Late night on Parian Island.
On the devastated ground.
Sengoku sat on the ground, holding a wooden stick, poking at the campfire in front of him. He stared blankly into the flames.
Rosindante, curled up beside him, slept soundly, leaning against Sengoku.
Garp, with a black eye, sat opposite Sengoku.
He looked at the pensive Sengoku and spoke:
"What's wrong, Sengoku?"
Sengoku, his expression unreadable, looked up at Garp.
His deep voice sounded:
"Sakazuki has a problem."
Garp was startled:
"What problem could Sakazuki have?"
"He's not a pirate spy, is he?"
The firelight illuminated Sengoku's face.
After a long silence, he shook his head:
"It's not that he has a problem, it's just a suspicion."
Garp said:
"What is it?"
Sengoku said grimly:
"After integrating the memories of the past half year of wandering..."
"I've discovered something."
"The soldiers at the lower ranks and the people of the world have an excessive admiration for Sakazuki."
"The people might not know who Vice Admirals, Admirals, or Fleet Admirals are, but they definitely know Sakazuki."
"And among the soldiers, Sakazuki has become their idol."
Garp scratched his head:
"Sakazuki spends most of his time hunting pirates."
"Plus, he's incredibly powerful, it's normal, right?"
Sengoku said in a low voice:
"No, it's not normal."
"His prestige is too high."
"So high that it surpasses all other admirals in the Navy."
"Even Fleet Admiral Kong..."
"If Fleet Admiral Kong and Sakazuki gave orders simultaneously,"
"I suspect that most of the lower-ranking soldiers would execute Sakazuki's command."
"Rather than Fleet Admiral Kong's."
"Isn't that terrifying..."
"What if one day he decides to go against everything?"
Garp froze, his expression becoming serious:
"If that were the case, it would indeed be terrifying."
"It would drag the entire world into war."
He then frowned:
"But with Sakazuki's personality, he wouldn't do that, would he?"
Sengoku also frowned deeply:
"Yes."
"Sakazuki has always been on the front lines."
"He's nearly died several times in battles like the one at Sguri Sea."
"If this was all an act, the price would be too high."
"I shouldn't doubt him."
"But this concerns the rule of the government and the stability of the world."
"We have to consider it carefully."
Sengoku then sighed:
"The problem is, there's no evidence."
"I don't know if this is intentional on Sakazuki's part, or purely coincidental."
Garp thought for a moment and said:
"Who cares, it's just a hypothetical situation anyway."
"We'll deal with it when that day comes."
"There will always be a way."
Sengoku looked at the firelight, nodding with an unreadable expression.
I still need to find an opportunity to test him...
----------
New World, Golden Lion Fleet.
A colossal floating island drifted in the sky, surrounded by several pirate ships.
Shiki, with two famous swords at his waist, stood by the edge of the island.
His golden cape and long hair fluttered in the wind.
He gazed at the churning sea of clouds.
Byrnndi World approached from behind.
Standing beside Shiki, he said:
"Boss, it's done."
Shiki narrowed his eyes, his lips curling upwards. He seemed to be contemplating something.
World hesitated and said:
"Boss, is this really okay?"
"That great war ended not long ago. Provoking the Navy like this..."
Shiki glanced at World.
World broke out in a cold sweat and lowered his head.
Shiki threw away his cigar.
He exhaled a puff of smoke and sneered:
"Don't worry."
"It's just a probe."
"I was deceived by that old man Kong."
"The latest news is that Sengoku has been missing for months."
"Garp is still searching for Sengoku all over the world."
"Right now, the only one who can truly represent the Navy is that old man Kong."
"And that magma brat."
As he spoke, Shiki's Conqueror's Haki erupted.
He snorted with rage:
"Damn it, if only the news had come sooner."
"That magma brat has also been unconscious for more than half a year."
"This was the perfect time to destroy the Navy."
"The entire Marine Headquarters was being held up by that old man Kong alone."
The surging Conqueror's Haki displayed his inner turmoil.
A heaven-sent opportunity! Damn it!!!
After the outburst, Shiki took a deep breath:
"First, let's test the waters and see the Navy's reaction."
"Prepare for war at any moment."
World's heart clenched:
"Yes!"
--------------
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Beeeep—Beeeep! Beeeep—Beeeep! Beeeep—!
The alarm suddenly blared.
All soldiers entered a state of readiness, and high-ranking officers rushed to the conference hall.
At the same time, operators began dialing Den Den Mushi.
Contact was made with officers stationed outside to return to Headquarters quickly.
On Sakazuki's warship.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Sakazuki summoned Barret.
He grabbed Barret by the shoulder, his devil fruit ability surging, and shot into the sky.
Flying towards Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Karor was in command of the warship, sailing towards Marineford.
Marineford.
A streak of fiery red tore through the sky.
It landed directly on the ramparts of the Headquarters fortress.
Sakazuki set Barret down and led him towards the conference hall.
The meeting was already halfway through.
Sakazuki and Barret entered through the back door.
They nodded at Fleet Admiral Kong and then sat at the edge.
Sakazuki asked the Vice Admiral beside him:
"Vice Admiral Grosa, what is this meeting about?"
Grosa clicked his tongue:
"A pirate captain under Golden Lion attacked the G3 Branch in the New World."
"The casualties weren't significant, but the main gate was breached."
"They're practically stomping the face of the Navy into the ground."
Sakazuki nodded, indicating he understood.
He looked at the projection on the large screen ahead.
The probe has arrived...