At that very moment, in Fleet Admiral Kong's office at Marine Headquarters, Marineford, his adjutant received a call from the Sabaody Archipelago. The call reported that the Masked Bounty Hunter Group intended to capture the Supernova pirate crews.
The adjutant immediately rushed to inform Fleet Admiral Kong of the situation.
"The Masked Bounty Hunter Group... I remember them. They're the ones who took down the Ferocious Crocodile Pirates, another Supernova crew, a while back, aren't they?" Kong said, frowning.
"Yes, that's them," the adjutant confirmed.
Kong's frown deepened. "A group of only a dozen or so bounty hunters managed to wipe out two or three hundred criminals in the lawless zone, including two major criminals with bounties over a hundred million... This Masked Bounty Hunter Group is truly something."
He looked at his adjutant and asked, "I ordered an investigation into the identities of this Masked Bounty Hunter Group earlier. Has there been any progress?"
"According to our intelligence agency, the bounty hunter group's identities are still unconfirmed. However, we do have some leads. They hail from the West Blue, and there's a strong possibility they have connections to the Capone Mafia Family."
"The Mafia... so, they're criminals, too," Kong said, his expression darkening. The thought that the Masked Bounty Hunter Group might actually be members of the Mafia, and that they had been collecting huge sums of bounty money from the Marines for a long time, made Kong feel disgusted and even murderous.
"Bring the detailed information on the Masked Bounty Hunter Group to my office. Also, summon Vice Admiral Tsuru and Vice Admiral Simon," Kong ordered in a deep voice.
The adjutant saluted and hurried out. Kong rubbed his temples, looking weary. The matters concerning the great pirates of the New World were already exhausting him, and now this Masked Bounty Hunter Group, whose allegiance was unknown, appeared. Just thinking about it gave him a headache.
The Masked Bounty Hunter Group had taken down over twenty pirate crews, defeated a Supernova crew, and even cleaned out the Den of Scoundrels, killing two criminals with bounties exceeding one hundred million. All of this indicated that the Masked Bounty Hunter Group's strength was no less than that of this year's Supernova crews.
The most crucial point was that the Masked Bounty Hunter Group's identity remained uncertain, so he had to proceed with caution.
Bounty hunters were, after all, people who worked for money. Such individuals were easily swayed. If the Masked Bounty Hunter Group defected to the pirates' side due to their uncertain status, it would be a considerable blow to the Marines.
A short while later, Vice Admiral Tsuru arrived at the office. Although Tsuru was approaching fifty at this time, she was already the Chief of Staff at Marine Headquarters, a brilliant strategist.
" Tsuru, take a look at this report," Kong said, handing the Masked Bounty Hunter Group's report to Tsuru.
Tsuru took the report. She was already aware of the information on the Masked Bounty Hunter Group; a copy of their report was already in her own office.
Tsuru carefully examined the report. Not long after, a towering, powerfully built middle-aged man in a crisp suit entered the room.
His tiger-like eyes held an imposing aura, and his very presence exuded authority and strength.
This man was one of Marine Headquarters' top Vice Admirals, known as "Mad Tiger" Simon.
Kong gestured for Mad Tiger to sit. Afterward, Kong's adjutant entered the office with a file folder. Kong glanced through it and then passed it to Tsuru and Mad Tiger.
After they had both read it, Kong said, "Little Tsuru, what are your thoughts on this Masked Bounty Hunter Group?"
"I've looked into this Masked Bounty Hunter Group before. Their captain is a very powerful swordsman; it's currently unknown whether he's a Devil Fruit user. His subordinates are all formidable. His second-in-command is also a swordsman, exceptionally skilled, and estimated to be a master swordsman as well. A bounty hunter group with two master swordsmen and a group of elite hunters... this Masked Bounty Hunter Group is incredibly strong," Tsuru said gravely.
Kong nodded, his concern evident. "Their strength is undeniable. My concern lies with their identities. According to our intelligence agency, this Masked Bounty Hunter Group is highly likely to be from the West Blue's Capone Mafia Family. If this information is true, a Mafia family using a bounty hunter group to hunt pirates and earn bounty money... their motives are not pure."
Tsuru presented a series of reports, placing them on the table. These contained information on the Capone Family, along with several photos of Capone Family members.
"Six months ago, the Capone Family underwent a sudden internal power struggle. The Capone bloodline emerged victorious, and since then, the Capone Family has engaged in a bloody expansion, seizing control of over a dozen islands near their family territory. Their growth is meteoric, and they're still expanding outward," Tsuru stated. She then pushed forward a photograph, displaying a young man with a cigar in his mouth and a domineering glint in his eyes.
This, of course, was Capone "Gang" Bege.
Tsuru pointed at the photo. "And the starting point for the Capone Family's sudden acquisition of the strength to conquer over a dozen islands is this man, Capone Bege, the son of the Capone Family's head."
Vice Admiral Mad Tiger leaned over to look at Bege's picture but remained silent.
"After Capone Bege returned to the Capone Family, he brutally suppressed the internal strife, making his branch the absolute leader of the Capone Family. He then initiated this bloody expansion. This young Capone Bege is very powerful. He killed Lilos, the captain of the Black Tiger Pirates, who had a bounty of fifty million. He also led the charge in conquering those dozen islands," Tsuru explained.
"Young people these days are truly terrifying. To be able to take down a pirate with a fifty million bounty at seventeen or eighteen..." Mad Tiger marveled. Then he asked, "Vice Admiral Tsuru, you don't suspect that the Masked Bounty Hunter Group was formed by Capone Bege, do you?"
"Being able to kill a pirate with a fifty million bounty and being able to kill a Supernova pirate are two entirely different concepts."
Tsuru calmly replied, "I'm well aware of the difference, but the possibility still exists. Don't forget, there's a type of person in this world called a genius."
Mad Tiger didn't respond, but his expression still conveyed disbelief.
"Little Tsuru, you believe the captain of the Masked Bounty Hunter Group could be this Capone Bege?" Kong asked, equally skeptical.
Tsuru shook her head. "While the possibility exists, it's extremely slim. Capone Bege is undoubtedly the reason for the Capone Family's expansion. That much is clear. But if this intelligence is accurate, and the Masked Bounty Hunter Group has close ties to the Capone Family, I suspect there's a major power secretly supporting the Capone Family from the shadows."
"Silently supporting the rise of a Mafia family... it's highly likely a pirate force or an underworld organization."
Kong's face remained expressionless. He had a similar suspicion.
Each one was an enemy of the Marines.
"Admiral, the Masked Bounty Hunter Group is highly suspicious. We must investigate them thoroughly. Since they're in the Sabaody Archipelago capturing Supernova pirates, it's the perfect opportunity to send someone to investigate and force them to reveal their identities. If they are members of a hostile force, we arrest them immediately. If not, we can take the opportunity to invite them to join the Marines," Tsuru suggested.
Kong nodded, agreeing with the proposal.
"The Masked Bounty Hunter Group's identity must be confirmed. There are also two Supernova pirate crews on the Sabaody Archipelago. We absolutely cannot allow such potentially dangerous pirate crews to enter the New World. We can send someone to handle both the investigation and the capture at the same time," Kong declared, his eyes hardening with resolve. He looked at Mad Tiger. "Simon, you'll lead the team. Make sure this matter is handled properly."
Mad Tiger shrugged, with a look that said, 'I knew it,' and nodded in acceptance.
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