One Piece: One Punch Man

Sabo silently contemplated the situation, wary that the Night organization might be feigning generosity in releasing the three of them, only to follow them and locate the Revolutionary Army's headquarters secretly. 

Such a tactic had been used in the past by the Marines, where they tracked Revolutionary members intentionally released as bait, eventually uncovering their bases and destroying them. 

These incidents had caused devastating losses to the Revolutionary Army and were highlighted during their initial training as cautionary tales.

To prevent such disasters, the Revolutionary Army's headquarters was never stationed permanently on any island and was frequently relocated to reduce the chances of discovery. 

Hawk and Koala harbored similar suspicions. 

Sensing their doubts, Byakuya smirked and remarked casually, "You don't need to be so cautious." 

"If I wanted to know where your headquarters was, I wouldn't need to test you. I could guess it easily."

Byakuya's arrogant declaration tested their patience, but Sabo and his companions refrained from rolling their eyes, demonstrating remarkable restraint. 

If their headquarters could be so easily guessed, the World Government would have countless times eradicated the Revolutionary Army. 

Byakuya's grin widened as he asked, "You don't believe me, do you?"

Although they remained silent, disbelief was written all over their faces. Byakuya spoke slowly, emphasizing every word: 

"The Grand Line. Baltigo, the White Soil Island."

Each phrase made Sabo and his companions' expressions flicker slightly. 

When the final words left Byakuya's lips, Koala involuntarily blurted out, "How do you know that?"

The moment she spoke, Koala regretted it. Hawk sighed heavily while Sabo's face darkened. 

As a seasoned member of the Revolutionary Army, Koala knew better than to make such a blunder. 

However, being confined in this enclosed space for three weeks had frayed her composure. 

The shock of Byakuya accurately naming their headquarters had been too overwhelming.

Regardless of whether Byakuya's information was accurate or where he had obtained it, Koala's reaction inadvertently confirmed his guess. 

If Byakuya bore ill intent toward the Revolutionary Army, he could relay this information to the World Government, putting them at risk of annihilation. 

Koala's face turned pale as she bit her lip, realizing the potential consequences of her slip.

"So I was right," 

Byakuya said smugly before continuing, "But don't worry. Whether you believe me or not, I won't tell the World Government."

At this moment, Byakuya held all the leverage. 

Turning to Sabo, whose expression was grim, Byakuya added, "As a gesture of good faith, I'll tell you about your past."

"My past?" Sabo was taken aback. 

He only knew that he had been gravely injured before being rescued by Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. 

Ever since he has been a dedicated member of the cause. 

However, he had no recollection of his life before that injury, a mystery that had weighed heavily on him for years. 

The idea that Byakuya, the leader of the Night organization, might hold the key to his forgotten past was as shocking as his revelation about the Revolutionary headquarters.

Byakuya began recounting everything he knew about Sabo's origins, drawing from the detailed knowledge he had acquired.

He highlighted the connections between Sabo, Luffy, and Ace. 

As Byakuya spoke, Sabo's mind gradually filled with vivid memories of Luffy and Ace, their faces becoming clearer and clearer, accompanied by recollections of their childhood bond and shared vows.

"Argh! My head... it hurts so much!" Sabo exclaimed as the flood of memories triggered a sharp, unbearable pain. 

His body convulsed as he struggled with the onslaught.

"Are you okay, Sabo?!" Koala cried out, her voice filled with worry.

Fearing Byakuya was behind Sabo's suffering, Haku demanded, "What did you do to him?"

Byakuya raised his hands in mock innocence. "I merely helped him recover his lost memories."

"But why is Sabo in so much pain—" Haku began, only to be interrupted by Sabo, who spoke through gritted teeth, "He's... telling the truth. I'm remembering so much at once, and it's overwhelming."

Despite the pain intensifying, Sabo's gaze grew clearer. He muttered to himself, "Brother Ace… Brother Luffy… We're the three brothers."

[Congratulations, Host, for altering the storyline and helping Sabo recover his memories ahead of time. Reward: 5,000 World Source Points.]

Byakuya's grin widened as the system notification echoed in his mind. 

While 5,000 points weren't much, his effort was minimal—just a conversation and a bit of posturing. 

He welcomed more opportunities like this, not just for the points but for the added chaos he could stir in the world. 

The proposed alliance with the Revolutionary Army wasn't merely a ploy; it was part of a grander scheme. 

If the World Government and the Revolutionary Army were going to play cat and mouse, why not escalate the game to an entirely new level?

The resulting turmoil would make the seas far more interesting.

Once Sabo's pain subsided, Byakuya called out to someone outside the room. "Lucci, unlock their restraints and see them off."

After removing their cuffs, Haku and Koala helped the still-weakened Sabo to his feet. 

Catching his breath, Sabo looked at Byakuya and said sincerely, "Thank you for sharing the truth about my past."

