Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office
Marine Headquarters — Fleet Admiral's Office
In the adjacent conference room, high-ranking officers sat in silence with straight backs and serious expressions.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stood at the head of the table, his voice deep and steady.
'The reason I've called this emergency meeting is because an unprecedented breakout has occurred at Impel Down.'
One of the prisoners held on the sixth level broke free of all restraints and calmly walked out of the prison under Magellan's watch.
Even after the warden unleashed the full force of his Doku Doku no Mi, the escapee managed to resist it completely and flee without harm.
The moment Sengoku's words landed, it was as if a bomb had gone off in the room.
A wave of disbelief swept through the ranks.
'He escaped Impel Down?!'
'Right under Magellan's nose?!'
'And he's immune to Magellan's poison?!'
Those who were still groggy from sleep jolted awake as if someone had poured ice water over their heads.
'That place hasn't had a successful escape in decades!'
This is absurd! We're talking about the world's most fortified prison — Impel Down! Magellan is no slouch either."
'Right? His Devil Fruit ability is practically unbeatable in a confined space like that.'
'But even that couldn't stop this guy? He just shrugged off the poison?"
'Do people like that really exist on this sea?'
'I remember once, during a transfer, I saw Magellan personally execute a pirate. The moment the poison touched him, he started screaming as if he were in hell!"
The room erupted into a heated discussion.
Vice admirals such as Tea Pig, Onigumo, Doberman, Strawberry and Momonga all voiced their disbelief. They knew better than anyone how impregnable Impel Down was.
Throughout history, only Golden Lion Shiki had escaped — and even then, it came at the cost of both his legs and the ability to use a Paramecia-type fruit.
Technically, there was one more escape: Morley of the Revolutionary Army, a giant who had used his Devil Fruit powers to secretly dig a tunnel and escape. This tunnel would later become known as Ivankov's "Newkama Paradise".
Sengoku raised a hand to quiet the room.
'This isn't just any escape.'
'The prisoner's identity has already been confirmed. His name is Rokuya.'
He let the name hang in the air.
'Some of you may not recognise it, but I'm sure all of you remember the incident involving the Kingdom of Atlantia several decades ago.'
The moment he spoke, the tension in the room rose again.
Several officers straightened in their chairs, clearly unsettled.
That incident had been buried by the government. Yet now it was being dragged into the light once more.
Many of the officers present had been involved at the time.
Back then, the Marines had been ordered to blockade the kingdom under the pretext of protecting the Celestial Dragons.
And now, that secret was back.
'You don't mean... he's a survivor from that hunt?' asked Vice Admiral Onigumo, breaking the silence.
All eyes turned to Sengoku.
After a pause, he nodded slowly.
'Yes,' he replied. 'According to CP intelligence, Rokuya was the adopted son of Atlantia's king. He was next in line for the throne.'
A hush fell over the room.
Sengoku continued.
'That's why, regardless of the past, this is now a matter of urgency.'
This comes directly from Saint Jaygarcia Saturn of the Five Elders.
'Effective immediately, every Marine base and branch on the Grand Line is to begin a full-scale manhunt.'
Simultaneously, a global bounty of one billion berries will be issued for Rokuya.
Furthermore, any accurate information or tips leading to his location will be rewarded with 100 million berries."
The room exploded again.
'A billion?! That's insane!"
'You didn't hear what he said? It's not just a bounty – it's the Five Elders pulling the strings.'
'Still, for someone to get that kind of reward... this guy must be something else.'
'The last time we saw a bounty like this was for those rare Lunarians who called themselves "gods".'
'Wait… don't tell me Rokuya is one of them? Or is he from another special race?"
"No idea. Sengoku didn't say, but clearly he's not ordinary.'
The vice admirals continued to speculate.
Across the room, the three Marine admirals — Kizaru, Aokiji and Akainu — remained quiet until now.
'One billion? That's more zeros than I earn in a year,' Kizaru muttered, pouting.
'Ara, ara... Even informants get a hundred million now? That's extreme," Aokiji mused, lifting his mask and narrowing his eyes. "The government's really sweating this."
'Hmph.' Akainu crossed his arms. 'If I run into him, I'll deal with him personally.'
Sengoku looked around and gave the final order.
'This meeting is adjourned.'
'Relay the bounty to all branches immediately.'
"I want him found, alive or dead."
'Dismissed.'
As the admirals and vice admirals left the room, silence returned quickly.
Only two people remained:
One was Garp, napping in the corner with his arms crossed and his mouth open.
The other was Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Chief Strategist.
"Sengoku," she said, not moving from her seat.
'There's something you didn't say, isn't there?'
He looked up and their eyes met.
Tsuru had been his comrade for decades. She knew his tells.
'I was watching you the whole time. During the meeting, you looked like you were holding something back.'
Sengoku was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded.
'Rokuya was handpicked by Jaygarcia Saturn himself. He was taken alive. No one knew why."
'Later, he was imprisoned in Impel Down. I have no idea what happened in between."
'But I followed protocol. The moment he escaped, I contacted Saturn. He gave me these orders directly."
'World Government business is above us.'
Tsuru nodded slowly.
'I see.'
Now it all made sense.
Rokuya hadn't just escaped. He'd escaped with secrets. The price on his head proved just how badly they wanted him gone.
—
Meanwhile...
A warship cut through the waters of the Grand Line.
Standing at the bow, Rokuya opened his system panel for the first time since escaping.
A digital interface appeared before his eyes, visible only to him.
---
Host: Rokuya
Constitution: Vampire Physique
Integrated Template: Vampire King Arukādo.
Abilities: Blood Drain, Charm, Resurrection, Shapeshifting, Bat Summoning and Control, Blood Sense, Type-0 Death River, Apostle Summoning, etc.
Death River Current Life Count: 3,424,867
Bloodbound vassals: Domino, Sadi.
Blood Servants/Subjugated Thralls: None
Current weapons: Casull and Jackal, high-calibre pistols.
Haki: Not yet unlocked.
Inventory: Empty
Base: None
---
Rokuya scrolled through the list, his eyes narrowing.
"Tch. Over three million lives in the Death River already?"
'Heh. Not bad at all."
Still, it wasn't enough.
Not yet, at least.
'The World Government's foundations run deep...'
Imu, the Five Elders, and possibly the ancient weapon Uranus are under their control.
They've got an army of Mythical Zoan monsters. Even the Holy Knights have commanders like Figarland Garin, Figarland Shamrock, and Gillingham, all of whom wield elite-level powers..."
'They're not to be underestimated.'
'One shot. That's all I'll get."
He took a deep breath, his gaze locked on the horizon.
'First, I need Haki. Then I'll build my own army."
They have Mythical Zoans... I'll create a Vampire Legion."
Even if he couldn't match their Devil Fruits, his bloodline alone put him leagues above ordinary soldiers. His healing, speed and regeneration were all top tier.
'So far, I've only turned Domino and Sadi.'
'That won't be enough.'
He needed more.
Not just pawns, either.
He wanted elites with rare talents and terrifying strength.
Thanks to his lineage, none of them could disobey him.
"Master!"
A voice called from behind.
Domino stepped forward.
'There's been a navigation error. According to the Marines on board, we've entered the Florian Triangle by mistake."
Rokuya looked up.
A grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Well then…"
'Let's see what's lurking in the fog.'