One piece: I,Akaino will not die easily

As the three Vice Admirals of the Navy—Doberman, Onigumo, and Strawberry—barely had time to sit down, the piercing alarm of the island-wide warning system installed in Marineford suddenly blared sharply.

"?!"

This level of alarm was almost unprecedented in the past. The three Vice Admirals knew very well that even the Buster Call, capable of reducing an island to ashes, had an alert signal lower than this current warning.

This ear-splitting alarm, which resonated throughout the headquarters fortress and across the entire island, had not occurred since that unforgettable incident in the Sea Calendar Year 1498 when the infamous great pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, attacked.

Could it be that pirates from the New World were now launching a counterattack on the headquarters?!

The three Vice Admirals immediately rushed outside at full speed. With their keen eyesight, they could see many officers and soldiers clad in the Navy's "Justice" coats stepping on air, heading swiftly toward the headquarters, their figures becoming small black dots in the sky. Doberman and Onigumo exchanged a glance and burst forward, skillfully using "Soru" to dash toward the towering fortress.

Strawberry's expression tightened. He hadn't heard the sounds of battle in the distance, nor were there any cries of the injured, which allowed him to breathe a slight sigh of relief.

However, whatever incident was causing such a reaction from headquarters had to be no less severe than an invasion by a pirate crew. Without hesitation, he followed the lead of the other two and quickly moved toward the central base to await further orders.

The group moved swiftly, gathering at the Fleet Admiral's office within minutes. Arriving before them was Sakazuki, the Vice Admiral currently caught in a dire predicament.

With temptation on one side and betrayal on the other, the harsh blare of the alarm was music to his ears. He scanned the slightly panicked crowd around him and addressed them with a commanding, steady voice:

"Quickly find the nearest building, go inside, and stay put. Wait for further instructions via the headquarters' Den Den Mushi before coming out."

During his speech, Gion had already grabbed Robin by the hand and placed her inside a nearby ice cream shop. "Stay here and don't wander around," she instructed.

Robin, seeing Sakazuki and Kuzan disappear outside the window in a blink, obediently nodded at Gion and said softly, "Please be careful."

At this moment, in the uppermost level of the headquarters fortress, the enormous office of Fleet Admiral "Steel Bone" Kong was crowded with stern-faced officers.

Wearing a dark-colored shirt with a loosely tied light-yellow scarf under the collar, the towering and muscular Fleet Admiral Kong crossed his arms, his already taut clothing stretched even tighter with the motion. His sharp gaze swept across the assembled officers as he quickly and logically assigned personnel:

"Garp, Sengoku, I want you two to remain stationed at Marine Headquarters. While the chances are slim, we must guard against him pulling a diversionary tactic and launching another attack on us.

Sakazuki, Kuzan, you two will form a search fleet and patrol the waters surrounding Impel Down. If you spot him, report immediately and stall him at all costs.

Borusalino will lead the rapid-reconnaissance fleet to scout the outer seas. Other Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals will fortify defenses at the three Gates of Justice and heighten vigilance against the pirates in the New World to prevent opportunistic interference. Do not allow them to add chaos to the situation!"

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

"Got it!"

The burly elder with a lizard-like mohawk hairstyle raised his chin, his three forked and whitened beard tips swaying slightly. "Move out!" he commanded.

The officers quickly began forming task forces and headed to the naval ports to dispatch warships. The office was soon left with only Garp, Sengoku, and Kong.

Sengoku's brow furrowed deeply, a fine layer of sweat appearing on his forehead. "We all know how troublesome his abilities are. If he uses them to commandeer the naval vessels deployed near Impel Down directly or to forcefully break through headquarters, our preparations will be for nothing!" he said grimly.

"Having already suffered a defeat at our hands once, I doubt that cunning tactician would make the same mistake twice," Garp added.

Kong, his muscles bulging, stroked his graying beard thoughtfully. He was fully aware that this possibility was highly likely, yet there was always the chance that lunatic would act unpredictably—charging headlong into Marine Headquarters, just as he had two years ago, or lingering around Impel Down to set up an ambush.

With Sakazuki and Kuzan working together, they might not achieve the same decisive victory as Garp and Sengoku, but at the very least, they could hold him off until reinforcements from headquarters arrived. Borusalino's reconnaissance in the distant seas, supported by his Devil Fruit abilities, would give them both offensive and defensive options.

Kong's experience enabled him to formulate a comprehensive strategy, preparing for even the smallest probabilities. Still, no one could say for sure what would unfold.

"But what I truly don't understand is how he managed to escape from such a heavily guarded place as Impel Down," Sengoku muttered, exhaling a heavy sigh. "The pirate admiral of all people—Golden Lion Shiki—who was imprisoned in the Sixth Level of Eternal Hell!"