While the Rocks Pirates quieted down to search for Devil Fruits.
The breaking news regarding Imu, the King of the World, and the truth behind the Red Soil Island incident continued to ferment.
Most of the powerhouses who had joined the Military Draft chose to back off and wait, no longer dreaming of becoming high-ranking Marine officers overnight.
Some Marine generals had already confirmed the authenticity of the Red Soil Island incident.
Unable to continue protecting these cruel demons known as the Celestial Dragons, they chose to resign from the Marine or take long leaves of absence.
Fleet Admiral Kukulkan at the Marine Headquarters, Marineford, was the first to receive a summons from the Gorosei to report for duty at the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
In the past, Kukulkan would have immediately ascended to the Holy Land to carry out the orders.
But now, with the reports in the newspapers, Fleet Admiral Kukulkan was indeed a little panicked.
He feared becoming a puppet servant of that so-called King of the World.
To have awakened Conqueror's Haki and become a Fleet Admiral, he had his own bottom line and sense of justice.
If he were to become a puppet without self-awareness, he would rather resign and go into seclusion.
But now, he didn't know if the Gorosei wanted him at the Holy Land Mary Geoise truly for a report, or if Imu was actually going to make a move on him.
He couldn't just give up his position as Fleet Admiral and retire based on a suspicion from 'fake news'.
That would make it seem like he had no courage at all.
After some careful consideration, Kukulkan felt somewhat confident in his Mythical Zoan: Quetzalcoatl ability.
If anything felt wrong, he would immediately transform into the Quetzalcoatl and escape from the Holy Land Mary Geoise.
Before heading to the Holy Land Mary Geoise, Kukulkan specifically called Kong, in case he met with an accident or experienced a drastic change in personality.
In that case, he would have likely fallen into Imu's hands.
From then on, the justice of the Marine would be entrusted to Kong.
Kong could hear a tone of tragic resolve in Fleet Admiral Kukulkan's voice, as if he were facing death.
He was both admiring and full of worry.
He could accept giving all his loyalty, even crossing the line of justice, but he could not accept his life being at the mercy of others.
He hoped Fleet Admiral Kukulkan could gain the trust of the King of the World and the Gorosei without losing himself and his freedom.
That way, he could also serve under the King of the World and the Gorosei.
---
Kukulkan ascended to the Holy Land Mary Geoise with a heavy heart.
In the Room of Authority, he saw the Gorosei—no, there were only the Four Elders.
This made Kukulkan more inclined to believe the 'fake news' that one of the World Government's Gorosei had fallen.
After all, he had come to the Room of Authority to report before, and the Gorosei were usually an inseparable group.
But today, there were actually only four.
"Kukulkan, you don't actually believe those fake news reports, do you?"
Saint Nusjuro, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and carrying the supreme grade blade: Shodai Kitetsu, immediately noticed the change in Kukulkan's expression.
"The fake news said that Satan Saint had already..."
"I wonder why Satan Saint isn't here?"
Kukulkan already had an answer in his heart, but he still asked with a solemn face.
"Satan Saint is in the Empty Throne Hall; we'll take you to see him!"
Saint V. Nusjuro spoke indifferently, stood up from the green sofa, and led the way out of the Room of Authority toward the Empty Throne Hall.
"Come, didn't you want to see Satan Saint?"
Saint Peter's tone carried a hint of coldness as he, Saint Nusjuro, and Saint Mars stared coldly at Kukulkan.
This made Kukulkan break out in a cold sweat, and a sense of foreboding arose.
Was the King of the World really going to make a move on him?
To form a contract with him, a non-Celestial Dragon?
Under the gaze of the three Gorosei, Kukulkan braced himself and followed Saint V. Nusjuro out of the Room of Authority toward the even more mysterious Empty Throne Hall.
Along the way, Kukulkan hesitated and wavered; if the King of the World really wanted to contract him...
Should he comply, or strongly refuse and escape?
If he used his Quetzalcoatl ability to leave, the Four Elders shouldn't be able to stop him, right?
After all, he was a monster-level genius who had fought his way up from the bottom of the Marine.
However, as he entered the dim Empty Throne Hall, a thin black shadow sitting on the Void Throne instantly made his scalp tingle and cold sweat pour down.
The King of the World really exists!!
And Satan Saint was nowhere to be seen here.
He knew he might be in trouble.
Kukulkan was ready to transform into the Quetzalcoatl and escape at any moment.
If the Four Elders actually made a move, he would have to give it his all.
Regardless, he couldn't become a puppet of the King of the World and lead the Marine Headquarters into total war.
"Why do you not bow upon seeing Us?"
As Kukulkan stood dazed, an ethereal voice drifted over, instantly shaking his soul.
He saw the Gorosei, the world's highest authority, kneel down on one knee just like that.
It's true!
The reports in those newspapers were actually all true!
Kukulkan swallowed hard; he suddenly bit the tip of his tongue and instantly transformed into a massive Quetzalcoatl, flying outward.
A Marine Fleet Admiral never kneels!
However, two black arrows were faster than him, instantly piercing through his powerful snake scales with their astonishing defense.
It was as if his Mythical Zoan defense and Armament Haki were as fragile as tofu.
"Why run?"
"Im will grant you even greater power and Immortality!"
Imu did not turn Kukulkan into a 'Black', but instead directly carved a shallow sea mark, then quickly upgraded it to a Deep Sea Mark.
After all, 'Black' domination would cause the target to undergo massive changes, growing demon wings and fangs... As the Deep Sea Mark appeared on Kukulkan's shoulder, Imu's contract power rapidly altered Kukulkan's will.
"I will lead the Marine to kill all the pirates of the Rocks Pirates for Lord Imu!"
Kukulkan knelt on one knee; his will had been completely altered.
Even Harald, who possessed powerful Conquerors Haki Coating, could hardly resist Imu's Deep Sea Contract power.
Let alone Kukulkan, an intermediate Haoshoku user who hadn't even mastered Conquerors Haki Coating.
"Properly appease the Marine!"
"Have Kong, Sengoku, and Garp come to see Me."
"Once the mission is complete, I will grant you a higher-level abyss contract."
Imu spoke indifferently; since no geniuses had appeared among the Celestial Dragons, He could only use these People from the lower realm for now.
Once the Rocks Pirates were eliminated, He would slowly phase out these People from the lower realm.
"Yes, Lord Imu!"
Kukulkan bowed his head in response; the wounds where he had been pierced through had already healed under his Immortality.
As Kukulkan left, the Four Elders also exited the Empty Throne Hall.
The Four Elders hadn't expected that besides Admiral Kong, Lord Imu would choose the two Marine Vice Admirals, Sengoku and Garp, instead of the other two Admirals.
"Go to Im's treasure vault and take two Mythical Zoan Fruits."
"Kong and Garp need strengthening."
Imu's voice rang out in the minds of the Four Elders again, and they quickly responded.
[Warrior God of Finance] Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro headed toward Imu's massive treasure vault as if on a pilgrimage.
That was the place with the deepest heritage of the World Government over the past eight hundred years!