The world was in turmoil, yet Marine Headquarters remained eerily calm, as if untouched by the chaos. It was peaceful, orderly, and seemingly unaffected by the massive upheaval shaking the seas.
Within the Headquarters, officers and soldiers who had followed Elio over the years, those whose destinies had been irrevocably altered by his rise, continued performing their duties with precision. Each stood at their assigned post, operating the greatest war machine on the sea like clockwork.
As for those who hadn't participated in the coup, although their outlook had shifted after hearing Elio's speech, a deep unease lingered in their hearts. They feared being marginalized for contributing nothing, or worse, feared retribution for not pledging loyalty to Elio from the start.
But all those fears vanished the moment they received their salary for the entire upcoming year. With their pockets full and spirits high, they returned to their posts, more motivated than ever. Some even vowed silently to offer their loyalty to Fleet Admiral Elio in the great upheaval yet to come.
At one of the fortresses of Marine Headquarters...
A few soldiers stood beside the cannon platform, gazing at the endless sea beyond the towering walls with tense eyes, as if expecting an invasion at any moment.
Nearby, two officers draped in colonel's coats smoked cigarettes with a laid-back demeanor. Both had once served under Vice Admiral Doberman, who was among the first to fall when the coup began. Naturally, being Doberman's subordinates, they were seen as potential threats in the aftermath.
When the soldiers who took part in the coup surrounded their dormitory, they didn't immediately storm the building. Instead, they locked it down and forbade anyone from leaving.
At the time, some confused officers tried to exit the building, relying on their rank to demand an explanation. They hadn't anticipated that the moment they stepped outside, they would be riddled with bullets, cut down without hesitation.
It was in that instant they realized: a coup had broken out within Marine Headquarters.
Facing the sudden siege, no one dared to leave again. Even those with strength and skill, who tried to carve a bloody path out, were slain one by one by the officers stationed outside.
Despair consumed them. They feared they would be purged once the rebellion was over.
But what they hadn't expected was that Elio, the man who had led the coup and become the new Fleet Admiral, showed no intention of exacting vengeance. Instead, he ensured they received the same full-year salary as those who had joined him, and even entrusted this very fortress into their hands for safekeeping.
"Oak, how do you plan to spend your salary?" one colonel asked with a grin as he pulled out a rare, expensive cigarette from his coat and handed one over. "Once all this blows over, how about we travel together?"
He chuckled and shook his head. "Honestly, I envy those who pledged loyalty to Lord Elio from the beginning. You know Stork? During the coup, he quietly took command of a battleship and set off toward the East Blue. I saw him walking out of the dorm in his colonel's coat, no doubt he's been assigned as a base commander by now! Funny to think he used to serve under me when he first arrived at Headquarters."
"Not just him. Tons of officers who took part in the coup have all been promoted, two full ranks! One of my old lieutenants is now a Rear Admiral, and technically, my superior!"
"Don't get so worked up, Snyke," Oak said with a smile as he sniffed the cigarette. "Lord Elio didn't purge us. He paid us a full year's wages. What more could you want?"
He paused briefly, then struck a lighter and took a long draw, exhaling a cloud of smoke before continuing. "Forget travel. I already sent all my salary back home. You know my situation. My parents are in poor health, and I've got three younger siblings. If I spent that money on a trip, they'd go hungry."
"Oh, right..." Snyke suddenly remembered something. "Back in the mess hall, I overheard Lord Elio and Vice Admiral Gion talking about building a children's school. From what I gathered, once things settle down, he plans to build these schools near every Marine base, starting with Headquarters. Any child of a Headquarters or branch officer can attend for free. All expenses will be covered by the Marines. After finishing their education, they can either join the Marines or return home to help their hometowns develop."
"Seriously?" Oak's eyes lit up, voice trembling with excitement. "Lord Elio is truly…"
Before he could finish the sentence, Oak abruptly stopped and grabbed the binoculars hanging from his neck, raising them toward the sea.
Out on the open water, several massive Marine warships were approaching Marineford at astonishing speed. At the front of the fleet, the lead ship's mast bore a fluttering flag, emblazoned with a single, chilling word:
"Judiciary."
"Ships from Enies Lobby?" Oak murmured, brows furrowing. "Could it be the Holy Land lost contact with us and sent them to investigate?"
"Who cares what their orders are!" Snyke stepped forward, voice sharp. "I'll be damned if I go back to the miserable days of old. There's only one Fleet Admiral I recognize, and that's Lord Elio!"
Without another word, he turned to the soldiers at the cannon platform and barked, "All hands, prepare for battle!"
"Don't be reckless, Snyke!" Oak stepped in to stop him. "We need to report this first. What if they were sent to negotiate? You could ruin Lord Elio's plans…"
But again, Oak's words died on his lips.
His eyes widened in disbelief, staring toward the top of Marine Headquarters.
A second later, an overwhelming presence exploded from the rooftop.
The bright, cloudless sky darkened in an instant, and blazing clouds rose into the heavens like the breath of a slumbering god.
"What is that?"
For a moment, Oak stood frozen, then suddenly shouted, "Damn it, someone's infiltrating Headquarters! Sound the alarm, now!"
At the same time...
Atop the main Marine Headquarters building, a massive, radiant star-shaped teleportation array shimmered into existence. With it came scorching waves of energy, warping the air and space around it in unnatural pulses.
From within the array, a figure stepped forward.
The moment that figure emerged, the once calm Marineford erupted with blaring alarms. The deafening klaxon swept through every corner, sending every officer and soldier into alert.
At the mess hall, Elio had just finished his meal and stepped outside. He wasn't the least bit surprised by the sudden cacophony.
He simply raised his head and looked toward the rooftop, his voice casual and composed.
"Teleportation array?" he said calmly. "The God's Knights, huh?"