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Chapter 530: Kong Near Death
The only one who came with reinforcements was Garp, along with his personal Dog Head Warship.
However, Garp arrived using Moonwalk, and by the time the Warship docked, several minutes had already passed.
Fleet Admiral Kong was near death, covered in injuries.
His head had suffered a heavy blow, and he had lost a leg and an arm.
Especially his pierced abdomen was still bleeding profusely.
Fortunately, Kong's vitality was strong.
The muscles at the severed arm and leg instinctively contracted, and coupled with his powerful recovery power, the bleeding had stopped.
However, this also meant that the restoration of Kong's severed arm and leg would be very difficult.
There were specialized doctors on the ship, but even they found such severe injuries incredibly difficult to handle.
They could only perform simple wound treatment, disinfection, and most importantly, an emergency blood transfusion.
Otherwise, Kong might not last until they returned to Marine Headquarters.
True treatment could only be carried out back at Marine Headquarters.
Immediately, Kong was sent back to Marine Headquarters.
Seeing Kong's terrible state, it was hard to imagine what kind of great battle he had gone through and what kind of enemy he had faced.
Only Redfield?
It was truly unbelievable.
"What exactly happened?"
Zephyr, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, had no idea how Kong could have been beaten into such a state.
"I'm not sure.
We'll ask after Brother Kong wakes up."
Garp shook his head.
He didn't know exactly what had happened either.
Redfield had already left, and it was unclear if anyone else had been there.
The most important thing now was Kong's condition.
He was currently in critical care, and the best doctors from the entire Marine Headquarters had been called in.
Getting him out of danger should not be a problem, but it was unknown how long he would remain unconscious.
Garp only felt a headache and extreme inner turmoil.
He was even somewhat angry.
His respected Brother Kong had actually been beaten like this.
Fortunately, Kong was not dead.
Garp knew that based on what he had found upon arrival, the enemy had the full ability to kill Kong, but hadn't done so.
Even now, he still didn't believe that the only enemy Kong had faced was Redfield.
There might have been another enemy hidden in the shadows.
In just over six days, who could have accomplished this?
Kong was currently lying in the critical care unit.
During the transport, Kong had not been seen by other Navy Soldiers.
Besides Garp and his personal guards, only the Headquarters doctors who had been summoned knew.
Besides that, Garp had only notified Zephyr.
If this news were to leak, it would be a significant blow to the overall prestige of the Marines, especially right after defeating the Roger Pirates.
Therefore, to prevent the news from leaking, it had been completely blockaded.
"I still have matters to attend to, so I'll head back to the Navy School first.
You keep watch here."
After sitting outside the critical care unit for a while, Zephyr stood up.
"Don't worry, I'll keep watch."
Garp nodded, reassuring Zephyr to go ahead.
"Oh, right, you've already notified Sengoku and the others about this, haven't you?"
"Yes, the Chief of Staff already notified them for me.
To avoid affecting the mission in the New World, Sengoku hasn't been moved.
Tsuru is on her way back."
Just as the victory in the war against the Roger Pirates had brought about some positive atmosphere, something like this unexpectedly happened.
To some extent, Garp blamed himself.
If he could have arrived faster, perhaps Kong wouldn't have ended up like this.
He was completely capable of that.
Perhaps just a few minutes faster, and everything would have changed.
But there was no medicine for regret in the world.
Everyone in the Marines believed Kong wouldn't be defeated, and even if he were, it wouldn't happen within seven days.
Fighting for ten days and ten nights would be no problem at all.
However, Marine Headquarters was shorthanded, which resulted in no one being able to effectively obtain battle intelligence.
Only a small number of higher-ups knew about Kong's operation and his battle with Redfield.
Even Garp and the others only learned about it after the great battle ended.
In reality, his speed in rushing back was already very fast.
He had spent several days pursuing the Roger Pirates, fought a war with the Roger Pirates, and then rushed back without stopping after the great battle concluded.
Why was it Láidé that Kong had to face?
The rhythm of the battle was in Láidé's hands.
As long as Láidé wanted, he could end the battle earlier, or drag out the time, making it no problem for Kong to last for a while longer.
Kong had already reached his limit, and no matter what, Garp couldn't change anything.
It was precisely because Láidé sensed Garp's arrival that he decided to deliver the killing blow.
During the great battle, several blood bats had been observing the whereabouts of the Marine reinforcements from afar.
Dozens of warships were dispatched to the New World, constantly searching the islands recorded on the map, looking for any trace of the Roger Pirates.
Not just the Marines and the World Government, but other factions on the Great Sea, and even people from the Underworld were searching.
