Karp sat to the side, munching on a donut and mumbling, "Who cares about all that?"
"Just send someone to monitor them."
"I'll go with Sengoku, it's been a while since I've been active."
"Hahahaha."
Fleet Admiral Kong's veins bulged on his forehead as he roared, "Don't talk with your mouth full!"
"You brute!!!"
He wiped his mouth and turned to Sengoku, saying, "What do you think, Sengoku?"
Sengoku nodded, "Alright, Koby and I will go."
"We can also bring some younger Marines to gain some experience."
Kong's eyes lit up, a slight smile appearing, "That's a good idea. In recent years, geniuses have been emerging."
"They are all future pillars of the Marines."
"It's perfect for them to broaden their horizons and see what the world's most dangerous pirates look like."
"To temper their edge."
Sengoku also showed a smile, "Precisely."
Fleet Admiral Kong asked, "How many warships do you need? I'll have them prepared."
Sengoku pondered for a moment, "Hmm..."
"Two should suffice."
"Sengoku and I will each command one."
"Monitoring is enough, there's no need for combat."
"I don't think they will fight."
"Pirates are all driven by self-interest."
"A confrontation between two Emperors of this caliber is unlikely."
"I'm more inclined to believe they want to clear out the New World."
"Since the concept of the Three Emperors was introduced, conflicts in the New World have escalated."
"Even with the immense power of Hale.Knock and Charlotte Linlin, they can't be everywhere at once."
"Countless pirates want to claim the position of the Third Emperor, and stepping on the old guard is the fastest way."
"The attacks on their subordinate islands have been incessant these past few years."
"They are probably fed up."
"They plan to join forces to clean up the New World, establishing their authority with bloodshed."
Fleet Admiral Kong mused, "That is indeed highly probable."
"Then let's maintain a certain distance and monitor them."
"See what they intend to do."
"Go."
Sengoku nodded, stood up, and dragged the sleeping Karp out.
Vice Admiral Tsuru rose and said, "Then I'll go on another mission."
Fleet Admiral Kong grunted, "Go."
The Marshal's office fell silent.
After a moment of silence, Fleet Admiral Kong looked at Maurice on the right-hand sofa, "What are you still doing here?"
Maurice slumped on the sofa, "Sigh."
"You called me all the way here, and I didn't even get to say a word before you sent me back."
"My good grandson was also sent away by someone."
"What's the point of going back to that lonely home?"
Dark lines flashed across Fleet Admiral Kong's forehead, "Hey, hey, Enel left with Sakazuki."
"Sakazuki also proposed this operation."
"What does it have to do with me?"
Maurice shot a sidelong glance at Fleet Admiral Kong, "Sigh~"
"Didn't you issue the orders?"
Fleet Admiral Kong looked at the rogue, taking a deep breath, "Speak, what have you set your sights on now?"
Maurice said lazily from the sofa, "I heard the government sent some special reserve tea to a few high-ranking officials..."
"I don't know if..."
Fleet Admiral Kong was amused to the point of anger, "You have a nose for this, how do you get your information so quickly?"
"That's special reserve tea. The entire Tea Island's annual yield is only about thirty catties, and I only get two catties."
"How can you be so shameless!"
Maurice slumped on the sofa, "Sigh, my head hurts, sigh, my legs hurt, sigh, my arms..."
Fleet Admiral Kong pulled open a drawer.
His peripheral vision caught sight of Maurice sitting up and looking expectantly. He snorted, "Here you go."
He reached out, took out a small packet of tea, and tossed it to Maurice.
Maurice's arm moved like lightning, and the tea instantly appeared in his hand. He weighed it, "This isn't two catties, is it?"
"It's only about five taels."
Fleet Admiral Kong rolled his eyes, "Be content. Others don't even have the chance to drink it."
Vice Admiral Maurice stood up and smiled, "Alright, I won't disturb you any further."
Fleet Admiral Kong looked at Maurice and chuckled, "Hurry up and leave."
"Honestly..."
He watched Maurice gradually disappear.
He thought of Maurice's once stern demeanor and how he had become increasingly unprincipled after having a grandson.
"The power of family, huh..."
"Heh..."
Fleet Admiral Kong chuckled, shook his head, and stopped thinking about it.
Family often cannot coexist with the burdens the Marines carry.
The best way is not to start a family.
Because if one is too greedy and tries to have both, only the family will suffer.
There are too many pirates on this sea, and the Marines have too many enemies...
This is also why many high-ranking Marines are increasingly less likely to start families.
However... adopting children might be a good option.
Fleet Admiral Kong suddenly thought of Sengoku, whose personality had also changed.
---
Evening, Marine Headquarters Port.
Sengoku stood below a warship, looking at the assembled officers.
He took out a booklet and began calling out names:
"Borsalino."
"Present~"
"Kuzan."
"Present."
"Kakeji."
"Present!"
"Gion."
"Present—"
"Doberman."
"Present!!!"
"Momonga."
"Present!!!"
"..."
"..."
After two minutes of roll call, almost all the future pillars of the Marines had arrived.
With a command from Sengoku, they all boarded the ship.
The warship slowly sailed out, heading towards the Red Line Continent.
---
New World.
From a bird's-eye view.
The Steam Pirates' fleet was sailing towards the territory previously allocated to the new generation of pirates.
And the Charlotte family's fleet, departing from Whole Cake Island, was also converging there.
Their intentions were self-evident.
As Sengoku had said, they were fed up.
Despite being Emperors, they had no authority, and countless ants attacked their subordinate forces every day.
This had severely agitated both of them.
They had to establish the majesty of an "Emperor." Only bloodshed could demonstrate the Emperor's dominance...
They had long forgotten their initial disdain for the government's introduction of the term "Emperor."
...Unconsciously, they had become deeply entangled in fame and fortune.