By the time they returned to the Marineford headquarters, it was already dusk of the following day.
The setting sun was like blood, painting the massive "Justice" fortress with a layer of chilling crimson. Inside the military port, the atmosphere was abnormally oppressive. The usual noisy sounds of training had vanished, replaced by the hurried movements and solemn expressions of soldiers. As soon as Kane stepped off the warship's gangway, countless gazes instantly focused on him.
There was worry, curiosity, and even some schadenfreude from other factions.
"Rear Admiral Kane is back!"
"He was taken away by CP0 and actually came back unscathed? It is a miracle..."
"Shh! Don't talk nonsense!"
Kane ignored the surrounding whispers, straightened his collar, and walked toward the headquarters building with a calm expression and steady steps. Only he knew that the real show was about to begin. Spy on Kong and Sengoku? What a joke! Did those old geezers in the Gorosei really think of me as their dog?
The corner of Kane's mouth curled into an imperceptible arc as he walked straight to the Fleet Admiral's office on the top floor. He did not knock immediately but stood still for a moment. He controlled his facial muscles, adjusted his breathing, and forced his tear glands to begin secreting a small amount of fluid.
Three seconds later, that arrogant, high-spirited "child of the storm" disappeared. In his place was a weary traveler returning home with heavy steps and a struggling expression, as if he were carrying a weight of ten thousand pounds.
Knock, knock, knock.
The knocking was dull and hesitant.
"Enter!"
Kong's signature booming voice came through, but it carried a hint of fatigue and irritation. Kane pushed the door open and entered. The spacious office was filled with smoke. Not only was Fleet Admiral Kong there, but Admiral Sengoku and the marine hero Garp were also present.
The three were frowning over a nautical chart, clearly discussing the worsening pirate situation in the New World. Seeing Kane enter, the three of them paused simultaneously. Sengoku pushed up his reflective glasses, his gaze sharp as a knife, as if trying to see through Kane's soul: "You are back? Those five old... lords, they did not make things difficult for you, did they?"
Garp stood up carelessly, scanning Kane from head to toe. After confirming he was not missing any limbs, he snorted, "Hmph, I told you this kid was tough, he would not die."
Fleet Admiral Kong sat in the main seat, his hands crossed under his chin. His deep eyes were locked onto Kane, his voice steady as a mountain. "Kane, the Gorosei bypassed the chain of command to summon you. What was it for?"
Kane did not answer immediately. He reached back, slowly closed the door, and even made a point of locking it. This action made the expressions of the three big shots in the room grow even more solemn. He turned around and walked toward Kong's desk, one heavy step at a time. His head was bowed low, and his shoulders trembled slightly from some immense suppression.
Slap!
A check was slammed heavily onto the desk.
"Fleet Admiral! I have failed you!!!"
Kane's shout, filled with thirty percent sob and seventy percent tragedy, nearly caused Garp, who was chewing senbei, to choke. Sengoku and Kong were also stunned by this sudden turn of events. Fleet Admiral Kong frowned as he looked at the thin slip of paper on the desk.
In the next second, his pupils suddenly constricted.
"One... one billion Beri?!"
Sengoku also sucked in a cold breath and looked up sharply at Kane: "Where did this money come from?!"
"It is the money the Gorosei gave me... to sell my soul!" Kane snapped his head up, his eyes bloodshot, with glistening tears trembling at the corners.
"What?!" Sengoku's expression changed drastically. "Explain yourself!"
Kane grit his teeth, his voice hoarse: "I knew before I went that it was a trap! As soon as we met, the Gorosei pressured me with Conqueror's Haki and asked me what 'Justice' was! I understood then—if I acted like a true Marine, like a man of integrity... I would never have walked out of Mary Geoise today! I might have even implicated you, Fleet Admiral, and Admiral Sengoku!"
As Kane spoke, he clenched his fists. "So I... I..." He closed his eyes, extreme pain and self-loathing appearing on his face. "In a moment of desperation, I disguised myself as a greedy, lecherous, bottomless scoundrel who only cares about money! I told those five old guys: How much is justice worth? As long as they pay, I will be their most loyal dog! I am willing to sell my soul, willing to do any dirty work for Berries!"
The office fell into a dead silence. Only Kane's grief-stricken voice echoed.
"They believed it! Those high-and-mighty gods actually believed it! They gave me this billion as a deposit and even promised that I would succeed you in the future..." Kane pointed at the check on the desk, his body shaking violently. "The price is... for me to spy on you! To spy on Admiral Sengoku! To report Vice Admiral Garp's movements at any time! To be a nail driven into the heart of the Marines!"
"Bastards!!!"
Boom!
Kong was furious, slamming his palm down hard on the desk. The hard mahogany desk was instantly covered in cracks, and the teacups were shattered by the vibration. "This is too much! Simply too much!"
Kong's chest heaved. Although he had long known the Gorosei did not trust the Marines, he had not expected them to go this far—directly bribing his subordinate to be a spy! This was not just a slap in his face; it was trampling on the dignity of the Marines! His dissatisfaction with the World Government reached its peak at this moment.
