Pallini Island. Late at night.
The scorched ground was littered with ashes and scattered debris. Sengoku sat quietly by a dwindling fire, idly stirring the embers with a wooden stick. His gaze lingered on the flames, eyes unfocused, lost in thought.
Beside him, Rosinante slept soundly, curled against his side, his breathing soft and steady.
Across the fire, Garp sat on an overturned log with a swollen black eye. He looked at his old friend for a long time, then asked, "What's wrong, Sengoku?"
The admiral lifted his head slowly. A strange look in his eyes as he answered, voice low and heavy. "Sakazuki… something's not right about him."
Garp blinked in surprise. "What do you mean? Don't tell me you think he's a pirate spy or something."
The fire crackled between them, its light flickering across Sengoku's expression. He didn't reply right away. Eventually, he gave a slow shake of his head. "It's not like that. Just… something I'm starting to suspect."
Garp leaned forward slightly, curious. "What is it?"
Sengoku murmured, "After merging the memories from my past six months of wandering, I noticed something. The regular marines and even the people of the world… their admiration for Sakazuki feels excessive."
He stirred the fire absently, the flames dancing with each poke. "Most civilians probably don't even know who the vice admirals, admirals, or fleet admiral are. But they all know Sakazuki. And among the marines… he seems to have become their role model."
Garp scratched the back of his head, trying to make sense of it. "Well, he spends most of his time hunting pirates. That kind of dedication, plus his strength, it's only natural he'd stand out."
Sengoku's voice grew heavier. "No. It's not normal. His influence is too great. So great that it surpasses every other officer in the Marines. Even Fleet Admiral Kong."
He looked directly at Garp. "If he and Sakazuki gave orders at the same time, I honestly doubt the lower-ranking marines would follow Kong. They'd probably follow Sakazuki instead. Isn't that terrifying...? What if one day he turns against everything we stand for?"
Garp froze. His expression turned serious. "If that's the case, yeah… that would be really scary. It could drag the entire world into war."
Then he frowned slightly. "But judging by Sakazuki's personality, he wouldn't do something like that… would he?"
Sengoku furrowed his brows too. "I know. Sakazuki has always been the one charging to the front lines. Just during the Battle of Sgri alone, he came close to death several times. If all that was an act, then the cost was way too high. I shouldn't be doubting him. But this concerns the government's control and the stability of the world. I have to consider it carefully."
He let out a sigh. "The problem is, there's no evidence. I don't know if all this was his intention or just a string of coincidences."
Garp thought for a second and said, "Whatever. It's all just a theory anyway. If that day really comes, we'll deal with it then. There'll always be a way."
Sengoku stared at the firelight. His expression was unreadable, but he nodded slightly.
'I still need to find a chance to test him...'
...
New World, Golden Lion's Fleet.
A massive floating island drifted high above the sea. Around it, several pirate ships hovered in tight formation, their sails rippling in the wind.
At the edge of the island, Shiki stood tall with two famed swords hanging at his waist. His golden cloak and long hair fluttered wildly as he gazed out over the churning sea of clouds.
Footsteps approached from behind. Frank came to a stop beside him and reported, "Captain, it's done."
Shiki narrowed his eyes slightly. A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, as if he'd just thought of something amusing.
Frank hesitated before speaking again. "Captain, are we really doing the right thing? That war only just ended. If we provoke the Marines again..."
Shiki shot a sideways glance at him. Cold sweat broke across the younger man's forehead as he quickly lowered his head.
Tossing away the cigar in his mouth, Shiki exhaled a thick cloud of smoke and sneered.
"Don't worry, this is just a little test. That old bastard Kong fooled me. Latest reports say Sengoku has been missing for months now, and Garp's still running around the world looking for him. Right now, the only ones holding the Marines together are Kong… and that magma brat."
As the words left his lips, a wave of Conqueror's Haki burst out from his body, crashing out like a sudden storm. The ground beneath his feet groaned under the pressure.
"Damn it," Shiki growled. "If only the news had come in sooner. That magma brat was unconscious for over half a year? That would've been the perfect time to crush Marineford! The whole place was left standing with just that old man Kong holding the line."
His raging Conqueror's Haki surged wildly, a clear reflection of the storm brewing inside him.
'What a golden opportunity... damn it!'
Then, with a deep breath, he steadied himself. "No matter. We'll probe first. See how they respond. Be ready to go to war at any moment."
Frank stiffened and gave a sharp nod. "Understood, Captain!"
...
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
BZZZ—BZZZ! BZZZ—BZZZ! BZZZ—!
Suddenly, the alarm blared across the base.
All marines snapped into combat readiness, while the high-ranking officers rushed to the main conference hall.
At the same time, a flurry of Den Den Mushi calls went out as communication staff scrambled to contact officers stationed outside. Orders were given for immediate return to base.
...
Aboard Sakazuki's warship.
After ending a call with a Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki summoned Bullet.
Grabbing him by the shoulder, the vice admiral's feet lit up with magma, launching them both straight into the sky toward Marineford.
Carlo remained behind to command the warship, steering it swiftly toward headquarters.
...
Marineford.
A fiery red streak tore through the sky and landed directly atop the fortress wall of the headquarters.
Sakazuki released Bullet from his grip, then led him toward the main conference hall. The meeting was already underway as they entered through the rear door.
Giving a nod to Fleet Admiral Kong, Sakazuki quietly took a seat near the edge. Turning to the man beside him, he asked, "Vice Admiral Grossa, what's the reason for this emergency meeting?"
Grossa clicked his tongue. "One of the pirate officers under Golden Lion attacked G-3 Branch in the New World. Not many casualties, but they broke through the front gate. They basically slammed our Marines' face into the dirt."
Sakazuki nodded to show he understood. Then his eyes shifted toward the large projection screen at the front of the hall.
'So the probing has begun…'
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