The smiling, short-haired man standing outside the cell with a sword at his waist was none other than River, the man Ace had met before who claimed to be his uncle.
"Why are you here?"
Ace asked in shock.
"I've always been a Marine!"
River said with a faint smile.
"A Marine?!"
Ace froze.
"Garp really hasn't told you anything about me!"
River sighed softly, then sat down cross-legged.
"Let's talk about you first, Ace!"
At the mention of himself, Ace lowered his head. "What's there to talk about? Look at the state I'm in."
"You aren't here to rescue me either, are you?"
River nodded. "At the moment, I really can't get you out."
"The Marines intend to use you to lure Whitebeard here, then launch an all-out war."
"Their goal is to wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates, who currently stand at the head of the Four Emperors, and curb the ever-growing tide of the Great Pirate Era."
"That will also serve as a warning to those ambitious men determined to set out for the Grand Line."
After a pause, River fixed his eyes on Ace.
"In other words, Ace, you've become the spark that will ignite this war."
"Your defeat at the hands of Marshall D. Teach is what triggered this unprecedented war!"
His words echoed through the prison. The torches on either side flickered and crackled, and Ace's bowed head sank even lower.
"It's my fault!"
"Is there any way to stop this war from happening, Uncle?"
River shook his head. "This has already become the course the world is taking."
"Right now, both the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates are doing everything they can to prepare for war."
"This war can no longer be avoided!"
"And you!"
River paused briefly, his voice sinking.
"Will become the