Chapter 161: Crippling! Not Enough Manpower!
Unless someone possesses an ability like Kizaru’s, which allows for rapid flight and inherently extreme speed, even the fastest warships would take two to three hours to travel from Marine Headquarters to Sabaody Archipelago.
Strictly speaking, Kizaru doesn’t truly "fly" but rather uses certain aerial objects to assist his flight, like birds, beasts, or sea beasts that act as stepping stones (to reflect light) on the ocean surface.
Currently, fifteen warships, almost half of Marine Headquarters’ total combat strength, were en route to Sabaody Archipelago as reinforcements.
Standing at the bow of the lead ship, just like Garp and Sengoku, was the Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters, Kong, clad in a black suit beneath his Marine greatcoat.
Given that the battle involved two world-class pirates, Red the Aloof and Alucard the Immortal, it was understandable for Kong to personally intervene.
However, only the high-ranking members within the Marine hierarchy understood the awkward predicament: the Marines simply didn’t have enough other high-level combatants to suppress these two monsters.
Marine Hero Garp had spent the period after Roger disbanded his pirate crew traveling to every location to hunt down the Pirate King’s heir.
Sengoku was leading the Marine rookies in the New World, trying to curb the rampant great pirates, while other Marine elites had also dispersed across the Grand Line to apprehend pirates.
Although dealing with these two required individuals of at least Admiral level, there were only a few such individuals in all of Marine Headquarters. A significant and undeniable problem was that the Marines were currently facing a serious shortage of personnel.
The Marines lacking manpower?
That truly sounded like a joke. But it was the truth.
According to Headquarters’ regulations, there should have been three Admirals, but now there was only Sengoku.
That scoundrel Garp had repeatedly refused promotions, which was manageable before the Great Pirate Era began. But in less than a year and a half since the Great Pirate Era, the growth rate of pirates had been more exaggerated than if they were on drugs.
The Marines were shorthanded, at least for over a hundred years, they had never felt such a severe shortage of effective Marine personnel.
Kong was practically on his knees begging Zephyr to return to active duty. But Zephyr, in this regard, was as stubborn as Garp. No matter what Kong or Sengoku said, he refused to return to the front lines, choosing instead to remain in the second line, training students and undertaking less difficult missions.
"We must expand the Marine’s numbers and strengthen our control over the sea!" Kong stood at the bow, silently contemplating.
They not only needed to increase the available Marine personnel but also find ways to intensify pirate arrests worldwide. But for now, they had to deal with Red and Alucard, these audacious bastards who dared to cause a public disturbance on Sabaody Archipelago.
"Fleet Admiral, we are estimated to reach Sabaody Archipelago within ten minutes!" A Major walked up to Kong, saluting and reporting.
"Good," Kong nodded gravely. "All hands, prepare for battle!"
"Yes, sir!"
Looking at the island, now visible and encased in bubbles, Kong silently thought, "Alucard... and Red... it’s been several years since we last met, hasn’t it?"
If Garp was the Marine who clashed most frequently with Roger among the world’s top Marines and pirates, and Sengoku with Whitebeard, and Zephyr with Shiki, then Kong was undeniably Red’s primary opponent.
In their youth, when Kong was still an Admiral, the two had clashed several times, and Red had even defeated him.
Kong was slightly older than Garp and Sengoku, and coincidentally, the same was true for Red; he was slightly older than Roger and Whitebeard. Perhaps the age factor played a part in their numerous confrontations.
Since becoming Fleet Admiral, Kong rarely personally intervened, and his rivalry with Red had temporarily ceased. This time marked their reunion after more than a decade.
"Speaking of which, this Alucard never stops causing trouble. After Kaido and Whitebeard, is it Red this time?" Recalling Alucard, who had committed various earth-shattering deeds only a few years after setting sail, Kong gritted his teeth once more.
Finally, Kong, along with fourteen other large warships, landed in Sabaody Archipelago’s Grove 22.
"Fleet Admiral!" As Kong disembarked, the Marine branch stationed on Sabaody Archipelago quickly saluted him.
Kong strode quickly towards the island’s interior, asking a Captain among the stationed Marines, "Where are they?"
The Captain quickly responded, "According to the intelligence, their fight originated in Grove 9, and after several hours of combat, they have now moved to Grove 15!"
"Those damn fools!" Kong cursed, unmindful of his rank. "Blockade all ports! Ensure the Celestial Dragons cannot approach! First, Second, and Fifth Squads, follow me! The rest of you, assist the Sabaody Archipelago branch and capture all other pirates on the island and send them to Impel Down!"
Bringing more forces would only lead to more casualties. In terms of deploying personnel now, Kong could only be described as "economical."
"Yes, sir!!!" Tens of thousands of Marines present responded in unison.
Sabaody Archipelago’s Grove 15 primarily dealt with... consensual trade, that is, brothels. Interestingly, it wasn’t just women; men and even non-binary individuals were available for selection.
For many, this place truly felt like paradise. But now, like most areas where the two had fought, it was utterly devastated. Although countless people inwardly cursed Alucard and Red to hell, all they could do in reality was flee and stay far away from these two monsters.
"Haaaah!!!"
"Haaaah!!!"
Alucard and Red roared simultaneously, their two red figures unleashing intense shockwaves that tore everything around them to shreds in a close-quarters brawl!
There was no unnecessary distance between them. The clash of their techniques obscured their vision, allowing them to see only each other.
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