"Whoooosh!"
The wind blew hard over Marineford, making the office curtains flap wildly.
From the window, the world's largest fortress lay spread out in full view. Huge cannons lined the walls surrounding the Inner Bay.
A grim atmosphere hung over Marine Headquarters.
As time passed, Ace's execution drew ever closer. The fortress's increasingly strict defenses and changing atmosphere were almost visible to the naked eye.
Elite troops from around the world had already taken up positions here, awaiting the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates, one of the forces of the Four Emperors.
"Freya."
Gazing out at Marineford, River suddenly called her name.
"Sir!"
Wearing a Marine uniform, gold-rimmed glasses, and high heels, Freya walked over and answered sweetly.
"What have Bagu and the others been doing lately?"
River asked.
The Marine elite from all over the world had now gathered at Marineford. That also meant all manner of forces were mingling here.
Some belonged to the headquarters faction, others to regional factions, and still others to the World Government faction. With so many factions gathered together, peace was naturally impossible.
Bagu, Promi, and the others belonged to his faction, and they were also the biggest troublemakers. Barely had they arrived at headquarters before they got into a fight with some of its officers over a trivial matter.
"Bagu and the others?"
"They've been gathering officers from the Four Blues these past few days."
"There are already more than twenty-four hundred of them. They're currently gathered in the eastern section of headquarters' family housing district."
"Like all the elite troops from the Four Blues, they're waiting for the war to begin."
Freya paused, then hurriedly explained.
To be honest, she had never imagined that so many soldiers had once served under River. More than twenty-four hundred officers-what an enormous number.
"Is