The test results left the Gorōsei extremely satisfied. Though for someone as strong as Kong, less than fifty fully-built Pacifista couldn't really threaten him, these were mass-produced artificial creations. Quantity was hardly a problem.
Breathless from sending the Gorōsei off, Kong turned silently and ordered his subordinates to tend to his wounds, asking,
"Why aren't you back at the front? Why are you wasting time here with me?"
Behind him, Tsuru stood silently. Hearing this, her expression darkened, and she shook her head.
"It's nothing… I just wanted to see how you were doing."
"Hmph. I'm not so old that you need to worry about me!" Kong snorted coldly, then his mouth curved slightly as he eased his tone. "Go back. Don't concern yourselves with matters here, everything is under my control."
"Everything is under your control…?" Tsuru gave a wry smile, bowed deeply, and said,
"Yes!"
She had barely taken two steps when Kong called her back.
"Oh, and take Aokiji with you… Now that he's awake, send him to the front! A cat in a hospital abandons Marine men!"
Tsuru's heart skipped a beat at his words, but her expression remained calm, and she nodded.
"Yes, understood."
Watching Kong bandage himself while directing soldiers to deploy the Pacifista across Holy Land, Tsuru clenched her fists, looked at him one last time, then turned and strode away.
…
The questions Rowen pondered, Tsuru had also considered.
There was no doubt that the next target of Orrick and Kaido would be Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
The Gorōsei had anticipated the same, which is why they had urgently ordered Vegapunk to deliver the completed Pacifista to reinforce Holy Land's defenses.
But… would it really go so smoothly?
That night, under a sparse moon, Holy Land above the clouds of Red Line was eerily silent. Since the start of the war, the citizens had grown accustomed to the chaos at sea.
Humans truly are highly adaptable, given a chance to survive, they can adjust to almost anything.
Mary Geoise's tall buildings had become empty towers. The occasional tremors from impacts kept everyone from staying on the upper floors. Even Pangu City and the World Government headquarters were affected; if the Gorōsei hadn't led by example, those cowardly officials would have long since evacuated.
"Kalifa, how's the plan coming along?"
In an inconspicuous corner of Holy Land, Rob Lucci, wearing a Fukuro mask, sat at a table and looked up at his white-clad colleague by the window. Among their former CP-9 comrades, Kaku was second in strength to him, but the one who had gone the furthest in life was the underestimated Kalifa.
She wasn't a combat genius, but her methods of handling matters were no less effective than anyone else's. The agents she recruited during the Masked Zero era, many were still entrusted with key roles even under Bald Zero, a testament to her capability.
But the further she went, the deeper she was entangled. Leaving wasn't easy, hence why Rob Lucci sought her out tonight.
"As long as Admiral Soryu (Azure Dragon) speaks for us, Chief Zero will have to listen to him."
It couldn't be avoided. Soryu (Azure Dragon) wasn't Akainu. His current status demanded even the Gorōsei treat him equally. Bald Zero had no grounds to refuse.
Kalifa remained silent for a long moment before speaking.
"Commander, you think Holy Land can't be held much longer either?"
"Strictly speaking, we have no reason to stay here any longer." Rob Lucci replied calmly.
"Ever since the Celestial Dragons perished, there were faint whispers of CP0 being disbanded. We are the claws and dogs of the Celestial Dragons, yet our masters have vanished…"
"The Marine Assassination Force is our best haven."
Lucci didn't want to dwell on the mess left by the Celestial Dragons and shifted the topic:
"The Assassination Force is still imperfect in its restructuring. Vice Admiral Chaton and former Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr have been taken by Soryu (Azure Dragon) to assist. Only by joining us now can one gain recognition…"
"And with Soryu (Azure Dragon) as a golden shield, no one dares act against us."
CP0 isn't widely liked?
Just look at the Marines' past attitude toward them. These outwardly meek but internally ruthless agents had earned the hatred of many.
