Sakazuki had just left his residence, following the two young officers toward the Headquarters prison. As they walked through the senior officers' district, he noticed a disturbing pattern—at least two young officers stood vigilantly outside each Vice Admiral's and Rear Admiral's home. Some were moving with such urgency they completely disregarded his presence as an Admiral, rushing past as though responding to a crisis.
"What is Xayuki planning?"
Observing this unsettling scene, Sakazuki's expression darkened considerably. "The trial against him hasn't even concluded. If he instigates a major incident, not even Fleet Admiral Sengoku will be able to protect him—and I certainly won't show any mercy!"
The two officers leading him maintained their silence, seemingly deaf to his warning as they quickened their pace.
Sakazuki's eyes flashed with displeasure, but he restrained himself.
After all, Xayuki wasn't merely a Vice Admiral under his command; he was also a junior from the same training lineage. When Xayuki underwent officer training, his instructor had been Sakazuki's own mentor—former Admiral "Black Arm" Zephyr.
When Xayuki was first promoted to Vice Admiral and assigned to his command, Sakazuki had been skeptical of his worth.
Xayuki's methods—particularly his talent for navigating Headquarters' political landscape—were incomprehensible to Sakazuki. As a Marine leader committed to justice, Xayuki's apparent lack of focus on capturing pirates seemed problematic enough. But to invest time in cultivating relationships and currying favor throughout the ranks? It was almost contemptible.
Initially, Sakazuki viewed these behaviors with disdain. However, he soon discovered that when Xayuki deployed on missions, his ruthlessness in confronting pirates mirrored Sakazuki's own approach—sometimes surpassing it in severity.
Unlike most Vice Admirals who prioritized capturing pirates alive, Xayuki typically chose to eliminate them on the spot.
His justification was pragmatic: World Government funds should not be wasted imprisoning these criminals but instead directed toward improving the compensation of Marines who risked their lives in pursuit of justice.
This practical philosophy had led Sakazuki to overlook some of Xayuki's more questionable actions. He had even declined to cooperate with the investigators gathering evidence against his subordinate.
Soon, Sakazuki emerged from the residential area into Marineford's central plaza.
"Hmm?"
As he stepped into the open space, Sakazuki halted abruptly, his eyes widening at the sight before him.
Under night's cover, a vast crowd had assembled in the plaza—thousands of shadowy figures standing in disciplined formation.
Recognizing that most were officers and soldiers who had served under Xayuki, a sense of foreboding settled in Sakazuki's chest.
From the moment Xayuki had been placed under investigation, Sakazuki had anticipated trouble. Over the years, Xayuki's influence within Headquarters had grown remarkably. Many officers regarded him with almost religious devotion. In significant matters, if Xayuki withheld approval, orders from Sakazuki himself—even from Fleet Admiral Sengoku—might be selectively interpreted or delayed.
Sakazuki couldn't fully comprehend the depth of loyalty Xayuki commanded. He knew only that whenever Xayuki led missions against pirates, he invariably positioned himself at the vanguard, facing danger before any of his subordinates.
"This situation is grave..."
Even Sakazuki, one of the Marines' supreme combatants, felt tension rising within him. If chaos erupted at Headquarters tonight, it would deliver a devastating blow to both the Marines and the World Government.
Xayuki's influence had simply grown too vast. If not contained immediately, Sakazuki suspected this gathering wasn't merely about freeing a prisoner—it portended something far more significant.
With this realization, he accelerated his pace, overtaking his guides and striding purposefully toward the prison.
Upon entering the detention facility, Sakazuki's concerns intensified.
Inside, dozens of officers from various ranks had already assembled. Among them stood another Vice Admiral.
Most alarming was that the prison guards had exchanged their standard uniforms for Marine officer attire and now stood in formation outside the cells.
"Admiral Sakazuki!"
Before he could process the scene, the gathered officers turned almost in unison, executing crisp salutes.
"What is the meaning of this?" Sakazuki's piercing gaze swept across the assembly as he approached Xayuki's cell. His voice carried commanding authority: "Everyone, vacate these premises immediately!"
His words plunged the prison into profound silence. Not a single officer moved, maintaining their positions with unwavering discipline.
"Are you contemplating rebellion?"
Sakazuki clenched his fists, his voice descending to a threatening rumble. "This is your final warning. Depart now, or I will consider this treason!"
The moment his ultimatum concluded, the heavy iron door of Xayuki's cell swung open with a resonant clang.
To Sakazuki's astonishment, Xayuki emerged completely unrestrained, walking with casual confidence to stand before him.
"Xayuki, you—"
Seeing his subordinate free of shackles and restraints, Sakazuki's pupils contracted sharply. His expression hardened. "You truly intend to rebel?"
If confronting Xayuki alone, Sakazuki would harbor no concern. As one of the Marines' most formidable fighters, he could easily overpower a single Vice Admiral.
But the current situation was exponentially more dangerous. Not only had the prison fallen under the control of Xayuki's loyalists, but Marineford's central plaza now teemed with thousands of supporters!
A rebellion of this magnitude would challenge even Sakazuki's considerable power to suppress.
Most troubling was the uncertainty of how many more might join this uprising. Earlier that day during the trial, Admiral Borsalino's ambiguous response had been particularly unsettling. And Admiral candidate Gion had openly declared her opposition to sending Xayuki to Enies Lobby.
"Admiral Sakazuki, this isn't yet a rebellion..."
Xayuki's measured voice broke the silence as he gazed up at Sakazuki, who towered over him at over three meters tall. Despite the Admiral's imposing presence, Xayuki remained composed. "It's only rebellion if we fail. Success would make it revolution."
Before Sakazuki could respond, Xayuki continued, his words bold and unwavering:
"Tonight, I will replace Sengoku as Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters. I will extract the true corruption festering within our ranks and allow justice's light to banish the darkness shrouding our world!"
"Should this coup fail, I alone will bear all consequences."
"But should it succeed, I will not claim this glory for myself alone."
Xayuki stepped closer, his gaze unwavering as he looked directly into Sakazuki's eyes.
"Admiral Sakazuki, will you stand beside me?"
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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