Holy Land Mary Geoise.
This time, Lin Xuan deliberately concealed his sailing route, but the World Government still managed to uncover their movements in no time.
Days ago, Kong "Steel Bone" moved swiftly, urgently recalling forces stationed across the seas. Now, every elite unit had been pulled back, all of them garrisoned at the Holy Land of Mary Geoise.
And yet, inside the war council chamber, Kong, Sengoku, and the others sat with grim expressions.
A fleet of over five hundred ships.
The New Era Alliance was coming in force. Even Kong and the others couldn't say with certainty whether they could stop an assault of that scale.
They weren't overly worried about most of the enemy forces. Even if it was the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red-Haired Pirates, they didn't feel true fear.
The only ones that unsettled them… were the Ninja Guild.
What made Kong even more helpless was that, even now, they still couldn't reach the Five Elders.
He had even attempted to go deeper into the Holy Land, trying to contact the mysterious existence who had protected Mary Geoise last time.
But in the end, it was all in vain.
In a situation like this, they could only rely on themselves to hold the line.
At that moment, Kong's gaze shifted toward the man seated on one side of the table—a middle-aged man with long golden hair and a mask. Kong couldn't help letting out a slow breath.
The rulers of the North Blue—
The Vinsmoke Family!
Given the circumstances, the only piece of good news was that the World Government had offered generous benefits and successfully pulled the Vinsmokes into their camp.
The Vinsmokes were a royal bloodline. Once, they had ruled the entire North Blue through sheer force. Even without territory, they still held the right to attend the Reverie.
They were the most feared family in the North Blue—so much so that even Kong felt wary of them.
If Kong and Sengoku had any choice, they would never want to provoke this family. Cooperating with the Vinsmokes was like bargaining with a tiger—dangerous in every direction.
But they had no choice.
This time, they had paid a steep price and agreed to heavy conditions just to persuade Vinsmoke Judge to bring the Germa 66 army to help defend Mary Geoise.
No matter what, it was a powerful reinforcement.
Even so, Kong still felt lost.
He thought to himself:
"Does the World Government really have any chance of winning this battle?"
It wasn't that Kong was a coward.
It was that man… was simply too despair-inducing.
Everyone knew the name of the Ninja Guild.
Everyone knew the name Lin Xuan.
Vinsmoke Judge glanced at Kong, sneering inwardly.
Though they were based in the North Blue, the Vinsmokes had long possessed plenty of inside information about the World Government—information most people would never hear.
They even had access to certain "secret results" of human gene modification research.
The reason Judge agreed to cooperate this time was simple.
Kong had promised that if the Vinsmokes provided support, the World Government would officially recognize the restored status of the Vinsmoke royal family.
A high-risk gamble for enormous reward.
Besides, even if they worked with the World Government and fought the Ninja Guild, it wasn't necessarily a death sentence.
All he needed to do was lead his army to hold back a portion of the enemy.
He had no intention of fighting to the bitter end.
As long as Mary Geoise wasn't completely breached, the Vinsmokes could use the chaos to secure massive benefits.
And even if the World Government lost…
Judge believed he still had the ability to withdraw safely with the Germa 66 army.
Vinsmoke Judge was a man of ambition to the bone.
He didn't just want to be the commander of his family.
He wanted to become the true king of the North Blue.
He wanted to restore the Germa Empire.
Kong didn't know what Judge was thinking.
If he did, he would have cursed him as an idiot.
To face the Ninja Guild with that kind of mindset—
If that wasn't stupidity, what was?
Just as Kong was drowning in anxiety, he suddenly heard a transmission in his ear.
It was from the Five Elders.
His heart leapt with joy.
"Their Excellencies are finally back!"
In that instant, it felt as if he'd crawled out of hell.
The pressure the Ninja Guild put on him was simply too overwhelming. Now that the Five Elders—missing for so long—had finally returned, it was as though he had found a spine again.
But even as Kong relaxed, confusion surfaced.
The one who transmitted to him was the long-bearded Elder.
He told Kong to focus on dealing with the pirates, and that the Ninja Guild's forces would inevitably be "taken care of" when the time came.
Kong didn't know where the long-bearded Elder got such confidence, but he didn't dwell on it.
He didn't want to face the Ninja Guild either.
This outcome suited him perfectly.
At that moment, an alarm blared outside.
A soldier rushed in and reported urgently:
"Large number of ships sighted ahead! Approximately five hundred vessels! The Ninja Guild has been confirmed among them!"
Hearing this, Kong immediately stood.
With the Five Elders backing him again, the worry that had weighed on him earlier was swept away.
He spoke firmly:
"Everyone—prepare for battle!"
"Yes!"
At once, everyone moved out, each returning to their assigned forces.
Before leaving, Sengoku gave Kong a puzzled look.
He could sense the change in Kong's demeanor.
But Sengoku didn't say anything.
He was about to return to the Navy's sector when he suddenly heard Kong call out behind him:
"Watch out for Akainu!"
Sengoku froze.
"…Huh?"
What the hell?
What was wrong with Sakazuki?
Then Sengoku remembered the rumors spreading through the World Government lately—whispers about Akainu.
But he still felt it was hard to believe Kong would actually suspect him.
Sengoku understood Akainu well.
He didn't believe Sakazuki was a traitor planted by the Ninja Guild.
Still, Sengoku didn't bother defending him at a time like this.
He simply turned and left.
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T/N:
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