Dark Currents Stir, Ryokugyu's Anticipation

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

The night was black as ink. A sea breeze swept through the military harbor, carrying the distant roar of the tide against the fortress's thick walls like the low beat of war drums.

An uneasy silence hung over the entire base, the dead calm before a storm.

On the balcony of a high tower, Ryokugyu Aramaki lounged against the railing with a cigarette between his lips. Wisps of smoke vanished into the night breeze.

His sunglasses hid his eyes, but a faint, intrigued smile tugged at his mouth.

"Looks like old man Sengoku has noticed those pirates..."

He blew a smoke ring and gazed through his sunglasses toward the distant sea.

Night concealed everything, but his Observation Haki had already sensed the hostile presences stirring in those dark waters. Like bloodthirsty sharks, they were closing in on Marine Headquarters without a sound.

"Hmph. Pirates really are greedy."

He smiled and tapped the ash from his cigarette, his tone casually mocking.

Aramaki wasn't worried about the approaching pirates. If anything, he was looking forward to them.

As a Marine Admiral, his strength was beyond question.

He hadn't been with the Marines long, but his ruthless methods had swept away countless pirate forces in the New World. Through sheer dominance, he had risen to the rank of Admiral.

Now he was the only Admiral left to guard Marine Headquarters and its strongest fighter apart from Sengoku.

He knew exactly what the pirates were thinking. They believed Marine Headquarters was undermanned, that this was the perfect chance to loot the Marines' stronghold amid the chaos—or even destroy its heart.

They were wrong.

"Tch..."

He licked his lips and said with an amused edge,

"Send a few more. Otherwise, this won't be any fun..."

Aramaki rolled his neck, his joints cracking.