Headquarters' Training Ground

The moment Rock and Sakazuki stepped onto the harbor's stone steps, a familiar, weighty presence greeted them.

Sunlight fell across the steps and breakwater, while seawater lapped against the shore in a steady, powerful rhythm.

Not far away, someone was already waiting.

Borsalino leaned lazily against a mooring bollard, his hands in his pockets and his sunglasses reflecting the sunlight in a dazzling glare.

He seemed utterly out of place amid the harbor's bustle—everyone around him was busy and tense, yet he looked as though he were on vacation.

Beside him, Bullet stood ramrod straight.

His back was as straight as a spear, his presence held in check. Clearly, the intensity of his recent training had yet to fully leave him.

Rock raised a hand and gave a casual wave, greeting them first.

"Hey—"

"Fancy seeing you here, Borsalino."

Borsalino turned at his voice and was about to speak, only to pause almost imperceptibly when he spotted Sakazuki behind Rock.

His presence was steady, with no sign of injury.

Bullet noticed it too, his gaze lingering on Sakazuki for a moment.

Neither said anything. They merely exchanged a glance and nodded in tacit understanding.

"Ooh, how scary~"

Borsalino drew out the words, the faintest hint of a smile on his lips.

"There's always something fun happening when someone goes out with you."

"You even... got into a fight with Whitebeard."

Rock waved him off. "Cut it out."

"That's the sort of 'fun' you really don't want to run into."

He looked at the two of them, then glanced over the empty harbor and asked casually, "Well, this is unusual."

"How come it's you two waiting here?"

Bullet spoke first, his voice steady. "Vice Admiral Garp got word of the Roger Pirates' whereabouts."

"He took a team out after them yesterday."