Marine Headquarters Marineford
"Oh~ Rear Admiral Seraphina… long time no see~"
The familiar, lazy drawl echoed across the harbor.
Leaning casually near the dock, bathed in the afternoon light, stood Kizaru his posture as relaxed as ever, orange-tinted glasses reflecting the sea.
Saint Roselith Seraphina didn't even need to look twice.
"…Admiral Borsalino."
Her tone was flat.
"We met yesterday."
Kizaru scratched the back of his head lazily, completely unbothered.
"Ahh~ did we now? Time flies when you're overworked."
He sighed dramatically.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku is being rather… unreasonable this time~"
Seraphina stepped forward, her cloak swaying lightly behind her.
"The Fleet Admiral has his reasons."
Her response was calm.
Measured.
But inwardly
She understood exactly what Sengoku was dealing with.
Managing someone like Kizaru was not a simple task.
Seeing her defend Sengoku, Kizaru paused briefly… then shrugged.
"Well~ since you're here…"
He pushed himself upright.
"Shall we depart?"
The First Half of the Grand Line Alabasta"Daddy… what's the World Conference?"
A soft, curious voice broke the stillness of the royal courtyard.
A young girl with long blue hair gazed up with sparkling eyes.
Standing before her was Nefertari Cobra, King of Alabasta.
He smiled gently and placed a hand on her head.
"It's a gathering," he said, his voice warm, "where kings and rulers from across the world come together to discuss matters that affect their nations."
The girl's eyes lit up instantly.
"Then I want to go too!"
Her excitement was pure.
Unfiltered.
To her, her father was the very definition of kindness and leadership.
Surely
Anyone worthy of standing beside him must be the same.
Cobra hesitated.
Only for a moment.
His expression softened.
"…Very well."
His voice carried both affection and quiet resolve.
"You will come with me."
After all
She was his only child.
The future of Alabasta.
And the world she would one day inherit…
Was far more complicated than she imagined.
"Your Majesty!"
A voice interrupted.
"The Marine escort has arrived."
Cobra turned toward the speaker.
Igaram, captain of the royal guard, stood at attention his distinctive hair impossible to miss.
"Are preparations complete?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Good."
"World Conference~ World Conference~"
The young princess twirled lightly, unable to contain her excitement.
Soon
She would see the world beyond her kingdom.
The Holy Land Mary GeoiseThe World Government moved swiftly.
Efficiently.
Relentlessly.
The Reverie had begun.
Kings from across the seas gathered within the Holy Land.
But not all were equal.
Only fifty nations
The most powerful, the most influential
Were granted seats at the table.
The rest?
Observers.
Spectators.
Irrelevant.
Security was airtight.
The primary defense force consisted of elite guards under the Celestial Dragons, alongside covert operatives tied to Cipher Pol.
The Marines
Were merely reinforcement.
High-ranking officers were stationed strategically.
Some within Mary Geoise.
Others
Within rapid deployment range.
Seraphina arrived under the cover of night.
Her presence
Quiet.
Controlled.
"Bruce."
Her voice was calm, but carried authority.
"Secure the perimeter around Pangaea Castle."
"Yes, Rear Admiral."
For Seraphina
Minor matters were beneath her attention.
But
Something felt off.
As more nobles arrived
Her instincts sharpened.
Eyes.
Too many eyes.
Some curious.
Some arrogant.
Some
Disgusting.
Seraphina stood beside Kizaru, her presence drawing attention effortlessly.
Her beauty
Cold.
Refined.
Untouchable.
Which made it worse.
"Hm? Since when did the Marines recruit someone like that?"
A voice rang out.
Crude.
Unrefined.
A man stepped forward short, adorned with excessive gold, his grin revealing gleaming teeth.
Beside him, another noble stiffened.
"…That's a Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral."
His voice trembled slightly.
"So what?"
The gold-laden noble scoffed loudly.
"I'm a noble of Nortis! I have money more than enough!"
His voice rose intentionally, drawing attention.
"Even Marines need money, don't they?"
"…You should stop talking."
The blond noble stepped back instinctively.
A chill ran down his spine.
Something
Was wrong.
But the arrogant man noticed nothing.
"Out of my way."
He shoved his companion aside without hesitation, sending him crashing to the ground.
Then
He adjusted his clothes.
And walked forward.
Straight toward Seraphina.
"Beautiful lady "
THUD.
Before he could finish
A blur.
Then
Impact.
His vision flipped violently as a boot connected squarely with his face.
The world spun.
And he crashed
Face-first
Into the ground.
Silence.
Then
Shock.
"You…!"
He staggered up, face twisted in disbelief.
"Do you know who I am?!"
His voice cracked with fury.
"I am a noble of Nortis! We pay tribute beyond what others can afford!"
His humiliation burned.
Worse
It had happened here.
At the World Conference.
Before the world's elite.
Seraphina lowered her leg slowly.
Her expression
Unchanged.
Cold.
"You spoke too much."
Her voice carried no emotion.
Only judgment.
The disturbance quickly drew attention.
"Stop!"
Holy Land guards rushed in, weapons drawn.
"What is happening here?!"
But as they assessed the situation
Their confidence faltered.
A noble.
A Marine Rear Admiral.
Both untouchable.
For very different reasons.
They exchanged uneasy glances.
They were merely soldiers.
Caught between two forces
Neither of which they could afford to offend.
And in that moment
No one dared to move.