"He's finally here…"
Luffy smiled calmly, leaning back in the chair as he brought the teacup to his lips, taking a sip as if he were simply enjoying the moment, oblivious to the imminent chaos.
Doflamingo, standing beside him, frowned, his eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses, narrowing with suspicion.
"Where?" he asked, his voice heavy with disbelief and disdain.
In front of them, the calm sea stretched out to the horizon, clear and silent. No ships in sight. No waves out of place. The ancient water well looked more serene than ever.
"As long as the Gate of Justice remains closed…" Doflamingo leaned slightly over the railing, his lips curling into an arrogant smile. "How could Whitebeard possibly invade? He can't fly… Furufurufuru…"
Luffy turned his gaze away, ignoring the Shichibukai's venomous comment. He slightly tilted his head, fixing his eyes on the execution platform.
There was Ace.
Kneeling, wrists shackled, head lowered, though surrounded by two executioners wielding long gleaming steel spears, ready to carry out the sentence.
At the top of the platform, the heavy steps of Sengoku echoed as he climbed the stairs, imposing even more tension upon the atmosphere. He stopped beside Ace, slowly raising the palm of his hand where a connected den den mushi rested.
His deep and powerful voice reverberated not only throughout Marineford but also, through the live broadcast, reached every corner of the world: from the Sabaody Archipelago to the most remote villages of distant seas.
"There is an important piece of information that must be announced to the entire world at this moment…" he declared, raising his voice solemnly, as if invoking the very weight of history. "…so that everyone may understand the necessity of this execution!"
Thousands of eyes turned to the platform. Soldiers, officers, admirals, civilians hidden behind magical and technological transmissions… all, without exception, held their breath.
"Portgas D. Ace… the father—"
Suddenly, a voice cut through the solemnity like lightning piercing the night.
"Whitebeard is here."
The phrase was simple, but laden with certainty and impact.
Luffy didn't shout, he announced.
His confident and relaxed tone contrasted with the seriousness of the moment, as if he had just revealed the arrival of an old friend for afternoon tea.
For an instant, the world froze.
All eyes immediately turned to the sea before them.
Nothing.
The sky was clear, the morning light bathing Marineford intensely; it was exactly 9:07 AM. No fog, no shadow, no sign of ships or men. Only the tranquil ocean.
Sengoku furrowed his brow deeply, his eyes hardening. In an instant, he unleashed his Observation Haki, expanding his perception across a colossal radius, sweeping every inch toward the Gate of Justice.
Nothing.
Not a single suspicious presence detected.
His gaze turned furiously to the young man who dared to break the moment's order.
"Monkey D. Luffy!" he roared, his patience rapidly wearing thin.
The same blood as Garp. The same reckless and chaotic impulse!
Luffy merely tilted his head to the side and smiled, as if amused by the desperation around him.
"Underwater."
He shrugged, bringing the cup back to his lips.
"I think your expression is too tense. Relax a little."
A suffocating silence set in.
For a brief second, no one understood. Or perhaps, they didn't want to understand.
But then, as if obeying an unspoken command, all the great names present—Sengoku, Garp, Tsuru, Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru, the Vice-Admirals, and even the Shichibukai—closed their eyes and expanded their respective Observation Hakis, probing the deep waters ahead of the bay.
A chill swept through all of Marineford.
"Under… water?" Sengoku repeated, his expression shifting drastically, his features hardening to the extreme.
And then he heard it.
It wasn't just any sound.
It was the deep movement of hulls and wood against the submerged currents.
Down there…
Beneath the execution platform…
Garp, silent beside Sengoku, allowed a small smile to surface, almost imperceptible but filled with pride. The confusion that had dominated his heart minutes earlier dissipated, like the last clouds after a storm.
"Hahahaha…" he chuckled softly, briefly closing his eyes. "As expected of my grandson… always knowing more than he lets on."
From above, they could see over fifty large warships strategically positioned around Marineford, with hundreds of cannons aimed at the open sea, ready to obliterate any threat that dared to cross the perimeter.
But now…
Now they knew:
Whitebeard was coming from beneath the sea.
The monstrous fleet of the world's strongest man would breach the barrier of fire and steel, unscathed, emerging from where no one would ever expect.
Sengoku, containing his tension, brought his hand to the den den mushi and growled:
"Turn the cannons! NOW!"
