Marine Headquarters · Marineford. Inside Sakazuki's Admiral office.
Sakazuki stood by the window with a cigar clenched between his teeth, gazing out at the scenery beyond. He was taking advantage of a rare lull in his hectic workload to relax for a moment.
But just as he lit the cigar, he spotted a ship slowly docking in Marineford's harbor, a vessel that stood out starkly among the surrounding warships.
"One of the Shichibukai?" Sakazuki frowned, his expression darkening.
He recognized the ship instantly. After all, across the seas, only the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo, sailed a vessel shaped like a flamingo.
"A damn pirate. What business does he have coming to Marine Headquarters?" Sakazuki said irritably.
Soon after, several figures disembarked from the ship. Among them was none other than his colleague, Admiral Benn Ortoren.
Sakazuki knew that Ortoren and Doflamingo were close, something widely known across the seas. He had no intention of picking a fight with Ortoren over it, but seeing Ortoren bring someone like that into what Sakazuki considered the heart of Marine justice still felt inappropriate.
He observed in silence for a moment longer, then noticed Rosinante among the group.
As a member of the upper ranks, Sakazuki was well aware of Rosinante's true identity. Seeing this, he quickly guessed that Doflamingo had probably uncovered and pulled out that hidden thorn.
"Here to demand an explanation?" Sakazuki snorted coldly.
Watching the group enter the Fortress of Justice, he turned and left his office.
He would never allow a wicked pirate like Doflamingo to run wild in Marineford.
Demand an explanation? He should first see whether he even deserved one.
…
Although Doflamingo was one of the Shichibukai, this was his first time setting foot in Marine Headquarters. Following Ortoren into the Fortress of Justice, he couldn't help feeling a bit of novelty.
That said, Doflamingo knew how to carry himself. He had no intention of acting like an ignorant country bumpkin. Without asking unnecessary questions, he quietly followed Ortoren, entering the elevator together with Rosinante and the others.
Before long, the elevator reached the floor of the Fleet Admiral's office. As soon as the doors opened, Ortoren saw Sakazuki standing in the corridor, his face gloomy, as though he had been waiting for them.
"Sakazuki, why the long face? Who upset you?" Ortoren greeted him with a smile.
Although Sakazuki was displeased with Doflamingo's presence, he didn't intend to show hostility toward Ortoren. He forced a stiff smile.
"I happened to see you from my office and felt a bit puzzled. What is a pirate doing here?"
After saying that, Sakazuki cast a cold glance at Doflamingo. Without waiting for Ortoren to respond, he spoke in a low voice.
"Don't think being one of the Shichibukai gives you the right to act arrogantly here, Doflamingo."
Doflamingo froze for a moment, then awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Sakazuki adjusted his expression, his tone softening as he turned to Rosinante.
"Don't worry, Rosinante. At worst, the mission just failed. With us here, Doflamingo wouldn't dare lay a hand on you."
Sakazuki hadn't interacted much with Rosinante in the past, but he genuinely admired him. Perhaps Rosinante lacked strength, perhaps he had many shortcomings, but his sense of justice and kindness far surpassed that of most people. He had the courage to face darkness head-on. Despite being the son of Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he never enjoyed any special treatment. Even now, he was only a Navy Commander, and he had volunteered to go undercover on the front lines.
In Sakazuki's eyes, Rosinante was an outstanding Marine.
That was why he chose to openly support him at this moment.
Yet after Sakazuki finished speaking, Rosinante lowered his head, his face filled with shame, as if he didn't even know where to put himself.
This left Sakazuki confused.
What was going on?
Then he looked at Doflamingo, who seemed hesitant to speak, his eyes even carrying a hint of grievance.
What the hell are you feeling wronged about!?
Disgusting.
Just as Sakazuki was feeling baffled, the door to the office opened. Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked out into the corridor, his expression heavy.
"What are you all doing out here? Come in."
Ortoren patted Sakazuki on the shoulder.
"You really had to get involved in this mess. Don't be too shocked when you hear things you probably shouldn't."
Sakazuki turned and walked toward the office with Ortoren, lowering his voice.
"So what's really going on?"
"Ahem… it's not what you think. We'll talk after we go in."
And so, utterly confused, Sakazuki followed Ortoren and the others into Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.
Once inside, Ortoren and Sakazuki casually took seats on the sofa, while Doflamingo and Rosinante walked up on their own to stand before Sengoku's desk.
