One Piece: Rising to Fleet Admiral Through a Coup

While the major powers of the world stirred in response to the coup at Marine Headquarters, a massive warship slowly departed from Marineford's harbor, cutting through the waves toward Sabaody Archipelago.

Standing at the bow of the vessel, Xayuki wore the Fleet Admiral's coat with natural authority. Behind him stood the three admirals, each lost in their own thoughts.

Gion maintained a respectful distance, one hand resting lightly on her sword hilt. Though her expression remained composed, beneath that calm exterior beat a slightly anxious heart.

This was entirely understandable.

Even though the Holy Land had seemingly compromised, and the mysterious Imu had agreed to meet with Xayuki, there was no guarantee of sincerity. If the Holy Land were to renege on their agreement, the result would undoubtedly be an unprecedented conflict.

"Don't be nervous~"

As if sensing Gion's unease, Xayuki suddenly broke the silence on the deck, his tone light and reassuring. "Even if the Holy Land betrays us, they won't be able to contain us. More importantly, the current situation doesn't allow them to act recklessly. Right now, not only are our movements being watched, but every action taken by the Holy Land is under scrutiny by intelligence operatives lurking in the shadows."

Hearing this, Gion smiled faintly, shaking her head.

From the day she first met Xayuki, she had always viewed him as the boy-next-door type. Though she recognized his rapid progress over the years and knew he was destined for greatness, she never imagined that one day she would find herself being comforted by him, as if she were a nervous girl in need of reassurance.

She was indeed slightly tense, but certainly not afraid!

Nevertheless, despite being considerably older than Xayuki, his casual "Don't be nervous" warmed her heart unexpectedly.

Without realizing it, the young man who had once trained in swordsmanship under her guidance had grown into a towering figure—someone who inspired profound confidence.

Since Marine Headquarters was relatively close to Sabaody Archipelago, the island soon appeared on the horizon.

The warship bypassed the Marine base located on the archipelago and headed directly for the port that led to the Holy Land.

As the vessel approached, the seemingly tranquil Sabaody Archipelago instantly stirred with hidden activity. Intelligence agents from various factions quickly mobilized from their hiding places, all eyes focused on the massive warship arriving from Marine Headquarters.

In Area 13, outside Shakky's Rip-off Bar, the establishment's owner, Shakuyaku, held a cigarette in one hand and binoculars in the other, tracking the warship's movement through the grove of trees.

When her lens captured the young figure standing at the bow, flanked by the three admirals and Gion, even Shakky—a former Empress of Amazon Lily from three generations past—couldn't suppress a sigh of admiration. "To possess such extraordinary resolve at such a young age... The coming era will undoubtedly belong to him."

She then turned to glance at the elderly man standing nearby.

"Brimming with confidence and unstoppable momentum!"

The old man, his eyes slightly narrowed, used his exceptional vision to absorb every detail of the figures on the warship's deck. He offered praise without reservation: "He surpasses even that man who once invited me to set sail and turn this world upside down."

Silvers Rayleigh, former first mate of the Roger Pirates, known as the "Dark King" and the Pirate King's right hand—a supreme powerhouse of the bygone era.

After the Roger Pirates disbanded, Rayleigh, carrying a mysterious mission, remained on Sabaody Archipelago and became a coating craftsman. To better conceal his identity, he frequently visited the island's gambling dens and occasionally even sold himself to human traffickers, allowing himself to be auctioned as a slave.

"Oh?"

Suddenly, a glint of recognition flashed in Rayleigh's eyes as his gaze shifted from the young figure at the bow to three elderly men seated on the deck. "Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr?"

Shakky exhaled a perfect smoke ring and chuckled. "The three admirals plus Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr—with such formidable company, even the Holy Land will have to think twice before making any rash moves."

Hearing this, Rayleigh's eyes sparkled with interest. "I think I'll join the festivities!"

Before his words had fully faded, his figure vanished in a blur, disappearing into the woods surrounding the bar.

When he next materialized, he stood near the port leading to the Holy Land.

By now, a substantial contingent of Marines stationed on Sabaody had gathered at the harbor. Under the command of Vice Admirals Strawberry and Bastille, over a hundred Marines stood in two perfectly aligned rows, their formation impeccable and their eyes burning with fervor.

Due to the arrival of the warship from Marine Headquarters, merchant vessels that normally frequented this port to deliver supplies to the Holy Land had all retreated to the waters beyond. Merchants crowded their decks, craning their necks to watch the impressive warship as it approached.

As the vessel docked, Strawberry and Bastille immediately straightened their postures.

Gion and the three admirals were the first to disembark. Gion stood alone on the left, while the three admirals positioned themselves opposite her, all awaiting Xayuki's descent from the warship.

However, Xayuki, who had been visible on the deck moments earlier, was now nowhere to be seen.

From an inconspicuous corner near the port, Rayleigh paid no attention to the disembarking officers. Instead, he silently activated his Observation Haki, extending his sensory awareness across a radius of several hundred meters.

Through this heightened perception, Rayleigh detected all intelligence operatives lurking nearby. Their whispered conversations reached his ears with perfect clarity.

"Three Marine Admirals, along with Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr... Xayuki is clearly preparing for a confrontation with the Holy Land!"

"Xayuki's making his move, but it seems the Holy Land has chosen to compromise. Otherwise, he wouldn't arrive like this—he'd be leading the Marines in a full-scale assault on Mariejois."

"Where is he? Where's Xayuki? He was on the deck just a moment ago, but now he's vanished!"

"This isn't the time to worry about his whereabouts. What matters is what will happen when he, accompanied by the admirals and these Marine veterans, meets with the Holy Land's leadership!"

"What else could happen? The Holy Land will compromise, and Xayuki will secure greater autonomy for the Marines!"

"Or there's another possibility: the Holy Land might be lowering its guard to lure Xayuki and his group in, only to eliminate them all at once!"

"Are you serious? Let's not forget that the entire Marine force is now under Xayuki's control. And don't overlook the fact that the Revolutionary Army has already mobilized its five divisions. If the Holy Land dares to betray Xayuki now, they'll trigger an unprecedented revolutionary storm!"

Rayleigh shook his head slightly at these speculations. Retracting his Haki, he looked up toward the warship's deck.

Meanwhile, inside the vessel, Xayuki emerged from the restroom. Taking a handkerchief offered by a nearby Marine, he casually wiped his hands and stated, "Let's go."

With that, he strode confidently out of the cabin.

"Hmm?"

The moment he stepped onto the deck, a flash of surprise crossed Xayuki's eyes. Without hesitation, he turned his head slightly, his gaze locking precisely onto Rayleigh's position on the shore.

At that exact moment, Rayleigh, who had just retracted his Observation Haki, was looking toward the warship.

When he saw Xayuki turn and look directly at him, Rayleigh's heart skipped a beat.

From Xayuki's reaction and piercing gaze, it was clear that his presence had been detected.

If he were merely an ordinary coating craftsman, being discovered wouldn't have mattered. But the crucial issue was that upon arriving, he had completely concealed his aura. With the additional cover provided by the trees, not even the intelligence agents lurking just ten meters away had detected him!

Yet Xayuki had pinpointed his location the instant he stepped onto the deck.

Indeed, as Rayleigh's heart raced, a faint voice suddenly echoed directly in his mind:

"Since you're retired, stop stirring up trouble. Quietly become a legend, Dark King Rayleigh!"

!!!

The unexpected voice left Rayleigh unable to maintain his composure. His eyes widened in shock.

Not only had Xayuki discovered him, but he also knew his true identity!?

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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