Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Sengoku walked into the command room, clutching the latest news from Zephyr in his hand.
Gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window, he breathed a sigh of relief.
The tension and worry of the past few days were slightly relieved by this information.
Those who had gone to the second half of the Grand Line were finally coming back.
Kong, the Steel Commander, stood beside Sengoku, a rare smile appearing on his usually stern face.
"They've been out there for so long, it's about time they returned."
Sengoku nodded.
"Yes, but Jin's condition isn't very good; he's still unconscious."
Kong's brow furrowed slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes.
"Unconscious? It seems Zephyr and the others made the right decision."
Sengoku pondered for a moment, then nodded heavily.
"Yes, we must give them a good vacation when they return."
"They've been working too hard lately."
Kong turned his gaze to Sengoku, his expression concerned.
"Since Shiki the Golden Lion was arrested, the pirates have been a little quieter."
"Besides Zephyr and the others, you should also rest for a while."
Sengoku gave a weary smile, pointing to himself, half-jokingly and half-seriously saying,
"Me? Rest?"
Kong nodded earnestly.
"Yes, you."
Sengoku's smile gradually faded, he paused, and his tone became serious.
"Now is not the time to rest."
"The Navy still has many things to deal with."
A trace of guilt flashed in Kong's eyes.
He understood Sengoku's pressure and responsibilities. Sengoku was handling many of the Navy's affairs these days.
He himself was constantly being urged by the World Government and might not be able to stay in the position of Fleet Admiral any longer, so he could only let Sengoku familiarize himself with the Fleet Admiral's affairs in advance.
Sengoku noticed Kong's silence, guessed his thoughts, and asked,
"The Five Elders are urging you again?"
Kong nodded slightly, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said,
"The Five Elders have been suggesting that I leave the Navy since a few years ago, and now they are urging me even more frequently."
Sengoku sighed, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.
"It seems you are about to lay down this heavy burden as well."
Kong gently patted Sengoku on the shoulder, his tone filled with deep expectations.
"Sengoku, the future of the Navy still needs you to support it."
"Although the pressure is enormous, I believe you can do it."
Sengoku took a deep breath, looking forward with firm eyes.
"Don't worry, I will."
"For justice, we must persevere."
The two stood in the command room, sunlight shining on them through the window, reflecting a warm glow.
Sengoku looked at Kong, his heart churning with complex emotions.
He knew that the current Fleet Admiral's prestige within the Navy was unmatched, and it was precisely this unshakeable prestige that made the Five Elders feel uneasy.
"You've been the Fleet Admiral for too long, and your prestige in the Navy is too high."
Sengoku said, his tone filled with helplessness and worry.
"Are the Five Elders afraid that your power is too great and that you'll escape their control?"
Kong smiled, although the smile was tinged with bitterness and helplessness.
"Who knows?"
He shrugged, trying to cover up the heaviness in his heart with a light tone.
"Maybe they're promoting me."
His words fell lightly, but even he himself didn't believe them.
A hint of disdain appeared at the corner of his mouth; the Five Elders had promised him the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
It sounded like a promotion, but in reality, it was just an empty title.
Once he took that position, he would be completely hollowed out.
Moreover, it would be difficult to leave Mary Geoise, the sacred land of the Celestial Dragons, in the future.
Kong was silent for a while, his eyes deep and resolute.
Although they were the Navy, controlling a vast army.
The Navy was still one of the subordinate organizations of the World Government, and as long as they were the Navy, they could never resist the orders of the Five Elders.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi's ringtone suddenly sounded.
"Brrr... Brrr..."
Kong and Sengoku exchanged a glance, both understanding what this call meant.
Speak of the devil, the summons from the Five Elders had finally arrived.
Kong picked up the Den Den Mushi, his voice low and powerful.
"This is Kong."
An old voice came from the Den Den Mushi's mouth, carrying an unquestionable authority and coldness.
"Kong, hand over your affairs now."
"We need you to come to Mary Geoise."
Hearing this, Kong's expression did not change at all, as if he had expected this day to come.
He took a deep breath and calmly replied,
"Understood, I will get there as soon as possible."
After hanging up the phone, Kong placed the Den Den Mushi back on the table, remained silent for a moment, and then looked up at Sengoku, his eyes filled with reluctance and helplessness.
"Sengoku, it seems I must leave."
"From now on, the burden of the Navy will be on your shoulders."
Sengoku nodded solemnly, his eyes flashing with determination and resolve.
"Please rest assured, I will do my best to shoulder this responsibility and will never fail your expectations."
Kong gave a gratified smile, patted Sengoku on the shoulder.
"I believe you can do it."
"The future of the Navy needs you to protect it."
"Remember! Don't place your hopes on the World Government!"
"In critical moments, they will only let the Navy die."
"Just like the Battle of Marineford this time..."
Sengoku watched Kong leave, silently resolving in his heart that no matter how difficult the road ahead, he would do his best to move forward for the Navy and for justice.
Tsuru and Garp walked up to Sengoku, an unspeakable heaviness and reluctance permeating the atmosphere.
"Old Man Kong is gone..."
Garp's voice was low, with a hint of helpless sigh.
He sighed deeply, his hands in his pockets, his eyes drifting into the distance.
"This feeling is really strange..."
"Even though we're all so old, I actually feel a little reluctant."
Garp's tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, his usually smiling face now full of sorrow.
Sengoku nodded in silence, a hint of worry in his eyes.
He knew that Garp's feelings were a reflection of everyone's feelings.
From the moment Kong left, their hearts felt as if they were weighed down by a huge stone, making it difficult to breathe.
Sengoku raised his head, a hint of worry faintly visible in his eyes.
In the past, no matter what happened, they thought that there was still a Kong behind them to clean up their messes.
Even if Kong didn't need to come forward most of the time, this sense of security had always existed.
"From now on,"
Tsuru gently took over, a hint of complexity and firmness in her eyes.
"We can only be responsible for the decisions we make."
People have completely different mindsets when they have a backing and when they don't.
Tsuru's words deeply pierced everyone's hearts, and Sengoku and Garp nodded with deep feeling.
They all understood that from now on, they would have to be more cautious and stronger.
Without Kong as a strong backing, they had to be careful with every step and think carefully about every decision.
Sengoku clenched his fists, his voice low and firm.
"No matter what, we must shoulder this responsibility."
Tsuru nodded, a hint of gentleness and encouragement in her eyes.
"Let's work together, for the Navy, for justice."
...