"No need to thank me," Byakuya replied, waving dismissively. "It's just mutual benefit." With a cryptic smile, he added, "But you're thanking me too soon."

Before the trio could decipher his words, a sharp pain struck the back of their necks, and they all fell unconscious.

Byakuya watched as they collapsed, then turned to Lucci. "Take Enel with you and dump them somewhere uninhabited."

"Understood," Lucci replied.

Not far from the G-5 branch, a small, coffin-shaped boat drifted across the ocean. 

The vessel had an eerie appearance, with green flames flickering from two candles mounted on its sides, adding to the sinister atmosphere. 

Sitting aboard the boat was a lean man with short black hair, wearing a black top hat adorned with white fur trim, a wine-red patterned shirt, and a black overcoat. 

His piercing yellow eyes, sharp as an eagle's gaze stood out the most.

Only one man possessed such distinct eyes throughout the seas: Dracule Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, renowned as the "World's Greatest Swordsman." 

Around his neck hung a small cross-shaped dagger, while strapped to his back was the legendary black blade Yoru, the strongest sword in the world. 

Mihawk's calm, penetrating gaze was fixed on the G-5 branch in the distance.

Ever since witnessing the sheer power of Byakuya's sword strike in image transmission, Mihawk had harboured a singular thought: he had to face Byakuya in battle. 

Originally en route to the East Blue for a drink with Shanks, Mihawk had changed course and headed straight for the New World. 

As for the Marine and World Government's discussions about abolishing the Warlord system? Mihawk paid it no mind.

When the Seven Warlords system was first established, the World Government had invited him to join. 

Mihawk had only accepted because being a Warlord meant avoiding the inconvenience of Marine pursuit. 

Even without the title, his way of life would remain unchanged.

As Mihawk's coffin boat approached the G-5 branch, a soldier stationed in the observation tower spotted the approaching figure and immediately reported it to the highest-ranking officer at the base, Fergus. 

Moments later, Fergus, Ain, and Tashigi gathered in the observation tower. As they saw Mihawk drawing closer, worry etched across their faces.

Though they weren't certain of Mihawk's intentions, his status as a Warlord and Byakuya's involvement in the efforts to abolish the system gave them a good sense of his purpose. 

Ain's eyes flickered with unease as she asked, "When will Senior Byakuya and the others return?"

Ferguson frowned and replied, "When the meeting ended at noon two days ago, Vice Admiral Byakuya mentioned he was already on his way back."

"In that case, the earliest they'll arrive is tomorrow," Tashigi calculated aloud, her tone tinged with anxiety. "But Mihawk will reach us in less than an hour. We won't make it in time."

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Fergus said, "Relay this news to Vice Admiral Byakuya immediately." 

"In the meantime, we'll try to stall Mihawk as best we can and buy time for Byakuya to return."

"That's all we can do," Ain and Tashigi agreed, though they knew this plan was far from ideal.

Aboard the Daybreak, Issho soon received news of Mihawk's arrival. With Byakuya absent, the responsibility fell to him. 

Issho immediately ordered the ship to head for the G-5 branch at full speed, hoping to reach it as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Mihawk's small boat reached the shore, drawing closer under the watchful eyes of Fergus and the others. 

They had considered launching a long-range cannon attack but quickly dismissed the idea. 

Without knowing Mihawk's true intentions, attacking prematurely could escalate the situation unnecessarily. 

They risked turning a potential neutral party into an enemy. Besides, cannon fire was as trivial to Mihawk as toys to a child—it would achieve nothing.

With Yoru strapped to his back, Mihawk stepped off the boat and walked steadily toward the branch's entrance. 

His cold voice rang out: "Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman, is here to challenge Byakuya!"

Hearing Mihawk's declaration, Ferguson's heart sank. As expected, Mihawk was here for Byakuya. 

However, using the word "challenge" suggested that the situation might not be as dire as they had feared. 

Fergus was unaware that Mihawk had developed a deep admiration for Byakuya's swordsmanship after seeing that strike, recognizing it as equal to his own. 

Both men, untouched by Devil Fruit powers, were pure swordsmen—a rare and respected connection. 

This mutual respect prompted Mihawk to issue a challenge at the gate rather than storming in with a blade.

The branch gates opened slowly, revealing three figures: a man and two women. 

None of them was Byakuya. Mihawk frowned, interpreting Byakuya's absence as a refusal to fight. His voice turned icy. "Where is Byakuya?"

"Apologies, Vice Admiral Byakuya is attending a Marine meeting and hasn't returned yet," Fergus explained.

"Not back yet?" Mihawk murmured, his expression shifting into contemplation.

The tension among Fergus, Ain, and Tashigi grew as Mihawk fell silent. Their hearts pounded nervously, anticipating his next move. 

Then Mihawk's sharp eyes fell upon the swords at Ain and Tashigi's waists. 

He realized that these young female Marines were swordswomen, likely trained under Byakuya's guidance. 

A new thought arose in Mihawk's mind.