New World G1 General Branch
Amidst his uneasy state of mind, Kong received a transponder snail call from Fleet Admiral Kukulkan.
"Kong, bring Sengoku and Garp to the Holy Land."
Kukulkan's voice was full of majesty, but it carried a hint of aloof indifference more than usual.
This coldness instantly sent Kong's heart sinking to rock bottom.
This voice was clearly different from the Fleet Admiral who had personally called to give him instructions before.
Could Fleet Admiral Kukulkan really be under the control of that King of the World, with his will and temperament completely changed?
"Fleet Admiral, the Rocks Pirates are currently restless and need us to stand guard. I wonder what the reason is for summoning us to the Holy Land at this time?"
Kong suppressed the shock in his heart and asked cautiously.
He was testing whether Kukulkan was actually being controlled.
"It is precisely to deal with the Rocks Pirates that you are being called to the Holy Land to receive a Divine Gift!"
"The Gorosei have already prepared Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits for you and Garp!"
"Kong, besides the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, the Gorosei also possess a great power that grants Immortality!"
"As for those news reports, they are nothing but rumors fabricated by the Rocks Pirates. They have no idea of the World Government's true foundation."
"Now, my power has been strengthened like never before!"
"Kong, this is a great opportunity to integrate into the upper echelons of the World Government and change the world."
Kukulkan's voice was filled with reverence and determination, along with a hint of excitement.
"Lord Kukulkan, do you... remember the instructions you gave me yesterday..."
Hearing Kukulkan's suddenly changed attitude, Kong became increasingly certain that the Fleet Admiral had been influenced.
"I know. Rest assured, Kong, I haven't been controlled. I was just being overly cautious."
"Not only am I not controlled, but I have also gained Immortality, and my strength is greater than ever."
"The eight-hundred-year power of the World Government is truly eye-opening."
"Bring Sengoku and Garp back first, and let Admiral Se Gan and Admiral Hande guard the G1 branch."
Kukulkan's voice took on a commanding tone, and his attitude became firmer.
Kong's expression flickered. Fleet Admiral Kukulkan had clearly been influenced.
But he seemed to still possess his own memories and the ability to think.
However, the temptation of becoming a high-ranking official of the World Government and obtaining Mythical Zoan abilities and Immortality made Kong somewhat forget Fleet Admiral Kukulkan's instructions from yesterday.
Kong had his own judgments and goals.
"Fleet Admiral, why not let me, Admiral Se Gan, and Admiral Hande go to the Holy Land first?"
"Sengoku and Garp are still young; it's not their turn for such things yet."
Kong wanted higher power for himself, even if it meant letting his justice fall, but he couldn't bear to drag Sengoku and Garp, whom he favored, down with him.
If he and Fleet Admiral Kukulkan really dragged the Marine into the abyss...
Perhaps Sengoku and Garp were the future of the Marine, the hope to lead its resurgence in the future.
"Obey orders, Kong!!"
Kukulkan's cold voice was absolutely unquestionable.
"I... understand!"
Kong's face was filled with extreme conflict. If he chose to defect now with Sengoku and Garp...
Then he would have to abandon his position as a Marine Admiral.
But he had always wanted to be the Fleet Admiral, or even the General Commander-in-Chief.
How could he back down at a time like this?
The newspapers said that those contracted by Imu would have their lives controlled by Imu.
But they didn't mention that one could also gain benefits like Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits and Immortality.
The Rocks Pirates indeed had their own schemes.
This was just as he thought: being controlled meant being trusted.
As long as his consciousness remained, it wouldn't matter if he offered his loyalty.
Originally, what he feared most was having his life controlled by that King of the World, but now Fleet Admiral Kukulkan said that the so-called Divine Gift also granted Immortality.
This caused him to deeply weigh the pros and cons once again.
Option one: refuse the order, abandon the Admiral position, and run away with Sengoku and Garp, starting everything from scratch.
Option two: accept the fate of being controlled, gain trust to become a high-ranking official of the World Government, and also obtain a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit and Immortality.
After Kong hung up the transponder snail, he contemplated for a long, long time.
Justice and evil were but a single thought away.
Until the sun set and the office grew dim, with the setting sun casting Kong's shadow long and dark, the justice and guilt in this Marine Admiral's eyes gradually turned into a desire for power.
"I'm sorry, Sengoku, Garp, but I want to give it a try!"
Kong murmured to himself. He was going to take a gamble, betting that he could retain his true self under the control of the King of the World.
Then, by relying on the trust of the King of the World, he could take the position of General Commander-in-Chief or even one of the Gorosei.
Then he could use his high position to reclaim his heart of justice and do more meaningful things for the Marine and the world.
Falling was for the sake of helping more civilians.
He couldn't just give up everything and leave, ending up with nothing.
Kong hadn't let the other two Marine Admirals, nor Sengoku and Tsuru, know about the instructions Kukulkan gave him yesterday.
The next morning.
Kong ordered Admiral Se Gan and Admiral Hande to continue guarding the G1 Fortress.
Under the pretext of 'going to the Holy Land to collect Devil Fruits for the Marine officers to strengthen the Marine's power,' he took Sengoku and Garp to Mary Geoise.
Since Tsuru was not summoned, she was left behind at the G1 Fortress by Kong.
Tsuru watched her superior, Kong, and her partners, Sengoku and Garp, hurriedly leave the G1 Fortress after the morning meeting, her eyes filled with worry.
She had already sensed that something was wrong with Kong.
She had wanted to discuss with Kong and Sengoku about not going to the Holy Land so easily.
But Kong didn't linger at all, quickly leading his people away from the port.
The thought of the information in the newspapers made Vice Admiral Tsuru even more uneasy.
She feared this would be the last 'meeting' between her and Kong, Sengoku, and Garp.
As for Sengoku, who had boarded the ship and left, a warning also arose in his heart.
His Great Buddha Fruit ability made him truly feel the aura of danger.
He never expected that the Admiral Kong he respected most would actually betray their justice and head toward corruption together, all to reach a higher position.
"Lord Kong, is this trip really just to collect Devil Fruits? Could there be danger?"
Buddha Sengoku reminded Kong, suspecting that this trip to the Holy Land Mary Geoise was for Imu, the King of the World, to take action against the Admiral Kong he respected most.
If Kong were really controlled by the King of the World, what would he and Garp do?
Little did Buddha Sengoku know that besides Kong, even he and Garp were targets of the King of the World.
"Don't worry. If that King of the World really wanted to control the Marine high command, he should have summoned all Three Marine Admirals back, instead of just summoning me alone."
Kong smiled faintly, intentionally ignoring the importance of Buddha Sengoku and Iron Fist Garp, the two newly appointed Marine Vice Admirals.
"That may be so, but Lord Kong, you cannot let your guard down."
Buddha Sengoku's eyes were still full of worry, as his Great Buddha ability gave him the power of premonition to seek luck and avoid calamity.
He knew that this trip to the Holy Land would definitely be fraught with danger.
"I really don't want to go to Mary Geoise and see those disgusting Celestial Dragons..."
Iron Fist Garp grumbled from the side, clearly not yet realizing the impending danger.