Execute the Pirate King's Right-Hand Man!

Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Fleet Admiral's Office.

Sengoku, who was handling official business, received Den Den Mushi from Kizaru on Punk Hazard Island.

"Now that we've already received Pluton Rayleigh, let's bring him back first! Then send him to Impel Down to be imprisoned."

Impel Down?

While ordering the surrounding marines to prepare a warship for him to leave Punk Hazard Island, Kizaru replied to Sengoku's words.

"Wouldn't that be too unsafe?"

"First it was the Fleet Admiral Sengoku, then the Golden Lion II, and now the Whitebeard the Second. Impel Down isn't the 'impregnable fortress' it used to be anymore~"

Upon hearing the names of Golden Lion II and Whitebeard the Second, Sengoku's brows twitched uncontrollably.

He had overlooked this point before...

Impel Down located deep within the Calm Belt, giving it a natural geographical advantage. The Calm Belt alone can block 99% of enemies.

However, Golden Lion II Rhein possesses the [Float-Float Fruit] ability, which allows him to completely ignore the Calm Belt!

The World Government and the Marine Headquarters successfully "captured" Pluton Rayleigh.

The superiors' opinion is to publicly execute Pluton Rayleigh and broadcast the execution live across the entire ocean.

After all, no matter what.

Pluton Rayleigh, was a legendary Great Pirate from the Old Era.

As the right-hand man of the Pirate King, First Mate of the Roger Pirates.

Pluton Rayleigh absolutely deserves to be publicly executed by the Marine Headquarters!

To maximize the effect of this public execution, the World Government and the Marine Headquarters need to inform the entire ocean of the execution.

Let everyone in the ocean know one thing--

Being a pirate is a dead-end job with no future!

If the Navy chooses to announce the news of "the execution of the Pirate King's right arm" to the entire sea...

Therefore, it is essential to ensure that Pluton Rayleigh remains under the Navy's supervision at all times!

Therefore, Impel Down is indeed not a suitable location.

Not long ago, Golden Lion II single-handedly stormed into Impel Down and, without anyone noticing, helped a large group of prisoners on Level 5.5 successfully escape!

In addition, Whitebeard the Second. continued to harass Impel Down for several days afterward...

Sengoku was genuinely worried that one day these two "Second Generation Great Pirate" might suddenly decide to storm into Impel Down and release Pluton Rayleigh.

In that case, all the Navy's efforts would be in vain.

Impel Down is definitely not suitable.

The Sengoku itself contradicted his previous strategy.

"Alright, Borsalino, bring Pluton Rayleigh directly to headquarters! Imprison him there temporarily!"

After a moment's thought, Kizaru did not politely refuse Sengoku's order this time.

Although the Marine Headquarters was also once invaded by Golden Lion Shiki...

Eighteen years ago, Golden Lion Shiki stormed Marine Headquarters alone, only to be defeated by Buddha Sengoku and the Hero Garp...

But that happened more than a decade ago.

Apart from Golden Lion Shiki, no one else dared to attack Marine Headquarters.

Even the Golden Lion II wouldn't dare... right?

"I understand. I'll take Pluton Rayleigh back to headquarters right away."

Kizaru ended the call and boarded the warship bound for the Red Line Continent with Pluton Rayleigh.

Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Sengoku also hung up the Den Den Mushi.

He organized the documents at hand and was preparing to convene an emergency meeting with the senior naval officers remaining at headquarters.

But just then, the door to the Fleet Admiral's Office was kicked open with a loud bang, and large pieces of debris, along with bits of wood, flew everywhere.

The instigator hadn't even appeared yet, but his voice had already reached the Fleet Admiral's Office.

"Sengoku! I need to ask for leave and go home!"

"Damn Garp!!"

Several veins suddenly appeared on Sengoku's forehead.

Instead of staying behind his desk, he rushed to the door of the Fleet Admiral's Office and grabbed the old man by the collar before he could even enter.

"Headquarters is about to launch a major operation! You want to go home now?"

Sengoku gripped Garp's collar tightly and unleashed a torrent of spittle at the latter, nearly spraying him in the face.

"Is your grandson more important, or the navy's mission?"

Why are you so agitated?

Garp turned his face away, using his thick skin to fend off Sengoku's "spit attack."

"There are so many young people in the navy, what mission would require an old man like me to participate in?"

"It's 'Pluton'!"

Sengoku loosened his grip on Garp's collar and said coldly.

"Pluton Silvers Rayleigh, the Lord of the Underworld, has been captured by 'us' and is about to be publicly executed."

It was Storm who truly captured Pluton Rayleigh.

But Storm is not only Shichibukai, but also Rear Admiral in the Sword Unit.

The "we" from the Sengoku was spoken with such confidence and self-assurance.

"Rayleigh? Pfft, hahaha--"

Garp suddenly burst into laughter.

"That guy, after hiding in the Sabaody Archipelago for so many years, actually got caught?"

"Garp, you bastard! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Sengoku immediately reached out and grabbed Garp by the collar, forcibly dragging him into the Fleet Admiral's Office.

Even the Navy's top brass knew that Pluton Rayleigh, had been active around the Sabaody Archipelago.

