Meanwhile.
At the World Government Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral's Office.
An elderly man nearing one hundred sat upright behind his desk. He had a mountain-shaped hairstyle and wore a sleeveless black shirt. His expression was grave as he examined the mountain of documents piled before him, a dark green armband on his arm.
Kong, code-named Steel Bones.
Former Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, now Fleet Admiral of All the Armed Forces of the World Government.
He oversaw every department under the World Government, including the Marines, the eight CP Organizations from CP1 to CP8, the Marine Science Unit, and the Marine covert special forces.
The document Kong was reviewing was an investigation report on Vice Admiral Akira, submitted by the Marines' internal investigation unit.
The report ran to more than a thousand pages, though most of it concerned trivial matters. The most serious allegations were embezzlement and bribery, building a private force within Marine Headquarters, and forming cliques.
As Fleet Admiral of All the Armed Forces, he didn't personally handle everything. Even though Akira was a Headquarters Vice Admiral, Kong wouldn't usually inquire about him; at most, he would look over the relevant records when an officer was promoted.
So he didn't have much of an impression of this Headquarters Vice Admiral, Akira. He only vaguely recalled Garp and Sengoku mentioning him when they visited the Holy Land headquarters.
After finishing the report, Kong rubbed the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on.
The report showed that although Vice Admiral Akira was very young, he had grown at an astonishing rate. In just six short years, he had gone from a raw recruit to a formidable fighter who had mastered Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and the Navy Six Styles. His swordsmanship was even on par with—and perhaps superior to—that of Gion, an Admiral candidate.
If Akira hadn't been implicated in such an enormous sum of money and committed the very act the World Government least wanted to see—forming cliques—Kong would have protected him without hesitation and helped him develop. He knew all too well that Marine Headquarters was suffering from a generational gap, with only a handful of capable young officers ready to shoulder major responsibilities. Once Sengoku, Garp, and the Three Admirals stepped down, Marine Headquarters would face a shortage of qualified successors.
The investigation report also showed that Akira had not only grown at an astonishing rate but possessed exceptional leadership skills. Given a little more time, he could be groomed to succeed one of the current Three Admirals—and perhaps even be guided and trained to become Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters.
"What a waste. How could someone so talented end up going down this path?"
Kong tossed Akira's investigation report aside with a sigh, then turned toward the door and called out, "Someone!"
"Lord Kong!"
A messenger hurried into the office and stopped in front of Kong.
Kong got straight to the point. "Have you still not gotten through to Marine Headquarters?!"
"Buru-buru..."
Before the messenger could respond, the Den Den Mushi on Kong's desk suddenly rang.
Kong quickly signaled for the messenger to stay quiet, then picked up the Den Den Mushi and said gravely, "This is Kong."
"Lord Kong, this is Vice Admiral Gion of Marine Headquarters!"
A gentle voice came through the Den Den Mushi. "I'm sorry. Marine Headquarters' communications went down last night and have only just been restored. Lord Sengoku asked me to get in touch with you right away so you wouldn't worry."
Kong paused, surprised. "A communications outage? How is that possible!... Never mind. As long as it's back up. Where's Sengoku? Why didn't he contact me himself?"
Gion's voice was as gentle as ever. "Lord Sengoku is feeling unwell and resting at home. Is there something you need, Lord Kong? I can pass it along!"
Kong didn't waste any more time. "I want to know how Akira's trial is going. It's already noon. Why haven't I heard anything? Have Bass report to me at once!"
"Understood. I'll go see Chief Judge Bass right away!"
As Gion finished speaking, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.
Kong kept his eyes fixed on the quiet Den Den Mushi, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Under normal circumstances, even if Sengoku was feeling unwell, he wouldn't have sent Vice Admiral Gion to report in his place.
Still, as Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, Sengoku bore some responsibility for a Headquarters Vice Admiral's misconduct. He was probably pretending to be sick and staying home.
Just as Kong imagined Sengoku feigning illness at home, the Den Den Mushi that had just fallen silent rang again.
Before Kong could react, the voice of Science Defense God Saturn came through the Den Den Mushi. "Kong, why is no one answering Sengoku's Den Den Mushi? I tried calling the Fleet Admiral's Office at Marine Headquarters, but the call was redirected to Vice Admiral Gion. I want to know what's going on. Also, no one is answering Bass's Den Den Mushi!"
"Hm?"
Kong's pupils contracted, and an inexplicable unease rose in his chest.
Meanwhile.
At Marine Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral's Office.
After tirelessly reorganizing the Marines from top to bottom, Akira let out a long breath and leaned back in his chair, feeling exhausted.
Although Marine Headquarters was now entirely under his control, he knew the Holy Land would soon notice that something was wrong. After enough attempts to get in touch, they would learn what had happened at Headquarters.
When that moment came, the confrontation between the Marines and the World Government would officially begin.
But he wasn't worried. He now commanded the World Government's largest war machine. Even if the Holy Land learned that he had staged a coup and seized the Fleet Admiral's position, they wouldn't dare risk an open break with him.
So his next step was to reassign personnel across the Four Blues and the major bases along the Grand Line, promoting everyone he trusted to become the senior officer in charge of a branch base.
"Lord Marshal!"
Gion pushed open the door, looking anxious. "Lord Kong and Saturn of the Five Elders just called one after the other. I managed to fob them off, but from their reactions, it's clear they already suspect something."
Akira nodded. "Momonga and Bastille should have reached the Sabaody Archipelago by now, right?"
"Yes. Momonga and Bastille have taken control of the Marine Base on the Sabaody Archipelago and secured the entrance to the Holy Land. If anyone comes down from the Holy Land by lift, they'll take control of them immediately!"
Akira stood and left his desk. "Now we just have to wait for word from the Four Blues and the major branch bases along the Grand Line! I've been at it all night, and I'm hungry. Come with me to the cafeteria."
"Won't you go home, Lord Akira?" Gion blinked and carefully reminded him, "If you don't go back soon, the old lady will come looking for me and Ain again, asking where you are!"
Akira shook his head with a smile. "Sakazuki should be at my house right now. I won't disturb their reunion. Come on, let's go to the cafeteria."
"All right."
Gion smiled warmly and followed Akira out of the office.
"Lord Akira!"
As the two of them stepped out, a soldier ran up to them, looking frantic. "Vice Admiral G... Garp is back!"
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