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As Kong approached, the woman with the third eye on her forehead turned into smoke and vanished.
Akira knelt down, picked up the withered leaf, and tucked it into his bosom.
"Why did you use a member of the Three-Eye Tribe?"
Kong quickly skipped over the awkward question and changed the subject. He couldn't admit that before arriving, he had already braced himself for the possibility that Akira might be beaten and left in bad shape.
The confusing part was seeing Akira standing there, yet still imagining that the stronger side had been defeated.
"Oh, it's nothing. I was just worried something might happen to Desmond. After all, he's not young," Akira replied, his eyes flickering slightly. He removed the broken mirror frame from his face and tossed it aside. Calmly, he added, "So I conjured up a woman to look after you."
Hearing Akira specifically mention Desmond's injury, Kong shifted his focus and quickly knelt to check on him.
First, he checked his breathing.
Then, he examined every part of his body, paying close attention to the bleeding wounds.
"Fortunately, there's no danger to his life," Kong soon sighed in relief.
The fight between the Marines and Impel Down was already giving him a headache. If the leader of either side died, the repercussions would be enormous, and even if he tried to cover it up, it wouldn't be enough to contain the fallout.
Even if Akira, who was the Fleet Admiral, were removed, the relationship between the Marines and Impel Down would surely turn hostile, leading to an endless conflict.
Luckily, it was unclear whether Desmond's physical defense held up well or if Akira had restrained his strikes. Either way, although Desmond lay unconscious in a pool of blood, based on Kong's extensive combat experience, he only needed to rest for a couple of months and he would recover.
"Akira, are you alright? I thought your fists might be damaged."
Though he was now the Commander-in-Chief of the entire military under the World Government, both the Marines and Impel Down fell under his jurisdiction. He was supposed to be impartial and treat both sides equally.
But!
He was promoted from within the Marines, so complete impartiality was impossible. Thus, his tone reflected genuine concern for Akira's condition.
"Yeah, thanks to you arriving early. If you were any later, my fist might have been broken," Akira responded, using the deformed leaf to replicate a bandage as he carefully wrapped his fist.
His defense had already reached the superhuman level of a emperor, making it very difficult for Desmond to break through.
Although Desmond could use both Armament and Observation Haki, these Haki abilities aren't all-powerful or unbeatable. Armament Haki can enhance one's defense and attack power, but that's only an addition to the user's base physical abilities.
When comparing someone with monster-level physical fitness to someone with Yonko-level fitness, the gap is vast and can't be bridged easily.
Even if Desmond had cultivated his Armament Haki to a very high level, enough to attack internally, it would still only be on par with emperor-level defensive physique without Haki.
He wouldn't have an advantage and might even be slightly outmatched.
If someone doesn't have emperor-level strength, they must rely on Armament Haki as one of the essential tools to challenge a emperor.
Observation Haki, on the other hand, sharpens the five senses, detects the presence of nearby creatures, picks up on emotional changes, and helps predict and avoid danger—a very practical and vital ability.
But!
Even if you can sense and predict my movements, you still have to be fast enough to react.
How can you dodge the speed of a emperor, which is on an entirely different level?
Only after truly testing himself did Akira understand why the gap between the emperor and everyone else is so immense.
As Akira reflected on the battle, he realized that if Desmond hadn't been so cumbersome today, it might have been possible to avoid any injury at all. But unfortunately, Kong showed up.
Akira didn't want to reveal his full strength, so he opted for a quick finish at the last moment, which caused Desmond to lose consciousness. Of course, there was a cost—his right hand was injured, with even the bone exposed. But it wasn't a major concern. With emperor-level physical resilience, he'd be back to normal in just a few days.
As for the three-eyed woman he conjured, it was easy to explain. She was Charlotte Pudding, Big Mom's daughter. A beautiful girl with the Memory-Memory Fruit, capable of deleting and altering people's memories. She had been tweaking Desmond's memories of the battle under Akira's orders.
"Indeed, it's fortunate that I arrived early; otherwise, the consequences would have been severe, huh?" Kong commented, suddenly feeling something was off.
Could it be that if I had been late, you might have been killed? Or are you saying that if I had come later, you could have handled Desmond without injury? Kong wondered, his expression betraying his inner doubts.
Akira, however, wasn't paying attention to Kong's confused look. His focus was already on the system in his mind.
