Marine Headquarters on High Alert!

At that moment, Marineford...

was undergoing an unprecedentedly tense mobilization!

A towering execution platform had already been erected before the Marine Headquarters building!

Directly beneath the execution platform stood three golden chairs!

For the moment, the chairs were empty...

But every soldier in the square knew those seats belonged to the current Marine Admirals!

Below the execution platform and the chairs stood the Marine Headquarters Vice Admirals and Rear Admirals.

Among them was Vice Admiral Tsuru, a woman whose seniority and experience were both legendary~

Aside from Vice Admiral Tsuru, Borsalino, who had just been promoted to vice admiral and bore the codename "Kizaru," and Kuzan, codenamed "Aokiji," stood on either side of her, radiating immense pressure.

At that moment, Kuzan and the others already possessed a measure of the bearing that future Marine Admirals would have.

"Senior Tsuru, why don't you go back and get some rest first~"

"You can come with Vice Admiral Garp, Instructor Zephyr, and Admiral Sengoku once they come out. There won't be any enemies anyway..."

"Even if enemies really do come, they definitely won't be a match for us~"

At Vice Admiral Tsuru's side, Borsalino spoke to her while yawning lazily. From his expression, it was clear that he did not take Golden Lion Shiki or the Flying Pirates seriously at all. In fact, ever since Borsalino had eaten the Glint-Glint Fruit, he had rarely had an opportunity to get serious...

"Hey! Borsalino, stop looking down on people! I'm still in my prime. I'm not so old that I can't fight! Taking care of brats like you would still be easy..."

After hearing Borsalino's words, Tsuru's brows knit as she snapped angrily.

"Ahahaha, Senior Tsuru really got angry..."

Standing beside Tsuru and Borsalino, Kuzan said with a grin.

"Just like Mr. Garp said, she's terrifying!"

Borsalino immediately chimed in after Kuzan spoke.

"Kuzan, quit making snide remarks here! All you youngsters need to take this seriously. The one about to be executed was a great pirate once as famous as Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard Newgate!"

"At the same time, he was also a member of the legendary Rocks Pirates! For all we know, he may still have ties to Rocks' former subordinates. This could very well become the closest the Marines have come to destruction in the hundreds of years since our founding..."

With her arms folded before her, Tsuru lectured Kuzan and Borsalino beside her.

"Don't worry, Senior Tsuru~"

"Got it, Senior Tsuru~"

In response, Borsalino nodded lightly at Tsuru to show his agreement.

As for Kuzan, he muttered under his breath, "So what if he was as famous as Roger? Pirate King Roger was defeated by Mr. Garp and executed by us Marines! Could one Golden Lion really turn the world upside down?!"

"And Senior Tsuru is clearly already at the age of an old auntie, yet she's still trying to act like a youngster and show off on the front lines~ Could Senior Tsuru have reached menopause already? That would make her practically an old lady..."

"Damn it, Kuzan! I'm not hard of hearing yet! I heard every single word you just said! Loud and clear..."

Tsuru roared at Kuzan, who had been muttering quietly.

"Uh, Senior Tsuru, don't be angry! I know I was wrong, I know..."

Seeing Vice Admiral Tsuru lose her temper, Kuzan immediately waved his hands and apologized without hesitation.

"Come to think of it, where did Sakazuki go?"

At that moment, Borsalino seemed to recall something and asked in confusion.

"No idea. Maybe Sakazuki is still off somewhere sleeping in?"

With his arms folded before him, Kuzan speculated with obvious ill intent.

"Sleeping in?"

"Do you think I'm you, Kuzan!"

The instant Kuzan finished speaking, a hoarse yet resolute voice suddenly rang out behind him, catching him completely off guard.

"Uh..."

Kuzan's body immediately trembled at the sound.

Of course, it was not because he feared the newcomer. It was because he really had been in the wrong!

"Kuzan, it's not good to gossip about people behind their backs~"

Borsalino added fuel to the fire.

"Kuzan, you need to train your Observation Haki!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru lectured Kuzan as well.

"Alright, alright..."

"It was all my fault, okay?"

"Seriously, stop it already. Hurry up and forgive me!"

Kuzan waved his hands repeatedly and apologized once again.

"Whoa! Look, it's the admirals!"

Just as Kuzan was continuously apologizing.

Amid the startled cries of the Marines in the square, Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr appeared, dressed in black suits of similar colors and wearing Marine justice coats over their shoulders...

They slowly emerged from the passage behind Marine Headquarters, then each took a seat in one of the three golden chairs beneath the execution platform. With their arms folded before them, they crossed their legs in unison!

This was the posture of the world's most righteous men~

"Vice Admiral Garp looks so cool!"

Kuzan shouted excitedly as he looked at Garp seated in the golden chair.

"Huh? Isn't Garp just a vice admiral?"

Sakazuki, however, was focused on something else.

"Hehe, if Vice Admiral Garp had wanted to, he could have become a Marine Admiral long ago, right?"

Borsalino interjected.

"If he can be promoted, then he should hurry up and get promoted!"

Sakazuki responded in dissatisfaction.

"You don't understand. Mr. Garp has reached a realm that ordinary people like us could never comprehend!"

After hearing Sakazuki's words, Kuzan said unhappily.

"What did you say?!"

For a moment, Kuzan and Sakazuki seemed to be at odds again.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing!"

"The main attraction is here!"

Just as Kuzan and Sakazuki were about to start trading barbs again...

Vice Admiral Tsuru, who could no longer stand watching them, could not help but interrupt the two.

Clank, clank, clank...

Just as Tsuru finished speaking, crisp sounds rang out one after another as chains scraped across the ground!

The legendary great pirate Golden Lion Shiki, escorted by Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral Kong, finally stepped onto the seemingly bleak and miserable execution platform.

The first thing Golden Lion Shiki saw upon stepping onto the platform was a sea of Marines...

There were no fewer than a hundred thousand Marines in white uniforms, armed with blades and muskets! Every one of them brimmed with vigor as they glared fiercely at him.

"Hehe~"

Golden Lion Shiki was utterly dismissive of them. A legendary great pirate had the pride of a legend!

Then Shiki, filled with unyielding pride, was forced down onto the execution platform by the two Marine soldiers at his side. With a thud, he was made to kneel before the current Fleet Admiral, Kong.

"Hehe~"

Kong merely gave a disdainful laugh. He looked at Shiki as though he were looking at an idiot.