But this kind of thing definitely can't be discussed openly!

Otherwise.

The marines below might then ask—why not capture Pluton Rayleigh?

If this issue continues to expand...

It might even turn into—why not just clear out the Sabaody Archipelago directly?

Nonsense!

The Sabaody Archipelago —do you think the Navy can just clear it out as it pleases?!

The Sabaody Archipelago is very close to the Red Line Continent.

From time to time, Celestial Dragons would descend from Mary Geoise and "visit" the Sabaody Archipelago, recruiting "subordinates" from the so-called "Public Employment Security Office."

Here's a simple translation.

The Celestial Dragons need to buy slaves on the Sabaody Archipelago!

Even though the World Government explicitly abolished the slave trade more than two hundred years ago.

However, in the Sabaody Archipelago, right under the nose of the Marine Headquarters, large-scale slave trade activities were still being carried out openly.

The root of all this is that the Celestial Dragons are "exercising power"!

Sengoku forcefully dragged Garp into the Fleet Admiral's Office.

"When I ask you to do something productive, you're always complaining of backaches and muscle aches, and you even have to take time off to go home and look after your grandson!"

Sengoku extended his index finger and repeatedly and forcefully poked Garp's pectoral muscles.

"You're Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral! Garp! Show me some serious fighting spirit!"

"It's just executing Rayleigh, not starting a war with those pirates from the New World! What's the big deal?"

Garp shook his clothes, bypassed Sengoku's body, and went to the latter's desk, casually opening a drawer.

"Wow! A new flavor of senbei! Crunch crunch--"

"Garp, you bastard!"

Sengoku rushed to Garp's desk in three quick steps, snatched the senbei from Garp's hand, and then shoved them all into his mouth.

Garp shook his head at Sengoku's stingy behavior.

"How old are you? You're so childish!"

"Cough cough cough!"

Sengoku coughed violently, and the crumbs from the senbei almost sprayed all over Garp.

"What exactly are you doing here?"

"I said I needed to take leave!"

Garp casually sat down on the Fleet Admiral's desk and said with a troubled expression.

"Didn't I tell you before? My grandson has been misled; he's giving up being a Marine to become a pirate!"

"Now look what's happened! He actually ran away from home while I was away! I have no idea where he's gone!"

From the Marine Headquarters to Dawn Island in the East Blue, the distance between the two is roughly half a planet.

Garp's information network is indeed not very good.

But at least he now knows the news that "Ace has set sail".

As for the specific details, he has not yet obtained them.

"Your grandson actually went and became a pirate?"

Sengoku stared in astonishment, his eyes wide.

"A disgrace! A disgrace to the Navy!"

"Snort!"

Garp had nothing to argue about this, he just snorted coldly.

"Anyway, I need to go home now! My grandson isn't even an adult yet, and he dares to go out to sea!"

"She's even braver than me! But that's a good thing, isn't it? Hahaha--"

Garp left the Fleet Admiral's Office with a loud laugh.

After a moment of hesitation, the Sengoku period leader did not stop the other side.

After all, just as Garp said.

This time, it was "only" Pluton Rayleigh, who was to be executed.

It's not just the World Government.

Even the Marine Headquarters did not take this execution very seriously.

Since the Roger Pirates disbanded, Pluton Rayleigh, now all alone, has essentially retired from the world of pirates.

This remnant of the Old Era has long since left the stage of the new era.

From the perspective of the Sengoku.

At sea today, probably not many people care about Pluton Rayleigh, who has been out of the public eye for over a decade or two.

The meanings of "the execution of the Pirate King's right arm" and "the execution of the Pirate King's son" are quite different.

The "Summit War" that will break out at the Marine Headquarters in the future.

The Navy does indeed want to execute the "Pirate King's son".

But the more important strategic goal is to destroy the Whitebeard Pirates!

The Navy only wants to execute Pluton Rayleigh, not specifically target any Yonko pirate crew.

It's understandable that they didn't pay enough attention to it.

But no matter what...

Pluton Rayleigh, is also a legendary Great Pirate.

The Sengoku still paid considerable attention to this "old friend".

After Garp left.

As planned, Sengoku convened an emergency meeting at his headquarters.

At an emergency meeting.

Sengoku gets straight to the point, directly stating the news that Pluton Rayleigh, is about to be executed.

The news immediately sparked a flurry of discussion among the high-ranking naval officers attending the meeting.

"Pluton Rayleigh? What an ancient name..."

"Isn't this the First Mate of the Roger Pirates?"

"We failed to capture Roger Pirates after it disbanded, but now we've actually caught him?"

"No matter what, we must eradicate evil completely!"

"Uphold justice to the end!"

Since the Fleet Admiral has already issued the order to "execute the Pirate King's right arm".

Therefore, the high-ranking naval officers participating in this emergency meeting would not be so foolish as to disobey the orders of the Fleet Admiral and the World Government.

Rayleigh's execution plan was quickly finalized.

After a brief exchange...

The first location confirmed was Pluton Rayleigh's execution site.

Sabaody Archipelago!

This is the third update, 11,000 words. Please subscribe! Please vote with monthly tickets!

There will be another update tonight!

I'll try to finish writing before midnight!