Admiral Kong Takes on the Rocks Pirates Alone

Beneath the night sky, the dark sea lay still.

An occasional breeze swept over the water, gently rocking the ship hidden in the dim night.

"How's the situation? Do you see anything?"

"Report, Admiral, nothing!"

Kong remained fairly calm as he listened to the Marine's report.

Perhaps it was because he was standing on the deck, or perhaps it was the cold night breeze, but he felt a chill in his heart.

The agreed time had already passed. What did it mean that the mole in the Rocks Pirates still hadn't shown up?

After waiting a little longer, Kong began to feel uneasy.

He had started out as a low-ranking soldier and fought in countless battles before reaching his current position.

In his own view, when a clandestine rendezvous like this ran past its scheduled time, they should retreat immediately, without the slightest hesitation.

But before he left, the Fleet Admiral had specifically told him that the government's stance was firm: the mission had to be completed.

So he had no choice but to keep waiting.

In a sense, Kong and Sengoku were alike. They had ideas of their own, but because of their positions, they had little say.

They could only carry out one mission after another, earning more accomplishments and doing their best to climb higher.

Only then could they fulfill their long-cherished wishes.

Even so, Kong decided to wait another half hour. If the person still hadn't appeared, he would retreat immediately.

Better to arrive at just the right moment than to arrive early!

Just as he was thinking this, a Marine reported that a small boat had appeared in the distance.

"Let me see!" Kong perked up, took the telescope, and peered out over the sea.

He soon saw that it really was a small boat, like a ferry used to carry people across a river. A wooden canopy covered the middle, and it could hold six or seven people at most.

The timing and the secrecy of it left no doubt: the person he was waiting for had appeared!

Kong breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't let his guard down.

They made no sound and made no move to approach. The warship simply remained where it was, using the darkness as cover.

The distance between them gradually closed, and the Marines on deck instinctively tightened their grips on their guns. If anything unexpected happened, they would raise them and fire.

At last, the boat reached a dangerous distance.

Kong watched it closely. The Fleet Admiral had also told him the details of how the two sides were to meet.

There was no need for any contact between the vessels. Once the distance was right, he only needed to send out a small boat to pick the person up.

So if the other boat continued forward, something was wrong.

Fortunately, the small boat stopped.

"Have Sato and the others set out," Kong ordered at once.

"Yes, sir!" the Marine replied.

A little later, an even smaller boat, seemingly a lifeboat kept aboard the warship, set out to meet the other vessel. Their bows nearly came alongside each other.

Although it was very dark, Kong saw two people emerge from under the other boat's canopy.

"Admiral Kong, there are only two people aboard!"

The report came through the Den Den Mushi from the Marine squad sent out to meet them.

Kong told them to pick the people up without touching the other boat and bring both of them back.

In the end, everything went smoothly.

The Marines brought the people back. They were two figures in black robes, without an inch of skin showing.

Strangely, one of them was supporting the other, and they walked oddly.

Kong gave a slight wave, and the Marines immediately surrounded them, swords and gun barrels trained on their targets.

"Don't do that. It's scary..."

One of the black-robed figures pulled back his hood, revealing a face behind sunglasses and a faint, wicked smile.

As he spoke, he also pulled off the other person's robe.

The moment the black robe slipped away, the atmosphere aboard the Marine ship changed abruptly.

Every Marine stared in a daze, hearts in their eyes.

"S-so beautiful!"

"My god, how can a woman be this beautiful?"

"I'd let her kill me."

"She's so beautiful, whatever she does is right~"

It wasn't just the ordinary soldiers. Even Kong, a Marine Admiral, froze for an instant.

But he quickly came to his senses and shouted, "Silence! The enemy is a pirate! Being taken in by a pirate's looks is disgraceful!"

The Marines fell silent at once, none of them daring to speak.

Though Kong had shouted at them, the tension he had been holding in his heart finally eased completely.

"Shakky? I've heard of her. She really is an unusual item of trade." Kong's gaze lingered briefly on Shakky's limp body.

Shakky's eyes were tightly shut, and she was bound with thick ropes. Clearly, she was unconscious.

Kong recognized the other person as well.

"Keel Bastar, user of the Soul-Soul Fruit, and one of the best gunmen around." Kong's tone was unreadable. "I didn't expect you to be the one who betrayed Rocks."

"Not me. It was my boss, Ochoku. Don't get it wrong." Keel waved a hand.

Kong's eyes flickered. It matched what he knew.

If Keel had admitted to being the mole himself, Kong would have taken him down immediately without hesitation.

As things stood, he was just an errand runner.

Presumably, Ochoku was afraid of dying, so he had sent a subordinate instead of coming in person.

"I really didn't expect a Marine Admiral to be the one meeting us." Keel looked Kong up and down.

Kong wore his hair in a mohawk. He had tawny skin and wore a sleeveless black shirt stretched taut over his strong, broad chest.

"Give her to me." Kong held out his hand.

Keel didn't waste time, casually pushing Shakky toward him. Once Kong had her, he handed her over to several Marines, who took her below.

Kong clapped his hands, and dozens more Marines came out carrying several large chests. When they opened the lids, the chests were packed with gold, silver, and treasure.

Whoa! Now that's a fortune!

Keel was secretly astonished. Surely these chests of treasure were worth more than a billion Beli?

He had never seen so much money before, so he could hardly be blamed if his estimate was off.

"This matter ends here," Kong said expressionlessly. "Carry the money down yourself."

"Okay, okay! I understand!" Keel raised both hands to show he knew the drill. "I can't carry it all at once. You don't mind if I make a few trips, right?"

Kong said nothing, and the other Marines remained silent as well.

Keel didn't mind. He picked up a treasure chest and walked off, even humming a leisurely tune.

"Admiral Kong..." a Marine began.

"That's enough." Kong stopped him. "The deal is done. Get ready to return."

A deal between Marines and pirates was dishonorable, after all.

But in any case, the mission wasn't over. They needed to take her directly to the Holy Land Mary Geoise.

"B-bad news, Admiral!!"

The Marine on lookout in the crow's nest began shouting, his voice trembling with shock.

"The Rocks Pirates... have appeared!"

What?!

Kong went pale with shock and hurriedly grabbed his telescope to look. At the first glimpse, his heart skipped half a beat.

A ship was sailing straight toward them, its sharp bow cutting through the waves like a sword. The great sail at the front bore the word "Rocks," and its red skull seemed to be dripping blood!

Kong's mind raced.

This was a secret operation, and they had indeed made contact with their target. Had they been exposed?

But the timing was too convenient. He had only just received the person, and the Rocks Pirates had appeared...

No! Something's wrong! Kong's eyes suddenly widened.

It would have taken time for their ship to set out. They couldn't have timed it so precisely on a whim, which meant they must have prepared in advance!

"Where's that bastard Keel?!" Kong roared.

There was no response. Keel had disappeared with the treasure chest!

With a powerful enemy upon them and Kong caught in some kind of conspiracy, many of the Marines panicked.

"Admiral Kong, let's retreat!"

"It's too late..."

Kong took a deep breath and removed the cape draped over his shoulders. A strong wind swept across the sea, carrying it away.

The word "Justice" written on it flew away with it and vanished into the distance.

Kong now understood that he had fallen into a trap.

They had played along and set up this ambush. Keel had most likely gone into the ship to kill the Marines, leaving the warship unable to move.

And there was Shakky. He really hadn't expected her to be willing to take such a risk and pretend to be a captive.

"Contact headquarters. Tell them..."

"Marine Admiral Kong fought the Rocks Pirates and was ultimately defeated! He died in action!"