Steel-Bone Kong and the Five Elders

Late that night.

Fleet Admiral Kong of the Marines, awakened from his sleep by his personal guards, forcibly suppressed the irritation of being deprived of rest and traveled through the night by flagship to the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

After transferring to a World Government official vessel on the inland rivers of the Red Line and subsequently switching to a carriage, the Fleet Admiral finally entered the inner city of the Holy Land—Pangea Castle—after three hours of exhausting travel.

Fleet Admiral Kong was nearing the age of 80, yet he showed no signs of aging or decline.

He was full of vigor, with deep, piercing eyes.

He wore a mohawk, his graying hair standing up like steel needles, and his face was cold and resolute.

His physique was massive; the muscles on his exposed chest looked as if they had been carved by a knife and axe, clearly defined, exuding a raw, violent aesthetic against his bronze skin.

He radiated a majesty as steep as a mountain and a sense of immense power, his Admiral's cloak—adorned with golden wheat ears on the shoulders—fluttering in the wind with great imposing force.

Dusty and travel-worn, Fleet Admiral Kong looked up at the stairs that seemed to lead to the kingdom of gods. Under the watchful eyes of countless white phantoms hidden in the shadows, he puffed out his chest and kept his back straight, living up to his moniker "Steel," and set foot upon the snow-white, sacred Stairway to Heaven.

Soon, he finished this "path to the heavens," passed through a small garden filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and arrived before a small Western-style building within the Room of Flowers.

The exterior walls of the building were pure white, with lush ivy clinging to the corners. The passage of time had left mottled traces on the walls, and the dome was pointed like a giant sword.

"Fleet Admiral Steel Kong."

Two attendants in black suits and white gloves stood outside the door, bowing slightly toward Steel Kong.

Steel Kong nodded at them, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the building.

Inside was a simply and elegantly decorated council hall.

On a table with intricate carvings sat a pot of freshly brewed tea.

Five elders stood or sat, each exuding the aura of a supreme authority that could not be looked upon directly or offended.

These five old men were the highest power of the current World Government... the Five Elders!

"Fleet Admiral of the Marines, Steel Kong, pays his respects to the Five Elders."

Steel Kong stepped forward with a steady gait, neither humble nor arrogant.

He glanced at one of the Five Elders on the far left.

The man wore a custom black suit, was bald, sported a handlebar mustache, and had a shocking scar on his face.

"Congratulations, Saint Damocles, on being elected to the position of supreme authority by a high vote."

The new member of the Five Elders, Saint Damocles, waved his hand and said in a hoarse, indifferent voice:

"There is no need for such pleasantries, Kong."

"You should know very well why we have summoned you here this time."

Steel Kong said in a deep voice:

"I am well aware, but before that, I have a question I would like to ask you, sirs..."

He paused, his expression suddenly turning stern.

"Why did you bypass me, the Fleet Admiral, and issue a direct order for Admiral Sengoku to retreat?"

"The operation to capture Byrnndi World has been planned for a long time and was on the verge of success. If we miss this opportunity, the future consequences will be endless!"

"Kong, are you questioning the government's decision?"

Saint Damocles asked with displeasure:

"According to regulations, any act that offends the Celestial Dragons must be punished by a Marine Admiral."

"Saint Childers died in the North Blue, and we have yet to hold you Marines accountable for your dereliction of duty!"

"Or do you believe the lives of the World Nobles are less important than a mere arrest mission?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the other Five Elders cast cold gazes at Steel Kong, and the pressure surged toward him like a tidal wave.

Facing the highest power of the World Government, Steel Kong felt a chill run down his spine, yet he did not bow:

"The safety of the World Nobles is certainly important, but the mission to capture Byrnndi World is equally urgent."

"That man is extremely ambitious and possesses immense strength—the power to destroy the world!"

"Do not forget, sirs, that Saint Childers was attacked by Byrnndi World, which led to his shipwreck."

"As long as Byrnndi World remains at large, this sea will never know peace."

"Furthermore, I can send other personnel from the headquarters to investigate the cause of Saint Childers' death..."

"—Who could you possibly send?" the blonde Elder interrupted coldly.

