At the sa ti.
World Governnt Headquarters, Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the World Governnt.
An old man sat upright at his desk. His hair was styled in a mountain-like shape, and he wore a sleeveless black shirt with dark green armbands. His expression was grave as he reviewed the mountain of docunts piled in front of him.
Kong, codenad "The Steel Bone," was the forr Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters, now the Commander-in-Chief of the World Governnt.
He oversees all departnts under the World Governnt, including the Marines, CP1 to CP8, the Marine Science Unit, and the Marine Special Secret Unit.
The docunt Kong was currently reviewing was the investigative report submitted by the Marine Internal Investigation Unit regarding Vice Admiral Orion.
Although the report was over a thousand pages long, most of it was trivial. The most serious charges were embezzlent, cultivating personal assassins within the Marine Headquarters, and forming factions.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the World Governnt, he didn't handle every matter personally. Even if Orion was a Vice Admiral, he wouldn't inquire too much, at most glancing at the relevant materials after an officer's promotion.
Thus, he didn't have much of an impression of Vice Admiral Orion, only vaguely rembering that Garp and Sengoku had ntioned him when they visited the Mari Geoise Headquarters.
After finishing the docunt, Kong rubbed his temples.
From the investigative report, he discovered that this Vice Admiral Orion, though young, had an astonishing growth rate.
In just six years, he had risen from a rookie to a powerhouse who had mastered Armant Haki, Observation Haki, and the Marine Six Styles. His swordsmanship even surpassed that of the Admiral candidate, Tokikake.
If it weren't for the staggering amount of money involved in Orion case and the fact that he had done sothing the World Governnt least wanted to see—forming factions—Kong would have undoubtedly protected and nurtured him.
He was well aware that the Marine Headquarters was currently facing a generational gap, with only a handful of young talents capable of taking on significant responsibilities. Once Sengoku, Garp, and the three Admirals stepped down, the Marine Headquarters would face a leadership crisis.
The investigative report also showed that Orion not only had an astonishing growth rate but also possessed exceptional leadership skills.
Given a little more ti, he could be grood as the successor to the current three Admirals, and even guided and nurtured towards becoming the Fleet Admiral of the Marine Headquarters.
"What a pity. Such a talented individual, how did he end up on this path?" After tossing the investigative report on Orion aside, Kong sighed deeply, then turned his head towards the door and called out in a deep voice.
"Soone, co in!"
"Commander Kong!" A ssenger quickly entered the office and stood opposite Kong.
Kong got straight to the point. "Have you still not been able to contact the Marine Headquarters?!"
"Purupuru…"
Before the ssenger could respond, the Den Den Mushi in front of Kong suddenly rang. Seeing this, Kong quickly signaled the ssenger to remain silent, then took the Den Den Mushi and spoke in a deep voice.
"This is Kong."
"Commander Kong, this is Vice Admiral Gion from Marine Headquarters!" ca a gentle voice from the Den Den Mushi.
"I apologize, but the communication system at Marine Headquarters malfunctioned last night and was only restored just now. Fleet Admiral Sengoku instructed to contact you imdiately to prevent any concern on your part."
Kong was montarily stunned and asked in surprise.
"A communication malfunction? How is that possible? Never mind, as long as it's restored now. Where is Sengoku? Why didn't he contact personally?"
Gion's voice remained as gentle as ever. "Fleet Admiral Sengoku is unwell and resting at ho. Do you have any instructions, Commander Kong? I can relay them for you."
Hearing this, Kong didn't waste any more ti and said firmly.
"I want to know the progress of Vice Admiral Orion trial. It's already noon, and there's still no news. Have Judge Basskervile report to imdiately!"
"Understood, I'll go see Chief Judge Basskervile right away!"
As Gion voice faded, the Den Den Mushi fell silent.
Kong didn't look away, his gaze fixed on the now silent Den Den Mushi, feeling that sothing was off.
Under normal circumstances, even if Sengoku were unwell, he wouldn't have Vice Admiral Gion report on his behalf. However, since a Marine Vice Admiral had made a mistake, Sengoku, as the Fleet Admiral, bore so responsibility.
It was likely that Sengoku was feigning illness to avoid the situation.
Just as Kong was imagining Sengoku pretending to be sick at ho, the recently silent Den Den Mushi rang again. Before Kong could react, the voice of Saint Saturn, the Warrior God of Science and Defense, ca through.
"Kong, why hasn't anyone been answering Sengoku Den Den Mushi? Calls to the Fleet Admiral office are being redirected to Vice Admiral Gion. I want to know what's going on. Also, Basskervile Den Den Mushi isn't being answered either!"
"Huh?"
Kong pupils contracted slightly, and an inexplicable sense of unease rose in his heart.
anwhile, at Marine Headquarters, in the Fleet Admiral Office.
Orion, who had been busy reorganizing the Marines, let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back in his chair, exhausted.
Although Marine Headquarters was now fully under his control, he was well aware that the World Governt would soon notice the anomaly and through continuous communication, eventually uncover everything that had happened at Headquarters.
Once that mont arrived, it would mark the official beginning of the confrontation between the Marines and the World Governnt.
However, he wasn't in a hurry. Now that he commanded the World Governnt most formidable war machine, even if the World Governt discovered that he had staged a coup to seize the position of Fleet Admiral, they wouldn't dare to openly confront him.
Therefore, his next step was to reassign personnel across the Four Seas and the major bases of the Grand Line, promoting all trustworthy individuals to the highest positions in their respective branch bases.
"Fleet Admiral!" Gion pushed open the door and said urgently.
"Commander Kong and Saint Saturn of the Five Elders just called. Although I managed to deflect their inquiries, it's clear from their reactions that they've already grown suspicious."
Orion nodded and asked. "Have Strawberry and Bastille arrived at Sabaody Archipelago?"
"Yes, Strawberry and Bastille have taken control of the Marine base at Sabaody Archipelago and secured the entrance to the Holy Land. If anyone descends from the Holy Land via the elevator, they'll be apprehended imdiately!"
Orion stood up from his desk and said.
"Now we just wait for news from the Four Seas and the major branch bases on the Grand Line! I've been busy all night and I'm a bit hungry. Co with to the cafeteria."
"Lord Orion, aren't you going ho?" Gion blinked and cautiously reminded him.
"If you don't go back soon, the old woman will co looking for and Ain again!"
Orion shook his head and smiled.
"Sakazuki is probably at my house right now. I don't want to disturb their mother-son reunion. Let's go to the cafeteria."
"Alright."
Gion smiled softly and followed Orion out of the office.
"Lord Orion!"
As soon as they stepped out of the office, a soldier ran up to them in a hurry/
"Vice Admiral Garp... he's back!"
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