The Hell Hound That Burns Away Evil (Fourth Update, Bonus Chapter for "A Rider in White")

New World, Marine Headquarters.

In a clean hospital room, a figure lay quietly on a bed.

The room smelled of disinfectant and blood, but the man on the bed paid it little mind. He simply puffed on a cigar.

An older man pushed open the door and frowned at the thick smoke.

"Sakazuki, how are you holding up?"

It was Sengoku. Though he and Akainu disagreed, Akainu was still Fleet Admiral. Personal grudges had no place in the Marines.

No matter how much Sengoku disliked Akainu, he would carry out his orders.

And though Akainu had once disliked Sengoku, he had carried out Sengoku's orders all the same.

Akainu opened his eyes, his face pale, and glanced at his visitor.

"Sengoku. I didn't expect you to come see me."

Silence settled over the room. Sengoku stood beside the bed without sitting down.

Akainu was the first to break it.

"Sengoku, I'm dying. I can feel it. I might have two months left at most."

Sengoku was not particularly surprised. He had already heard.

"Yes, I know. The World Government has begun preparing to appoint the next Fleet Admiral. They'll probably choose between Ryokugyu and Fujitora.

"Neither of them has been with the Marines long, but they're the only choices."

Seniority was essential to becoming Fleet Admiral. Anyone who had never served as a Marine Admiral could not take the post.

"I disagree."

Akainu looked calm, not hysterical despite knowing he had little time left.

Sengoku frowned, unsure what Akainu meant.

"I support Kuzan as the next Fleet Admiral. With both of us behind him, and Garp returning, Kuzan has every chance of taking the post."

Sengoku was startled. He could not tell what Akainu was getting at.

"Sengoku, there's something no one knows. I wasn't born on Bell Island. I