Sakazuki had barely sat down, his seat not even warmed yet, when Doflamingo suddenly snapped to attention. His movements were sharp and precise as he delivered a textbook Marine salute to Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Before Sakazuki could even process what he was seeing, Doflamingo spoke in a clear, powerful voice.
"Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Donquixote Doflamingo reports to you, Fleet Admiral!"
That single line nearly sent Sakazuki sliding straight off the sofa. He instinctively grabbed Ortoren's arm, staring at Doflamingo in sheer disbelief before turning his gaze toward Ortoren.
What the hell is this!?
As Ortoren steadied Sakazuki, he nodded calmly.
"It's exactly what you're thinking. Doflamingo is one of us."
"I was not thinking that at all!" Sakazuki shot back in a low voice.
After settling himself back onto the sofa, his face twitched uncontrollably. For a moment, he genuinely had no idea what expression he was supposed to make.
Meanwhile, Fleet Admiral Sengoku wore a warm, almost familial smile as he nodded toward Doflamingo.
"You've worked hard all these years, Rear Admiral Flamingo."
On the way here, Doflamingo had already gone over Marine procedures thoroughly with Ortoren, so his response was smooth and unwavering.
"All for justice!"
From the sofa behind them, Sakazuki felt his face go completely stiff. For a split second, he wondered if he was dreaming.
Rear Admiral Flamingo?
I'm an Admiral, one of the top brass of the Navy, and I didn't know about this at all!?
Only then did Ortoren lean over and explain in a low voice.
"Doflamingo secretly joined the Navy a long time ago. He's part of the Intelligence Division, carrying out long-term undercover missions within pirate factions and the underworld. Back then, you were still a Rear Admiral yourself, so it's normal you wouldn't know. And later on, I doubt you'd have the time to go digging through undercover files."
Sakazuki opened his mouth, but no words came out. He truly didn't know what he was supposed to say.
After a brief pause, he sensed the atmosphere growing increasingly awkward. He stood up and cleared his throat, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Well… I just remembered I still have some urgent official business to take care of. I'll leave you to it."
Ortoren nearly burst out laughing at that. Fleet Admiral Sengoku cast Sakazuki a knowing look and nodded.
"If you have business, then go ahead."
Sakazuki finally breathed a sigh of relief and hurried out of the Fleet Admiral's office.
Once outside, he scratched his head in confusion and muttered under his breath.
"What kind of nonsense is this…?"
A major pirate like Doflamingo is actually a Rear Admiral in the Intelligence Division? Is there even such a thing as rules anymore?
After Sakazuki left, Fleet Admiral Sengoku turned his gaze to Rosinante, his expression heavy with sorrow.
"You have truly disappointed me, Rosinante!!!"
From the sofa, Ortoren watched Sengoku praise Doflamingo while angrily scolding Rosinante, and the absurdity of the scene almost made him laugh out loud.
To make matters worse, Doflamingo decided to add fuel to the fire. While Sengoku was reprimanding Rosinante, he spoke up with an earnest, almost theatrical air.
"Fleet Admiral, please calm down. Rosinante is still young. Making a wrong choice in the heat of the moment is understandable. At his core, he's kind and just. He did this to save two young lives."
"I know he's your brother," Sengoku snapped angrily, "but stop defending him at every turn! He's caused a disaster this time. I don't even know how I'm supposed to explain this to Mary Geoise!"
Watching this unfold, Ortoren clenched the armrest of the sofa, struggling not to laugh. He knew perfectly well that Sengoku was putting on an act.
And Doflamingo, to his credit, was sharp enough to catch on immediately and play along flawlessly.
After all, what was the alternative? Let Fleet Admiral Sengoku rage with no way out, leaving him no choice but to execute Rosinante?
Seeing Sengoku look as if he wanted to swallow Rosinante whole, while Doflamingo patiently tried to smooth things over, Ortoren took a deep breath and finally composed himself.
Only then did he step in at the right moment.
"Fleet Admiral, since things have already come to this, we should face them properly. Just as Doflamingo said, Rosinante made a single wrong choice, one step astray. The consequences were serious, but his intentions were kind and just."
Sengoku snorted coldly and slammed his hand on the desk.
"Don't try to gloss over this. Tell me, how am I supposed to explain this situation?"
Ortoren stood up and walked forward.
"Let's think of a solution together. We can't seriously execute Rosinante, can we? You only have… well, should only have this one son, right?"
The moment he finished speaking, both Sengoku and Doflamingo froze, their expressions turning awkward.
What did he mean by "should only have one son"?
What exactly was he implying?
...