"What matters is the World Government's face!"
Unexpected words, yet not entirely surprising. It didn't suit Aizen's gentle image, but with his temperament, such clarity was only natural.
Sengoku nodded and let the matter drop. Both master and disciple left the conversation there, unspoken understanding between them.
"This Crocodile affair has left a vacancy among the Seven Warlords," Sengoku said. "The Government will soon convene a Warlord meeting to choose a replacement. You'll attend with me and Tsuru. You've spent enough time guarding the first half of the Grand Line—it's time you saw these infamous scoundrels yourself."
He made no effort to hide his disgust.
"I understand," Aizen answered calmly, accepting the task without hesitation.
After a few more words, Aizen left. Once the door shut, Tsuru finally spoke from the sofa.
"Your disciple is excellent, no less than you were in your youth. But lately, he's been too close to the Celestial Dragons. You should be careful. It would be a shame if they lured him away."
Sengoku's eyes hardened. "Rest assured. Aizen has his own sense of justice."
Tsuru said no more.
…
The day of the Warlord conference arrived.
At the port of Mary Geoise, marines lined both sides in rigid formation. When the warships docked, two Warlords appeared—"Tyrant" Bartholomew Kuma and "Heavenly Yaksha" Donquixote Doflamingo.
Though pirates, they strode openly through the ranks of the Navy.
"What's the reason for calling us here this time? Fufufufufu…"
Lounging against a balcony railing, Doflamingo's voice dripped with mockery as his fingers curled.
Almost instantly, a marine captain sprang from his seat, seizing a colleague by the throat.
"Hey, what are you doing? Let me go—I can't breathe!"
"I don't know! My body won't listen!"
The sudden chaos stunned those nearby, but one man on the balcony noticed Doflamingo's smug expression.
"Doflamingo! This is your doing, isn't it? Stop it!"
The pirate only laughed louder. Under his control, the two marines drew their swords, ready to clash.
SHING!
The sound of a blade echoed sharply. The nearly invisible strings were severed.
"Doflamingo, this is Mary Geoise. Restrain yourself."
Sunlight caught Aizen's glasses, casting a sharp glint as he slid his sword back into its sheath. His voice was calm, but it carried a cutting edge.
Interrupted, Doflamingo spread his hands, displeased. "Oh? Does this officer have a problem with me? I'm a guest you invited, after all."
Pressure radiated from him, pressing toward Aizen across the table.
Yet Aizen's face remained composed, unaffected. His poise even drew the attention of Kuma, who had sat silent, reading his Bible.
"If you know you're a guest," Aizen said, "then behave as one. A rude guest can always be shown the door."
Guest? Driven out?
The words stung Doflamingo, who had once been a Celestial Dragon himself. Veins bulged on his forehead. His strange laughter filled the chamber, brimming with killing intent.
Unmoved, Aizen pushed his glasses up, his aura flaring high. It met Doflamingo's head-on, shaking the vast hall.
CRACK!
The great round table split. Cracks spread across floor and walls. The entire chamber trembled beneath their clash.
Only Tsuru and Kuma remained utterly steady. The rest—officers and government officials alike—watched in fear, braced for violence.
…
"Enough! What kind of spectacle is this?"
Sengoku strode into the chamber, voice booming in rebuke. As Fleet Admiral, his first duty had been to greet the Five Elders. Yet even in that short time, trouble had erupted.
His eyes fell on Doflamingo's crazed grin, and his temper flared.
"You rabble of the seas—can you not behave for even a moment?"