The Ultimatum

"What exactly do you want?" Kong asked after a moment of silence, his teeth gritted.

"What do I want? I want world peace. Can Commander-in-Chief Kong make that happen?"

Kong replied coldly, "As long as you kill those pirates at Marineford and abandon your nonsensical rhetoric, the world will naturally be at peace."

"Hahahaha—" Zhu Mang was amused by him. "I thought you were some kind of Santa Claus who ate the Wish-Wish Fruit, the Dragon Ball Fruit, or the Genie Lamp Fruit, but that's all you've got?"

As he laughed, his face suddenly turned serious. "Pirates are, at most, a minor skin irritation to this world, but you Celestial Dragons are the true bone-deep rot! Therefore, my demand is this: hand over all the Celestial Dragons."

"If you surrender voluntarily, I can show mercy and only execute those among you who have committed heinous crimes."

"But if you choose to resist or flee, I will destroy all of Mary Geoise and erase every trace of the Celestial Dragons' existence from this world."

"Of course, you could also gamble on something big..."

A hint of excitement flickered across Zhu Mang's face.

"Try using your Holy Knights or [Uranus] to take me down! Hehe, I'm really looking forward to it!"

"Finally, I'll give you thirty minutes to consider. You might want to ask the Five Elders, or the Five Elders' master—that person named Imu—hehe."

Click.

Zhu Mang cut the connection to the Den Den Mushi.

The Holy Land, Mary Geoise.

Inside the Commander-in-Chief's office.

Kong stared at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, his rage erupting. Conqueror's Haki surged out wildly, manifesting as tangible black-red lightning that tore through the already chaotic office once more.

A moment later, he calmed down. He picked up one of the many Den Den Mushi that had been knocked unconscious by his aura, flicked it a few times to wake it up, and dialed the CP organization. "Investigate the tremors on the Red Line immediately. The estimated location is beneath the Holy Land. I want a report within five minutes."

He picked up another one. "Go to Marine Headquarters, Marineford. I want to know more about that Monkey-Tailed Man, Gebinz."

"Go to Dressrosa and find out where that brat from the Donquixote Family found this Monkey-Tailed Man!"

"Strengthen the defenses of the Holy Land. Order all CP members not currently on assignment to return to Mary Geoise at top speed. Order the Marine Corps and all Holy Land guards to enter Level One war status!"

Message after message was dispatched from the office.

Once all orders were issued, he stood up and ran toward the depths of the Holy Land.

That was the direction of Pangea Castle.

Within Pangea Castle lived not only the Five Elders, the public leaders of the World Government, but also a supreme Celestial Dragon whose existence even he only vaguely knew of.

Lady Imu!

The current situation seemed to have exceeded all expectations. He had done all he could; the true resolution now depended on their decision.

Marine Headquarters.

Marineford.

After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Zhu Mang tossed it casually into Sengoku's hands.

"What did you just do? That energy blast flew toward Mary Geoise—did it blow up all the Celestial Dragons?" Garp asked.

He was incredibly curious. One moment, Commander-in-Chief Kong had been acting arrogant and overbearing; the next, he seemed like a completely different person.

It was clear that the power of that energy blast had taken effect.

"No, there are still many slaves in Mary Geoise. If I can, I'll try to save them."

If he couldn't, then they would simply have to die alongside the Celestial Dragons.

For those slaves, perhaps that would be a form of liberation.

Of course, Zhu Mang didn't say that out loud.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "That blast just now probably punched a hole in the Red Line. Maybe in the future, traveling between Paradise and the New World won't require World Government approval or the risk of going through Fish-Man Island ten thousand meters under the sea. Could you say I've made a humble contribution to a better world?"

He started grinning cheekily again.

This person's mood shifted constantly.

However, it was clear that he only acted this playful and easygoing with ordinary people; he only became ruthless when speaking to his enemies.

Fortunately, we shouldn't be considered enemies... right?

"You said to Commander-in-Chief Kong that you Celestial Dragons... what did you mean by that? Is Commander-in-Chief Kong also a Celestial Dragon?" Tsuru asked, having finally regained some of her composure.

"I can answer that," Sengoku said. "You're right, Tsuru. Commander-in-Chief Kong is indeed a Celestial Dragon, from the [Manmaya Family]. His full name is Saint Manmaya Kong!"

"What?!!" Tsuru was shocked, then suddenly realized, "No wonder I always felt Kong's hairstyle was so similar to the Celestial Dragons. So he really is one of them..."

As she spoke, she sighed, her eyes dimming.

It felt as if an idol had shattered.

But this was only natural.

Kong was the Fleet Admiral of her generation, and the spiritual pillar for the majority of the Navy at that time.

Just as Sengoku is to the Navy of today.

However, how could it feel good to have one's former idol turn into the very thing one loathed most: a Celestial Dragon?

"Nani!" Garp's eyes widened. "Commander-in-Chief Kong is actually Celestial Dragon scum?"

Veins bulged on Sengoku's forehead. "You bastard, keep your voice down!"

Fortunately, although the entire battlefield had come to a standstill and both the Navy and the pirates had retreated to their respective positions, everyone was still stunned by the series of events that had just unfolded.

At this moment, they were all busy discussing the situation and had not noticed this corner.

Only Kizaru and Aokiji, while keeping a wary eye on Zhu Mang, pricked up their ears to listen to the secrets being spilled by the old guard of the Navy.

Upon hearing this, both of their faces wore expressions nearly identical to Garp's.

When Kong served as Fleet Admiral, they belonged to the generation that had just joined the Navy; their subsequent promotions to Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral had all been overseen by Kong.

Although their relationship with Kong was not as close as that of Sengoku or Garp, they still held a great deal of respect for the old man who had dedicated his entire life to the Navy.

But now...

If one's worldview were a physical object, the shards of theirs combined would probably pile up into a small mountain on the ground.

Sengoku glanced at the two of them and said, "Commander-in-Chief Kong is different from those other... Celestial Dragons."

"He's certainly different; he doesn't wear that stupid fishbowl," Garp remarked with great seriousness.

"No, it's because he is a 'true Celestial Dragon,' isn't he?" Zhu Mang said.

Sengoku looked at him in surprise, then, meeting the gazes of Garp and the others, he nodded.