"We can't reach him."
The female officer shook her head grimly. "None of the Den Den Mushi are connecting. It appears all communications from Headquarters have been deliberately severed."
Hina's expression hardened as she absorbed this information. "This makes no sense. Hina must speak with Gion immediately."
"Please don't, Major Hina!"
The officer grabbed her arm in desperation. "Vice Admiral Gion was explicit—anyone who leaves the dormitory will be executed on the spot!"
Hina brushed off the warning and strode toward the door.
While her fellow officers cowered in fear of Gion's threat, Hina harbored no such concerns. Beyond their professional relationship, she and Gion shared a personal bond. Hina trusted that Gion wouldn't harm her without substantial cause.
As she approached the entrance, a cluster of female officers who had been hovering anxiously by the door immediately surrounded her, their questions tumbling over one another.
"Major Hina, what's happening? Has Headquarters been invaded?"
"It can't be an invasion! Vice Admiral Gion would have ordered evacuation, not confinement!"
"Could it be mutiny? Are there traitors within our ranks?"
"Wait—could this be connected to Vice Admiral Xayuki's trial? Yesterday, someone from the courtroom mentioned the Chief Justice had sentenced him to death, with transfer to Enies Lobby scheduled for this morning!"
"Major Hina, do you know anything?"
Hina's delicate brows furrowed as she found herself encircled. With characteristic coolness, she replied, "Hina knows nothing more than you do. Now move aside—Hina will get answers directly from Gion."
With that, she pushed forward.
"Hina, stay inside!"
The moment Hina stepped through the doorway, Gion's commanding voice cut through the night air. "All of you are to remain in your quarters until this situation resolves. Do not involve yourselves."
"Even me, Gion?" Hina continued her advance, disregarding the warning. "If Headquarters is under attack, why prevent us from defending it? Hina doesn't understand this strategy."
"Headquarters is not under attack!" Gion placed her hand firmly on Konpira's hilt, her expression grave. "Hina, return to the dormitory immediately. This is for your protection."
Hina halted approximately five meters from Gion. After surveying the soldiers standing at attention around them, she locked eyes with her superior officer. "If we're not under attack, then why this military deployment? Is this about Vice Admiral Xayuki? Are you preventing his transfer to Enies Lobby?"
"Yes." Gion offered no pretense. Her eyes reflected a complex mixture of determination and regret as she regarded Hina. "Please don't make this more difficult. Return to your quarters. When this concludes, you'll retain your rank and position."
Before Hina could respond, the soldiers behind Gion suddenly pivoted in perfect unison. They snapped to attention, right arms raised in salute as they thundered in one voice: "LOYALTY!"
Following their gaze, Hina's eyes widened.
In the distance, Admiral Sakazuki—instantly recognizable by his Marine cap and signature dark crimson civilian attire—strode purposefully toward the residential quarters. Vice Admiral Momonga walked at his side. Neither man spared even a glance for the extraordinary scene unfolding around them, as though the military formation and obvious tension were entirely beneath their notice.
Watching Sakazuki pass by with such apparent indifference, confusion flickered across Hina's face. "Gion, is Admiral Sakazuki part of this? What exactly is happening? Hina is completely bewildered."
Gion offered no immediate response. Instead, she watched as Sakazuki and Momonga disappeared into the residential district. Only then did the tension visibly drain from her shoulders.
It was clear that Sakazuki had either been persuaded by Xayuki or had reached some form of agreement with him. This development removed a formidable obstacle from their operation. Had Sakazuki opposed them—with his infamous temperament and unwavering commitment to absolute justice—he would have unleashed devastating force to crush their rebellion.
In such a scenario, Gion couldn't bear to imagine the bloodshed that would have ensued.
After Sakazuki and Momonga vanished from sight, Gion returned her attention to the perplexed Hina. Her voice softened as she explained: "By dawn, Headquarters will have a new Fleet Admiral replacing Sengoku. The countdown to a new era for the Marines has begun. What you're witnessing isn't an external invasion—it's Lord Xayuki's initiative to fundamentally reshape the Marines."
Marine Headquarters Residential Area
Accompanied by Vice Admiral Momonga, Sakazuki arrived at a modest two-story house surrounded by a small garden.
The property's perimeter bristled with armed guards—twenty or thirty soldiers positioned at regular intervals. Clearly, Xayuki had stationed this security detail to ensure the night's operations wouldn't disturb this particular location.
The garden was in shambles. The earth near the entrance had been excavated to considerable depth, and uprooted plants and flowers lay scattered across the ground, most withered and dying.
This was Xayuki's residence. The devastation had been wrought by the investigation team, who had torn up the garden searching for illicit wealth they believed Xayuki might have concealed.
But Sakazuki had no interest in such trivial matters. His attention was entirely captured by a stooped figure moving slowly through the ruined garden.
The elderly figure was carefully gathering the scattered, dying plants, muttering quietly as though cursing those responsible for the destruction.
Though the figure's back was turned, Sakazuki's heart began to race the moment he laid eyes on them.
Momonga, equally surprised to find someone in the garden at this hour, reacted immediately. With a swift movement, he vaulted over the low fence and approached the elderly woman.
"Ma'am, you shouldn't be out here so late!"
Reaching her side, Momonga gently took the withered flowers from her trembling hands and offered his arm for support.
The elderly woman raised her face to his, confusion clouding her features. Her voice emerged as a hoarse whisper: "Who are you?"
"Momonga—I'm Momonga!"
He carefully guided her toward the house, speaking more loudly: "I'm a colleague of your grandson!"
At the mention of her grandson, the elderly woman suddenly gripped Momonga's arm with surprising strength. Her voice gained clarity as emotion surged through her: "Where is my grandson? Where has he gone? Bad people have been coming here every day, destroying everything. You're a Marine, aren't you? Arrest these vandals immediately!"
"Yes, of course—I'll have them all arrested and thrown in prison!" Momonga nodded emphatically.
At that moment, Sakazuki entered the garden.
Standing mere steps away from the elderly woman, he seemed about to speak—his lips parted, then closed again without uttering a sound. He simply stared at her, his gaze unwavering.
"I'm hungry."
The elderly woman appeared not to notice Sakazuki's presence. Like a child, she looked up at Momonga with simple, direct need.
"Let's get you inside first."
Momonga guided her gently toward the house. "I'll prepare something for you to—"
Before he could complete his sentence, Sakazuki had already turned and strode purposefully into the kitchen.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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