A mocking sneer appeared on his lips.

"Of the three Admiral positions at Marine Headquarters, Zephyr has retired to the second line, and Garp has repeatedly refused promotion... Besides, are you going to send Garp to investigate the death of a Celestial Dragon? Or are you, the Fleet Admiral, going to go to the North Blue yourself?"

Listening to the aggressive questioning of the Five Elders, Steel Kong opened his mouth but was ultimately left speechless.

His heart was filled with bitterness.

Though his position as Fleet Admiral appeared to hold staggering power, in reality, there were few people under his command whom he could truly direct.

Zephyr goes without saying; that lad has long since retreated from the front lines due to the tragedy of years past.

If not for his own earnest entreaties and the respect Zephyr held for him as a teacher, the man would have already decided to leave the Navy entirely.

Although Zephyr retains the rank of Admiral, he has essentially stepped away from all Admiral-level duties, devoting himself heart and soul to teaching at the Officer Academy.

Even as Fleet Admiral, he finds it difficult to go against the man's personal wishes.

As for that bastard Garp...

Ask him to investigate the cause of the Celestial Dragons' deaths?

What a joke.

Once that bastard heard the news, he would likely just stuff his face with donuts in celebration and roar with laughter, saying, "Serves them right."

Looking at it this way, Sengoku is indeed the only choice.

Thinking of this, Kong could not help but grit his teeth and clench his fists.

The danger level of "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World is assessed as extremely high by Navy Headquarters, surpassing even Roger and Whitebeard.

After all, while Roger and Whitebeard are stronger in terms of individual power and influence, they generally do not actively attack civilians or towns.

The former, while fond of acting on his own whims, does not normally target civilians and even "cooperated" with the Navy during the Battle of God Valley.

The latter has little ambition, preferring to travel the New World, inviting new members to join and build what he calls a "family."

But that madman Byrnndi World is different.

His motto is "Destroy everything that stands in my way," and his methods are cruel; to achieve his goals, he does not hesitate to attack towns, civilians, and even Navy bases.

He possesses the grand ambition to overthrow the World Government, and relying on the terrifying destructive power of the More-More Fruit, he poses a far greater threat to world peace than Whitebeard or Roger.

They were so close, just a hair's breadth away from capturing that guy...

Saint Damocles watched Kong's shifting, uncertain expression and said slowly:

"Kong, the forces of CP have already infiltrated the World Pirates; Byrnndi World has nowhere left to run."

Kong was startled upon hearing this.

CP... they have actually infiltrated Byrnndi World's subordinates?

The bald Five Elders member, dressed in a training gi and wiping his katana, said indifferently:

"Let this matter end here; We do not wish to waste any more breath on it."

"The death of the Celestial Dragons concerns the face of the World Government and the truth must be thoroughly investigated. You in the Navy must cooperate fully and provide Us with an explanation."

"Beyond that, seal the news; this incident must be kept confidential."

"...I understand."

Kong knew that at this point, continuing to argue would be meaningless.

Not all Celestial Dragons are snot-nosed, bossy, arrogant, and incompetent trash.

Possessing power beyond the imagination of ordinary people from birth, such an opulent status and background is a natural breeding ground for idiots, bastards, sociopaths, and megalomaniacs.

Yet, a small portion of the Celestial Dragons remain elites who possess talent, wisdom, and martial strength.

They receive top-tier education from childhood, are guided and nurtured by the best teachers in every field, and after passing through layers of screening, they gradually occupy core positions within the World Government upon reaching adulthood.

Otherwise, if all Celestial Dragons were psychopathic swine, the World Government would have collapsed long ago and could never have sustained its rule for eight hundred years.

The Five Elders before him, representing the highest power of the World Government, are the elites among the Celestial Dragon elites.

Their origins naturally lead them, as those in high positions, to protect the rule and status of the Celestial Dragons in return.

This is inevitable.

The Celestial Dragons are supreme; they are the gods of this sea.

This is their bottom line and iron law, which no one can break, and there is absolutely no room for negotiation.

However, Kong vaguely sensed something from the final sentence of the Five Elders.

Seal the news...

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Bonus chapter.

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