[Host: Akira]
[Age: 29]
[Physique: Monster Level Strength (0/10,000)]
[Inhuman Physique: Yonko-Level Defense (0/100,000), Super Speed (0/100,000)]
[Development of Dog-Dog Fruit Model: Monster Racoon (Enhanced): Monster Level (0/10,000)]
[Mythical Form "Over" Development: Normal Level (0/10,000)]
[Haki: Monster Level Conqueror's Haki (0/10,000)]
[Abilities: Gun Master, Iron Body, Moonwalk, Shave, Tempest Kick, Finger Pistol.]
[Experience Points: 2200]
The data was now far more impressive compared to when the system was first activated. The Marine Six Styles, listed at the bottom, were nearly fully mastered after this battle.
'If I had more time, I could probably learn Paper Arts too, but that's not a big deal. I can always work on it later. However, I should definitely prioritize the cultivation of Armament and Observation Haki.'
'Once I master Armament Haki and combine it with Conqueror's infusion, taking down someone like Desmond would be as easy as Kaido overpowering Luffy—one punch at a time,' Akira mused.
He had already decided that after this incident, he would focus on honing all his other abilities. Otherwise, his emperor-level physique would be wasted.
Just then, a large number of footsteps echoed from outside. Garp led a group of Marine officers, along with officers and jailers from Impel Down, trudging through the wind and snow. When they arrived at the scene, everyone was stunned.
"Commander Kong, aren't you the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government? Why are you so biased toward the Marines?" Magellan, pushing away a supporting jailer, asked, his voice low but seething with anger.
At this moment, Magellan was in poor condition—pale, weak, and even his exposed skin showed signs of severe burns. In contrast, Sakazuki, who had been his opponent earlier, was completely unharmed, breathing evenly.
The outcome of their battle was clear without needing any further explanation. Magellan, the Deputy Warden of Impel Down and user of the Paramecia-type Venom-Venom Fruit, was no match for Sakazuki, the Marine Admiral candidate with the Logia-type Magma-Magma Fruit.
"And why would I side with the Marines?" Kong frowned, his tone stiff.
"Isn't it obvious?" Magellan retorted. "It's clear that the Marines led an invasion of Impel Down, and you didn't stop the fighting between the two sides. Instead, you even knocked out our Director."
Although Magellan had some personal grievances with his own director, he knew that, at the end of the day, they were on the same side. If it had been an internal conflict within Impel Down, he might not have cared if Director Desmond had been defeated, or even killed. But the situation was different now.
The Marines had invaded, and Desmond had fought to "defend" Impel Down. That was honorable. Yet, when the leader of the World Government showed up, instead of punishing the invading Marines, he knocked Desmond unconscious. As the Deputy Director, Magellan couldn't let this slide. He had to stand up for Impel Down's dignity in front of everyone.
Behind him, many jailers shared his sentiment, their eyes filled with anger as they glared at Kong.
"Who said I was the one who beat him?" Kong shook his head, his voice deep and firm. "When I arrived, Desmond had already been defeated by Fleet Admiral Akira."
As the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government's forces, Kong knew it wouldn't look good if word spread that he was favoring one side. He needed to clarify the situation, even if it meant embarrassing Impel Down.
"What?" Magellan gasped, his shock echoed by the others.
The revelation didn't just stun the members of Impel Down; even the Marines were taken aback.
"Fleet Admiral Akira actually defeated Desmond by himself?"
"Hey, did I hear that right?"
"Yeah, Chief Kong just said that Desmond was personally taken down by the Fleet Admiral."
The respect in the eyes of the officers and soldiers for Akira grew even more intense. Up until now, they had always seen Akira as a brilliant strategist, someone who could turn any situation around with his intellect. They knew he was strong, especially after gaining Devil Fruit abilities, but they hadn't expected him to be powerful enough to defeat the Director of Impel Down single-handedly.
A person with both exceptional strategy and overwhelming strength was a rare figure in the entire sea.
"Do you think the Fleet Admiral is really that strong?" Borsalino nudged Sakazuki and asked curiously.
Sakazuki remained silent. He wanted to believe it. If Fleet Admiral Akira was not only a strategic genius but also a powerhouse, it would be fantastic news for the Marines and the world. It would strengthen the morale and loyalty of the Marines, which was crucial in a world where power was the ultimate currency. With monsters and pirates causing havoc everywhere, people needed a leader who was a monster in his own right.
