Exposure

Dawn was just breaking...

Four warships sped across the vast, rolling sea.

Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Borsalino stood on the deck at the bow, facing the sea breeze as they gazed into the distance.

Unlike Sengoku, whose face was grim, Borsalino looked as unruffled as ever.

Still, he turned to Sengoku with a curious question.

"Admiral Sengoku, are you sure you don't need me to go ahead?"

The great whirlpool connecting Impel Down, Marine Headquarters, and Enies Lobby let warships travel at incredible speeds. They could reach Impel Down from Marine Headquarters in just two hours, but that was still slower than Borsalino's Glint-Glint Fruit.

Normally, Borsalino would take the lead in a situation like this, but Sengoku had refused.

"No need..."

Sengoku looked lost in thought. After answering, he turned to the marine behind him and asked,

"What's the latest from Impel Down?"

"Admiral Sengoku, according to Impel Down, ten hours have passed since eight o'clock last night. Golden Lion Shiki was stopped by Deputy Warden Magellan and Chief Warden Shiryu. He's still in Impel Down and hasn't escaped. They're still fighting..."

Sengoku's expression did not ease. If anything, it grew darker.

"Something's wrong... Very wrong..."

Borsalino and the marine behind him both froze.

Then Sengoku explained.

"This may sound like I'm giving the enemy too much credit, but as Shiki's old rival, I know his strength better than anyone. Those two young men are no match for him. Given an opening, no one in Impel Down could keep him there. With his Float-Float Fruit, neither the Calm Belt nor the sea can stop him."

"Huh?"

The marine still hadn't caught on, but Borsalino had. "Admiral Sengoku, you mean Shiki has some special reason for staying in Impel Down?"

"Exactly. It's the only explanation. I know him. He