Sengoku, standing nearby, furrowed his brow deeply. "Those great pirates disappeared simultaneously, only to reappear together somewhere else, planning something major."
Kong's face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it.
Only substantial benefits could reunite these great pirates who had gone their separate ways.
And in the current New World, what interest could be large enough to attract all of them?
The answer was obvious.
"The Celestial Dragons' hunting event..." Kong gritted his teeth. "They've gone to the North Blue!"
He turned abruptly and ordered Tsuru, "Mobilize all intelligence forces immediately! I want their location confirmed in the shortest time possible! Focus the search on the North Blue sea area!"
"Yes!"
Kong then grabbed the Den Den Mushi on the desk and directly dialed the dedicated line to Mary Geoise.
After the call connected, he reported solemnly, "Honorable Five Elders, we have reason to believe that great pirates including Raiver, Golden Lion, Whitebeard, and Charlotte Linlin have joined forces. Their target is likely the ongoing Celestial Dragon hunting event. I recommend immediately suspending the event, strengthening security, or... canceling it outright."
There was a moment of silence on the other end before a cold voice responded, "Kong, do you realize what you're saying? The World Nobles' traditional celebration that has continued for eight hundred years, canceled because of a few pirates? Are you insulting the World Government's dignity?"
"But Honorable Five Elders, three years ago at God Valley—"
"God Valley was an exception!" the voice suddenly turned severe. "We weren't prepared that time. This is different. Domon Island has the God Knights participating, along with four vice admiral fleets providing security. In critical moments, we five can also take the field personally. If those pirates dare to come, they're seeking their own doom!"
"But—"
"No buts!" the Five Elders interrupted him. "Do what the Marines are supposed to do. If those pirates truly appear, make sure none return. That's an order."
Click.
The call ended.
Kong held the receiver, looking at Sengoku, who shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Fleet Admiral, we..."
"Deploy troops." Kong took a deep breath. "Notify Garp and Zephyr to prepare for deployment. Contact the Science Unit as well, request authorization to use the new weaponry. This time... we cannot fail again."
Outside the window, the morning sun shone brightly over Marineford.
But in the fleet admiral's office, heavy gloom clouded everyone's hearts.
The beasts of the New World had already been unleashed.
North Blue, Domon Island.
This island was merely an insignificant dot on the map, with a population of about one hundred thousand.
It produced no rare resources, held no special strategic value, and didn't even qualify to become a World Government Member State—until today.
Currently, the waters around Domon Island were tightly blockaded by warships.
Over thirty vessels formed a double-layered blockade—twenty standard warships in the outer ring, and ten larger flagship-class warships in the inner ring.
All cannons on every warship were aimed toward the island.
Not to defend against external enemies, but to prevent anyone from escaping.
On the warship closest to the shore, two young rear admirals stood by the railing, their faces pale.
The screams from the island could faintly be heard even from several kilometers away.
These were not the sounds of battle, but pure, desperate wails.
"Damn it... Why were we the ones assigned to this mission!" A red-haired Rear Admiral slammed his fist against the railing:
"Listen to those sounds... We both know what's happening in there!"
The black-haired Rear Admiral beside him gritted his teeth: "Three years ago, after Vice Admiral Garp returned from God Valley, he got drunk and let it slip...
What 'celebration'? It's nothing but a slaughterhouse! Those Celestial Dragons treat living people as prey, and we, the Marines, are supposed to act as their guard dogs!"
"Shut up! What are you two talking about?!"
An authoritative voice came from behind them.
They turned to see a middle-aged man wearing a Vice Admiral's cape approaching.
He had a cigar in his mouth, smoke curling around him.
This was Vice Admiral Douglas, in charge of the current blockade mission.
"That's the Celestial Dragons," Douglas's voice was low:
"Even just gossiping about such things is a serious crime if overheard."
The red-haired Rear Admiral glared at him: "Vice Admiral, don't you feel anything? In there—"
"I do feel," Douglas interrupted him, exhaling a puff of smoke:
"But I also know that if even the Fleet Admiral can't stop it, what can we do?"
He looked toward the island, his expression complex: "After God Valley three years ago, Fleet Admiral Kong repeatedly suggested to the Five Elders that they stop this 'celebration.'
And what happened? He was severely reprimanded and nearly lost his position as Fleet Admiral."
The black-haired Rear Admiral fell silent for a few seconds, then suddenly pulled two wads of cotton from his pocket and stuffed them into his ears.
"At the very least, I can choose not to listen."
Seeing this, the red-haired Rear Admiral did the same.
Both turned their backs to the island, out of sight, out of mind.
But Douglas's words still echoed in their minds.
"I really hope..." the red-haired Rear Admiral murmured, his voice so soft only he could hear it:
"I really hope those pirates would come again... just like at God Valley three years ago, and slaughter these damned Celestial Dragons once more!
A few more times, and let's see if they'd dare—"
Before he could finish.
A sharp alarm suddenly blared across the entire fleet!
Woo—woo—woo—
It was the highest-level enemy attack alert!
"All hands, attention! Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
The soldier in the lookout tower was trembling, not from fear, but from disbelief:
"Ten o'clock direction! An unidentified fleet has appeared in the sky! Identification signal... it's a pirate flag!
It's the Golden Lion Flag of the Flying Pirates!! And... the Whitebeard Pirates! The Big Mom Pirates!"
"Wait! That emblem is... the Black Dragon Flag of the Fengtian Empire! It's Raiver! Raiver, the God Slayer hailed as the world's strongest man!!"
"You've got to be kidding... All the major pirates of the New World... have come?!"
The entire Marine fleet instantly descended into chaos.
Vice Admiral Douglas yanked the cigar from his mouth, rushed to the ship's side, and raised his binoculars.
Then, he witnessed a sight he would never forget for the rest of his life.
In the eastern sky, a "fleet" composed of over a dozen pirate ships was breaking through the clouds!
These ships had no sails, no oars; instead, they were held aloft by some invisible force, like mythical flying vessels!
Leading them was a massive, silver luxury battleship.
That was the Celestial Dragons' flagship "Divine Right," now flying the Black Dragon Flag of the Fengtian Empire.
Standing at the bow was a man clad in black with dark hair, holding an ebony longsword.
Even from several kilometers away, Douglas could feel the palpable pressure emanating from him.
To the left of the Divine Right was an extravagantly designed massive pirate ship with a golden lion head carved at its prow—the Flying Pirates' flagship "Lion King."
At the bow, Golden Lion Shiki spread his arms wide, his golden mane whipping wildly in the wind as his laughter pierced across the sea:
"Gehahahaha! The intel was true—the Celestial Dragons are really holding their hunting games here! Now the tables have turned! It's time for those swine to become the prey!"
To the right floated a massive white ship shaped like a whale—the Whitebeard Pirates' "Moby Dick."
Whitebeard Edward Newgate stood at the bow, gripping his Cloud Cutter, a hearty grin visible beneath his crescent-shaped mustache:
"Gurararara! Let this old man greet those obstructing warships!"
Farthest to the right, Charlotte Linlin's "Queen Mama Chanter" resembled a moving castle, with Homies aboard cackling eerily.
This airborne fleet descended rapidly, closing in on the shores of Dormon Island.
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