Meanwhile... At Marineford Armory.
As the sound of gunfire echoed over Marineford, the soldiers guarding the armory were jolted awake and immediately rushed toward the main gate.
However, just as they reached the gate a group of people surged forward. In the next moment, a barrage of bullets whistled through the air, instantly clearing out the soldiers inside the armory gate.
"Dammit!"
Inside the armory, several officers who had been drinking and enjoying themselves stood up and rushed out upon hearing the piercing gunfire.
But they were too late.
As soon as they stepped out, the armory gate was blown open with a deafening explosion. Immediately after, a Rear admiral clad in a Rear admiral coat charged toward them at an astonishing speed.
"Gentlemen, the armory is now under our control!" Before the officers could react, the rear admiral tossed them a document and coldly stated.
"You have two choices: either join Vice Admiral Orion in a Coup, or die!"
...
Amid the shrill alarm, a force of over a thousand people flooded into the Naval Headquarters building like a tidal wave. Although it was already past midnight, there were still many personnel on duty inside the headquarters building.
Before the invading force could disperse in the main hall, the patrolling soldiers on night duty raised their guns. A man wearing a headquarters Commander's coat leading the patrol immediately barked.
"Whose subordinates are you? How dare you barge into the headquarters building! I order you—"
Before the commander could finish his sentence, a figure darted toward him like a ghost.
The next moment—
"Shigan!"
With a cold voice, the commander body stiffened. He looked down in disbelief at the hand that had pierced through his chest. Before he could react, a barrage of gunfire erupted, instantly killing the soldiers behind him.
"You—" The piercing gunfire snapped the commander back to his senses. Ignoring the searing pain from the 'Shigan' wound in his chest, he gritted his teeth and looked up.
When he saw the face of the attacker, he couldn't hold back his shock and exclaimed.
"Vice Admiral... Hound."
The one who had killed the colonel was none other than Vice Admiral Hound of the Marine Headquarters, a disheveled man with pointed glasses and the user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Hound.
"Apologies" Hound said expressionlessly, his tone indifferent.
"Killing you wasn't personal. Rest in peace, Colonel."
With that, Hound decisively withdrew his hand and quickly drew his gun, firing a shot between the commander eyebrows.
At the same time, a group of soldiers carrying buckets and cleaning tools swiftly filed in. After the commander and the other personnel on duty were dragged away, they immediately cleaned the floor at top speed and laid down a red carpet.
Vice Admiral Hound didn't linger. He strode toward the elevator.
As he ascended, each floor the elevator passed erupted with intense gunfire, shouts, and reprimands. Hound remained unfazed, standing coldly in the elevator until it reached the top floor.
When he stepped out, soldiers who had arrived ahead of him were already lined up neatly on both sides of the corridor. Without hesitation, Hound walked briskly down the corridor and stopped in front of an office door.
Inside the office stood Admiral Borsalino, cloaked in an admiral's cape.
Borsalino stood with his back to the door, slightly tilting his head to gaze at the plaque hanging on the wall that read "Thorough and Lazy Justice" He seemed oblivious to the gunfire outside, his body completely still.
"Admiral Borsalino!" Vice Admiral Hound, who had arrived at the door, saluted and then strode into the office standing straight behind Borsalino.
"Lord Orion has asked me to deliver a message to you."
"How terrifying~"
Borsalino adjusted his glasses and then turned to face Vice Admiral Hound, who stood rigidly in front of him, as well as the soldiers outside who were on high alert.
He spoke lazily. "I knew Orion wouldn't just sit back and wait, but I didn't expect him to make such a big fuss."
After a brief pause, Borsalino glanced at the Den Den Mushi on his wrist and said nonchalantly.
"Go on, let me hear how he plans to convince me not to interfere in this matter!"
"Lord Orion said that if he fails, he will take full responsibility for the crimes. But if he succeeds, he will not keep the glory for himself alone!"
"Lord Orion also said that he has always been one to repay favors and respond to requests. As long as Admiral Borsalino does not interfere, it would be a great help to him!"
"That's not enough~" Borsalino shook his head. "With just a verbal promise like that, you expect an admiral to stand by and do nothing? Even if you ultimately fail, as an admiral, I would still be held accountable!"
It seemed Vice Admiral Hound had anticipated Borsalino response, as he immediately pulled out a document from his pocket and handed it to Borsalino.
Seeing this, Borsalino was momentarily stunned, but his expression changed drastically as he read the contents of the document.
"Impressive~"
After finishing the document, Borsalino spoke with rare seriousness.
"It seems Orion wasn't acting on impulse. He had already laid everything out in secret, even investigating my background so thoroughly."
After another brief pause, Borsalino suddenly looked down at Vice Admiral Hound, a hint of killing intent in his voice.
"How many people know about the contents of this document?"
Vice Admiral Hound shook his head.
"Lord Orion said that if Admiral Borsalino noticed the seal on this document had been broken, you could eliminate me and all the soldiers present!"
Hearing this, the killing intent in Borsalino eyes gradually faded, and he said calmly.
"As expected of Orion. As he wishes, I will not interfere in this matter!"
"Whoosh—"
As soon as Borsalino finished speaking, two young marines suddenly rushed into the office and poured two buckets of seawater all over him.
"Apologies, Admiral Borsalino!" Vice Admiral Hound wasted no time, immediately pulling out a pair of Seastone handcuffs and locking them on Borsalino wrists.
"This is to ensure that if we fail, you can explain yourself to the WG! Additionally, if we fail the contents of this document will be buried with our deaths!"
With that, Vice Admiral Hound took the document from Borsalino hands and burned it right in front of him.
Drenched and weakened by the Seastone handcuffs, Borsalino slumped to the ground, his expression so comical it was hard not to laugh.
However, Vice Admiral Hound didn't dare to laugh.
The reason they were able to make Borsalino cooperate so easily wasn't due to their own strength, but rather the document Orion had handed over to him, which convinced Borsalino to comply.
Otherwise, not only would those present have been unable to defeat him, but none of the officers or soldiers involved in the coup would have stood a chance against Borsalino.
After all, Borsalino was one of the Navy's top-tier Admirals, a supreme powerhouse who had mastered the Logia-type Pika Pika no Mi to its absolute limit.