"Fleet Admiral Kong..."
At the port of the Holy Land, Mary Geoise, the arrival of Kong, Commander-in-Chief of the World Government, filled every Marine standing guard on the shore with respect.
Kong had just returned from Marine Headquarters. He had gone there for one reason: after two years of silence, the Grim Reaper Pirates had reappeared, and every one of them had grown astonishingly strong.
Kong took the matter seriously. According to reports from Army headquarters, during the two years Ye Chen's crew had vanished, 786 government officials had died at Ye Chen's hands, along with eighteen top fighters from the Azure Dragon Squad, two CP0 assassins, three CP2 intelligence agents, three Army Headquarters Vice Admirals, eight Commodores, and thirty-six officers below Rear Admiral. The dead and wounded Army soldiers were too numerous to count.
After receiving these reports, the Marines, the World Government, and the Celestial Dragons agreed to spare no effort in wiping out Ye Chen's crew.
Even though Aokiji had already gone to Sabaody to take command in person, Kong was still uneasy. He ordered the Marines to send more forces and crush the Grim Reaper Pirates there.
Momonga and the others defeated at Loguetown were not to return to Headquarters. They were to head straight to Sabaody and join Aokiji. The Celestial Dragons also sent CP7 and CP8 as reinforcements.
Kong moved with a steady stride. Despite his age, he still carried himself with a soldier's vigor. Every movement radiated the authority of a battle-hardened veteran.
"No! Please, no..."
But from a ship not far away came a woman's desperate cries, shattering the solemn atmosphere.
Kong's face darkened. He glanced over, then sighed helplessly. It was East Owl's ship. High on its mast flew a flag embroidered with a falcon.
The falcon was East Owl's emblem.