The hall fell into a deathly silence.
Fleet Admiral Kong stood frozen in place, his mouth half-open. Sengoku's eyelids twitched violently, his mind completely short-circuiting.
In front of the Five Elders, in the room representing the world's highest authority, he had just slapped the leader of their direct subordinate agents, sending him flying?!
How was this any different from an outright rebellion?
"Outrageous!"
Saint Nusjuro rose to his feet, his right hand gripping the hilt of the First Generation Ghost Cutter.
The faces of the other four Elders darkened completely. It was one thing for dogs to fight among themselves, but to trample their master's dignity underfoot right before their eyes was unacceptable.
The God's Knights guards stationed outside the door, hearing the commotion, rushed in with their spears, instantly surrounding Kane.
Faced with the blades, spears, and the overwhelming pressure of the Five Elders' gazes, Kane showed not a hint of panic.
"Please calm your anger, esteemed sirs."
Kane casually tossed the handkerchief he had used to wipe his hands onto the floor, then turned and performed an impeccably formal chest salute to the Five Elders.
"This subordinate's action was entirely to uphold the supreme dignity of the World Government."
"You assaulted a high-ranking government official in the Holy Land," Saint Saturn said coldly, watching him. "And you call that upholding dignity?"
Kane straightened up and pointed at the groaning CP0 Chief on the floor. His tone suddenly rose, each word filled with righteous indignation and profound disappointment:
"Esteemed sirs, please judge for yourselves!"
"This incompetent fool, granted the World Government's highest-level resources, enjoying the most privileged treatment!"
"And what is the result?"
"He couldn't even keep watch over a living person!"
"With so many of the world's top defense systems on the periphery, so many hidden surveillance posts, he allowed thieves to walk in as if strolling through a market, kill his men, and take away the world's foremost scientist!"
"After such a colossal failure, instead of reflecting on his own incompetence, he shifts the blame onto the Navy, who stand at the forefront, enduring wind and sun!"
"A scoundrel like this, who shirks responsibility and sows discord within the government—if I didn't hit him…"
Kane's voice rang out with conviction, "Should we keep him around to continue embarrassing you esteemed sirs in front of you? Should we let outsiders mock the World Government's Cipher Pol departments as nothing but a bunch of useless fools?!"
His words were forceful and resonant. The logic was utterly shameless, yet coming from Kane's mouth, it carried a weight of righteous solemnity.
Marcus Mars's grip on his cane loosened slightly, his icy gaze under Kane's barrage of nonsense revealing a hint of scrutiny.
"You claim this was for the government's dignity?" the bald swordsman Saint Nusjuro asked coldly, his eyes fixed on Kane. "Even when beating a dog, one must consider its master. That slap of yours—was it striking his face, or… ours?"
"Sir, I struck his 'incompetence,'" Kane replied without fear, meeting the eyes of the five elders who held the world's highest authority.
"Rather than allowing the Navy's funding to be cut in this very room due to the failures of such a worthless individual, leading to the collapse of our frontline defenses…"
Kane's voice was resolute and unwavering, "It is better for me, a Navy Admiral, to personally eliminate such a cancer that undermines the government!"
Kane finished speaking and suddenly took a step forward. He stomped hard on the back of the CP0 chief's hand, who had just tried to push himself up from the ground.
Crack—the sound of finger bones shattering.
"Speak!"
"What were your covert sentries doing on the day Vegapunk was abducted?"
"Why didn't the surveillance system trigger?"
"Why were there no traces of the enemy left at the scene?"
Kane looked down from above, his tone icy:
"Was it because the enemy was too powerful?
Or because there's a traitor within your ranks?
Or even… someone deliberately opened the door for those thugs?"
The accusation of "traitor" sent the CP0 chief into a panic. Ignoring the excruciating pain in his hand, he scrambled to kneel before the Five Elders.
"My lords! I swear I have no disloyalty! The system truly malfunctioned—it was an infiltration method beyond conventional means…"
"Enough."
Kane impatiently cut him off and turned to the Five Elders. The anger on his face instantly vanished, replaced by an extreme calm and gravity.
"Honored Elders."
Kane's voice was steady. "In the earlier search report, the Navy indeed found no trace of Vegapunk.
But my people intercepted an extremely dangerous piece of intelligence at a black-market information hub in the New World."
At these words, even Fleet Admiral Kong, Sengoku, and Zephyr were stunned.
How did they not know about this intelligence?
Kane pulled out a thick stack of documents from his coat and presented them with both hands.
"Originally, this intelligence hadn't been verified, and I didn't intend to report it at this time."
