Holy Land Mary Geoise.
The waters below the Red Line.
The sea breeze had long since lost its former gentleness.
The air reeked of gunpowder and carried a sickening stillness.
Dark warships loomed like steel beasts.
They lined up bow to stern, sealing off the waters completely.
Rows of cannons pointed toward the distant horizon.
The World Government's flags snapped in the sea wind.
It should have been an imposing sight.
But the soldiers on deck could not hide the fear in their eyes.
Fleet Commander Kong stood at the highest point of the flagship.
His rock-hard muscles were drawn tight.
His thick arms were crossed over his chest.
Veins bulged across the backs of his hands.
He had crushed the wooden railing to powder.
Wood dust drifted down.
"That idiot Sengoku!"
Kong forced the words through clenched teeth.
The humiliation gnawed at him.
As fleet commander, he should have commanded the largest military force in the world.
But now?
With one order from Sengoku, Marine Headquarters had completely switched sides.
Countless Marine officers and soldiers had become lackeys of the Empire.
All Kong had left were garrison troops hastily conscripted from around the world and a handful of newly promoted officers.
It was a disgrace beyond words.
Beside Kong stood a man wearing a pure white mask.
The strongest leader of Cipher Pol.
The mask hid his face.
But the chill radiating from him made even the surrounding seawater seem ready to freeze.
"Fleet Commander, you have no one else to blame."
The Cipher Pol chief gave a cold snort.
His voice dripped with mockery.
"The Marines' wholesale betrayal will go down as a lasting disgrace for the World Government."
"You're the fleet commander, yet you couldn't even keep your own dogs on a leash."
"Now, with the enemy