Akainu glanced at Liam Ross from the corner of his eye, his tone cold and dismissive. "Clean this place until it shines. If I find even a speck of dust left, you'll answer for it."
Of course, Liam thought bitterly. The moment Dragon leaves, this mutt can't wait to pick a fight.
He let out a quiet, humorless laugh and got to work without a word. Akainu lounged in his chair, a cigar between his teeth, watching with that mocking look that said: See this, boy? This is what happens when you forget your place.
Time crawled by. The only sounds were the soft scrape of the mop and the faint crackle of Akainu's cigar.
When the last corner gleamed, Liam straightened up, calm as still water. "Vice Admiral, I've cleaned the room as ordered."
"Oh? Is that so?" Akainu's eyes narrowed. "You're sure everything's spotless?"
Before Liam could respond, Akainu flicked his cigar, scattering ashes across the freshly cleaned floor. A cruel smile tugged at his lips. "Then you must've missed this spot."
Liam's expression didn't change, but inside he was seething. Really? A Vice Admiral no, the future Fleet Admiral stooping this low just to mess with me? How petty can you get?
He clenched his jaw, picked up his tools, and swept the ashes away. When he was done, he turned back to Akainu. "It's clean now, sir. May I leave?"
"Not yet," Akainu replied, smirking. "Why stop here? You can clean the whole floor while you're at it."
The tone made Liam's blood boil, but he forced his face into calm neutrality. He knew Akainu was doing this just to humiliate him.
For a brief moment, a dangerous thought flickered across his mind. What if I just quit the Marines? Go rogue?
But the idea faded as quickly as it came. With his current strength barely at Vice Admiral level he could maybe survive as a pirate with a hundred-million-berry bounty, but the seas were crawling with monsters far stronger than him. Life as a fugitive would be one endless gamble.
No safety. No peace. Just running and fighting until death caught up.
No thanks, he decided. Better to endure. For now.
He glanced at Akainu's smug expression and took a deep breath. "Understood, sir," he said evenly, then turned to continue cleaning.
Akainu watched him leave, a cold smile curling on his lips.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Liam had finally finished cleaning the entire floor. His enhanced body could've worked for days without tiring, but the injustice still burned inside him.
He hadn't done anything wrong yet he was the one punished.
He exhaled sharply. "You'll get what's coming, Akainu. Just wait."
After a brief sign-in that rewarded him with another Basic Experience Card, he returned the cleaning tools and headed to the mess hall for dinner.
Night settled over Marineford.
In his dorm, the clock ticked toward midnight. Liam stared at it for a moment before sitting up. With a silent grin, he activated his Invisibility Technique, his body fading into the shadows.
He slipped out of the dorm unseen, moving through the moonlit courtyards toward the officers' residential area.
Before long, he found Akainu's villa lights off, windows dark.
"Well, someone's sleeping early," Liam murmured with a smirk.
He bent his knees, ready to launch himself with Moon Step, when soft footsteps echoed from down the path.
Clack. Clack.
Liam turned his head. To his surprise, there was Akainu himself, coat draped over his shoulders, cigar glowing in the dark as he strode arrogantly down the path.
Liam's grin widened. Perfect timing, dog. Saved me the trouble of waiting.
As Akainu passed, he didn't even flinch. His Observation Haki didn't react the perfected invisibility cloaked every trace of Liam's presence.
Standing right behind him, Liam quietly pulled an iron rod from his system inventory.
Akainu reached the villa door, hand on the knob, just as Liam swung the rod down in a perfect arc.
Bang!
The rod struck true but instead of a satisfying crack, it sizzled into molten slag against Akainu's magma-formed head.
The attack had triggered his reflexive Logia defense.
Akainu spun around, eyes flashing with killing intent but the path behind him was empty. No movement, no sound, not even a shadow.
He frowned deeply. The half-melted iron rod on the ground was evidence enough someone had tried to ambush him. But where was the attacker?
His Observation Haki spread out like a pulse, sweeping every inch of the courtyard. Nothing.
Impossible. Did they escape?
He frowned. The speed required to attack and vanish in less than a second was absurd.
A Devil Fruit user, perhaps?
Still, who would dare strike a Marine Vice Admiral in the heart of Headquarters? It was suicide.
If only he knew the "attacker" was standing less than a meter away, hands in pockets, watching with barely contained amusement.
Liam stayed perfectly still, his heartbeat steady. You move, I move. You stop, I stop.
For long, tense minutes, they stood like statues.
Liam, invisible and relaxed, even paced around Akainu just for fun. But Akainu every muscle in his body tight, eyes darting, breath controlled was on the edge of snapping.
After several more minutes, Akainu finally exhaled. Whoever it was, they're gone by now.
He muttered darkly, "To think someone could infiltrate Marineford undetected… This is a serious breach. I'll have words with Kizaru tomorrow."
With that, he turned and entered his villa.
Liam's eyes gleamed. Now's my chance.
He coated his right hand in Armament Haki, invisible energy crackling against his knuckles, and drove his fist forward.
Akainu sensed the danger a split second too late. His eyes widened but before he could react, a sharp blow crashed into the back of his head. His world went black.
The great Vice Admiral Akainu collapsed face-first onto the floor, unconscious.
Liam crouched beside him, patting his cheek lightly. "Still think you're untouchable, huh? Picking on subordinates like some spoiled tyrant. Honestly, Akainu, your ego's smaller than a needle's eye. Consider this a lesson in humility."
He grinned, eyes glinting mischievously. Then a thought struck him.
"Oh, why not?"
Moments later, Akainu was stripped down to his underwear, sprawled unconscious on the floor. Liam whistled cheerfully as he walked away, still invisible, satisfied with his work.
He didn't notice the tiny Den Den Mushi perched on a nearby lamppost its camera lens gleaming as it recorded every second of his little "lesson."