137. Kong's "Goodwill" Reminder And "Reasonable" Request!

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Mary Geoise, right between.

"I have decided to announce to the world that Sengoku and Zephyr are stepping down as Admirals on the day Rayleigh is interrogated.

"And the news that Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan will be filling the vacant Admiral positions."

The Five Elders sat on the sofa, listening quietly.

Akira brought the three monsters and stood in front of them, discussing his plans.

"Five elders, this is the history of the three of them since they joined the Marines."

"And what they've done over the past decades, including recently, is enough to make them Admirals."

After Akira finished speaking, he handed over the prepared documents.

The Five Elders took them and reviewed the contents.

Although they were already aware of all the recent actions of the three Marine monsters, they still had to go through the formalities.

The document quickly passed among the five of them.

The Warrior God of the Environment stroked his long beard and glanced at Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan, who had been silent.

"You are the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, responsible for everything within the Marines."

"Since Sengoku and Zephyr have no objections, and the three of you have indeed achieved outstanding results, we agree.

"There is no issue from our side."

The other four elders nodded in agreement.

They saw no reason to oppose the promotion of Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan to Admirals.

No one else in the Marines could fill those positions after Sengoku and Zephyr stepped down.

Akira's lips curved slightly into a smile.

Behind him, Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan also smiled involuntarily.

"Sit down, no need to be so reserved."

"Since you're here, don't rush off. Let's have a meal together.

"Also, keep us informed about the Marine Admiral who will be stationed here each month moving forward."

"Understood."

The Five Elders wore a pleasant smile, appearing approachable as they smiled at Sakazuki and the others.

The three of them exchanged glances and finally looked toward Akira.

When the Fleet Admiral of the Marines is present, many decisions are left in his hands.

"Since the elders have spoken, we will join you for lunch."

Akira remained calm.

Lunch with the Five Elders is not something one passes up. The rare delicacies he had when he was promoted to Fleet Admiral were still fresh in his mind.

As time went on, the conversation around the dining table became more relaxed.

Even though Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan weren't the most talkative, under Akira's guidance, the mood remained lively.

A meal paired with wine stretched on for a full two hours before it came to an end.

After eating and drinking their fill, Akira led the newly appointed Admirals towards the exit.

With the approval of the Five Elders, their promotion was now official.

"Akira!"

A sudden voice rang out, halting their steps.

"Commander Kong!?" The four of them turned to see Kong standing beneath the shade of a tree, arms folded, his intense gaze locked onto Akira.

"It's rare for you to visit the Holy Land and leave without checking in with your superior. Isn't that a bit rude..." Kong remarked.

The three Admirals exchanged confused glances, unsure of what to make of it.

"That's odd. Kong doesn't usually care about these things," Borsalino muttered, scratching his head.

Akira's eyes flickered, as if piecing something together.

"You all head back and wait in my office," he instructed the three Admirals.

The three of them, veterans of the Marine system, understood that something unusual was at play. Without saying a word, they quietly left.

"Commander Kong, it's been a while."

Akira stepped forward, pulling out a cigar from his pocket and offering it to Kong.

"Not as good as the Holy Land's special stock, but still quite decent."

He even produced a lighter, thoughtfully lighting Kong's cigar. Kong didn't refuse the gesture.

As the commander-in-chief of the World Government army, Kong outranked Akira, the Fleet Admiral of the Marines. Moreover, it had been Kong's recommendation that had given Akira the chance to compete with Admiral Sengoku for his current position.

Though Kong hadn't played a major role in that process, Akira still owed him respect, and Kong accepted the cigar with a softened expression.

"I'm sorry, Commander. I've just been incredibly busy lately, with so many issues to handle," Akira explained, lighting his own cigar and exhaling a puff of smoke.

"Especially with arranging Rayleigh's trial recently, there have been countless details to manage."

"I was only thinking about returning with Sakazuki and the others to continue serving justice. It was a mistake on my part not to greet you. After everything settles down, I'll make it up to you."

Hearing Akira's apologetic tone, Kong felt slightly embarrassed. As a former Marine Fleet Admiral, he understood the immense workload that came with the position, especially during times of major events.

Besides, it wasn't a good look to criticize someone working so hard while he, as the superior, seemed out of touch.

"Alright, I didn't call you over for something so trivial," Kong said, waving his hand dismissively.

"Oh? Then what is it?" Akira asked.

Kong went quiet for a moment. He pinched the end of the cigar between his fingers, pulling it from his mouth, and hesitated before speaking again.

Akira didn't rush Kong, waiting silently for him to speak.

