Marine Headquarters on High Alert!

At this moment, Marineford...

was undergoing an unprecedentedly tense mobilization!

A tall execution platform had been erected in front of the Marine Headquarters building!

Beneath the execution platform, three golden chairs were placed!

Currently, the chairs were empty...

But the soldiers in the plaza knew that these chairs belonged to the current Marine Admirals!

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

Among them was Vice Admiral Tsuru, a woman whose seniority and experience were legendary, standing prominently in the ranks!

Besides Vice Admiral Tsuru, the newly promoted Vice Admiral Borsalino, codenamed 'Kizaru,' and Kuzan, codenamed 'Aokiji,' stood on either side of Tsuru, exuding a powerful oppressive aura. At this moment, Kuzan and the others already displayed some of the commanding presence of future Marine Admirals.

"Senior Tsuru, why don't you go back and rest first?"

"You can just come along when Senior Garp, Teacher Zephyr, and Admiral Sengoku come out. No enemies will come anyway..."

"Even if enemies do come, they definitely won't be our match~"

Beside Vice Admiral Tsuru, Borsalino, with a lazy expression, yawned as he spoke to Tsuru. From Borsalino's demeanor, it was clear he didn't take the Golden Lion and the Flying Pirates seriously at all. In fact, ever since Borsalino consumed the Glint-Glint Fruit, he rarely had opportunities to fight seriously...

"Hey! Borsalino, don't look down on people! I'm in my prime right now, not so old that I can't fight! Dealing with you brats is still easy..."

Upon hearing Borsalino's words, Vice Admiral Tsuru's eyebrows furrowed, and she spoke angrily.

"Ahahaha, Senior Tsuru is really getting angry..."

Kuzan, standing beside Tsuru and Borsalino, chuckled as he spoke.

"Just as Mr. Garp said, she's so scary!"

Borsalino chimed in, echoing Kuzan.

"Kuzan, stop with the sarcastic remarks! All you juniors, pay attention! The one about to be executed is a great pirate who was once on par with the Pirate King Roger and Whitebeard Newgate!"

"He's also a member of the legendary Rocks Pirates! It's possible he still has connections with Rocks' former subordinates. This time, it might be the closest our Marines have come to annihilation in the hundreds of years since our founding..."

Vice Admiral Tsuru crossed her arms and lectured Kuzan and Borsalino beside her.

"Don't worry, Senior Tsuru~"

"Understood, Senior Tsuru~"

In response, Borsalino nodded slightly at Tsuru, indicating his agreement.

As for Kuzan, he was muttering under his breath, "What's the big deal about being on par with Roger? Pirate King Roger was defeated by Mr. Garp and executed by us Marines! Can this Golden Lion really turn the world upside down?!"

"Also, Senior Tsuru is clearly past her prime, yet she's acting like a youngster and rushing to the front lines~ Could it be that Senior Tsuru has reached menopause? If so, she's practically an old lady..."

"You damn Kuzan! I'm not deaf yet! I heard everything you just said! And I heard it loud and clear..."

In response, Vice Admiral Tsuru glared at the softly muttering Kuzan and roared.

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

Kuzan, seeing the furious Vice Admiral Tsuru, immediately waved his hands and apologized profusely.

"Speaking of which, where did Sakazuki go?"

At this moment, Borsalino seemed to recall something and asked with confusion.

"I don't know. Maybe Sakazuki is still sleeping in somewhere?"

Kuzan crossed his arms and speculated maliciously.

"Sleeping in?"

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

The instant Kuzan finished speaking, a hoarse and resolute voice suddenly boomed from behind Kuzan, catching him completely off guard.

"Uh..."

Upon hearing this, Kuzan's body immediately trembled.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the newcomer, but he was indeed in the wrong first.

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

Borsalino added fuel to the fire.

"Kuzan, your Observation Haki needs training!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru lectured Kuzan.

"Alright, alright..."

"It's all my fault, is that okay now?"

"Honestly, stop talking, just let me off the hook!"

In response, Kuzan waved his hands repeatedly and apologized again.

"Wow! Look, it's the Admirals!"

Just as Kuzan was continuously apologizing.

Amidst the surprised shouts of the Marines in the plaza, Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr, all wearing matching black suits and Marine justice coats, slowly emerged from the backstage passage of Marine Headquarters. They then took their seats on three golden chairs placed below the execution platform, crossing their arms and legs.

This was the world's most righteous posture!

"Senior Garp looks so cool!"

Kuzan exclaimed excitedly, looking at Garp seated on the golden chair.

"Huh? Isn't Garp a Vice Admiral?"

Sakazuki, on the other hand, was focused in a different direction.

"Heh, if Vice Admiral Garp wanted to, he could have been promoted to Admiral long ago, right?"

Borsalino interjected at this point.

"If he can get promoted, then hurry up and do it!"

Sakazuki replied with dissatisfaction.

"You don't understand. The realm of Mr. Garp is not something vulgar people like you and I can comprehend!"

Kuzan said indignantly after hearing Sakazuki.

"What did you say?!"

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

"Alright, alright, stop arguing!"

"The main character is here!"

Just as Kuzan and Sakazuki were about to start bickering again...

Vice Admiral Tsuru, unable to stand it any longer, couldn't help but interrupt the two.

"Click, click, click..."

At the same moment Tsuru's voice fell, accompanied by the crisp sound of chains dragging on the ground, over and over!

The legendary pirate, Golden Lion Shiki, escorted by Fleet Admiral Kong of Marine Headquarters, finally ascended the seemingly bleak and tragic execution platform.

As soon as Golden Lion Shiki stepped onto the stage, he saw crowds of Marines...

There were at least a hundred thousand Marines, all wearing white uniforms and equipped with cold weapons and firearms by their sides! At this moment, everyone exuded vigor and glared at him fiercely.

"Heh~"

Golden Lion Shiki was dismissive of this. Even legendary pirates had legendary pride!

Then, Shiki, with his pride, was pushed down onto the execution platform by the two Marine soldiers beside him, kneeling with a 'plop' before the current Fleet Admiral Kong.

"Heh~"

Kong merely gave a disdainful smile, looking at Shiki as if he were an idiot.