddenly impossible to either swallow or spit out as he glared furiously at Mo Xingchen!
Vice Admiral Tsuru rolled her eyes at Sengoku, then pulled Mo Xingchen to his feet.
"Looks like this won't be over anytime soon. You three keep watch here in case anything happens. I'll take Little Mo to eat first. Have him bring your food over later. I still have a lot of official work to finish, so I won't be standing guard here all night."
Before you continue