Kong and the Five Elders

Late that night.

Fleet Admiral Kong was roused from his sleep by an aide. Forcing down his irritation at being robbed of sleep, he boarded his flagship and hurried to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

He transferred to a World Government vessel on an inland river of the Red Line, then switched to a carriage along the way. After three hours of exhausting travel, Fleet Admiral Kong finally entered Pangea Castle, the inner city of the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.

Fleet Admiral Kong was nearing eighty, yet he showed no signs of age or weariness.

His mind was sharp, and his eyes were deep-set.

He wore a mohawk, his gray-white hair standing up like steel needles. His face was stern and resolute.

He was powerfully built, his bare chest covered in muscles as sharply defined as if carved by a blade and chisel. Against his bronze skin, they gave him a rugged, violent beauty.

A rugged authority, as imposing as a towering mountain, and a powerful presence radiated from him. The Fleet Admiral's cloak, embroidered with golden wheat stalks across the shoulders, fluttered in the wind, lending him a formidable air.

Dusty from the journey, Fleet Admiral Kong looked up at the stairs that seemed to lead to the realm of the gods. Surrounded by countless white silhouettes lurking in the shadows and watching him intently, he straightened his chest and held his back ramrod straight. True to his title of "Kong," he stepped onto the snow-white, sacred Stairway to Heaven.

He soon completed this "path to the heavens." After passing through a pleasant Little Garden filled with birdsong and flowers, he arrived before a small Western-style villa in the Room of Flowers.

The villa's exterior was entirely white, with lush ivy climbing its corners. The passage of time had left mottled marks on the walls, and its roof was sharply pointed like a giant sword.

"Fleet Admiral Kong."

Two attendants in black suits and white gloves stood outside the door. They bowed slightly to Kong.

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

Inside the villa was a modest meeting hall, decorated in a simple, elegant style.

A pot of freshly boiled tea sat on an intricately carved coffee table.

Five old men stood or sat about the room, each radiating an imposing air of authority that brooked neither scrutiny nor defiance.

These five old men were the highest authority in the World Government today... the Five Elders!

"I pay my respects to the Five Elders. I am Fleet Admiral Kong of the Marines."

Kong stepped forward with steady strides and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.

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

The man wore a custom black suit. He was bald, with a mustache, and a shocking scar across his face.

"Congratulations, Saint Damocles, on your landslide election to the seat of supreme authority."

The newly appointed Five Elder, Saint Damocles, waved a hand and replied in a hoarse, indifferent voice:

"Spare me the pleasantries, Kong."

"You should know perfectly well why we summoned you here."

Kong replied solemnly:

"Of course I do. But before we discuss that, I have a question for you, my lords..."

He paused, his expression suddenly turning grave.

"Why did you go over my head, the Fleet Admiral, and issue a withdrawal order directly to Admiral Sengoku at Headquarters?"

"The operation to capture Byrnndi World had been planned for a long time. We were on the verge of bringing it to a successful conclusion. If we let this chance slip, the consequences will haunt us for years!"

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

Saint Damocles asked, displeasure clear in his expression.

"According to regulations, whenever an action offends a Celestial Dragon, a Marine Admiral must step in and punish those responsible."

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

"Or do you think the life of a Celestial Dragon is less important than a mere capture mission?"

At his words, the other Five Elders also turned cold eyes on Kong. The pressure surged over him like a tide.

Facing the highest authority in the World Government, Kong felt a chill run down his spine, yet he refused to bow.

"The safety of the Celestial Dragons is certainly important, but capturing Byrnndi World is just as urgent."

"That man is fiercely ambitious and immensely powerful. He possesses the power to destroy the world!"

"Do not forget, my lords, that Saint Childers was first caught in a sea disaster because of Byrnndi World's attack."

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

"Besides, I can send other personnel from Headquarters to investigate Saint Childers's death..."

"Who could you send?" the Blonde Five Elder interrupted coldly.

