Time flew by in the blink of an eye. The last Shichibukai, Hancock, arrived at Marine Headquarters on the same day. However, it seemed that because of the tight schedule and the fact that they were not placed in the same area, Luo Chen did not meet her immediately.
At this moment, half a day later, less than half an hour before Ace was to be escorted here, and with only three hours left before the execution, everyone finally gathered in Marineford Square, solemnly guarding the place to welcome the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates.
In the South Blue, strong winds and torrential rain poured down, as if a storm was about to break.
"With only three hours left until Fire Fist Ace, will Whitebeard show up?"
Who knows...?
East Blue
"Dad, with your Whitebeard, you're really old. Will you even be there?"
"I don't know, and it's been so many years since he's made any big moves..."
"He's past his prime. When has the Marine Headquarters ever lost a battle...?"
Even if he's not particularly remarkable, he'll still die a heroic death.
But regardless, once the execution period is over, it's over.
However, it would be best if he didn't come.
North Blue
"Hey, hurry up and bring the wine over, aren't you going to do business?"
"Hmph, let's go, let's go! Who knows what the world will be like after today? How could I possibly be in the mood to sell wine?!"
West Blue
"Don't compare that old man to ordinary people. He's not old yet! A year ago, we were so scared we couldn't move after just one glimpse of him from afar. The outcome of this battle is still uncertain!"
Grand Line
Even the little kids here know, look at them singing...
[ Whitebeard the pirate... more terrifying than a ghost!]
"God, what will become of this world? Please tell your Lamb!"
The people here pray, hoping that heaven will send down signs to tell them what the outcome will be.
Marineford Island, where the Marine Headquarters is located
The town, which was mainly built for the families of naval personnel, was already deserted; after receiving the evacuation notice from headquarters, they had fled to other places for refuge.
Meanwhile, in the Sabaody Archipelago, the entire process was being monitored via surveillance cameras.
This place also gathers journalists and photographers from all over the world, ready to inform the world as soon as possible.
"Look, look! Fire Fist Ace has been brought out..."
Ace, shakily shuffling along in heavy shackles, was immediately chained to the Execution Platform by the soldiers, forced to kneel before the world, head bowed, silent.
At this moment, a solemn and tense atmosphere enveloped the scene because the warship that had just been sent out to monitor the Whitebeard Pirates had suddenly lost contact.
The execution time is fast approaching; there are now less than three hours left.
In Marineford Plaza.
"Don't let your guard down. It's only three hours. After that, it will all be over..."
Giant Vice Admiral raised his voice to encourage all the marines present.
At this moment, renowned officers and generals from all over the world have gathered here, totaling more than 100,000 people, who are quietly awaiting the arrival of the decisive battle.
The entire island is crescent-shaped and is firmly guarded by fifty warships, with countless heavy cannons set up all along the shore.
Standing at the forefront of the army are six great pirates who can determine the outcome of this battle; they are the Shichibukai.
Meanwhile, on the Execution Platform towering high at the far end of the plaza, Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander Whitebeard, the main catalyst for this great battle, was also waiting for the moment that would decide his ultimate fate.
Standing guard below the Execution Platform were the unit's top combat force, three Admiral.
They are Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, and Kuzan.
Behind them were two Admiral Momousagi and Chaton, hidden in the shadows, as well as numerous top Vice Admiral. At this moment, all imaginable forces of justice were gathered here to prevent Ace from being kidnapped and to quietly await the arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Not far away, opposite the Gate of Justice, a warship carrying Ace's hope for a new life was slowly approaching.
Ta-da-ta-da...
Execution Platform, Sengoku and Garp arrived together. Just as they reached the bottom and were about to step forward, Sengoku suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Garp, and said to him.
"It's decided then, Garp. I'm going to reveal everything..."
"Do whatever you want, I'm going down..."
Garp neither objected nor supported his words, and walked away with a cold, sullen face.
Sengoku glanced at him but said nothing, then walked toward the Execution Platform where Ace was to be executed.
"Get out of the way..."
