Chapter 40

"This ship looks… ugly," Kong said, eyeing Enel's vessel, the Maxim, with clear disapproval. Hearing that, Enel gave an awkward smile, unsure of how to respond.

"But it'll do for now, since you said it can fly and all," Kong added casually. The Maxim was indeed a remarkable ship, designed for flight and powered by Enel's lightning. Even without Enel, it could remain airborne for about an hour, thanks to its backup power source—Jet Dials.

"What are these dials?" Kong asked, examining the strange shell-like device. He had seen Usopp use something similar before, capable of recording voices, but he hadn't given it much thought until now.

Enel cleared his throat before explaining. "Dials are devices that store energy and matter. They're made from the remains of specific shellfish."

He went on to list the different types:

Flame Dials: Store and release fire.

Flash Dials: Capture and emit intense bursts of light.

Impact Dials: Absorb kinetic energy and unleash it in powerful bursts.

Breath Dials: Store and release air, though a superior version, the Jet Dial, provides far greater propulsion, and many more.

Kong listened carefully, intrigued by the possibilities. These dials could prove useful in ways he hadn't even considered yet.

"I don't know if I need anything from here… but it's best to store them," Kong said thoughtfully.

"I've already stored plenty in the storage," Enel replied, earning a nod of approval from Kong.

The Maxim was a sizable ship, equipped with a grand throne positioned beneath a golden face, giving it an imposing presence. A vast storage room housed various supplies, and the ship's intricate gears and generators powered its advanced systems. Even though it was designed for flight, it had a row of oars—likely a failsafe in case it ever had to navigate water.

"Well, let's head down to the sea. I want to go to the moon soon, but we can't just skip the planet," Kong said with a grin before pausing and turning to Enel with a curious look.

"Why were you following me and Robin?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Enel met Kong's gaze, his expression serious. "Like I promised, so long as I breathe, no harm shall befall you."

"Then you'd die pretty soon," Kong said flatly. "I don't need a bodyguard. What I want is a crew—people with their own dreams, their own goals. Just like you'd support my dreams, I'll support yours to the fullest. Maybe one day, we'll see each other as family. Maybe not. But a man can dream."

He held out his fist, waiting. Enel stared for a moment before his own fist met Kong's. "Understood, Captain," he said with a small smile.

With that, Enel took his seat on the throne, his devil fruit powers crackling to life. Lightning surged through the ship's core, filling it with energy. Slowly, the Maxim rose, flying above the clouds until they found an open patch of sky.

The ship tilted downward, beginning its descent toward the Blue Sea below. Their next destination was clear—an island where they could secure a Log Pose, the first step toward charting their own course on the vast ocean ahead.

"Descend. There are a lot of Marine ships down there," Kong said with a grin, his eyes locked onto the fleet below. If he wanted information, what better way than to ask the Marines directly?

Enel glanced at him but said nothing, simply steering the ship downward.

Meanwhile, at Marine HQ, tension crackled in the air. Akainu sat rigid, his fists clenched as he fixed a murderous glare on Garp. Across from him, Garp casually munched on rice crackers, completely unfazed by the hostility.

With a sigh, Garp wiped away the remnants of tears from the corner of his eyes. He had only just managed to compose himself after breaking down in laughter—his grandson had not only defeated Akainu but had also, quite literally, pissed on his face.

"Keep laughing… the moment the Pacifistas lock onto Kong's location, all three Admirals will move in," Akainu said coldly, his voice sharp with fury. Garp paused, his smile fading for a moment. Kong's explosive growth had shaken the entire world—so much so that even those pulling the strings from the shadows had taken notice.

Just then, the door to Sengoku's office burst open. A Marine rushed in, urgency written across his face—only to freeze the moment he realized who was present. The room was filled with every high-ranking officer in the Marines, all seated in tense silence, waiting.

"Hurry up—what happened?" Akainu snapped his glare enough to make the poor Marine flinch.

"K-Kong has been spotted," the Marine stammered, standing at attention. "He seems to have acquired his own ship… and a new crew member."

The room tensed as the Marine continued. "He appeared above one of our ships on a flying vessel. He beat the entire crew, took all their supplies, and extracted intel before leaving."

A heavy silence followed. Even the crackle of Garp's rice cracker stopped. Instantly, the high-ranking Marines sprang into action, rushing out to encircle Kong. Only Sengoku remained behind, watching their departure in silence. The operation was set, and within 1 days, they would have Kong surrounded. The fastest among them would reach him in mere hours.

"Captain… the Marines sound too dangerous for us to handle," Enel admitted uneasily. Kong had just finished explaining everything he knew about the Marines—the Admirals, the Pacifistas, and the sheer scale of their power. They had put significant distance between themselves and the marine ship they raided, mostly due to Enel's growing unease. Now, with such a powerful force hunting them, that feeling was justified.

"That's why we keep moving…" Kong said, but then his expression shifted as his eyes locked onto a ship in the distance.

His gaze lingered on the pirate flag fluttering in the wind. It was distinctive—a skull with small snakes writhing outward, though they didn't quite connect to the bone. His mind raced, trying to recall which crew this symbol belonged to.

"That pirate ship belongs to one of the Seven Warlords, Boa Hancock. She's known as… well, I guess you've already figured that out," Kong said, glancing at Enel, whose eyes were wide in shock. The man who once considered himself a god now looked utterly captivated as if he had just witnessed the most divine being in existence.

But after a moment, Enel snapped himself back to reality. His goal was to become a god, not to be swayed by beauty. He shut his eyes, forcing himself to clear his mind of all distractions.

When he opened them again, it was just in time to see Kong leap off the ship, rocketing straight toward the Kuja pirate ship without hesitation.