Sakazuki stared down at the documents scattered at his feet, hesitating. Should he pick them up and read, or simply turn away?
Memories from his childhood surged unbidden. Though many moments had blurred over the years, some remained painfully vivid, the image of his mother, eyes gently closing in his arms, was etched deep in his heart.
He was only seven back then. His mother was alive, and their life was just about bearable.
But the peace was shattered one dreadful day. A pirate ship docked at their hometown pier. The pirates stormed ashore, setting fire to everything, killing without mercy.
His father, fiercely protecting him and his mother, was beheaded by the marauders. His mother was stabbed while trying to shield him.
Yet, even in the face of death, she pressed her body over him, fooling the pirates into thinking he was dead.
Frozen by shock, Sakazuki had hidden beneath her, not daring to breathe.
Only after the pirates finished their devastation and left did he dare to crawl out.
Decades later, the memory of his mother's final breath, her hand brushing his cheek, haunted him.
With his entire village slaughtered, he had no choice but to bury his mother in the backyard, clutching his hatred like a torch.
Vowing to eradicate every pirate, he set off on a journey to join the Marine base.
Time passed. Pirates fell by his hand without number; countless others were imprisoned. Still, he never forgot the oath sworn at his mother's grave.
A brief silence fell as Sakazuki wrestled with his thoughts. Though his heart screamed that Elio must be mistaken, he found himself bending to pick up the documents.
As he opened them, a photo shocked him, a hunched old woman with a face carved by time, nearly seventy, sitting serenely on a sofa.
Beside him stood Elio, dressed in his Vice Admiral's coat, a calm smile gracing the old woman's face.
Sakazuki had heard rumors of Elio rescuing an elderly woman but never pried.
Even after Elio's promotion to Vice Admiral under his command, Sakazuki has never visited Elio's home.
He only knew Elio had taken care of this woman for the past three years.
A workaholic by nature, Sakazuki rarely lingered in the residential quarters. He had never seen the old man before.
But at that moment, seeing the old man's face, Sakazuki froze, struck as if by lightning.
He devoured the investigation report with shaking hands. The more he read, the more uncontrollable his trembling became.
When he finished, he looked up at Hound and Elio, his voice hoarse, breaking as he stammered, "You... no, this can't be. The mother I buried with my own hands... she can't still be alive."
He stared hard at the photo. Though the face didn't match his memories exactly, it was familiar, painfully familiar. His heart pounded wildly, breaking through the calm and steel he had maintained as a Fleet Admiral for decades.
"Elio, where is she now?"
Elio sheathed his sword slowly, casting Sakazuki a calm glance. "Let's go."
"No, you can't leave," Sakazuki said firmly, stepping forward. "Take me to see her."
Elio frowned slightly. Hound stepped in, bowing respectfully. "Lord Elio, allow me to escort Fleet Admiral Sakazuki."
Elio nodded and strode ahead, leading Sakazuki out of the ruined prison.
As they passed the gates, nearly ten thousand Marines standing in two lines snapped to attention and saluted in unison, shouting, "Loyalty!"
Their voices rang out, echoing through the night sky above Marineford.
Elsewhere, soldiers in the dormitories, armories, science divisions, and posts froze, turning toward the main square.
The rebellion that had shaken Marineford ended the moment Elio stepped out.
Elio nodded slightly, chest lifted high, and strode forward with unshakable resolve.
At that moment, Sengoku rushed into the headquarters building, the sharp smell of blood hitting him instantly.
Before he could react, Vice Admiral Hound appeared, leading hundreds of soldiers.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, please stand down."
Hound approached, saluted sharply, and said, "We control Marineford's bases now. If you don't want Marineford destroyed, stay where you are and wait for Lord Elio."
Sengoku's expression darkened as he quickly scanned the area.
Familiar faces were gone from the lobby. Soldiers aimed guns at him from every corner.
His voice rose in anger. "Hound, how dare you turn on your comrades! Have you killed the on-duty soldiers here?"
Before Hound could answer, Bas and two others leapt out, furiously: "Traitors! You will pay for this!"
Hound's eyes flashed cold. "Silence!"
Suddenly, soldiers behind him opened fire.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bas and his comrades were shot down before they could react.
Sengoku almost vomited blood. Bas was a judicial island judge, his equal in rank. As long as Bas lived, there was hope to end the rebellion, but now, with him dead, the situation was hopeless.
"Fleet Admiral, the times have changed!" Hound said, motioning for his soldiers to retreat.
"Lord Elio says, harsh measures require harsh methods. Blood must be spilled, starting with us. The Marine must be reformed. Corrupt elements within the World Government must be purged."