Kane lowered his head in "shame," his voice trembling. "Fleet Admiral, the money is all here. I, Kane, might usually be a bit of a bastard and like to take small advantages, but I am a Marine in life and will be a Marine's ghost in death! I cannot betray my superiors or my comrades! But if I did not take the money and pretend to agree... I was afraid I would never have the chance to return to this sea of justice, never have the chance to serve you again..."
Reaching the emotional climax, Kane's voice choked several times, nearly failing him. With this acting, even an Oscar winner would have to bow down to him. Kong looked at the young Rear Admiral before him. Nineteen years old, high-spirited, at an age where he should be enjoying glory.
Yet for the sake of the Marines' overall situation, to prevent the top brass from having an open falling out, he actually had to go alone to the center of world power, put on the mask of a "greedy villain," and endure inner torment and self-reproach. He even went as far as to tarnish his own reputation!
What kind of grievance was this? What kind of loyalty?! This is the true... Soul of the Marines!
The fire of anger in Kong's eyes quietly dissipated, replaced by deep emotion and guilt. He walked around the desk to Kane and patted his shoulder heavily. "Good boy... you have suffered." Kong's voice was hoarse, filled with pity.
Beside them, Sengoku took off his glasses, rubbed his aching eyes, and sighed: "Kane, your wit and forbearance... I am ashamed to say I could not match them. You bore this infamy for the sake of the Marines."
"Wahahaha! Good lad!" Garp rushed over, hooked his arm around Kane's neck, rubbed his hair vigorously, and laughed loudly: "What is there to be afraid of! As long as we know you are a good one, that's enough! Taking that stinking money from those old fossils—it would be a waste not to!"
"But..." Kane looked at Kong with a "dazed" expression, "Fleet Admiral, this money... it must be handed over! I do not want a single cent! I want it to be used for our fallen brothers!"
"Nonsense!" Fleet Admiral Kong's face hardened, but his tone was more kind than ever before. He picked up the one billion Beri check from the desk and forced it back into Kane's jacket pocket, even carefully patting it to make sure it was secure.
"Kane, listen to me," Kong said solemnly, his tone serious and earnest. "Since we are acting, we must go all the way! If this money suddenly appears in the Marines' official accounts, the Gorosei will immediately know you are lying to them! At that time, not only will your life be in danger, but the Marines will also be put in a difficult position."
Sengoku nodded from the side, his voice heavy: "The Fleet Admiral is right. This is a hot potato; it can only rot in your hands."
"So..." Kong paused, his eyes carrying an unquestionable indulgence, "Keep this money for yourself! Use it as your mission funds, or as compensation for your mental distress! Whether you use it for drinking, improving your strength, or even going to the Pleasure Town to have fun... as long as your heart is still with the Marines, you decide how to spend this money! That is an order!"
Kane was completely stunned. Holy crap? Is the script going a bit too smoothly? I originally just wanted to pocket ninety percent of it legitimately and leave ten percent as a gesture. In the end, you old man are telling me to swallow it all? And you are forcing me to swallow it with such emotion and firmness? Is this the legendary "Emperor-sanctioned corruption"?
"Fleet Admiral..." Kane's eyes filled with tears, his lips trembling, "This... how can I accept this? This is a billion! It is enough to build several top-tier warships!"
"Take it!" Kong roared unquestioningly. "What? Do you want to disobey orders? This is for the mission!"
"Yes!!!"
Kane snapped his back straight and gave a standard, impeccable military salute, shouting so loudly that the glass windows vibrated: "For Justice! For the Marines! I, Kane, am willing to bear the infamy of being a 'corrupt official'! Even if I am doomed, I will not hesitate! I accept this money with tears in my eyes!"
"Good! This is a pillar of the Marines!" Sengoku nodded approvingly.
"Come to my place for a drink tonight! Bring all those bottles of good wine you have!" Garp laughed and slapped Kane on the back.
The office was filled with a tragic, hot-blooded, and touching atmosphere of familial devotion... Two hours later.
Kane walked out of the headquarters building and stood in the cool night breeze. The tragic and desperate expression he had just now had vanished. He reached out and touched the warm check in his chest pocket, the corners of his mouth turning up bit by bit until they formed a wicked smile.
On the Gorosei's side, I am a greedy and obedient lapdog. On Fleet Admiral Kong's side, I am a loyal minister enduring humiliation. Eating from both sides, taking from both sides. Both sides have to coax me and even praise me for doing a great job.
Kane hummed an unknown little tune, his mood reaching a peak of joy. This is what you call the house taking it all. One billion Beri... Tsk tsk, the tea leaves Borsalino wants, the limited edition bicycle Kuzan wants, and those cigars that closet-pervert Sakazuki likes... It is also time to start building my own crew.
Just then, that cold mechanical voice in his mind rang out like heavenly music.
[Ding! Detected that the host has deceived the world's highest authority, deceived the Marine's supreme commander, incited conflict between the Marines and the World Government's top brass, and intensified internal contradictions.]
[This behavior is extremely subversive and has an incredibly profound impact!]
[Comprehensive evaluation complete, rewards being calculated...]
[Congratulations to the host! Obtained discipline points: 150,000!]
[Current discipline points balance: 552,700!]
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