They even specifically hired relevant elite navigators with decades of experience who had researched ocean currents.
They wanted to speculate, in the face of such a terrifying Super Giant Deep Sea Whirlpool, if the Roger Pirates hadn't died and weren't submerged in the Deep Sea, which Sea Area would they have been taken to?
This was quite a challenge.
Under a heavy reward, there are bound to be brave men.
The bounty offered by the Underworld for clues about the Roger Pirates kept getting higher and higher.
There were simply too many curious people.
Countless people didn't believe that man was dead.
That was 'Demon' Roger!
The only Legendary Pirate who could stand alongside "Golden Lion" Shiki!
During such a large-scale search, the Marines and Pirates were surprisingly harmonious with each other, with no conflicts breaking out, which was a very interesting phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the Marine Headquarters Search Team and World Government professionals arrived at the Secret Research Base after the battle.
After a full three days of searching, an undeniable fact was confirmed.
That was, the only one who fought with Kong was indeed "The Lone Red" Redfield.
The entire Island, the entire Battlefield, had been searched.
All the bloodstains on the ground belonged to "Steel Bone" Kong.
In other words, in the battle with Kong, Redfield wasn't even injured and held a clear advantage.
Had Kong's strength declined?
Of course not.
Garp and the others were perfectly clear on this point.
Kong's combat strength remained completely at its peak state.
With the Marines' powerful medical system, his body condition was excellent.
After all, he was a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit User, and eighty-one years old was still his prime.
Even if his stamina weakened slightly, it would have little impact on his combat strength.
For Kong, who possessed the powerful vitality of a Mythical Zoan, it was even negligible.
The fact was this: Kong was completely defeated and left with severe injuries that could not be restored.
The only one who could have done this was the Rocks of the past.
The only clue found regarding Redfield was that he might have eaten an ability related to blood and life.
Although the surveillance records were cut off, his still-youthful appearance was fully recorded.
Kong's leg and that arm had strangely lost their flesh and blood.
Regardless, to know everything, they could only wait for Kong to wake up.
With such severe injuries, Kong would need to sleep for at least a month before he might awaken.
Kong needed time for restoration.
His severe body condition had caused him to enter a self-protective hibernation state.
During this period, he needed a doctor by his side at all times, with nutrient solution being constantly administered.
Even the slightest carelessness, and Kong might never wake up again.
(end of chapter)
The only one who came with reinforcements was Garp, along with his personal Dog Head Warship.
However, Garp arrived using Moonwalk, and by the time the Warship docked, several minutes had already passed.
Fleet Admiral Kong was near death, covered in injuries.
His head had suffered a heavy blow, and he had lost a leg and an arm.
Especially his pierced abdomen was still bleeding profusely.
Fortunately, Kong's vitality was strong.
The muscles at the severed arm and leg instinctively contracted, and coupled with his powerful recovery power, the bleeding had stopped.
However, this also meant that the restoration of Kong's severed arm and leg would be very difficult.
There were specialized doctors on the ship, but even they found such severe injuries incredibly difficult to handle.
They could only perform simple wound treatment, disinfection, and most importantly, an emergency blood transfusion.
Otherwise, Kong might not last until they returned to Marine Headquarters.
True treatment could only be carried out back at Marine Headquarters.
Immediately, Kong was sent back to Marine Headquarters.
Seeing Kong's terrible state, it was hard to imagine what kind of great battle he had gone through and what kind of enemy he had faced.
Only Redfield?
It was truly unbelievable.
"What exactly happened?"
Zephyr, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, had no idea how Kong could have been beaten into such a state.
"I'm not sure.
We'll ask after Brother Kong wakes up."
Garp shook his head.
He didn't know exactly what had happened either.
Redfield had already left, and it was unclear if anyone else had been there.
The most important thing now was Kong's condition.
He was currently in critical care, and the best doctors from the entire Marine Headquarters had been called in.
Getting him out of danger should not be a problem, but it was unknown how long he would remain unconscious.
Garp only felt a headache and extreme inner turmoil.
He was even somewhat angry.
His respected Brother Kong had actually been beaten like this.
Fortunately, Kong was not dead.
Garp knew that based on what he had found upon arrival, the enemy had the full ability to kill Kong, but hadn't done so.
Even now, he still didn't believe that the only enemy Kong had faced was Redfield.
There might have been another enemy hidden in the shadows.
In just over six days, who could have accomplished this?
Kong was currently lying in the critical care unit.
During the transport, Kong had not been seen by other Navy Soldiers.
Besides Garp and his personal guards, only the Headquarters doctors who had been summoned knew.
Besides that, Garp had only notified Zephyr.