When Sengoku stepped forward, he saw two executioners blocking his view, so he gave the order.
"Yes..."
The soldiers quickly stepped back, and Sengoku also walked to Ace's side.
"He's Fleet Admiral Sengoku..."
The entire navy present was greatly encouraged to see Fleet Admiral Sengoku personally appear, and their morale soared.
"I have something to announce to everyone."
The execution of Fire Fist Ace, the Second Division Commander Whitebeard's army, today is of extremely great significance.
"Um?!"
Hearing that there was something important to announce in the Sengoku, all eyes turned to him.
Only Garp wore a look of great pain on his face, as if he were struggling with something.
"It's not your fault, Garp, you don't need to be so hung up on it..."
Crane glanced back at his old friend Garp behind him and offered him words of comfort.
"Pfft, hahaha, women are so thoughtful and considerate these days! Don't worry about me, I'm fine. But thank you anyway, Crane!!"
After hearing his close friend Tsuru's words of comfort Garp stopped being worried and depressed. Instead, he laughed and pretended to be nonchalant.
" Ace, tell me who your father is?"
Meanwhile, after making his announcement, Sengoku asked Ace a question that left everyone scratching their heads.
"Hmm, what's going on? Isn't Fire Fist Ace's father Whitebeard? What else is there to ask? Is there some other, more important information you want to tell me?"
When everyone heard Sengoku ask this question, the same question inevitably came to mind.
"..."
Only Ace glanced at him, seemingly already knowing what he wanted to ask, but didn't reveal the truth.
"My father has Whitebeard..."
"No, you're lying. Your biological father isn't him at all..."
The Sengoku directly and decisively rejected this answer.
"No, my father only has Whitebeard; there's no one else."
Ace roared, declaring that his only father was Whitebeard.
His behavior seemed to have given some people a clue, and they all looked at Sengoku with expectant eyes, hoping to glean some extraordinary information from him.
"We went through a lot of trouble to find that island because someone said they had seen him there, and perhaps his children were there."
Sengoku paused for a moment, then continued speaking amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd.
"Based on the meager intelligence obtained by CP0 and that slight possibility,
We investigated all the unborn children there and their mothers, but we made an unexpected discovery.
That's understandable; your life was bought with your mother's own.
It can be said to be the product of her painstaking scheming, a fact that has deceived all of us, no, it has deceived the eyes of the world.
There is an island in the South Blue called Baterilla, and your mother's name is Portgas D. Rouge.
Your mother far exceeded our expectations. Her intense protectiveness kept you in her womb for twenty months before she gave birth to you. She died shortly after your birth, exhausted. A year and three months after your father's death, a child who inherited the world's most evil bloodline was born—that was you. You couldn't possibly not know this.
Your father is Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King!!
Sengoku finally revealed to the world the origin of Ace's bloodline and his father... the Pirate King Roger, a revelation that shocked the entire world.
When the Sengoku period was declared over, the world was in an uproar.
" Roger's child?"
The navy personnel present were so shocked by the news that they were speechless.
"Hehehe, this is so interesting, Roger's son, this is truly a miracle!"
I'd heard long ago that everyone connected to him had been executed, yet his bloodline still survived.
On the Shichibukai side, Moria let out his characteristic chilling laugh as he looked at Ace on the stage with some disbelief.
"Heh, so you finally said it. I just don't know if you've arrived yet or if I've already warned you about his existence. Do you still have any intention of intervening, Dark King Rayleigh?!"
Among these people, there were some who either already knew his identity or weren't particularly interested in it, so they weren't so shocked. For example, Luo Chen, who was standing at the front, turned around and looked at Ace, muttering to himself.
"Hmm?! Fufufufu... Why do you seem so unfazed by this news? Is it because it's none of your business, or did you already know? The new Shichibukai, Luo Chen!!"
While most people were still reeling from Ace's background, Doffy, standing next to Moria, glanced at everyone's reactions and, seeing Luo Chen's unsurprised expression, asked him a question.
"..."
As soon as he spoke, the others turned to him with suspicion and uncertainty.