A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"The three Admiral positions at Marine Headquarters are already filled. Zephyr has retired from active duty, and Garp has refused promotion time and again... Besides, could you really send Garp to investigate the death of a Celestial Dragon? Or are you planning to go to North Blue yourself, Fleet Admiral?"

Hearing the Five Elder's relentless questions, Kong opened his mouth, but in the end, he had no answer.

His heart sank.

He might appear to wield great authority as Fleet Admiral, but in reality, there were few people under his command whom he could actually direct.

There was no need to mention Zephyr. Ever since the tragedy years ago, that man had left the front lines.

If Kong had not earnestly persuaded him to stay, Zephyr might already have left the Marines, out of regard for his old teacher.

Zephyr had retained his Admiral's rank, but he had basically withdrawn from an Admiral's duties and devoted himself to teaching at the Officer Training Camp.

Even Kong, as Fleet Admiral, could hardly go against his wishes.

And as for that bastard Garp...

Send him to investigate the death of a Celestial Dragon?

What a joke.

After hearing the news, that bastard would probably just eat doughnuts with abandon and celebrate, laughing as he said, "Good riddance."

That left Sengoku as the only choice.

At the thought, Kong gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

The Marine Headquarters assessment ranked the threat posed by the "World Destroyer," Byrnndi World, as extremely high—even higher than Roger's and Whitebeard's.

Roger and Whitebeard were stronger in both personal power and influence, but under normal circumstances, they wouldn't attack civilians or towns.

The former liked to act on a whim, but under normal circumstances he wouldn't attack civilians. He had even "cooperated" with the Marines during the "God Valley Incident."

The latter had little ambition. He wandered the New World, inviting new members and building his so-called "family."

But the lunatic Byrnndi World was different.

His motto was "Destroy everything that stands in my way." He was ruthless, and to achieve his goals, he would attack towns, civilians, and even Marine Bases.

He harbored the great ambition of overthrowing the World Government. With the terrifying destructive power of the More-More Fruit, he posed a far greater threat to world peace than Whitebeard or Roger.

They had been so close to capturing him...

Saint Damocles studied the shifting expression on Kong's face, then spoke slowly:

"Kong, CP has already infiltrated the World Pirates. Byrnndi World won't get far."

Kong was taken aback.

CP... had already infiltrated Byrnndi World's subordinates?

The bald Five Elder, dressed in training clothes and polishing his katana, spoke indifferently:

"That's enough. We don't want to waste any more time arguing about this."

"The death of a Celestial Dragon concerns the World Government's reputation. We must get to the bottom of it. The Marines must cooperate fully and give us an explanation."

"Also, suppress the news. This incident must remain confidential."

"...I understand."

Kong knew that, at this point, there was no point in continuing to argue.

Not every Celestial Dragon was a useless fool with a snot bubble hanging from his nose, ordering others around with arrogant stupidity.

Born with unimaginable power and privilege, their privileged status and background naturally provided fertile ground for fools, bastards, sociopaths, and egomaniacs.

But among the Celestial Dragons, there was still a small number of elite individuals with talent, intelligence, and strength.

They received the very best education from childhood, were trained and guided by the finest teachers in every field, and passed through multiple rounds of selection. After reaching adulthood, they gradually took up key positions within the World Government.

If all Celestial Dragons were psychologically disturbed swine, the World Government would have collapsed long ago. It could never have maintained its rule for eight hundred years.

The Five Elders before him, who represented the World Government's highest authority, were the elite of the elite among the Celestial Dragons.

Their origins naturally meant that, from their positions of power, they would uphold the Celestial Dragons' rule and status.

That was inevitable.

The Celestial Dragons were supreme, the gods of this sea.

That was their bottom line and ironclad rule. No one could break it, and there was no room for negotiation.

Yet Kong sensed something in the Five Elders' final words.

Suppress the news...

An extra update.

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