The Marines' current strategic priority was strengthening control over the New World.
Fleet Admiral Kong's inspection of G-1 Marine Base served to bolster morale among the frontline forces.
It seemed unnecessary on the surface, but was actually crucial. The Fleet Admiral's arrival represented Marine Headquarters' commitment to this region and the New World itself, significantly enhancing the local Marines' fighting spirit.
Morale was something intangible, impossible to grasp or measure, yet sometimes it played a decisive role.
"G-1... I haven't been here in several years." Kong gazed at the magnificent G-1 Marine Base visible in the distance, his tone nostalgic.
"Once we regain control of the New World, no one would object if you moved Marine Headquarters here, Fleet Admiral," Kuzan said with a smile.
Finn looked at Kuzan in surprise. You're quite the prophet. Though not by Kong's hand, Marine Headquarters really would relocate here eventually.
"What are you talking about? The Trinity hasn't moved in eight hundred years," Kong smiled and waved dismissively.
The Trinity was the key factor that had allowed Marineford to remain at the forefront of the Grand Line for eight centuries.
The so-called Trinity referred to the system construction of three fortresses of justice.
The three fortresses were Marine Headquarters Marineford, the deep-sea prison Impel Down, and Enies Lobby, the Judicial Island.
These three fortresses formed a triangle, each occupying one corner, connected by the whirlpool current through three Gates of Justice. Though the distances between them weren't close, once the Gates of Justice opened, warships could ride the current at extreme speeds.
As far as Finn knew, the journey from Marineford to Impel Down or Enies Lobby would take about five days by ordinary routes.
Riding the ocean current, you could reach either destination in half a day.
The speed difference was staggering.
The Trinity concept was built on this foundation. If any of the three fortresses encountered an emergency, the other two could provide rapid support. Therefore, attacking one was equivalent to attacking all three.
Throughout history, no one had successfully conquered these fortresses.
They'd stood for eight hundred years.
Not until more than twenty years later would the Straw Hat Pirates, having grown powerful, wreak havoc on all three locations.
Initially, Finn hadn't understood it. Now he could only sigh that it was all about timing and fate.
Enies Lobby didn't need much explanation. The Marines had deployed a Buster Call fleet. If not for the Going Merry's miraculous escape, rescuing the Straw Hat Pirates at the last moment, they would have ended there. Pure plot armor.
Then Impel Down, which fell because Marineford was overwhelmed with its own crisis, fully preparing for war, ready to face the world's strongest man, Edward Newgate.
Additionally, an insider named Teach, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, had caused chaos from within.
Simultaneously, Enies Lobby had just been razed and was being rebuilt. Impel Down itself was busy suppressing a prison break, leaving no power to support Marineford.
Therefore, the Whitebeard Pirates had seized a golden opportunity attacking Marineford. It happened to be the precise moment when the Trinity's mutual support system was shut down. They'd made headlines.
Otherwise, they truly wouldn't have been able to challenge the Trinity fortress system.
While contemplating these messy thoughts, Finn looked toward G-1 Marine Base in the distance. Just as the warship drew closer to the base, he suddenly noticed a small boat on the sea nearby.
The ship was about the size of a Marine lifeboat, resembling a sampan.
Instantly, Finn seemed to recall something. He was secretly surprised and thought: "Mihawk?"
After all, in his memories, the only person who dared wander the seas like this was the future world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk.
The one who claimed to row a boat without oars, relying entirely on the waves.
Though he'd become the world's greatest swordsman in the future, according to Finn's inquiries, Mihawk currently had no fame whatsoever. Rarely heard of.
So he was surprised to encounter Mihawk here.
Finn's expression seemed to attract the attention of Fleet Admiral Kong and Kuzan. They stopped talking and looked in the direction Finn was staring.
Their expressions grew surprised. This was the New World. Anyone going to sea in this manner must be extraordinary.
Kuzan didn't recognize anything. The distance was too far to see clearly.
But Fleet Admiral Kong seemed to realize something. His expression changed dramatically. "This method... that bastard!"
Mihawk shouldn't be worth this reaction right now, should he? Fleet Admiral, why are you acting so serious?
Finn thought with considerable confusion.
He simply couldn't believe that with himself, Kuzan, and the Fleet Admiral present, they couldn't defeat Mihawk.
That would make him not the number one swordsman, but the strongest in the world!
Before Finn could ask anything, Kong's expression darkened. "Prepare the artillery!"
Kuzan froze momentarily, then quickly conveyed the Fleet Admiral's order. "Fleet Admiral, who is this?"
"A formidable enemy. The Red Earl... Only he would go to sea this way!" Kong's tone was deadly serious.
As soon as he finished speaking, both Finn and Kuzan were stunned.
The Red Earl. This name was simultaneously unfamiliar and famous.
