Sengoku spoke, an indescribable gravity settling over his deeply wrinkled face. Through the small Amplifying Den Den Mushi, he addressed all the Marines and pirates present, as well as the reporters and photographers waiting at the Sabaody Archipelago, in a somber voice.
"I have an announcement to make concerning the immense significance of executing Portgas D. Ace today..."
Sengoku paused there. Everyone present fixed their eyes on him, waiting for his next words.
Hearing Sengoku's words, Tsuru, who knew the truth, turned toward Garp. His face was expressionless, but she could keenly sense the anger and helplessness in his heart. She spoke.
"This isn't your fault..."
But at Tsuru's words, Garp suddenly laughed.
He said through his booming laughter,
"Oh... ha... ha... women really are gentle at times like this, Tsuru!"
Once his laughter faded, however, only a bitter smile remained on Garp's face... no one could understand his pain...
At that moment, Sengoku finally spoke again...
"Ace, state your father's name!"
"..."
Ace said nothing. He merely shot Sengoku, who stood behind him, a look of utter fury. The Marines who knew nothing of the truth and the reporters waiting at the Sabaody Archipelago were all bewildered by Sengoku's question.
"His father?"
"What? Why ask that at a time like this..."
But Ace withdrew his furious gaze, closed his eyes, and declared firmly in a low voice,
"My Pops is Whitebeard!"
"Wrong!"
Sengoku angrily cut him off the moment he finished, but Ace shouted again.
"No! It's Whitebeard! No one else!"
This time, hearing Ace's furious shout, Sengoku instead grew calm. After a long silence, he raised the Den Den Mushi again and spoke gravely.
"Back then, we searched every inch of that island, going to extraordinary lengths because we had heard that man's child was there."
"Based on