Marineford, trial Hall
At this moment, the hall was packed.
On the high platforms on both sides were uniformly high-ranking Marine Headquarters officers, each subtly exuding a powerful aura.
In the center of the judgment seat sat a dark-skinned, white-haired old man.
World Government Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, "Steel Bone" Kong!
To his left sat Sengoku.
To his right were the seats for the Three Admirals.
Above him, there was even a floating platform, with sixteen Celestial Dragons observing the entire courtroom from above.
Akainu stepped forward and addressed Kong.
"Commander-in-Chief, the involved parties, Headquarters Colonel Kong, and Headquarters Vice Admiral Kaji, are brought forward!"
Immediately after, a flash of golden light arrived.
"This lineup is truly terrifying~"
From the voice, it was clear it was Kizaru. He was also holding a bruised and battered man in a suit.
"Commander-in-Chief, the involved party, CP2 Executive Officer, Crock Sissldan, is brought forward."
Before Steel Bone Kong could speak, Sengoku frowned.
"Borsalino, what is going on?"
Kizaru maintained his half-dead state.
"Who knows~ I was just ordered to invite Sir Crock, but I don't know why, the gentleman ran when he saw me. Alas~ reluctantly, I had to be a little forceful."
"Hmph."
Sengoku snorted and didn't speak further.
Kong sighed internally. As expected of the old schemer Sengoku, a simple question immediately raised the Celestial Dragons' attention to Crock.
Sure enough, the Celestial Dragons on the floating platform had already begun discussing Crock.
With both parties present, the two Admirals returned to their seats.
"Bang!"
Steel Bone Kong slammed the gavel in his hand.
"All personnel present! Now, regarding the assassination of Celestial Dragon Sir Bucare, let the trial begin!"
"Firstly! Suspect Kong! Please answer truthfully, regarding the Revolutionary Army's surprise attack on Bucare City, were you the first to obtain the information?!"
Kong sat in his wheelchair, his face full of grief.
"It was this subordinate…"
"How did you know!?"
"The day before yesterday, this subordinate was performing a patrol mission in Loguetown and coincidentally discovered the Revolutionary Army leader Dragon, as well as the former Roger Pirates remnant, Buggy the Clown. I suspected they were plotting something nefarious and immediately informed Headquarters, but the incident happened suddenly… My subordinate abilities were low, and I failed to capture them… but I did manage to learn that they would launch an attack on Bucare City, which is closest to Loguetown."
"Oh? Who did you report this to?"
Kong looked at Sengoku, and after noticing Sengoku's slight nod, he continued.
"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, this subordinate reported both pieces of information to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
Steel Bone Kong feigned a very puzzled expression. Of course, he was acting for the Celestial Dragons, as this trial was solely for their benefit.
"You, merely a Colonel? You were able to contact Sengoku directly?"
"It's shameful to admit… this subordinate is Fleet Admiral Sengoku's disciple.
Encountering such a major event, the first person I could think of to contact was my teacher."
Steel Bone Kong turned to look at Sengoku.
"Fleet Admiral, is Colonel Kong's statement correct?"
"That is correct. Kong did report to me, and I immediately dispatched an Admiral to Bucare City for support… If Kong hadn't discovered this information, Sir Bucare might have… alas…"
It was then that Kong realized Sengoku was also a seasoned actor. That unwillingness, that regret, that guilt… Tsk tsk, it was simply incredible.
Steel Bone Kong nodded.
"Hmm, this seat understands. Then, Headquarters Vice Admiral Kaji, what do you have to say regarding the assassination in Bucare City?"
Kaji bowed his head.
"This subordinate… failed in my duty to protect! I deserve to be punished!"
The Celestial Dragons on the platform were displeased.
"Hmph! With such a major incident, a Celestial Dragon severely injured, and this Colonel brought him out desperately, yet you, a Vice Admiral, don't even have a scratch?"
"Hehe, what a powerful Vice Admiral indeed!"
Kaji's expression was awful, but he had no choice. If the Celestial Dragons weren't appeased, this matter wouldn't pass.
"This subordinate… accepts the punishment!"
"Wait!"
Kong struggled to stand up. His wounds tore open slightly, and blood stained the bandage.
"Kong!"
Chakujin (Tea Pig) quickly went to help Kong, but Kong shook his head.
"I'm fine… All Celestial Dragon sirs, this subordinate means no offense, but the true situation is not like that. If Vice Admiral Kaji hadn't stopped the most formidable enemy, no matter how hard I tried, I wouldn't have been able to bring Sir Bucare back!"
Sengoku spoke up.
"Kong, this is not your turn to speak, have some decorum."
Kong's face was intensely serious.
"But as a Marine, I absolutely cannot allow justice to be stained! This is what you taught me!"
"Bang!"
Steel Bone Kong slammed the gavel.
"Silence! Colonel Kong, what evidence do you have to prove that Vice Admiral Kaji did not retreat?"
Kong said.
"The soldiers present at the time all saw it, and there is Sir Bucare's handwritten letter! The gentleman even said at the time that he must write down the truth of the matter and convey it to the World Government… It's all my fault! I was only focused on how to bring Sir Bucare back, and his handwritten letter was left behind…"
"Handwritten letter? Is it this?"
