"Communication isn't working."
The female Lieutenant shook her head, her voice tense. "All the transponder snails are unreachable. It seems Headquarters' communications have been completely cut off!"
Hina's expression darkened with worry. "Why is this happening? I don't understand! No, I have to go down and ask Vice Admiral Gion myself!"
"Ms. Hina, please don't!"
Another female Lieutenant hurriedly grabbed her arm. "Didn't Vice Admiral Gion just order us all to stay inside the dormitory? Anyone who disobeys will be executed on the spot!"
But Hina ignored the warning and strode toward the exit.
The other Lieutenants dared not defy Vice Admiral Gion's orders, but Hina was different. Rank aside, she had a good personal relationship with Gion, and she trusted that Gion wouldn't eliminate her without reason.
Just as Hina reached the main gate, over a dozen female officers, who had been hiding inside, crowded around her, bombarding her with questions.
"Ms. Hina, what exactly is happening? Has Headquarters been invaded?"
"That's impossible! If there were an invasion, Vice Admiral Gion wouldn't let us stay confined in the dormitory."
"Could it be a rebellion? Are there traitors inside Headquarters?"
"Wait... could it be because of Vice Admiral Elio? Yesterday, colleagues in the courtroom reported that the chief judge investigating Elio's case declared he's sentenced to death, and that he was scheduled to be transferred to Enies Lobby early this morning."
"Ms. Hina, do you know what's going on?"
Hina furrowed her brow as she faced the anxious crowd. Her voice was cold and calm. "I don't know either. Step aside, I'm going to ask Vice Admiral Gion."
Without hesitation, she stepped forward.
"Hina, don't come out!"
Before she could reach the gate, Vice Admiral Gion's voice echoed from afar. "What you all need to do is stay out of this. Stay in your dormitories and wait for this to end."
"Gion, even I can't leave the dormitory?"
Hina pressed forward, ignoring the warning. "If Headquarters has been invaded, why won't you let us leave and join the fight? I don't understand!"
"There's no invasion at Headquarters!" Gion's hand rested firmly on the hilt of her sword, her tone serious. "Hina, go back immediately. It's for your own good."
Hina stopped just a few meters from her. She scanned the soldiers standing at attention nearby, then fixed her gaze on Gion. "If there's no invasion, then why such a show of force? Could it be because of Vice Admiral Elio's case? Are you trying to prevent Enies Lobby from taking him away?"
"No." Gion's eyes were solemn, almost conflicted. "Hina, don't make this difficult. Go back to the dormitory. When this is over, you'll still be a Rear Admiral."
Hina was about to reply when dozens of soldiers behind Gion turned sharply, raised their hands in salute, and shouted in unison: "Loyalty!"
Hina's eyes narrowed as her gaze followed the sound.
Ahead, Admiral Sakazuki appeared, wearing a Marine cap and a dark red civilian suit. Accompanied by Admiral Borsalino, he ignored everyone and walked briskly toward the family residential area.
Hina blinked in surprise. Sakazuki seemed to be completely indifferent to everything happening here, as if nothing was going on. "Gion, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki is involved too? What exactly is going on? I'm so confused!"
Gion didn't answer, but watching Sakazuki disappear with Borsalino, a heavy weight lifted from her chest.
Clearly, Sakazuki had been persuaded by Elio, or perhaps they had reached some sort of agreement. This meant one major obstacle was removed from their plan.
Otherwise, knowing Sakazuki's strict sense of justice and temper, he would have fought tooth and nail to crush this rebellion.
If that had happened, she didn't want to imagine how many lives would have been lost.
After Sakazuki and Borsalino vanished from sight, Gion turned to Hina, her voice soft but resolute.
"Hina, after tonight, Headquarters will have a new Fleet Admiral to replace Sengoku. The Marines' new era is entering its final countdown. What happens tonight is not an external invasion, it's Elio's attempt to reshape the Marines."
Marine Headquarters, Family Residential Area
Admiral Sakazuki arrived at the gate of a two-story courtyard, flanked by Admiral Borsalino.
Around the entrance, twenty to thirty fully armed soldiers stood watch. Elio had clearly anticipated the operation might affect this area and assigned a squad to guard it.
The courtyard was in chaos. The soil in front of the gate had been dug up to a depth of three feet. Flowers and plants were tossed about haphazardly, most already withered and decaying.
This was Elio's home. The investigation team had dug so deep, searching the soil around the house for any illegally hidden assets.
But Sakazuki had no interest in such trivial matters. His gaze immediately settled on a hunched figure inside the courtyard.
The figure trembled as they gathered the scattered flowers and plants, muttering curses, as if scolding the investigation team for destroying the garden.
Though the figure faced away, Sakazuki's heart quickened the moment he recognized them.
Borsalino, standing beside Sakazuki, hadn't noticed the figure until now. Seeing the figure in the night picking up destroyed plants stunned him. His expression darkened instantly. Without hesitation, he dashed past the fences and stood before the elder.
"Old lady, why aren't you resting yet?"
Borsalino anxiously took the withered flowers from the elder's hands and supported her.
The old woman looked up blankly at Borsalino, her voice hoarse. "Who are you?"
"I'm Borsalino."
Supporting the old woman carefully, Borsalino headed toward the two-story building. "I'm your son's colleague."
Hearing the word "grandson," the old woman suddenly gripped Borsalino's arm, her voice urgent and clear.
"Where is my son? Where did he go? These days, bad people keep coming to the house and causing trouble. You're Marines, right? Go catch those troublemakers!"
"All right, all right. I'll catch them and throw them in jail soon!" Borsalino nodded repeatedly.
At that moment, Sakazuki entered.
Looking at the old woman from just a few steps away, Sakazuki wanted to say something but remained silent, his eyes fixed on the elder.
"I'm hungry~"
The old woman didn't seem to notice Sakazuki, and as if forgetting his previous words, she looked up at Borsalino like a child.
"Please come inside and sit for a while."
Borsalino helped the old woman into the house. "I'll go prepare something for you..."
Before he could finish, Sakazuki had already turned and walked into the kitchen.