His tone carried a hint of helplessness. "But seeing the Cipher Pol department so negligent, even trying to drag the Navy down with them, I had no choice but to expose that man's true nature ahead of schedule."
Saint Saturn took the documents and opened the first page.
It was a blurry long-distance photo—outside the Bank Restricted Zone, the fleeting figure of a man in a dark green cloak with red tattoos on his face.
"Is this… Monkey D. Dragon?!"
Marcus Mars abruptly stood up. For the first time, his voice carried such obvious emotional fluctuation.
"Correct."
Kane adjusted his breathing, his tone becoming exceedingly grave.
"According to my investigation, before Dragon left the Navy, he privately accessed the core archives of the Science Division on multiple occasions."
He spoke bluntly. "He holds an almost fanatical obsession with his so-called 'revolution.'
He understands all too well that to overthrow the World Government, relying solely on a bunch of commoners isn't enough."
"He needs Vegapunk. He needs war technology powerful enough to reshape the world."
Kane's voice echoed through the Hall of Power: "And the reason those CP0 agents failed to detect the enemy is because… it was Dragon, a former Navy officer who knows the government's internal defense protocols inside out!"
This explanation was seamless.
Dragon's background, abilities, and motives—all formed a perfect, closed loop.
Crucially, Dragon had already defected from the Navy, becoming the greatest destabilizing factor in the eyes of the World Government. Pinning the blame on him was something the Five Elders wouldn't just believe—they would be utterly convinced.
[Ding! Detected host pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, maliciously framing the Revolutionary Army leader, misleading the World Government's strategic focus!]
[Congratulations, host! Violation Value obtained: 50,000 points!]
The system notification in his mind filled Kane with delight, but on the surface, he maintained that solemn, "concerned for the nation" demeanor.
"Honored Five Elders, consider this.
Now that Dragon has obtained Vegapunk, what will he do next?"
He's definitely hiding in some ungoverned corner, building up his forces and manufacturing weapons.
Once he equips his troops with new weapons, the next step will be a full-scale assault on the various Affiliated Countries."
"At a time like this, if we cut the Navy's military budget, how will the Navy suppress those new weapons?"
Kane pounded his chest in anguish.
"Not only should we not cut it, we should increase it!
Massively increase it!
We need to expand our fleet, we need to enhance the power of our artillery!
We must crush them with absolute firepower before this malignant tumor fully erupts!
This money isn't for the Navy; it's buying insurance for the future of the World Government!"
After his lengthy speech fell.
The entire Hall of Power was so quiet that only heavy breathing could be heard.
The Five Elders exchanged several glances.
That man, Monkey D. Dragon, was indeed an extremely threatening anomaly.
This flame of rebellion, attempting to overthrow the rule, had just ignited. If they truly gained the technological support of Vegapunk...
The consequences would be unimaginable!
Commander-in-Chief Kong stood behind, gazing at Kane's upright back. His heart trembled, and his eyes actually grew slightly moist.
What is called a peerless statesman?
This is called a peerless statesman!
After a long while, Saint Nusjuro finally sheathed the First Generation Ghost Cutter. He swept a cold glance at the CP0 Chief lying on the ground and waved his hand in disgust.
"Take him away."
"Strip him of all positions. The role of CP Chief will be temporarily assumed by the Special Inspector."
Then, he looked at Kane, his tone softening slightly.
"Your deduction has a high degree of plausibility." This Martial God in charge of finance slowly spoke, his tone carrying a trace of deep thought.
"The threat level of the Revolutionary Army must be immediately raised to the highest."
"As for the funding..."
He looked at Kane, a complex glint flashing in his eyes.
"The planned military budget cuts are canceled. This year's financial allocation for the Navy remains unchanged.
Furthermore..."
Saint Nusjuro tapped the table.
"The special search and capture operations targeting the Revolutionary Army will, from today, be fully handled by the Navy.
Beyond the regular budget, I will separately approve an additional 500 billion Berry for special military operations.
Kane, this money, I will allocate directly to your G-5 Branch.
Dig Dragon out for me!"
Sengoku and Kong both gasped sharply.
500 billion!
And allocated solely to G-5!
This time, the Five Elders were truly struck at their sore spot by Kane's words, investing heavily.
"I guarantee the completion of the mission! I will absolutely not betray the trust of the Five Elders!"
Kane immediately stood up, saluting with a standard military salute so flawless it couldn't be faulted. The expression of unwavering integrity on his face made it seem as if he was ready at any moment to shed his last drop of blood for the World Government.
He lowered his head, so no one could see the face where he was desperately controlling his expression.
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