After a long pause, Kong finally said, "I heard that the era of great pirates is coming to an end?"

A flash of understanding crossed Akira's eyes behind his glasses. As expected, the World Government had been keeping a close eye on this issue. The Five Elders were likely growing impatient.

Despite the storm of thoughts in his mind, Akira's reaction was quick. He immediately put on a face of genuine joy at the prospect of the end of the pirate era.

"Yes, Commander Kong, it's been a long and hard road."

Akira looked emotional, casting his gaze upward as if reflecting deeply. "In order to bring this era to a close, none of the Marines' officers and soldiers have rested."

Kong nodded. "I understand. Has it been a year now?"

"Almost, just two months away from a full year," Akira replied.

"Then... you remember the deadline set by the Five Elders, right?" Kong asked, watching Akira closely. "Isn't it about time for the Marines to stop making money?"

Akira's smile never wavered, remaining as bright as ever, even as the conversation took a serious turn. "Of course. In the past, we had no choice but to rely on ourselves. But now, with more backing, things should improve."

"You really believe that?" Kong asked, unable to hide his curiosity.

"Absolutely. What other choice is there, Commander Kong? What do you think I should believe?"

Kong was caught off guard by Akira's rhetorical question.

What do I think you should believe? he thought to himself. I can't exactly tell you that we're worried you've gotten too comfortable in your position as Fleet Admiral, can I?

Clearly, those thoughts were left unsaid. Kong could only laugh awkwardly in response.

"Hahahaha... It's good to see you're aware of this," he said. "So, when are you planning to bring the Marines back to the way they were?"

Bring the Marines back to the way they were. The meaning was clear: he wanted the Marines to pull back on everything they'd been doing over the past year, aside from catching pirates.

To be sure, Akira asked, "Do you mean to withdraw from all activities, including Rehabilitation and Akatsuki?"

"Yes," Kong confirmed, more confidently this time. Now that the subject was on the table, he was no longer embarrassed. Rehabilitation and Akatsuki were two of the most profitable ventures, run by Marines with ties to the business world. Though withdrawing would hurt profits due to deformed operations, it was necessary. The Marines couldn't continue in this direction.

You can't have both, it's either one or the other.

"And who will be responsible for managing the withdrawal?" Akira asked.

"CP0 will oversee the process," Kong assured.

"I see," Akira said as he flicked away his finished cigar. "Very well, I'll make sure the officers stop those activities when I return, including Rehabilitation and Akatsuki."

"However, Commander Kong," Akira continued, his voice calm but firm, "please allow me some time. The chaos of this era can't be cleaned up with a single order."

"If possible, I would like to wait until after Rayleigh's trial is concluded before coordinating with the CP0 to complete the transfer," Akira suggested.

Kong didn't respond immediately. He stood there, contemplating. Akira's request made sense—there were many forces and people involved in projects like Rehabilitation and Akatsuki, and pulling out too quickly could create global instability. Still, Kong remained cautious, as his mission was to ensure the Marines let go of all money-making ventures as soon as possible.

Just then, Kong's ears twitched, picking up something.

He glanced in the direction of the Five Elders and then back at Akira. "Akira, no problem. We'll wait until Rayleigh's trial is fully concluded, and then you can hand things over to the CP0."

"Thank you, Commander Kong. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now," Akira replied with a light smile.

With Kong's approval, Akira swiftly turned and left. Kong silently watched him until he disappeared from sight.

"Well?" The Warrior God of Environment suddenly appeared beside him, and the other four Warrior Gods stood not far away.

"Very cooperative, everything went smoothly," Kong responded.

Indeed, Akira had cooperated fully, offering no objections. Even if Kong tried to detect any signs of resistance, there were none to be found. The Five Elders looked slightly relieved.

"Good. In that case, we'll wait until Rayleigh's trial is over," one of the Warrior Gods said. "The way the Marines have been making money lately has kept us on edge."

"As far as money is concerned, Akira doesn't seem to be a problem at all," another added.

"Such talent really doesn't belong in the Marines," one of them commented.

Kong scratched his head, feeling a bit wronged. "If I'd known he was this capable, I would've had him join CP instead."

But deep down, Kong knew the truth. Even if he'd realized how talented Akira was, as the Marine Fleet Admiral at the time, he couldn't have handed over such an asset to CP. After all, the Marines and CP operated in separate spheres and even clashed behind the scenes.

Still, in front of the Five Elders, Kong could only force a smile and go along with their remarks. (T/N: How do you think Akira will overcome this?)