With everyone in position, the long-awaited Investiture Ceremony officially began.
"...Throughout the years, the Marines have worked to maintain order across the seas, protect civilians, and fight evil. Countless people have shed their blood and given their lives.
That will not change. We will never be content to stop. As long as evil remains, we will keep fighting..."
Addressing the world, Kong delivered an impassioned speech.
He had much to say. Over the years, the Marines had endured too much grief and lost too many fighters.
So many children had lost their fathers. So many parents had lost their children on the battlefield.
Unlike the desperate struggle against the Rocks Pirates, the wars of recent years had been relentless.
Whenever hope appeared, another war broke out and wiped away years of hard work.
The losses suffered by each graduating class of the Elite Training Camp spoke to the cruelty of war.
At the ceremony, at Marine Branch bases, and on islands across the seas, people could not hold back their tears.
When the speech ended, Admiral Sengoku stepped up to Kong.
"From this moment on, I will step down as Fleet Admiral, and Sengoku will take my place. I believe he can bear the weight of the Marines' justice."
Kong looked at Sengoku and smiled with satisfaction.
He had no regrets left.
The Flying Pirates had been the most dangerous Great Pirates to rise during Kong's tenure after the Rocks Pirates disbanded.
Now the Flying Pirates were gone.
What came next was no longer his task.
He could retire in peace and live out the rest of his days.
The transfer of power changed nothing in practice. Kong had handed the Fleet Admiral's authority to Sengoku long ago.
Sengoku had been acting as Fleet Admiral for more than ten years.