Unfortunately, because of the severe weather in the fifth-floor Freezing Hell, the image Den Den Mushi couldn't survive here, so they had no way to review the actual battle.
Kuzan raised an eyebrow, adding, "I don't know, but there's no reason for Chief Kong to lie about this."
"If that's the case, then it must be true. Fleet Admiral Akira really did defeat Desmond alone. Incredible!" Borsalino grinned, clearly impressed.
"Alright, alright," Kong said, noticing that Magellan and the others still seemed doubtful. "If you don't believe me, you can ask your director yourself when he wakes up."
Kong waved his hand impatiently, signaling that the conversation was over. "When you're beaten, you stand at attention, and when you lose, you admit it. I've told you the truth. If you still don't believe me, you can take it up with Desmond when he comes to. I have a clear conscience—I didn't fight him."
Magellan's frown deepened, his thoughts racing as he processed the situation.
Commander-in-Chief Kong had made his stance clear, and Magellan knew that pressing further would only risk offending him. With that in mind, Magellan decided to drop the subject.
In a deep voice, Magellan asked, "Commander Kong, how will you handle the situation today?"
The field fell silent as all eyes turned to Kong, waiting for his response.
"This matter has already been escalated to the Five Elders; it's not for me to decide," Kong replied. "Fleet Admiral Akira and Director Desmond must both accompany me to the Holy Land today."
He added firmly, "Stop causing trouble, both of you. The World Government will provide a satisfactory resolution to this issue."
Kong felt a wave of relief wash over him. Thankfully, the Five Elders had instructed him to personally oversee this situation. Otherwise, no matter how he handled it, one side would inevitably be dissatisfied. But with the Five Elders taking charge, it was out of his hands, and he could focus on just following orders.
His expression brightened as he stepped forward, picked up the unconscious Desmond, and started to walk out. "Akira, come with me!" he commanded.
"Okay," Akira agreed without hesitation.
Everyone quickly made way for them.
As Akira passed by the Chief Staff Officer, Tsuru, he paused slightly and spoke softly, "Aunt Tsuru, I'll be back soon. In the meantime, I'm leaving the cleanup here to you. If all goes well, our effort to establish a rehabilitation branch at Impel Down should move forward. Make sure to handle the psychological well-being of the jailers."
Tsuru nodded, her keen eyes assessing the state of the jailers as she formed a plan in her mind. "No problem. I'll take care of it. But there's one significant issue you need to address."
"Oh?" Akira responded, raising an eyebrow.
"Desmond! I don't think he'll change his mind and cooperate with the Marines when he wakes up," Tsuru pointed out, her concern evident.
Akira's eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at the unconscious Desmond. A flash of cold determination crossed his face.
"I understand. Just focus on your tasks," Akira replied. "I'll handle the rest."
With those words, he moved forward and followed Kong. Everyone watched Akira's back with mixed feelings.
As a warship set sail from Impel Down, several CP agents emerged from the dark ruins, their expressions shocked and incredulous.
"Not only did the Marines invade Impel Down, but their Fleet Admiral also knocked the Director unconscious?" one of them exclaimed.
"It seems so," another confirmed.
The CP members were at a loss for words, unable to find an adjective strong enough to describe Akira's audacity. It was hard for them to fathom that someone who had only been the Fleet Admiral for less than a month could do something so bold.
"Don't just stand there; gather intelligence, now!" the team leader snapped, coming to his senses first and giving orders.
The members quickly responded, disappearing into the depths of Impel Down to carry out their mission. Once alone, the team leader pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket.
Pere~Pere~Pere~Pere~!
After a few rings, the call was answered, and the commanding voice of a high-ranking official, the Warrior God of Environment, came through.
"Report!" the voice demanded.
The CP team leader bowed his head slightly, speaking respectfully into the Den Den Mushi, "My lord, Commander-in-Chief Kong has led Fleet Admiral Akira and Director Desmond towards the Holy Land."
"Good. That means the matter is concluded. You have ten minutes—before they arrive, I want a full report on the cause and effect of everything that transpired."
"Yes, sir. I will ensure the task is completed," the team leader replied.
With a sharp click, the call was cut off without mercy. The CP team leader wiped the sweat from his forehead before sprinting toward Impel Down to gather the necessary information as quickly as possible.