Whoosh... Whoosh... Whoosh!
As Murakumogiri spun through the air, Jiang Lin's actions seized everyone's attention.
He had asked Ace, a man marked for death, to become his crewmate. The implications were enough to set imaginations racing.
"D! You're not taking anyone away today!"
Sengoku stood on the Execution Platform and made his position clear. As the highest-ranking person present, he represented the Marines and the World Government. He could not simply ignore Jiang Lin's "provocation."
"Hahaha... That's our... That's our..."
Garp's gaze moved between Jiang Lin, Luffy, and Ace. A hearty smile appeared on his tear-streaked face.
"D! Are you declaring war on the World Government? What a terrifying young man!"
Kizaru directed the Marine Soldiers to attack the pirates while staring toward Jiang Lin in astonishment.
"Jiang Lin!"
Standing beside him, Luffy looked stunned too. He had never expected Jiang Lin to say something like that. It would help save Ace, but... why did it still feel a little strange?
"Jiang Lin!"
The Empress stared at Jiang Lin in shock. She had never imagined he would dare invite Ace, a condemned prisoner, right in front of the Fleet Admiral and three Admirals from Marine Headquarters.
He was openly snubbing Marine Headquarters. After this, the Marines would likely make him a priority target. That could hardly be good for his future.
"Pfft! Then again... how much difference would it make now?"
As she thought it over, the Empress realized Jiang Lin was already locked in a fight to the death with the World Government and Marine Headquarters.
His potential was too great for any power to overlook, and of them all, Marine Headquarters and the World Government surely wanted him gone most.
Whether or not he made this move today, the Marines would certainly launch a hunt for him once the war at Marineford ended.
So whatever outrageous thing he did was, in a way, only to be expected.
"Whoa... Did the Pirate Empress just smile? Has she fallen for someone? She's looking right this way. Could it be... I'm going to be her husband?"
A Marine Soldier caught sight of the Empress's smile and turned toward Boa Hancock, his face flushed with infatuation. Many others thought the same. When she saw the crowd of lovestruck Marine Soldiers before her, she raised her hands and formed a huge heart.
"Could it be... I was right?"
That was the last thought those Marine Soldiers had before they turned to stone. Reality was not nearly so kind. The Empress might fall for a man, but that man would never be one of them.
"Empress, what are you doing?"
Seeing so many Marine Soldiers beside him petrified, Vice Admiral Momonga turned on her angrily.
"They dared to harbor improper thoughts about me. Surely everyone will forgive me for this. After all, I'm beautiful beyond compare!"
Boa Hancock pointed one hand at the ground, lifted her chin, and looked at Vice Admiral Momonga with utter disdain.
"Whoa... There it is! That look of complete contempt from the Empress!"
At her words, even more Marine Soldiers turned toward her, openly smitten.
"Hmph! I hope you haven't forgotten what's at stake for Amazon Lily."
Vice Admiral Momonga gave a cold snort and turned back toward Jiang Lin.
At the center of everyone's attention, Jiang Lin had eyes for only one person from beginning to end—Ace!
"I... I..."
Ace's gaze kept shifting between Whitebeard and Jiang Lin. Ever since he had accepted Whitebeard as Pops, he had wanted only one thing: to help him become king.
But Jiang Lin's arrival had shaken that resolve, if only a little. And after Whitebeard acknowledged him, that uncertainty grew stronger.
"I understand. Maybe now isn't the time to invite you aboard. Once I get you out of here, you can decide!"
Jiang Lin smiled and shook his head. The Marine Soldiers breathed a collective sigh of relief. None of them dared imagine what might happen if he kept pressing Ace.
If Ace agreed, Sengoku would be furious. And if Sengoku lost his temper, the fighting and its consequences might spiral completely out of control.
"Garp, I hope you won't hold back when the time comes."
Sengoku shot Garp a pointed look. Jiang Lin might have stopped trying to recruit Ace, but he remained their top-priority enemy. Someone like Garp, who had no Devil Fruit powers, was clearly their best choice against him.
"Heh! They're both good lads."
Garp gave a noncommittal chuckle, offering no clear answer to Sengoku's order.
"How interesting, D! I hope I get to face you at your strongest someday!"
Cold air poured from Aokiji's body. His eyes burned with the desire to fight Jiang Lin.
"D!"
Whitebeard caught Murakumogiri when Jiang Lin threw it back. He said nothing more. He had already "said" everything he meant to when he threw the weapon, and further words would serve no purpose.
He didn't keep pushing? Good. This is no time to look for crewmates. Whitebeard only just acknowledged him. If he recruited the Pirate King's son too, he might make an enemy of everyone.
Seeing Jiang Lin relent, the Empress finally let go of the anxiety she had been holding in. She had feared he would dig in his heels and end up facing the whole world.
As the Empress pressed a hand to her chest, still marveling at what had happened, a streak of yellow lightning shot toward her amid the crowd's cries. A familiar scent reached her on the moving air.
"Boa Hancock! How about becoming my crewmate?"
Jiang Lin emerged from the yellow flash and held out his right hand to the Empress. She was stunned—and in the distance, Sengoku's jaw nearly dropped.
"Huh...?"
Cries of shock rang out across Marineford, the Sabaody Archipelago, and every corner of the world.