Fleet Admiral, Kong!

Meanwhile.

World Government Headquarters Building, Fleet Admiral's Office.

An old man nearing a hundred years old sat at his desk, his hair styled like the character "山", wearing a sleeveless black shirt and a dark green armband. He gravely examined the mountains of documents piled before him.

Kong, codenamed Kong.

Former Marine Headquarters Marshal, now Fleet Admiral of the World Government.

He oversaw all departments under the World Government, including the Navy, eight CP organizations from CP1 to CP8, as well as the Navy's Science Unit and special secret forces.

The document Kong was perusing was none other than the investigation report submitted by the Navy's Internal Affairs Division regarding Vice Admiral Akira.

Although the investigation report was over a thousand pages long, most of it contained irrelevant details. The most serious accusations were corruption, bribery, cultivating loyalists within Marine Headquarters, and forming factions.

As Fleet Admiral, he didn't handle every matter personally. Even though Akira was a Vice Admiral, he wouldn't inquire too much, at most glancing at related documents after an officer's promotion.

Therefore, he didn't have much of an impression of Vice Admiral Akira, vaguely recalling Garp and Sengoku mentioning him when they visited Holy Land Headquarters.

After reading the contents of the document, Kong rubbed his temples with a headache.

Through the investigation report, he discovered that although this Vice Admiral Akira was very young, his growth rate was astonishing. In just six years, he had risen from a raw recruit to a powerhouse who had mastered Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and the Navy Six Styles. His swordsmanship even surpassed that of Gion, a candidate for Admiral.

If it weren't for the staggering amount of money Akira was involved in and his actions of forming factions, which the World Government least wanted to see, Kong would have undoubtedly spared no effort to nurture him. He knew very well that Marine Headquarters was currently experiencing a generational gap, with very few individuals in the younger generation capable of taking on significant responsibilities. Once Sengoku, Garp, and the Three Admirals stepped down, Marine Headquarters would face a crisis of succession.

The investigation report showed that Akira not only had an astonishing growth rate but also possessed excellent leadership qualities. Given a little more time, he could have been cultivated as the successor to the current Three Admirals, or even guided and trained towards the position of Fleet Admiral.

"What a shame. Such a good talent, how could he have gone down this path?"

Kong tossed the investigation report on Akira aside with a sigh. He then turned his head towards the door and called out in a deep voice, "Someone."

"Lord Kong!"

A messenger officer quickly entered the office and stood opposite Kong.

Kong got straight to the point, "Haven't you contacted Marine Headquarters yet?!"

"Burururu..."

Before the messenger officer could respond, the Den Den Mushi in front of Kong suddenly rang.

Seeing this, Kong quickly signaled the messenger officer to be quiet, then picked up the Den Den Mushi and said in a deep voice, "This is Kong."

"Lord Kong, this is Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Gion!"

A gentle voice came from the Den Den Mushi. "I apologize, but Marine Headquarters' communications had issues last night and only just recovered. Lord Sengoku asked me to contact you immediately to prevent you from worrying."

Kong was taken aback, surprised. "Communications issues? How is that possible!... Never mind, it's good that it's restored. Where is Sengoku? Why isn't he contacting me personally?"

Gion's voice was as gentle as ever. "Lord Sengoku is unwell and resting at home. Does Lord Kong need anything? I can relay the message!"

Hearing this, Kong stopped wasting time and said in a deep voice, "I want to know what stage Vice Admiral Akira's trial has reached. It's already noon, why is there no news? Have Bass report to me immediately!"

"Understood, I'll go see Chief Judge Bass right away!"

As Gion's voice faded, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.

Kong didn't look away, staring intently at the silent Den Den Mushi, feeling that something was amiss.

Under normal circumstances, Sengoku wouldn't have Vice Admiral Gion report on matters even if he were unwell.

However, if a Vice Admiral made a mistake, Sengoku, as the Fleet Admiral, bore some responsibility. Sengoku being unwell at home at this time was likely him feigning illness.

Just as Kong was imagining Sengoku feigning illness at home, the Den Den Mushi, which had just fallen silent, rang again.

Before Kong could react, the voice of Saturn, the scientific defense god, came from the Den Den Mushi. "Kong, why has no one been answering Sengoku's Den Den Mushi? The call to the Fleet Admiral's office was also transferred to Vice Admiral Gion. I want to know what's going on. Also, Bass's Den Den Mushi is also not being answered!"

"Hmm?"

Kong's pupils contracted, and a sense of unease inexplicably arose in his heart.

Meanwhile.

Marine Headquarters, Marshal's Office.

Akira, who had been busy redeploying personnel throughout the Navy, let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair, feeling somewhat exhausted.

Although everything in Marine Headquarters was now under his control, he knew very well that Holy Land would soon discover the anomaly and eventually learn of everything that had happened at Headquarters through continuous contact.

Once that moment arrived, it would mean the official commencement of the confrontation between the Navy and the World Government.

However, he wasn't in a hurry. He now controlled the World Government's most formidable war machine. Even if Holy Land discovered he had staged a mutiny to seize the position of Marshal, they wouldn't dare to openly fall out with him.

Therefore, what he needed to do next was to adjust personnel in the Four Seas and major bases in the Grand Line, promoting all trustworthy individuals to become the highest-ranking officers of various branch bases.

"Lord Marshal!"

Gion pushed the door open and said with some urgency, "Lord Kong and Saturn from the Five Elders just called. Although I managed to stall them, their reactions made it clear they are already suspicious."

Akira nodded and asked, "Momonga and Bastille should have arrived at Sabaody Archipelago by now, right?"

"Yes, Momonga and Bastille have taken over the Marine bases on Sabaody Archipelago and controlled the entrance to Holy Land. As soon as anyone comes down from Holy Land via the elevator, they will be apprehended immediately!"

Akira stood up from his desk. "Next, we just have to wait for news from the Four Seas and the major branch bases in the Grand Line! I'm a bit hungry after working all night. Accompany me to the mess hall for a meal."

"Aren't you going home, Lord Akira?" Gion blinked and cautiously reminded him, "If you don't go back soon, the old man will probably come looking for me and Ain to ask for you again!"

Akira smiled and shook his head. "Sakazuki should be at my house now. I won't disturb their mother-son reunion. Let's go to the mess hall."

"Okay."

Gion smiled and walked out of the office behind Akira.

"Lord Akira!"

As the two of them walked out of the office, a soldier ran towards them, saying urgently, "Vice Admiral Garp is back!"