Marine G4 Base, Commander's office.
After the Den Den Mushi connected, Sephiroth immediately said, with a slightly teasing tone, "Fleet Admiral Commander-in-Chief Kong, I should have returned the butcher knife to you decades ago, right?"
The Den Den Mushi was silent for a few seconds before Kong's steady and powerful voice came through. "Yes, that's right! Have you 'returned' already, you guy?"
"Yeah! I had a very interesting trip and understood many things..." Sephiroth said, a sense of inexplicable emotion coloring his words.
Immediately after, he changed the subject. "So, can I resign now? I've worked diligently for the Marines for so many years. It's time for you to let me go, right?"
Upon hearing this, Kong's tone suddenly became somewhat strange. "Yes! Mr. K has worked so hard for the Marines for so many years; it's truly been tough..."
"..."
Sephiroth was silent for a moment before he asked, "What exactly are you trying to say...?"
"I started investigating you many years ago! Since you were quite active in Sabaody Archipelago, I didn't have to put in much effort. However, when you enrolled in the Marine Academy and Zephyr placed your file in front of me, I was truly surprised. The same name, a slightly younger face, made me think of some things... Initially, I was still a bit skeptical of my guess, but when you picked up that butcher knife in front of me—a knife that no one had been able to wield for decades—I finally completely believed my somewhat absurd idea. Later, I started sending people to closely monitor your movements. I even know about you going out to kill Pirates, earn bounties, and start your own Company while you were in the Marine Academy."
"..."
Upon hearing this, Sephiroth narrowed his eyes. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, his mood was extremely complex, and he kept speculating about various things.
Did Kong investigate what I did in the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar...?
That's right, I acted extremely high-profile in Sabaody Archipelago back then, causing a lot of commotion, unlike the way I try to act low-key and cautious at this time...
Furthermore, I didn't deliberately hide myself on Lulucca Island. It's not surprising that Kong could find out that I was "Mr. K" in the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar!
So, here's the problem!
Listening to Kong's words, it's clear that he already knows that I am the big Boss behind the Umbrella Corporation...
Then, to what extent does he know my background...?
Although I used Observation Haki and the Vampire Fruit ability to carefully screen the personnel in the Company's key confidential departments for spies.
But...
Due to the large number of people in the Company, I didn't carefully check those non-key departments and grassroots personnel.
Among them, it is highly possible that many spies were planted!
As long as enough people were involved, piecing together fragmented bits of information, they could roughly figure out the Umbrella Corporation's structure and size...
In other words, Kong likely knew everything about me and the Umbrella Corporation!
So, that begs the question...
Why did Kong keep letting my power grow to this extent?
From Kong's perspective, I was saved by a top expert of unknown origin in the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar, and he learned my identity as "Mr. K."
Given Kong's righteous character, he would have been grateful, sure, but he definitely would have kept his distance.
But...
One day, I suddenly appeared, a Military School Student!?
Considering every Military School Student's background was thoroughly investigated, my information was certainly no secret to him. He probably knew it like the back of his hand...
In the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar, when I met Kong and the others, I didn't even change my name or appearance. That was a major mistake.
However...
At the time, I felt my strength was already so great that I didn't need to conceal anything. Plus, I'd already guessed the butcher knife's origin. I wanted Kong to deliver the knife to my future self, which is why I didn't hide my appearance or name.
But that old man Kong was too sly and wicked. He actually used the knife I forged as a bargaining chip to keep me tied to the Marines, saying I wouldn't be allowed to leave unless I returned the butcher knife...
Hmm!? Wait, I think I understand something...!?
So that's how it is. Kong letting my power grow in the past was likely because he was concerned it would lead to conflict with me and affect the original historical process. He adopted a monitoring attitude without interfering.
However, he probably didn't anticipate my power would develop so quickly, did he...?
Initially, it was fine. It was just me and Tesoro making a bit of a fuss, doing some arms trade to make money. In Kong's eyes, it was probably not worth mentioning at all.
But...
Later, I actually pulled Whitebeard and Dressrosa onto my chariot, tying the interests of the three parties together, making the Umbrella Corporation develop from an unknown small company into an organization that couldn't be underestimated in the Grand Line. I only spent a short year on the entire process!
From that point on, Kong, still the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, would have to consider Whitebeard and Dressrosa's reactions if he wanted to suppress my power, becoming hesitant and cautious.
When I offered to resign, Kong's request to return the butcher knife was actually just a test to see if I had returned to the past...?
I already had the Black Blade butcher knife, after all. In the eyes of the uninformed Kong, I had almost become my self from the year 1470 of the Sea Calendar!
Sephiroth, having figured out the general course of events, spoke again.
"Fleet Admiral Kong, you've said so much... Now, can you tell me what you want?"
About five seconds of silence passed before Kong's steady, calm voice came from the den den mushi again.
"Then can you tell me your purpose first?"
I want to bring the whole world under control. Can I tell you that? Sephiroth muttered to himself, half-jokingly, half-seriously.
"Of course, it's to live a free and comfortable life!"
"Free and comfortable...?"
Kong's words paused for a moment. Then, he spoke.
"Sephiroth, no matter what, you did save my life back then, and I've never forgotten that. I've been trying my best to keep you in the Marines, but you still want to leave. Since that's the case, I hope that even if you leave the Marines in the future, you will try your best not to stand on the opposite side. In return, I will not pursue your past... How about it? Let's make a deal on this condition?"
"..."
An expression of astonishment couldn't help but appear on Sephiroth's face, and his heart was filled with disbelief.
To be honest, he'd prepared himself for a significant loss. He'd wanted to try to negotiate privately with Kong, asking him to continue ignoring the threat of the Umbrella Corporation so that he'd have a chance to clean up the Company's internal problems.
Sephiroth had even anticipated that the worst-case scenario was that he and Kong would completely fall out, and the Umbrella Corporation and the World Government would go to war!
At that time, his power would likely shrink significantly, forcing him to retreat to the New World, like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom.
There's nothing that can be done about it. If you go to war with someone, how can you expect them to be lenient with your businesses?
But...
He never expected that after Kong said so much, he'd only make such a request!
Asking him to try his best not to stand on the opposite side of the Marines...?
Isn't making such a request testing his integrity?
He lost that long ago!
However, Gion and Tina are in the Marines, so unless there is a situation where he has no other choice, he will not become an enemy of the Marines...
Could it be that Kong also considered this point and therefore made this request to him?
No, perhaps he is also unsure how many hidden trump cards I still have...!?
After all, Kong might think that I repeatedly time-traveled within the Rainbow Mist and returned to the current time point, and may have secretly developed some power during that time.
But...
No matter what Kong's considerations are, I do owe him a fav...
Thinking of this, Sephiroth immediately spoke to Kong on the other side of the den den mushi, his tone deadly serious.
"I understand! I will abide by the terms of this deal..."
If possible, I will try my best not to be an enemy of the Marines in the future!