New World, Marine Headquarters.
A few white seagulls skimmed over the sea. Waves rolled in, and the waters around Marine Headquarters seemed peaceful.
After Aokiji became Fleet Admiral, he had not moved Marine Headquarters back to Marineford. It remained in the New World.
Marines hurried through headquarters, preparing for the coming execution.
Directly beneath Marine Headquarters lay a secret facility few knew existed.
A section beneath headquarters had been hollowed out during construction to house a secret prison.
The prison usually held no inmates. Only those deemed guilty of the worst crimes and awaiting execution were kept there.
With Marine Headquarters now in the New World, prisoners awaiting execution could hardly be held in Impel Down.
Neo Marine Headquarters and Impel Down were far apart. Transporting a prisoner between them for execution would bring too many additional risks.
"Tap, tap, tap..."
Heavy footsteps echoed through the pitch-black prison.
Luffy, his body stained with blood, opened his dark eyes.
"Who's there?"
His hands were locked in Seastone Handcuffs, and his old wounds had yet to heal. He could no longer use Observation Haki.
"Luffy."
An aged voice came out of the darkness.
Luffy stiffened at the sound. His head drooped.
"Grandpa."
A deathly silence settled over the prison. Neither Luffy nor Garp spoke again.
"Drip, drip..."
Something fell to the floor in drops. Luffy could not see what was happening in the dark, but he knew what the sound meant.
"If you three had listened to me and become Marines, none of this would have happened. Was being a Pirate really that appealing?"
Luffy stayed silent. Even now, he did not regret becoming a Pirate.
"I know. I know the sea held too much appeal for you.
"Luffy, do you know how happy I was when I heard you'd defeated Arlong?