One Piece: Rising to Fleet Admiral Through a Coup

"Mihawk?"

Xayuki froze for a moment, surprised. "Without a summons, he actually dares to come to Headquarters!"

The Marine captain explained, "He said he came to keep an appointment!"

Hearing this, Xayuki chuckled lightly and said, "Ah, now I remember. Six years ago, when I was stranded on a deserted island, he happened to pass by. In fact, I owe him a favor. If it weren't for him passing by, I might never have joined the Marines."

At this, Xayuki waved his hand toward the captain. "Alright, go invite him over."

"Yes, sir!"

The Marine captain saluted crisply and then turned to leave at a brisk pace.

"Bang!"

Just as the captain turned to leave, the kitchen door was flung open with great force. A thick cloud of smoke billowed out, followed by the coughing forms of Strawberry, Momonga, and Hound, who stumbled out of the kitchen.

"Lord Xayuki, are you sure this is the hot pot base you wanted?"

Hound, reeking of oil and smoke, was the first to approach Xayuki, exclaiming, "This is way too spicy!"

Strawberry and Momonga didn't even bother speaking. They rushed straight to the courtyard, gasping for fresh air.

"What's the matter? Not spicy enough?"

Xayuki looked up at Hound and, seeing tears streaming down his face from the spice, couldn't help but laugh. "Look at you! Back in my hometown, this is how we eat hot pot—if it's spicy, it's got to be numbing too!"

"Alright, alright..." Hound hung his head in defeat, muttering, "The base is ready. What's next?"

Seeing Hound's reaction, Gion, who was seated nearby, shook her head with a smile. "Leave the rest to me. You all go out to the courtyard for some fresh air."

"Fresh air? What for!"

Xayuki rolled up his sleeves and stood up. "Bring the hot pot base to the courtyard. Whoever wants to eat can toss in whatever they like!"

With that, Xayuki dashed into the kitchen, carrying trays of prepped vegetables and meats out to the courtyard.

Not wanting to fall behind, Hound quickly began moving tables and chairs.

Soon, an array of vegetables, meats, and fruits was laid out in the courtyard. As the aroma of the simmering hot pot base wafted through the air, even Garp and Sengoku found their rice crackers unappealing. Without hesitation, they sat down at the table, tossing their favorite ingredients into the pot.

As Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr took their seats, Momonga, Strawberry, and Hound also gathered around the table.

Xayuki, holding a bowl and chopsticks, had just sat down next to Zephyr when Borsalino and Gion joined them.

Gion, seated beside Xayuki, glanced around and noticed someone missing. She quickly turned her gaze toward the opposite side of the courtyard.

There, Sakazuki was pacing back and forth near the gate, occasionally glancing toward it with a slightly anxious expression.

"Sakazuki, stop pacing!"

Knowing exactly what was on Sakazuki's mind, Xayuki called out decisively, "If you're that worried, why not just go and check?"

"No, it's fine..." Sakazuki, caught off guard by Xayuki's remark, stiffened slightly before turning his head. "I'll just wait here. You all start eating."

After speaking, Sakazuki resumed his pacing, occasionally casting glances at the gate.

At that moment, the familiar sound of a bicycle bell rang out.

Moments later, Kuzan appeared around the corner, pedaling his bicycle at full speed toward the courtyard gate.

"Kuzan!!!!"

Seeing Kuzan return alone, Sakazuki didn't hesitate for a second. He dashed out of the gate and asked in a deep voice, "Where's my mother?"

Kuzan said nothing, merely turning his body to reveal the elderly woman clinging to his back.

Despite her small, frail frame, she hung onto Kuzan like a child, one arm hooked around his neck while the other clutched several bags of snacks. Her face beamed with joy.

"Mother!"

Sakazuki nearly froze on the spot, his heart skipping a beat as he saw his mother hanging precariously from Kuzan's back. He quickly rushed forward, shouting, "How could you let her ride on your back? What if she fell?"

Kuzan, looking helpless, explained, "I didn't have much choice. She insisted on a piggyback ride."

Hearing this, Sakazuki's tone softened immediately. After a moment of hesitation, he muttered, "Th-thank you..."

Kuzan glanced at Sakazuki in surprise.

In all the years they'd worked together, this was the first time he'd ever heard Sakazuki utter those words.

Of course, that wasn't the most surprising thing.

What truly shocked Kuzan was how much Sakazuki had changed since reuniting with his mother.

In the Holy Land, Sakazuki had been like a rabid dog, attacking anyone who crossed him.

But back at Headquarters, especially in his mother's presence, Kuzan noticed something in Sakazuki's eyes that he'd never seen before—gentleness.

"Come on, it's been ages since we've had a meal together."

After a brief silence, Kuzan extended an invitation. "Let's have a drink."

Meanwhile, at Marineford Square, Dracule Mihawk, accompanied by a Marine captain, felt as though he'd stepped into the wrong place.

He vividly recalled his last visit to Marine Headquarters, when the oppressive atmosphere had been palpable.

The soldiers on duty had stood rigidly at their posts, their faces grim and lifeless. Despite the sunny weather, their demeanor had been as if they were preparing for battle.

Most strikingly, Marineford Square had been eerily empty, its desolation adding to the oppressive mood.

But now, the square was filled with neatly arranged tables, surrounded by a lively crowd of Marines and their families. Soldiers and officers alike gathered around tables laden with food and drink, their laughter and chatter blending into a vibrant, festive atmosphere.

Learning that Mihawk had known Fleet Admiral Xayuki even before the latter joined the Marines, the accompanying captain spoke with pride, "Today is a holiday for Marine Headquarters. Fleet Admiral Xayuki has ordered everyone to put their work aside and enjoy a grand feast here in the square. Officers, soldiers, their families, and even friends are all welcome!"

Pausing for a moment, the captain turned to Mihawk with a mischievous grin. "Hawk-Eyes, did you hear about this and come here just to freeload?"

"???"

Mihawk, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief, stared at the captain. As the world's greatest swordsman, did he really look like someone who'd come to Marine Headquarters just for free food?

However, before he could refute the claim, his stomach betrayed him with a loud growl.

"Haha, I knew it!" The captain laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Fleet Admiral Xayuki is hosting a private hot pot party at his home. Since you're an old acquaintance of his, I'm sure there'll be plenty of red wine and beef for you!"

Resigned to his fate, Mihawk didn't bother explaining further.

As he followed the captain through Marineford Square, he noticed something even more baffling.

During his last visit, the soldiers and officers had been visibly intimidated by his reputation as the world's greatest swordsman. Some had trembled in fear, while others had avoided eye contact altogether.

But now, as he walked through the bustling square, no one seemed to care about his presence. Most merely glanced at him before returning to their food and drink.

Some even glared at him, muttering things like, "What are you staring at?" or "Oh, look, it's Hawk-Eyes Mihawk," their tone dismissive and irreverent.

The captain, noticing Mihawk's confusion, chuckled and explained, "Don't take it personally, Mihawk. They're not targeting you specifically."

"To be honest, it wouldn't matter if you were the Five Elders themselves—they wouldn't be afraid."

"Let me put it this way: everyone here is eager to earn military honors and repay Fleet Admiral Xayuki for his leadership. Especially those new recruits who just glared at you—they joined the Fleet Admiral's cause during their training period!"

(Author's Note):

(Hand over your love-powered support! And don't forget to add this to your bookshelf! 🐶)

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

Explore More Amazing Fanfiction on My Patreon!

Unlock 30+ Advance Chapters and Enjoy Exclusive Stories Early!

��� patreon.com/GoldenLong