Public Execution
The smoke of battle had barely cleared from Banaro Island when news of the conflict spread like wildfire across the ocean.
The Blackbeard Pirates escorted Fire Fist Ace to Marine Headquarters.
Also submitted was a piece of intelligence— Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Devil Fruit User, and an identity that had been hidden for over twenty years: the biological son of the One Piece Gol D. Roger.
Marshall D. Teach used this intelligence and Ace's life to obtain a warrant for becoming one of the Shichibukai from the Five Elders.
The traitor who was terrified and forced to flee by Uchiha Natsu on Origin Island in the West Blue, and who was mocked by the Five Elders in Mary Geoise for "not even being able to take down a Division Commander," has finally obtained what he wanted most.
One day later, the Marine Headquarters issued a notice to the world: Fire Fist Ace would be publicly executed at Marineford.
The New World, Moby Dick.
When the news arrived, the atmosphere on the ship seemed to have been cleaved in two.
All the Division Commander on the ship had gathered on the deck— Marco's face was ashen, as if frozen, and the lazy smile that usually graced his lips had completely vanished;
Jozu clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged out.
Vista's hands were already on the hilts of the twin swords, his fingertips trembling slightly.
Further away, the captains of Whitebeard's forty-three pirate crews were receiving their summons one after another, and pirate ships set sail from various islands in the New World, assembling at full speed towards the Moby Dick.
"That bastard Teach..." Someone gritted their teeth and squeezed out these words, and a suppressed chorus of curses and growls erupted on the deck. But everyone's gaze eventually fell on the huge chair at the bow of the ship.
Edward Newgate sat there, clutching the wanted poster in his hand, his thick, knuckle-bound fingers gripping the thin paper so tightly that the edges trembled slightly.
He didn't speak, nor did he roar. The people on the ship rarely saw their Pops like this—he would never be so silent, even when faced with Kaido's provocations.
He recalled what Natsu had told him on the Den Den Mushi not long ago—
"You will die," Natsu said to Ace, Ace didn't listen.
He didn't take it seriously at the time.
Now, the time and place of the execution are printed in cold lead type on that wanted poster, each word like a dull knife slowly sawing at his heart.
The silence lasted for a long time.
So long that the sea breeze made the flags on the deck flutter loudly, so long that the distant sound of the waves seemed to be suppressed into a low sob.
Then Whitebeard slowly rose from his seat, his body casting a huge shadow in the setting sun that enveloped the entire ship.
He raised his head, and in his eyes, which had witnessed decades of storms and rains on this sea, there was no hesitation, no retreat, only an unwavering determination to move forward.
"Gather everyone." His voice was hoarse and deep, yet it resonated like a muffled thunderclap in the ears of each of his sons. "Go to Marineford. Bring Ace back."
The New World, Moby Dick.
The fleet had assembled, with forty-three pirate ships lined up behind the flagship, the Whitebeard flag on the masts fluttering in the sea breeze.
On deck, the Division Commander were making final preparations for departure, moving fresh water, checking the gun barrels, and reinforcing the hull. Everyone was busy in silence.
Marco stood on the ship's railing, the blue flames of the Phoenix flickering on his shoulders, his gaze fixed intently on the direction of Marineford.
Just then, a pirate ship with a red dragon head carved on its prow sailed in from the horizon. The distinctive red stripe on its sail was recognized by everyone on the entire sea.
Marco frowned at first, then slowly relaxed, a complex light flashing in his eyes.
"Red-Hair..." he murmured the name, his tone neither hostile nor welcoming.
The other Division Commander on deck reacted much more directly— Jozu's fists were clenched, Vista's fingers were on the hilt of his sword, and several hot-tempered captains had even placed their hands on their weapons.
"What's he doing here?" Jozu asked in a deep voice.
No one answered.
Because the answer is no longer important— the Red-Haired Pirates ' ship has already pulled up alongside the Moby Dick.
The springboard was lowered, Shanks boarded Whitebeard's flagship alone.
He didn't bring his first mate, Ben Beckman, nor the ridiculously fat Raki Lou, and he even left his sword, Gryphon, on his own ship.
He was alone, wearing that black cloak, the sleeve of his left arm hanging empty at his side, as he walked step by step Earth Flow the Whitebeard.
The deck was so quiet that only the sea breeze and footsteps could be heard.
Whitebeard sat on that enormous chair, looking down at the Four Emperors years younger than him.
His right hand rested on the hilt of the Supreme Grade Blade Murakumogiri, the blade standing upright on the deck, taller than Shanks himself.
"Red-Hair brat." His voice was hoarse and low, carrying an undisguised wariness. "If you're here to catch up, maybe another day. I'm busy right now."
Shanks ignored the wariness in his tone.
He stopped in front of the Whitebeard, raised his head, and his eyes, beneath three scars, met those eyes that had witnessed decades of storms and rain over this sea.
"Whitebeard, I'm here to advise you to calm down." His voice wasn't loud, his tone was calm, but every word he spoke was like a nail driven into the deck. "I've heard about Ace. I'm sorry. But you can't go to Marineford."
"Can't go?" Whitebeard's voice suddenly turned cold, and the fingers resting on Murakumogiri slowly tightened. "Red-Hair, you'd better give me a decent reason."
"You know the reason yourself," Shanks said without backing down. "I know Teach better than any of you. This scar—" He raised his right hand, pointing to the three striking scratches on his left eye.
"It was thanks to him that I wasn't careful at all. I also regret what happened to Ace."
But if you were to lead your entire fleet to Marineford right now, do you know how many people would die?
Do you know what this war will turn this ocean into?
"Gurgle la la la la!" The Whitebeard suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, the sound so loud it shook the ship's side, yet it sent chills down one's spine. "Red-Hair brat, are you here to teach me how to do things?"
He abruptly stood up from his seat, his massive body casting an oppressive shadow on the deck.
He ripped off the IV line hanging on his body, and a few drops of medicine spilled out as the needle popped, hitting the deck with a soft sound.
The nurse on the ship cried out and tried to step forward, but he blocked her with one hand.