The closer they got to the family compound, the fewer people there were along the way.
The once-bustling commercial street now stood eerily silent. Storefronts were shuttered tight, and some street stalls had been left out in the open, still steaming from recent use, giving the place a bleak, abandoned feel.
Daren's brow furrowed deeper with every step.
The unease in his chest was growing more intense, and his mind began racing.
Fleet Admiral Kong had gone to sea to hunt the great pirate "Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield, and Vice Admiral Garp had gone to assist him... That was expected. It had happened in the original storyline, and the outcome should match what Daren already anticipated.
A Celestial Dragon had been killed, and Admiral Sengoku had been deployed... That, too, made sense. As world nobles, the Celestial Dragons commanded absolute protection. If they were harmed or threatened in any way, Marine Admirals were obligated to abandon any ongoing mission and respond immediately.
If all of that was within reason... then where was this nagging feeling of dread coming from?
Just as Daren was deep in thought, a panicked voice called out and broke his concentration.
He looked up to see Amatsuki Toki standing in front of the gate to the family quarters, dressed in a kimono and wooden clogs. She was waving at him anxiously, her eyes, clear as autumn waters, full of fear and concern.
He called out and hurried toward her, pulling her into his arms. He gently patted her back, trying to reassure her.
"It's okay. Don't be scared. A Celestial Dragon was killed, so the headquarters has gone into lockdown, that's all."
Toki raised her head timidly.
"A Celestial Dragon? But... who would dare go after one of them in these seas?"
Her eyes were filled with confusion.
"So Admiral Sengoku has already been dispatched?"
Daren nodded and gave a small smile.
"Yes. He's the only Admiral left at headquarters right now, so he was the only one available to respond."
"Besides, Fleet Admiral Kong and Vice Admiral Garp are already out on missions. The top forces of headquarters are all tied up out at sea, so there's nothing for you to wor—"
He suddenly fell silent.
Toki noticed the change in his expression and looked up at him.
Daren stood frozen in place, his face shifting from calm to grim in an instant, his expression darkening rapidly.
New World, on a remote island.
A warship swiftly docked.
Sengoku, wearing his Admiral's cloak, leapt down from the deck with a sharp, imposing presence. Behind him, over a hundred heavily armed Marine elites followed closely.
The crime scene had already been cordoned off by the local Marine detachment and government guards. A crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the perimeter, craning their necks to get a glimpse, treating it like a public spectacle.
"Marines at work! Everyone, move aside!"
The stationed Marines fired warning shots into the air to disperse the crowd and opened a path.
Sengoku marched forward, his face tense and his mood foul.
Another Celestial Dragon, killed.
Why couldn't these fat, pampered nobles just stay in their Holy Land and behave?
Did they seriously believe that no one in this vast sea would dare lay a hand on them?
The thought of the mountains of paperwork piling up at Marine Headquarters gave Sengoku a pounding headache.
But as a Marine Admiral, his top priority was to protect the interests of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. He had no other choice—he had to drop everything and come deal with it personally.
Suddenly, Sengoku froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
A massive sword slash had carved its way from his feet all the way to the far end of the street, splitting the entire commercial district in two.
And in the center of that street, the body of a Celestial Dragon lay in two pieces.
Blood soaked the shattered pavement, and even the signature glass dome that Celestial Dragons always wore had been cleanly sliced in half.
A bone-chilling cold surged from Sengoku's feet up his spine, boring straight into his brain. His scalp tingled uncontrollably.
"Admiral Sengoku, sir! According to intelligence from the CP guards, the attacker never revealed themselves... They didn't even have time to react. A slash of sword energy came out of nowhere and instantly killed Saint Jackmar-sama."
A Marine Captain ran up, drenched in sweat, and reported respectfully.
But Sengoku didn't seem to hear him.
He just stood there, dazed, as bloodshot veins crept through his pupils.
Just then, two figures clad in white silk robes, their faces deathly pale like ghosts, silently appeared before Sengoku.
A hoarse voice drifted out from beneath their eerie masks, filled with menace.
"Sengoku, the Lords have given you three days to either apprehend or eliminate the killer. If you fail within three days—"
Sengoku suddenly roared, cutting off the CP agents mid-sentence.
The two froze in disbelief, then one of them snapped angrily.
"What kind of attitude is that?! Are you defying the government's orders?"
Sengoku shot them a cold glare. The oppressive aura radiating from him made them falter.
"I already know who the culprit is."
He clenched his jaw, ignoring the two arrogant CP members as his mind raced.
If... if his guess was right...
A wave of dread surged in his chest, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Names flashed rapidly through his mind.
A second later, he made his decision, pulling out a military Den Den Mushi and dialing a secure line.
"Buru buru... buru buru..."
The call tone rang through the dead silence, sharp and urgent. Sengoku's nerves were strung tight.
The Den Den Mushi connected.
A deep voice came through the line.
Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"You've heard, haven't you? A Celestial Dragon was killed, but it's a setup—a ploy to draw me out!"
"The real target... is Marineford!"
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Did you hear me, you brat?!"
Sengoku barked, growing more agitated by the silence.
"I heard you, Admiral Sengoku."
The voice replied once more.
Sengoku took a deep breath and forced himself to stay composed as he spoke gravely.
"This is just a theory for now, but I'm placing all Marine Headquarters forces under your temporary command. Mobilize the troops. Raise the alert level. Be ready for anything—"
The voice interrupted, calm and resolute.
Sengoku froze. His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
Daren held the Den Den Mushi tightly in his hand, pulling Amatsuki Toki behind him. His expression was cold and composed as he looked up.
At some point, the sky had turned pitch black.
Thunder rumbled. Lightning flashed. Black clouds churned as if a monstrous storm was about to break.
The Marine Commodore's lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. Find the newest release on n͟o͟v͟e͟l͟f͟i͟r͟e͟.net
As the words left his mouth—
A figure with wild, golden hair burst out from the storm clouds, his overwhelming presence erupting like a tempest and slamming down upon all of Marineford.
"Jihahahaha! Marines! This time, I'm going to slaughter you all!"
The legendary great pirate—Shiki the Golden Lion!
Had arrived to invade Marine Headquarters!