《One Piece: Rising》Chapter 13: Sengoku: Are All Three Admirals Under Control?

"Hound, you've gone too far!"

Sengoku glanced at the bullet-riddled bodies sprawled on the floor, then advanced toward Hound, completely disregarding the rifles aimed at his chest. Through clenched teeth, he growled: "You've murdered the Chief Justices of Enies Lobby. With their deaths, this rebellion has crossed a point of no return. However, I can still guarantee this—if you cease your actions immediately, I will personally negotiate with Mariejois to mitigate the—"

Hound cut him off sharply: "Fleet Admiral, this is war, not a training exercise. As Lord Xayuki has stated: only failure constitutes rebellion! We haven't failed—on the contrary, we've successfully secured control with minimal casualties. And I should inform you that Admiral Borsalino is already under our authority. If you're attempting to stall until the Admirals can intervene, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."

"What did you say?"

Sengoku's pupils contracted at the news that Borsalino had been neutralized.

Indeed, his strategy had been to buy time, hoping to create an opening for the Admirals or loyal officers to turn the tide. From his perspective, the rebels' initial success stemmed from the precision of Xayuki's loyal officers and the element of surprise—launching their coup during predawn hours when few would anticipate such action.

If the Admirals had sufficient time to mobilize, this insurrection could be crushed swiftly.

After a moment of heavy silence, Sengoku exhaled a private sigh. Turning to gaze across Marineford Plaza—shrouded in darkness and resonating with alarm bells—his expression hardened. "Borsalino, even at this critical juncture, you cling to your ambiguous brand of justice?"

As Fleet Admiral, Sengoku understood perfectly well that Hound and a few hundred soldiers could never truly subdue Borsalino. As a Logia user of the Glint-Glint Fruit, Borsalino could effortlessly neutralize Hound and every rebel soldier in the building with minimal effort—if he chose to take the situation seriously.

The fact that Borsalino had allowed himself to be "captured" clearly indicated he was observing from the sidelines, waiting to see how events would unfold. For him, this wasn't a clash between justice and evil—it was an internal power realignment within Marine Headquarters.

"And what of Sakazuki?"

Unwilling to concede, Sengoku turned back to Hound, his voice resonating with authority: "Has he also chosen silence?"

Hound shook his head. "My assignment was solely to manage Admiral Borsalino and await your arrival, Fleet Admiral. However, judging by current circumstances, it appears Admiral Sakazuki has likewise been neutralized."

"Enough!" Sengoku waved dismissively, his voice tinged with exasperation. "You expect me to believe you've simultaneously subdued two Admirals? Such childish claims barely merit hearing once—there's no need to repeat them."

Hound offered a subtle smile, neither confirming nor denying the assertion.

It was undeniable that if two Admirals coordinated their response, this rebellion would collapse immediately. Neither Hound nor any combination of Vice Admirals could withstand such overwhelming force.

But the situation transcended simple power dynamics. If raw strength alone determined outcomes, Sengoku wouldn't be renowned as the "Buddha of Wisdom," and the world would have no need for strategy or subterfuge—only brute force would matter.

After a measured pause, Sengoku spoke gravely: "Does Xayuki expect me—his former superior—to simply stand here awaiting his arrival?"

Hound stepped aside, replying with practiced neutrality: "Fleet Admiral, you're welcome to wait in your office."

"Hmph."

With a contemptuous snort, Sengoku swept past Hound and strode toward the elevator.

Hound followed closely, unwilling to allow the Fleet Admiral out of his sight.

As they entered the elevator, soldiers in the lobby immediately moved to remove the bodies of the three judges. Within moments, a cleaning detail efficiently erased all bloodstains and rolled out a fresh red carpet over the floor.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"

Suddenly, a Marine officer burst into the lobby, shouting desperately as he sprinted toward the closing elevator doors.

Surprisingly, none of the rebel soldiers attempted to intercept him. They simply watched as he reached the elevator.

Glancing at the breathless officer, Sengoku shook his head with a bitter smile. "Is there truly anything worse than our current predicament?"

The officer cast a nervous glance at Hound before speaking, his voice trembling: "All communications systems have been severed. Marineford is completely isolated from the outside world!"

Sengoku received this news with resigned calm. "It seems Xayuki has been preparing for this day for many years. Even without the catalyst of this trial, he would have launched his coup at the opportune moment."

Meanwhile, at the Marine Headquarters' Women's Dormitory.

The entire building stood surrounded by a dense formation of Marine soldiers. Leading this contingent of "rebels" was none other than Vice Admiral Gion, the legendary blade Konpira sheathed at her hip.

Gion's tall, elegant figure stood at the vanguard, her cape billowing in the night breeze as she regarded the dormitory entrance with conflicted eyes.

Though she had committed to the rebellion, she desperately hoped to minimize bloodshed. As she faced the women's quarters, she silently prayed that none of the female officers would attempt to leave the building.

"Gion, why are you doing this?"

A voice laden with despair broke the tense silence.

Turning toward the sound, Gion saw a middle-aged man in a Vice Admiral's coat being escorted forward by two soldiers, his wrists bound in sea-stone cuffs.

The man was Vice Admiral Kake, a fellow Admiral candidate whose influence within Marine Headquarters rivaled Xayuki's own.

Everyone at Headquarters knew of Kake's infatuation with Gion. Despite being rejected dozens of times, his persistence never wavered. He seized every opportunity to present her with fresh flowers and heartfelt declarations of love.

Tonight marked his ninetieth failed confession.

But to his profound shock, this particular rejection coincided with his discovery of Gion leading rebel forces.

In a desperate attempt to prevent her from making what he perceived as a terrible mistake, he had intervened directly.

However, against Gion and her loyal officers, even Kake's considerable strength proved insufficient. He was swiftly overpowered and personally shackled by the woman he adored.

Now, as he stood before her, Kake appeared utterly defeated. His eyes—once bright with devotion—had grown hollow, as if the very purpose of his existence had been stripped away.

On the third floor of the women's dormitory, Room 201.

A female officer wearing a Marine Major's coat stood by the window, a slender cigarette held elegantly between her fingers. Her sharp, calculating eyes tracked Gion's movements as she commanded the soldiers surrounding the building.

Behind her, seven or eight female officers huddled together in various states of nightwear, their faces etched with fear at the sudden turn of events.

"Hina, what... what's happening?"

One officer in a hastily donned bathrobe approached the window, her voice quavering. "Why has Vice Admiral Gion surrounded our dormitory with soldiers? Could she be—"

Before she could complete her thought, the Major—Hina—took a deliberate drag from her cigarette. Exhaling a plume of smoke, she shook her head. "Hina doesn't understand either. But with alarm bells ringing throughout Headquarters, something extraordinary must be unfolding."

After a moment's contemplation, Hina turned to face the room, her expression grave. "Have you managed to contact Vice Admiral Garp?"

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