If this news were to leak, it would be a significant blow to the overall prestige of the Marines, especially right after defeating the Roger Pirates.
Therefore, to prevent the news from leaking, it had been completely blockaded.
"I still have matters to attend to, so I'll head back to the Navy School first.
You keep watch here."
After sitting outside the critical care unit for a while, Zephyr stood up.
"Don't worry, I'll keep watch."
Garp nodded, reassuring Zephyr to go ahead.
"Oh, right, you've already notified Sengoku and the others about this, haven't you?"
"Yes, the Chief of Staff already notified them for me.
To avoid affecting the mission in the New World, Sengoku hasn't been moved.
Tsuru is on her way back."
Just as the victory in the war against the Roger Pirates had brought about some positive atmosphere, something like this unexpectedly happened.
To some extent, Garp blamed himself.
If he could have arrived faster, perhaps Kong wouldn't have ended up like this.
He was completely capable of that.
Perhaps just a few minutes faster, and everything would have changed.
But there was no medicine for regret in the world.
Everyone in the Marines believed Kong wouldn't be defeated, and even if he were, it wouldn't happen within seven days.
Fighting for ten days and ten nights would be no problem at all.
However, Marine Headquarters was shorthanded, which resulted in no one being able to effectively obtain battle intelligence.
Only a small number of higher-ups knew about Kong's operation and his battle with Redfield.
Even Garp and the others only learned about it after the great battle ended.
In reality, his speed in rushing back was already very fast.
He had spent several days pursuing the Roger Pirates, fought a war with the Roger Pirates, and then rushed back without stopping after the great battle concluded.
Why was it Láidé that Kong had to face?
The rhythm of the battle was in Láidé's hands.
As long as Láidé wanted, he could end the battle earlier, or drag out the time, making it no problem for Kong to last for a while longer.
Kong had already reached his limit, and no matter what, Garp couldn't change anything.
It was precisely because Láidé sensed Garp's arrival that he decided to deliver the killing blow.
During the great battle, several blood bats had been observing the whereabouts of the Marine reinforcements from afar.
Dozens of warships were dispatched to the New World, constantly searching the islands recorded on the map, looking for any trace of the Roger Pirates.
Not just the Marines and the World Government, but other factions on the Great Sea, and even people from the Underworld were searching.
They even specifically hired relevant elite navigators with decades of experience who had researched ocean currents.
They wanted to speculate, in the face of such a terrifying Super Giant Deep Sea Whirlpool, if the Roger Pirates hadn't died and weren't submerged in the Deep Sea, which Sea Area would they have been taken to?
This was quite a challenge.
Under a heavy reward, there are bound to be brave men.
The bounty offered by the Underworld for clues about the Roger Pirates kept getting higher and higher.
There were simply too many curious people.
Countless people didn't believe that man was dead.
That was 'Demon' Roger!
The only Legendary Pirate who could stand alongside "Golden Lion" Shiki!
During such a large-scale search, the Marines and Pirates were surprisingly harmonious with each other, with no conflicts breaking out, which was a very interesting phenomenon.
Meanwhile, the Marine Headquarters Search Team and World Government professionals arrived at the Secret Research Base after the battle.
After a full three days of searching, an undeniable fact was confirmed.
That was, the only one who fought with Kong was indeed "The Lone Red" Redfield.
The entire Island, the entire Battlefield, had been searched.
All the bloodstains on the ground belonged to "Steel Bone" Kong.
In other words, in the battle with Kong, Redfield wasn't even injured and held a clear advantage.
Had Kong's strength declined?
Of course not.
Garp and the others were perfectly clear on this point.
Kong's combat strength remained completely at its peak state.
With the Marines' powerful medical system, his body condition was excellent.
After all, he was a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit User, and eighty-one years old was still his prime.
Even if his stamina weakened slightly, it would have little impact on his combat strength.
For Kong, who possessed the powerful vitality of a Mythical Zoan, it was even negligible.
The fact was this: Kong was completely defeated and left with severe injuries that could not be restored.
The only one who could have done this was the Rocks of the past.
The only clue found regarding Redfield was that he might have eaten an ability related to blood and life.
Although the surveillance records were cut off, his still-youthful appearance was fully recorded.
Kong's leg and that arm had strangely lost their flesh and blood.
Regardless, to know everything, they could only wait for Kong to wake up.
With such severe injuries, Kong would need to sleep for at least a month before he might awaken.
Kong needed time for restoration.
His severe body condition had caused him to enter a self-protective hibernation state.
During this period, he needed a doctor by his side at all times, with nutrient solution being constantly administered.
Even the slightest carelessness, and Kong might never wake up again.
(end of chapter)
