Marine Headquarters Armory.
As gunfire echoed across Marineford, the soldiers guarding the armory jolted awake and rushed toward the entrance with weapons drawn.
However, just as they reached the gates, a wave of attackers surged forward with overwhelming force.
A hail of bullets followed, cutting down the defending soldiers in seconds, leaving none standing within the armory's entrance.
"Damn it!"
Inside the armory, several officers who had been drinking and carousing leapt to their feet at the sound of gunfire and rushed toward the commotion.
But they were already too late.
The moment they emerged, the armory's reinforced gates exploded inward with a deafening blast.
Through the smoke appeared a Rear Admiral in the distinctive Marine coat, advancing with such speed that he materialized before them almost instantaneously.
"Gentlemen, the armory is now under my command!"
Before the officers could process what was happening, the Rear Admiral tossed a document at their feet and declared coldly: "You now face two choices: follow Vice Admiral Xayuki into a new era of warfare... or perish where you stand!"
Amid the piercing wail of alarms, a force exceeding one thousand soldiers flooded into Marine Headquarters like an unstoppable tide.
Despite the late hour, numerous personnel remained on duty throughout the building.
Before the invading force could disperse, the night patrol immediately raised their weapons. Their leader, a Colonel in his official Headquarters coat, stepped forward authoritatively: "Whose command do you follow? How dare you storm Headquarters! I order you to—"
Before he could complete his command, a shadow moved with supernatural speed.
The next instant—
"Finger Pistol!"
The cold declaration hung in the air as the Colonel's body went rigid. He looked down in disbelief at the hand that had pierced clean through his chest.
Before the Colonel could fully comprehend what had happened, a barrage of gunfire erupted behind him, methodically eliminating every soldier in his patrol unit.
"You—"
The searing pain from the Finger Pistol technique jolted the Colonel back to awareness. Gritting his teeth against the agony, he raised his head with tremendous effort. When he recognized his attacker, shock overwhelmed his features: "Vice Admiral Dalmatian..."
His assailant was indeed Vice Admiral Dalmatian, a high-ranking Marine Headquarters officer and user of the Zoan-type Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Dalmatian.
"My apologies," Dalmatian stated dispassionately. "I bear no personal grudge against you. Rest in peace, Colonel."
With those words, Dalmatian swiftly withdrew his hand, drew his sidearm in one fluid motion, and fired a single shot directly into the Colonel's forehead.
Simultaneously, a specialized team carrying buckets and cleaning supplies rushed into the hall. After the Colonel and other casualties were efficiently removed, they immediately scrubbed away all traces of blood and unfurled a ceremonial red carpet in their place.
Dalmatian wasted no time, proceeding directly to the elevator.
At each floor the elevator passed, the sounds of intense gunfire, shouting, and commands erupted in succession.
Yet Dalmatian remained utterly impassive, his expression carved from stone as the elevator ascended toward the top floor.
When he finally emerged, he found soldiers already positioned in perfect formation along both sides of the corridor, having secured the area ahead of his arrival.
Without hesitation, Dalmatian strode purposefully down the hallway until he reached a particular office door.
Inside stood Admiral Borsalino, his back to the entrance as he contemplated a plaque mounted on the wall bearing the inscription "Ambiguous Justice." He appeared completely detached from the chaos unfolding throughout the building.
"Admiral Borsalino!"
Dalmatian rendered a crisp salute at the threshold, then entered the office and stood at attention behind the Admiral. "Vice Admiral Xayuki has instructed me to deliver a message to you."
"How frightening~" Borsalino adjusted his glasses with languid precision and turned around. His gaze swept over Dalmatian and the soldiers stationed outside the door. "I knew Xayuki wouldn't simply accept his fate, but I never anticipated such... dramatic measures."
After a calculated pause, Borsalino glanced at the Den Den Mushi strapped to his wrist and remarked with affected nonchalance: "Proceed. Let's hear how he intends to persuade me to remain uninvolved in this... unfortunate situation."
"Vice Admiral Xayuki states that should he fail, he will bear sole responsibility for all consequences. Should he succeed, he pledges not to monopolize the resulting glory."
"Vice Admiral Xayuki further emphasizes that he has always honored every request and repaid every kindness. If Admiral Borsalino abstains from intervention, it would constitute a significant favor that Xayuki would not forget."
"Insufficient~" Borsalino shook his head with exaggerated disappointment. "Mere verbal assurances cannot persuade an Admiral to remain passive during an insurrection. Even if your rebellion fails, I would still be held accountable for my inaction!"
It seemed Dalmatian had anticipated this response. Without hesitation, he extracted a sealed document from within his coat and presented it to Borsalino.
The Admiral hesitated momentarily before accepting the document. As he read its contents, his typically impassive expression transformed dramatically.
"Most impressive~"
After thoroughly examining the document, Borsalino spoke with uncharacteristic gravity. "It appears Xayuki wasn't acting on impulse after all. He's been meticulously orchestrating this coup for quite some time. To think he even managed to investigate my background with such... thoroughness."
After a weighted pause, Borsalino leaned forward slightly, his gaze suddenly sharp as a blade as he fixed Dalmatian with a stare that carried unmistakable killing intent. "How many individuals are privy to the contents of this document?"
Dalmatian shook his head firmly. "Vice Admiral Xayuki explicitly stated that if Admiral Borsalino discovers any evidence that the document's seal has been compromised, you have his full authorization to eliminate me and every soldier present."
At these words, the murderous aura emanating from Borsalino gradually dissipated. He nodded almost imperceptibly. "As expected of Xayuki. Very well, I shall not interfere in this matter."
Whoosh—
The moment Borsalino finished speaking, two junior officers burst into the office, each carrying a bucket of seawater. Without hesitation, they doused the Admiral completely.
"Our deepest apologies, Admiral Borsalino!"
Dalmatian moved with practiced efficiency, immediately producing a pair of Seastone handcuffs and securing them around Borsalino's wrists. "These measures ensure that should our endeavor fail, you can credibly demonstrate your non-complicity to the Holy Land. Furthermore, if we are defeated, the contents of this document will perish with us."
As he spoke, Dalmatian reclaimed the document from Borsalino's possession and methodically incinerated it before the Admiral's eyes, reducing it to unrecoverable ash.
Drenched in seawater and severely weakened by the Seastone handcuffs, Borsalino collapsed unceremoniously to the floor, his expression a comical mixture of surprise and resignation that might have been amusing under different circumstances.
But Dalmatian dared not even smile.
He understood perfectly that their successful neutralization of Borsalino had nothing to do with their own strength. It was entirely due to whatever leverage Xayuki had provided in that document. Without such leverage, neither he nor all the rebels combined could have hoped to overcome Borsalino in direct confrontation.
After all, Borsalino ranked among Marine Headquarters' most formidable combatants—an Admiral who had mastered his Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit to devastating perfection, capable of moving at the speed of light itself.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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