Kizaru, in his Admiral's seat, lazily pulled out a piece of paper, which was the letter Bucare had previously written.
Kong shook his head.
"This subordinate is not sure… Sir Bucare was writing in the room at the time, and I went to other parts of the city to request aid."
Steel Bone Kong said.
"Borsalino, present that thing."
"Yes."
Kizaru handed the letter over, and after reading it, Steel Bone Kong violently slammed the table.
"Bastard! Crock! What else do you have to say!!"
CP2 Executive Officer Crock immediately fell to his knees.
"Sir! I've been wrongly accused!!!"
"Wrongly accused!? Sir Bucare wrote everything clearly before he was attacked!"
A Celestial Dragon on the platform asked.
"Hey! Kong… Steel Bone Kong! Let us see that letter!"
"Very well, let the nobles also have a look!"
Kong sat back down in his wheelchair, quietly giving Chakujin a look. Chakujin instantly understood, then looked at the trembling Crock, pondering something in his eyes.
The content of the letter was already known to the two of them. It was nothing more than praising Kong and Chakujin's proper protection, a nomination for Kong's promotion, and more listing the various crimes of CP2.
Are you kidding? CP2, as the department responsible for handling gifts and matters for the Celestial Dragons, how could it not have some dirt in the hands of the Celestial Dragons?
Bucare was already somewhat brainless. Coupled with Kong's earlier manipulation, he very subjectively regarded CP2 as traitors.
This idiot, in order to prove his brilliant and wise judgment, even wrote in the letter that he was the one who discovered Crock's treasonous behavior.
Now Bucare couldn't wake up, and this letter in his own handwriting was the iron-clad evidence.
Of course, if investigated closely, Kong still had many loopholes.
But the key point was that no one present was willing to spend such a large effort to investigate closely.
The World Government only wanted to give the Celestial Dragons an explanation, and the Celestial Dragons also only wanted an explanation.
Their relationship with Bucare wasn't that good, and in fact, with one less Celestial Dragon, their quotas would even be higher.
The reason for this entire spectacle was simply to maintain the prestige of the Celestial Dragons.
They didn't care who the real killer was, as long as their authority wasn't offended and their dignity was restored. As for the true culprit, who cares.
"Bastard!"
"The World Government is supporting you, and you actually colluded with foreign enemies!"
"Damn it!"
"Kill him!!"
"Execution!!"
"What are the Five Elders doing!"
The Celestial Dragons were in an uproar. They furiously cursed at Crock below.
Crock's face had turned ashen.
Perhaps knowing his fate, Crock looked ferociously at Kong in the wheelchair beside him.
"Bastard! If it weren't for you failing to protect Bucare! Why would I be like this! You should die with me too!!!"
Crock just wanted to drag someone down, and the incapacitated Kong was clearly the best choice.
"Bastard!"
The Three Admirals stood up simultaneously, but they didn't need to make a move.
Chakujin once again transformed into a raging force, his pitch-black fist punching through Crock's chest.
"Puff!"
The Haki on Crock's body dissipated, and he fell straight to the ground.
Chakujin saluted the judgment seat.
"Criminal Crock Sissldan defied justice and publicly attacked a Headquarters officer. He has now been executed!"
With one sentence, Crock's guilt was solidified. Since he was already dead, no one would be willing to defend him.
Steel Bone Kong displayed a somewhat dull expression.
"Ah, the criminal is dead. What… what do we do next?"
Sengoku stood up.
"The matter is not over! Crock is just an isolated case, but I believe he is absolutely not the only one. CP1 to CP8 are organizations specifically serving the Celestial Dragons. Now, even an executive officer of one of these departments has defected. How many traitors are there among their subordinates? I believe this is a wake-up call! The Marines have always been strictly cracking down on traitors, but the eight CP departments seem to have not been rigorously investigated for a long time!"
Steel Bone Kong nodded.
"So? What is Fleet Admiral Sengoku's suggestion?"
"I propose that, to prevent the tragedy of Bucare City from happening again, and for the safety of the Celestial Dragons, the eight CP departments must be thoroughly investigated!"
Aokiji raised an eyebrow.
"The Fleet Admiral is aiming his cannon at the Five Elders."
Akainu was indifferent.
"It has nothing to do with me."
Kizaru was crossing his legs.
"How terrifying~"
Steel Bone Kong pondered for a moment.
"Hmm… that makes sense. However… the eight CP departments are under the jurisdiction of the Five Elders… we are powerless to help…"
A Celestial Dragon on the platform stood up.
"Investigate! They must be thoroughly investigated! If the Five Elders dare to obstruct you, we will report it to Im-sama!"
"This… there's no need to trouble Im-sama. We understand. Please rest assured, all Celestial Dragons. The World Government will thoroughly investigate this matter to the end! We will not tolerate any leniency!"
"Hmph! Such audacity! Steel Bone Kong, we leave this matter to you."
"Yes! Then, this trial is hereby adjourned. Three Admirals, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, come with me to the conference room. We need to discuss how to eliminate potential threats for the Celestial Dragons."
"The court is adjourned!"