The situation changed abruptly!
With this upheaval at the heart of the battlefield, countless Marines and pirates who had been fighting fiercely nearby could not help but turn their attention toward it.
There stood the pirates' old man, Whitebeard; the Marines' revered Admiral Sakazuki; and that figure.
His black trench coat snapped wildly in the lingering shockwaves from the bombardment. His large, well-defined hands slowly lit a cigarette, while the twin disasters of magma and earthquakes could not draw near him.
The entire battlefield ground to a halt because of one man.
And the atmosphere grew more and more stifling.
Whether pirate or Marine, everyone found this sudden intervention strange. He was clearly on the Marines' side...
Only Sengoku's expression changed instantly upon hearing those words.
His pupils trembled as he looked at that figure.
Those scarlet eyes
slowly lifted to meet his gaze.
"Then... Fleet Admiral Sengoku, please announce the World Government's latest order."
The entire battlefield fell silent, then everyone looked toward the execution platform, toward the figure whose face was shrouded in shadow.
Perhaps he already knew there was no changing it.
After struggling internally for a long time, Sengoku finally announced to all Marines,
"By order of the World Government, [Black Spear] Austin is to be included among the enemy forces!!!"
This was the Five Elders' retaliation!!!
It was also their fury after their bottom line had been crossed!!!
Even knowing the Marines could not possibly do anything to Austin, they still had to make their stance clear, because...
The World Government could tolerate Nika's appearance. Even the Five Elders would not lose their composure too badly over it.
But...
Joy Boy absolutely could not return to this world!!!
Nika was merely the power of a Devil Fruit.
Joy Boy, on the other hand, was the