There was something in Garp's voice that Rouge had never heard before—a sense of powerlessness.
The naval hero who once fought with his iron fist and was invincible showed his helplessness in front of her for the first time.
Rouge Den Den Mushi and sat there blankly for a long time.
Then she took a deep breath and, with trembling fingers, dialed another number.
Hachinosu.
Roy was reviewing documents in his office when his Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. He answered it, and Rouge's voice, trembling with suppressed sobs, came from the other Rouge.
" Roy, Ace-- "
"I know."
Roy interrupted her, his voice softer than usual.
"I'm handling this."
Can you save him?
Rouge's voice finally broke down.
"Please—I only have this one son—"
I will save him.
Roy spoke those four words with absolute certainty, without any hesitation.
He stood up from his chair, walked to the window, and looked at the massive Pluton Battleship in the harbor.
"And I wasn't the only one saving him."
The Whitebeard Pirates have mobilized their entire crew; pirates from all over the New World are heading towards Marineford.
Ace will be fine, I assure you.
There was silence on Rouge. Roy could hear her breathing gradually become even, and finally she let out a long breath.
I believe you. Thank you—thank you.
Roy could tell that the woman who had single-handedly supported her family in the Foosha Village back then had regained some of her composure.
She didn't cry or beg repeatedly; she simply placed all her hopes on his promise.
After hanging up, Rouge dialed Shanks ' number again. The moment the call connected, Shanks said only one sentence.
"I'm already on my way."
Rouge put down the Den Den Mushi, walked to the window, and looked at the calm sea over Foosha Village.
Her son is imprisoned in Impel Down's jail and is scheduled to be executed in a month.
But there was a light in her eyes—because she knew that the world would not abandon Ace.
at the same time,
The Marine Headquarters ' mandatory conscription order was also sent to each of the Shichibukai.
In Amazon Lily Palace, Empress Hancock finished reading the conscription order, casually tossed it to the kneeling messenger, and said coldly,
"I understand. Tell Sengoku that I will go."
The messenger retreated as if granted a pardon, completely unaware that he had just narrowly escaped death.
After the messenger left, Hancock picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed Roy's number.
Her tone was completely different from before; the aloof queen instantly transformed into a girl in love.
"Lord Roy, what about the Navy...?"
"Hold your troops still and obey the summons first."
Roy's voice came from the other end of the Den Den Mushi.
"I'll contact you when the time comes to tell you what to do."
Hancock blushed and answered, then hung up the phone and rolled around on the tatami mat several times with her Den Den Mushi in her hand.
In the Florian Triangle, Moria was giving the Shadow Zombie a makeover when he received the conscription order.
After reading the draft notice, he grinned, revealing a strange smile, and casually tossed it into a pile of scrap paper nearby.
He picked up the Den Den Mushi and dialed Roy's number. As soon as the call connected, Roy started yelling.
"Boss! The Navy wants me to go over there! Can I pick up a few Navy underlings while I'm at it? There's one Vice Admiral admiral I've been eyeing for ages!"
"Don't do anything reckless."
Roy's voice carried a hint of helplessness.
"Obey orders first, and act according to circumstances Marineford."
Moria chuckled twice, hung up the phone, and continued winding up the zombie while humming a slightly off-key tune.
On Fish-Man Island, Jinbe was chatting with children in the plaza of Coral Hill when he received the conscription order.
After reading the draft order, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.
As Shichibukai, he should have obeyed the Navy's orders;
But Ace was his friend, Whitebeard had done a great service to Fish-Man Island —how could he possibly attack the Whitebeard Pirates?
Jinbe put away the conscription order and dialed Roy's number.
After the call ended, his brow relaxed a little.
Roy told him to accept the draft first and then decide what to do on the battlefield.
In the Fleet Admiral's Office in Marineford, Garp sat in a chair with a newspaper with Ace's picture on it in front of him.
He reached out and flipped the newspaper over, so the back was facing up, covering Ace's face.
He flipped back to look at the face that resembled Roger's.
Turn it over, turn it back. Turn it over, turn it back.
He repeated this action no less than twenty times, each time he hesitated like an indecisive old man.
This is the scene that Sengoku saw when he pushed open the door.
He stood at the doorway in silence for a few seconds, then sighed:
" Garp, if you don't want to go, stay in the rear."
"Fart."
Garp slammed the newspaper on the table and stood up.
He straightened his cloak of justice, his voice hoarse but each word pronounced with utmost precision.
"I am Marine Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp."
It is my duty, and I will not shirk it.
Sengoku looked at him, nodded, and said nothing more.
He knew Garp was heartbroken, but he also knew that his old comrade would not betray justice for personal reasons.
Garp walked out of his office and stood in the corridor, looking at the huge naval flag over Marineford Harbor.
The sea breeze made the flags flutter, and the four large characters " Absolute Justice " danced in the wind.
He stood there for a long time, so long that the lights in the corridor came on.
Then he turned and walked towards the training field.
He wanted to numb himself with training and use sweat to dilute the surging emotions in his heart.
He pounded the sandbag again and again, making it thud repeatedly.
His eyes were a little red, but his tough-guy expression remained unchanged.
The entire ocean was stirring with anticipation for the public execution a month from now.
The navy is deploying troops, pirates are assembling their fleets, the Shichibukai are each harboring their own secrets, and the common people are cheering and celebrating.
In his office on Hachinosu, Roy put down the last document he had finished and walked to the huge nautical chart on the wall.
The nautical chart marked the movements of various forces— Whitebeard's main fleet was heading at full speed towards Marineford.
The Red Hair Pirates ' flag was faintly visible in the distant sea.
The troop movements at the Marine Headquarters were so frequent that the intelligence network couldn't keep up with the updates.
The Red Count emerged from the shadows, standing half a step behind Roy. His gaze swept over the chart, his voice low and deep:
"If Whitebeard and the Navy clash head-on, regardless of who wins or loses, the result will be mutual destruction."
"Right."
Roy tapped his fingers on the spot where Marineford.
"The goal of Hachinosu is to inflict the greatest possible cost on the Navy."
The Red Count remained silent for a moment, a complex light flashing in his blood-red eyes.
" Roy, have you considered that this battle might be beyond anyone's control?"