Time passed, and the execution time announced by the Marines drew ever closer.
The atmosphere in Marineford grew increasingly severe. The pitch-black fortress cannons reflected a forbidding gleam in the sunlight.
A faint aura of blood and iron permeated all of Marine Headquarters.
Over nearly a month, central command had already finished directing and deploying every department.
"War is coming!"
In his office, River looked down at the Marines' Inner Bay ahead and murmured to himself.
The smell of gunpowder in the air grew ever clearer. Across Marineford, the number of Marines standing guard and patrolling visibly increased.
Promi had long since been reassigned. He no longer guarded the gate, but had instead been placed in the Recruit Corps under River's command.
The Gate of Justice had been assigned to another group. All the vast fortress's former deployments and defensive arrangements had been dismantled and reorganized.
Inside the Headquarters Building, footsteps and the calls of Den Den Mushi rose and fell without ever stopping.
River shifted his gaze toward the towering Execution Platform in the plaza.
It stood empty now, but once war came, every battle would revolve around it.
"A long month of waiting."
"This moment has finally arrived."
Speaking softly, River raised his head and looked at the sky.
Not a single white cloud dotted the azure sky. A gentle breeze stirred, and flocks of seagulls occasionally flew past.
Whoooosh!
The wind swept in, stirring the Justice Cape behind him.
"Tomorrow."
"The eyes of the world will be on this place."
His eyes suddenly sharpened. River stood silently, motionless, as though he had become a statue.
Freya stood behind him as well. Her pretty face looked grave, her expression complicated. She seemed to be considering some problem as she kept her eyes fixed on the figure at the