"…"
Borsalino stood before him, lips curled in that infuriating, knowing smile. Sengoku's face went stiff, his mind going blank except for a single, crushing thought:
I'm finished.
He'd always known this secret would surface sooner or later. He just hadn't imagined it would be this man who dug it up first.
Damn it.
Borsalino's presence was getting harder and harder to pin down. Even highly refined Observation Haki barely brushed against him now.
Why didn't I keep Future Sight running all the time? Sengoku cursed inwardly.
And who in their right mind lives every second trying to predict the future?
You'd drop dead in a week.
"…Borsalino," Sengoku said, forcing a strained smile onto a face that refused to cooperate. "Weren't you on escort duty? How's King Cobra of Alabasta doing?"
Borsalino shrugged. "Splendid, actually. He asked me to pass along his regards, Admiral Sengoku, and said he hopes to see you at the Commander of the Knights of God's inauguration ceremony."
He idly stroked his chin, as if the conversation were about the weather.
"As for the escort mission… once it was finished, I thought I'd drop by and see if you needed help with anything…"
Then he flashed Sengoku a wide, almost innocent grin.
"But who knew? The moment I stepped onto this battleship, I accidentally overheard some secrets I really shouldn't have."
His smile sharpened.
"Darren's at Impel Down? That's… alarming. And it sounds like you, Admiral Sengoku, not only knew, but might even be involved."
"Shh!!"
Sengoku lunged forward. In a blur, he clamped a hand over Borsalino's mouth, face flushed crimson with panic as he hissed through clenched teeth, "Lower your voice!"
"You brat—lower your voice! Are you trying to get me killed?!"
Even gagged, Borsalino's eyes radiated amusement. He nodded obediently.
Sengoku shot a quick look around—making sure no one was watching—then released him and glared hard enough to scorch steel.
"Don't get any ideas. This whole mess is Darren's fault. That damned kid acted entirely on his own. It has nothing to do with me!"
He jabbed a finger toward the deck as if it were Darren himself.
"He insisted on being stationed at Impel Down. What was I supposed to do, stop him? And I don't have the time—or the lifespan—to babysit that prison day and night!"
Borsalino listened with exaggerated attentiveness, nodding along as if enlightenment had struck him.
"Oh, I see now," he said, adopting a tone of sudden regret. "Here I was thinking Admiral Sengoku accepted a bribe from Darren, used his authority as a Marine Admiral to hide his real identity, and quietly arranged his entry into Impel Down…"
Sengoku's face darkened. He said nothing.
Borsalino went on, smile sweet as poison.
"Of course, I must've misunderstood…"
"After all, Marine Headquarters just happens to receive an unexpected extra military budget that falls from the sky…"
"And Darren just happens to bypass the normal approval process, change his name, and take a post at Impel Down…"
"Enough. Enough!"
Sengoku's face went redder by the second. Finally, he snapped.
"This old man had no choice!" he roared. "He threatened the safety of Marineford!"
Seeing Sengoku genuinely flare, Borsalino lifted both hands in a show of surrender, muttering under his breath, "You looked pretty happy taking the money at the time…"
"What did you say?!" Sengoku barked, beard bristling, eyes blazing.
Borsalino chuckled. "I said I understand your predicament, Admiral Sengoku."
His tone became almost admiring—almost.
"Darren commands the North Blue Fleet. If he wanted to, he could launch a devastating strike on Headquarters anytime he pleased. So you endured the humiliation, accepted his conditions, and took an enormous amount of military aid to protect Marineford."
He tilted his head, smile widening.
"Truly an example of Justice. You risked your entire political career, forced yourself to smile, and endured a trial no ordinary executive could withstand."
Sengoku: "..."
The logic was clean. The words were technically correct.
So why did they sound so vile coming out of this man's mouth?
"But Admiral Sengoku," Borsalino said, as if he'd just thought of it, "I'm curious. What exactly was Darren trying to accomplish by infiltrating Impel Down?"
Sengoku rolled his eyes, exasperation edging into his voice. "How the hell should I know? You think he confides in me?"
Borsalino stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm. Then this still needs to be reported to the Gorosei…"
Sengoku's eyelid twitched.
"Since Admiral Sengoku acted under duress," Borsalino continued, unhurried, "I'm sure Their Excellencies will understand your predicament and won't blame you."
His smile sharpened by a hair.
"Naturally, it won't affect your promotion to Fleet Admiral, either…"
"Get to the point," Sengoku growled.
Borsalino's grin remained untouched. "Right. The point is—I have a pretty good idea why that brat Darren went into Impel Down."
Sengoku's gaze locked onto him, suddenly sharp.
Borsalino leaned in slightly, playing the eager listener. "As expected of Admiral Sengoku, the Marines' 'Master Strategist.' Nothing escapes your notice. Please, do tell."
Sengoku's eye twitched again. Harder.
He took a slow breath and spoke, voice measured, "If I'm not mistaken, he planned to enter Eternal Hell and seek guidance from 'Red the Aloof,' Balorick Redfield, on breaking through Observation Haki."
He scoffed, bitterness slipping through.
"That brat is finally paying the price for his choices. Since leaving the Marines, he hasn't had proper training. Now he's reduced to asking pirates for lessons."
"'Red the Aloof'…" Borsalino murmured.
Behind the sunglasses, something flickered—brief, unreadable. The corners of his mouth curved, faintly amused.
Sengoku narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"
Borsalino shrugged. "Nothing much. Just wondering if Darren might've actually found the right person this time."
"You know Redfield?" Sengoku asked, suspicious.
Borsalino put on an innocent face. "Of course not. Never met him."
Then he continued, voice light.
"But think about it—anyone who forced Fleet Admiral Kong and Vice Admiral Garp to team up against him isn't ordinary. If Redfield really is that kind of monster… maybe Darren will actually gain something."
Sengoku gave a noncommittal grunt.
He only had one real hope: that Darren didn't cause trouble.
As long as that brat didn't make Sengoku's life any harder, everything else was negotiable.
To be continued...