Unfamiliar because you rarely heard it. He wasn't very active. Not many people knew or had seen him.
Famous because this man was powerful enough.
Admiral Sengoku had once commented that he'd single-handedly reached the same heights as Roger, Shiki, and Newgate.
An extraordinarily powerful pirate.
Of course, Garp had also said he didn't deserve to leave his name in history.
This statement didn't mean he lacked strength or that Sengoku had overestimated him. It referred to the Red Earl's solitary nature.
The Red Earl, whose full name was Patrick Redfield.
He was aloof, and did everything alone.
Unfortunately, he was incredibly powerful and few could control him. Therefore, he posed a severe threat because he was a powerful man who did whatever he wanted.
In other words, he possessed strong chaotic tendencies. You had no way of predicting what he'd do next or what harm he'd bring to the world.
At this moment, Finn finally remembered what he'd overlooked!
Damn it. This was where Fleet Admiral Kong fight!
He had some memories of this event; Fleet Admiral Kong had fought Redfield before the Great Pirate Era began. Both had been severely injured.
But Redfield had been slightly superior. In terms of stamina, he'd edged out Kong. He'd fallen after Kong fell.
So technically, he'd defeated the Marine Fleet Admiral.
What an absurd achievement!
Of course, afterward, Vice Admiral Garp had arrived and taken advantage of his exhausted state, capturing him without effort.
He'd been sent to Impel Down, the deep-sea prison, for long-term incarceration.
He'd remained there for over twenty years until Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, caused havoc in Impel Down, creating chaos. Redfield had escaped during the confusion and successfully broken out.
Finn wasn't entirely clear about what happened in the original timeline, but he knew things had changed dramatically because of his butterfly effect.
For example, Vice Admiral Garp, who was supposed to arrive, wasn't coming...
It was him and Kuzan instead!
"Fire! Sink him!" Kong quickly ordered once the artillery was positioned.
Simultaneously, he turned to Kuzan. "Contact G-1 and have them blockade the surrounding waters. We must not let that bastard Red Earl escape. Now that we've encountered him, we eliminate him!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!" Kuzan quickly pulled out his Den Den Mushi.
At the same time, cannons on the warship roared. Numerous shells directly covered the small sampan.
Redfield, worthy of being called the Aloof Red, showed no intention of fleeing. It even seemed like he'd been waiting for Kong to arrive.
But that should be impossible. The Fleet Admiral's journey was the Marines' top secret, and Redfield...
Just as he was thinking this, Finn froze. No, it was impossible for others, but maybe Redfield could do it.
Because he could read minds!
"Fleet Admiral, G-1 has lost contact!" Kuzan turned toward Kong in surprise.
Finn's face darkened. He was now completely certain that Redfield had been waiting for Kong here.
This guy was too audacious. As expected, the more solitary people like him became, the harder it was to predict their actions.
This had been true of Mihawk in the future. It was true of Redfield now!
Judging from the current situation, Redfield must have attacked G-1 Marine Base for some reason and destroyed its defenses.
During that process, thanks to his ability, he'd learned that G-1 was awaiting Fleet Admiral Kong's arrival.
Then this audacious bastard, perhaps thinking he could seize this opportunity to kill the Fleet Admiral, had come to intercept them!
Actually, this was indeed an excellent opportunity. The Marine Fleet Admiral rarely left Marineford, and such trips were highly classified. If you wanted to kill the Fleet Admiral, you could only do it at Marineford.
But taking action at Marineford meant facing thousands of Marines. In this world, no one was strong enough to kill the Fleet Admiral at Marine Headquarters!
Therefore, for a ruthless individual like Redfield, Kong's appearance here was a golden opportunity!
Arrogant! Truly too arrogant!
Thousands of thoughts flashed through Finn mind, but in reality, only a moment passed. Dense artillery fire launched, but before landing on the small sampan, a slash swept upward and detonated all the shells mid-air.
Simultaneously, the slashing attack continued toward the warship.
Light flashed in Finn's eyes. Though Redfield was confident, Finn knew the outcome. Though Kong would be defeated, that was a Marine secret. Judging by the final result, it was the Marines who won, capturing Redfield directly.
Vice Admiral Garp could take advantage of the opportunity. Why couldn't he, Finn?
Perhaps this crisis was also a perfect opportunity to earn merit.
Finn thought rapidly, his hands already moving. Kuzan wasn't a swordsman. Neither was Kong. Besides them, Finn was the strongest blade wielder on this warship.
Time to shine.
With a Geppo, he launched into the air. Sōzai at his waist left its sheath. Facing Redfield, Finn had no intention of holding back. He gave everything.
Armament Haki and the Press-Press Fruit's power used together, wrapped around the blade, slamming hard into the flying slash.
"Gravity Blade: Tiger Kill!" Finn roared.
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