"Heh, what I think is none of your business, Doflamingo. Or are you just trying to stir up trouble?"
Despite the questioning looks from the crowd, Luo Chen didn't seem to notice anything amiss or show much emotion. He turned to look at them calmly and said...
"Fufufufu, it's true that you have no obligation to tell us, but I'm still very curious about your behavior. Can you tell me what you're thinking?"
Doffy's glasses glistened for a moment, then he continued the previous topic.
"Cannot..."
Luo Chen's expression remained unchanged as he directly and clearly refused.
"Uh... Fufufu, you really are a cold person. Since you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you!"
Startled by Luo Chen's words, she paused for a moment, then Extreme Speed glanced at him before continuing.
"Is that Luo Chen? He's alright looking, but I wonder about his strength, and whether he's worthy of me!"
Compared to the other Shichibukai whose thoughts were unpredictable, Snake Princess Hancock's thoughts were practically written on her face. She stared at Luo Chen for a while, carefully examining him, and then, after confirming his identity, her mind drifted off to some distant place, and she thought shyly.
"About two years ago, when you took your mother's surname and, as the captain of the Spade Pirates, displayed your exceptional talent, Extreme Speed across the seas, we realized that the bloodline of the Pirate King had not been severed..."
Meanwhile, Sengoku continued speaking.
"However, at the same time, while we were also noticing you, Whitebeard also realized this. In order to train you to become the next Pirate King, he even went so far as to bring his rival's child onto his ship to personally teach him..."
Before Sengoku could finish speaking, he was interrupted loudly by an angry Ace.
"No, I boarded that ship so that my Pops could become the Pirate King..."
Ace didn't believe Sengoku's words at all; in his mind, he was only invited onto the ship so that his benefactor, his Pops, could become the Pirate King.
"In fact, you're the only one who thinks this way."
Actually, the only reason we haven't attacked you is because Whitebeard is protecting you.
Ace was interrupted before he could finish speaking, and seeing the astonished look in Ace's eyes, he continued.
"--But if we continue to leave you alone, your talent will always help you stand at the pinnacle of the next era. Therefore, there is a profound meaning to our execution of you here, even if it escalates into a full-scale war with Whitebeard!!"
Sengoku, holding the microphone, spoke, expressing the navy's current resolve to the world.
"Aww!!"
Inspired by the words of the Sengoku, the soldiers displayed great confidence and morale.
Ta-da-ta-da...
" Fleet Admiral Sengoku, something terrible has happened..."
Just then, a soldier rushed up to him in a panic and reported the news.
"What happened?"
"Sengoku," he asked, puzzled.
"Just now, the Gate of Justice were suddenly opened without anyone's instruction..."
We are now unable to contact the room!
The soldier reported this important news to him.
"What?!" Upon hearing this, Sengoku was also shocked and exclaimed loudly.
Wow...
Just then, something else interrupted his thoughts: dozens of hazy ship silhouettes suddenly appeared in the distance, startling everyone.
When did this happen...?
All personnel enter battle mode...
After seeing the flags on the ships, Sengoku shouted to the crowd below.
"Is this... is this a pirate fleet?"
One of the navy men swallowed hard, looking at the numerous pirate ships appearing ahead with a hint of fear in his voice.
"[ The Doma ], [ The Thunder Lord McGuy ], [ The Decalvan Brothers ], [ The Great Whirlpool Spider ]—these outstanding figures are all rising stars among the captains of the New World."
A soldier observed this through binoculars and reported it to his superior.
"Quickly, find out where Whitebeard is!!"
"Yes!!"
The officers immediately ordered their men to confirm Whitebeard's current location.
"There were forty-three ships in total, but Whitebeard and his commanders were nowhere to be seen. They were all members of Whitebeard's pirate crew."
The soldiers reported everything they had seen to their superiors, but they still couldn't find their leader Whitebeard. This made the atmosphere even more tense, and some people didn't dare to breathe, gripping their swords tightly, ready for Whitebeard to appear at any moment.