"I see it clearly now. That guy Soryu (Azure Dragon) will never be content with the status quo… Last time he refused to become Gorōsei, it wasn't unwillingness, it was simply the wrong timing."
"This time he returns victorious, fully prepared… Once the war ends, the government is bound to change."
Hiss…!
Kalifa, standing by the window, turned sharply, her eyes widening in shock.
"Are you saying…?!"
"I don't know if Soryu (Azure Dragon) is truly loyal to the government, and I don't care… but I'm certain he would never agree to share the same authority with the other four old men!"
Thinking back to the first time he met Soryu (Azure Dragon) in Water 7, when Soryu (Azure Dragon) had displayed both violent methods and undeniable leadership aura, Rob Lucci narrowed his eyes slightly.
"In this vortex of conflict, we must choose a side. Otherwise, which side do you think would tolerate us?"
No matter who wins or loses, CP0 without a master is always a liability… unless they pledge to a side and support that side's victory.
But inevitably, they would also become a thorn in the other side's eye.
So Rob Lucci made a decisive choice, he directly joined the Assassination Force. By doing so, aligning with the rising faction of Marine Headquarters, they could safeguard themselves amid the struggle for power.
"It's not that I think this will bring many benefits, I just don't want… to die so pointlessly!"
Looking at the familiar yet strange Rob Lucci before her, Kalifa remained silent for a long moment, then nodded.
"I understand. I'll notify Kaku and the others and get them to leave together."
"Good. Once Soryu (Azure Dragon) returns, I'll explain the situation to him. In the meantime, everyone try not to take any missions, leave everything to me."
Ding… lingkuang dang…
Outside in the streets, a few drunken men staggered forward. In Holy Land, as long as one didn't provoke the Celestial Dragons or the powerful, surviving was still relatively easy.
"Ha ha ha ha! Come on, keep drinking! Drink today, for who knows if we'll see tomorrow!"
"Shh, keep it down. If the agents hear that, you're done for."
"Tch, what's there to fear? If they're so capable, why don't they help on the front lines? A bunch of useless bickering cowards!"
"Exactly. Thanks to the Marines, the whole city didn't have to relocate!"
"Huh?"
Suddenly, one drunkard rubbed his eyes and looked across the street at a dark shadow.
"It's huge! Whose slave got thrown outside?"
A tall figure in tattered white prisoner clothes stood calmly in the middle of the street, a necklace of explosives around their neck, bruises covering their face.
Such an outfit was reserved only for arena fighters and Celestial Dragons' household slaves.
Buzz!
A faint tremor sounded. Hearing the noise from this side, PX-0, also known as Bartholomew Kuma, raised his head. The crimson lights behind his sunglasses flickered, and he spoke coldly.
"Maximum authorization: eliminate all living beings in Mary Geoise. Executing order."
Bear Palm Impact!
Under the terrified gaze of the drunken men, Kuma silently raised his hand and pushed forward.
Bop…
Bang!!!
The explosion instantly awakened half the street. When the smoke cleared, Rob Lucci emerged with Kalifa at the edge of the crater where the drunken men had been obliterated. Coldly, he glanced at the bodies, then furrowed his brows and scolded.
"Eliminate all living beings in Mary Geoise? PX-0, who gave that order?!"
"Visitor authorization insufficient. Cannot answer."
Without another word, Kuma pushed his paw again. The cute paw-like bubbles lazily floated forward, then exploded once more.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Golden lasers streaked across the night sky, bringing cannon fire and chaos to this land of supreme authority. The roaring noise reminded some of the elderly of that night more than twenty years ago, when flames had blazed into the sky.
"This isn't good… the Pacifista have gone out of control!"
"Watch out… ah!!"
Hearing the commotion nearby, Rob Lucci's pupils constricted.
"Vegapunk?!!"
(End of Chapter)
This novel is finished, and I have posted all the advanced chapters on my Patreon https://www.patreon.com/darkshadow6395