One Piece : The Strongest Fleet Admiral

Some time ago, Straw Hat Luffy and Blackbeard caused chaos in Impel Down and freed countless criminals.

Even though Magellan was gravely injured, he failed to stop any major pirates. Taking full responsibility, he volunteered to be demoted.

Unexpectedly, just over a month later, the red-haired Shanks showed up at Impel Down to create more trouble.

With old wounds still fresh, new ones were inflicted. If Magellan had known the future, he would have burst into tears and fainted in a portable toilet.

The Straw Hat Luffy, Red-Nosed Buggy, and Blackbeard—all of whom escaped his grasp—would one day become the new Four Emperors. Now, he had to face Shanks, a veteran Four Emperors.

"Did Magellan stab one of the Four Emperors in their nest? How can you be so virtuous?"

As the Impel Down jailers shouted in panic, Sakazuki calmly glanced at Drake, who looked equally shocked.

"What are the casualties in Impel Down?"

"Report to Fleet Admiral! The Red-Haired Pirates seemed to be targeting only Straw Hat Luffy. They mainly injured the director, deputy director, chief guard, and chief jailer who tried to stop them. However, many other pirates rioted, and several escaped. We lost 50 jailers!"

A hot breath escaped from Sakazuki's hands, and the phone in his grip nearly melted.

"Selfish pirates!" he muttered. "Especially Shanks, who pretends to maintain the balance of the sea but disrupts it when it suits him. In the end, he's just another self-serving thief—a pirate with the blood of a Celestial Dragon in his heart!"

He added coldly, "I'll send Kizaru to help stop the riot!"

Sakazuki hung up the call and immediately dialed Kizaru, giving him a brief explanation of the situation in Impel Down.

As for why Sakazuki didn't go himself—after all, Impel Down was not far from the Sabaody Archipelago—he had his reasons.

First, Sakazuki knew that Shanks and his crew had likely already fled with Luffy. Chasing them now was pointless. Kizaru, the fastest Marine, could handle it.

Second, Sakazuki needed to stay on the Sabaody Archipelago to deal with another matter.

Putting away the phone, he turned to Drake, who was recovering from his shock.

"Now I have a small mission for you. Use your pirate crew to locate Silvers Rayleigh!"

Drake looked confused at first, then shocked. "Roger's first mate, Silvers Rayleigh?"

Sakazuki nodded.

With Luffy rescued and Shanks likely helping him escape, Sakazuki decided to act against Rayleigh.

"We can't kill Luffy now, but we can kill Rayleigh!"

He explained: "Don't be fooled by Rayleigh's kind old man appearance. As Roger's second-in-command, he's killed countless people. The Roger Pirates once wiped out an entire country's troops just because someone insulted their crew. Rayleigh is no saint; he's a killer."

The Drake Pirates quickly mobilized, searching for information about Rayleigh, while Sakazuki led Drake toward a certain location in the Sabaody Archipelago.

Stopping in front of a small bar named "Shakky's Rip-Off Bar," Sakazuki used Life Return to hide his presence.

Drake hesitated but followed. "Is the Fleet Admiral here for a drink to drown his sorrows?"

Noticing Drake's confusion, Sakazuki explained: "The manager of this bar is Rayleigh's old lover. Controlling her might force Rayleigh to submit."

Drake immediately understood. "This isn't despicable. I've seen far worse methods. Against pirates, anything goes!"

Inside the deserted bar, a woman with short black hair was cleaning glasses at the counter.

"Welcome," Shakky greeted without looking up.

Drake ordered, "Two glasses of sake, please!"

Shakky began preparing the drinks, still not raising her head.

Sakazuki sneered, "The boss lady is so enthusiastic!"

Shakky's pupils shrank at the familiar voice. The cigarette in her mouth nearly fell into her drink.

"Why is the Marine Fleet Admiral in my bar, and with a pirate? Aren't you afraid of being exposed?" she asked, pretending to stay calm.

But Sakazuki replied coldly: "Dead people cannot speak!"

Realizing she couldn't escape, Shakky strengthened her legs, preparing to flee through the back door. But Sakazuki was faster. His right hand turned into molten lava, piercing the bar and landing a devastating punch on Shakky.

"Boom!"

Tables caught fire, and the room filled with smoke. Shakky spat blood and collapsed. Although she had protected her vital points with Armament Haki, she was severely injured.

Satisfied, Sakazuki sat down and signaled Drake.

Drake restrained the injured Shakky, pinning her with his blade.

Time passed. Sakazuki lit a cigar, waiting patiently.

Suddenly, an overwhelming Conqueror's Haki burst outside.

"Boom!" The bar door flew open, and an invisible shockwave knocked over chairs and tables.

Rayleigh had arrived.

Known as "Dark king," Rayleigh was a master of physical combat, swordsmanship, and Haki—Roger's legendary first mate!