His voice echoed through the communication channels, spreading like thunder across the entire base.
"It's not too late yet! HURRY!"
The artillery squads, in a desperate synchrony, began turning the heavy cannons with metallic groans, shifting their aim from the coast to the inner bay.
But…
Even with the order executed perfectly, only a little over a dozen main cannons could effectively cover the submerged area of the bay.
An insignificant number… compared to the colossal threat silently approaching beneath the waters.
Ace, still kneeling, lifted his eyes and searched for Luffy's face amid the crowd of soldiers, officers, and criminals.
"Luffy…"
His voice was barely a whisper, filled with a mixture of hope and despair. He didn't exactly know what Luffy intended with those words. He couldn't even imagine. But one thing he knew for sure: he would never doubt him.
Sengoku, attentive to the silent exchange between the two brothers, crossed his arms and stated coldly:
"You know each other? Are… friends?"
Ace turned his gaze away, clenching his fists, but remained silent.
Sengoku stared at him for a long moment, then sneered and proclaimed with a voice meant to cut through any hope:
"Even if you were acquaintances… now he stands on the side of justice." He took a step closer, his shadow stretching over Ace.
"After all, he's Garp's grandson. He might have had some fun as a pirate, but he's completely different from you… the heir of that evil blood!"
The last words were spat with calculated coldness, echoing across the platform like a cruel verdict.
His feelings toward Luffy were contradictory… but deep down, he acknowledged the boy had a good heart.
Luffy had caused quite a stir in East Blue, but, if you analyzed it carefully, all his actions were essentially correct—or, at the very least, justifiable. The captain he killed was, in fact, a corrupt man who terrorized the local inhabitants.
Then, Luffy faced Crocodile in Alabasta. He didn't do it for fame or profit either, but to help a kingdom in crisis, to protect a king and his princess.
Although, in the end, that princess left Alabasta with him and became a pirate… that had been her choice, not a kidnapping, as many speculated.
It wasn't up to anyone, much less him, to judge the feelings the two young people nurtured for each other.
Still, it was an inconvenient fact for the government: the princess of a kingdom had taken up the life of a pirate, which was a terrible influence over the people of Alabasta and, of course, a silent affront to the Navy's authority. That's why the papers never reported it. They preferred to bury the event under the weight of political convenience.
Later, when the summons for all Shichibukai was issued, Momonga faced a difficult situation. And, surprisingly, it was Luffy who persuaded Hancock to answer the call, preventing an even greater crisis.
Given all that, neither he nor anyone else could deny: Luffy left a good impression, even when he didn't intend to.
But, despite that… there was a problem.
(That boy…) he thought, taking a deep breath. (…insists on living as a pirate.)
What a waste.
With Garp by his side and his extraordinary strength, he could easily inherit the title of Navy hero. In the future, who knows, he could even become an Admiral, with all the resources and honors that would bring.
But no… Luffy had chosen the open sea, the black flag, and freedom above all.
"What a pity…" he muttered to himself, lightly clenching his fists. "Really… such a pity…"
Ace lowered his head and closed his eyes, letting out a long sigh.
His heart, however tight it was, found a strange relief at that moment.
Sengoku's words, attempting to turn him against Luffy, simply… had no effect.
He knew his brother.
He didn't know exactly why Luffy had accepted being a Shichibukai, but regardless, he would never doubt him.
(You… you're trying to save me, aren't you?) Ace thought in silence, clenching his shackled fists even tighter.
(There's no reason for you to do this, Luffy… Don't get involved…)
(Maybe… maybe that idiot had already decided this when I didn't want to listen to his warning…)
"Idiot brother… why are you doing this…?"
Ace took another deep breath, pushing away the doubts and despair. When he opened his eyes, they were steady, determined.
And then a shout tore through the air:
"Th… the Gate of Justice has been opened!" exclaimed a gigantic vice-admiral, his eyes wide in complete shock.
That news exploded among the Marines like a spark in a barrel of gunpowder.
Sengoku went pale, his eyes wide with disbelief:
"What?! Who… who did this?!" he roared, his voice echoing through the square.
Garp, beside him, froze as if the world had stopped for a second. Unconsciously, he turned to Luffy, staring at him as if seeking an answer.
Tsuru slightly raised an eyebrow, her voice cold and pragmatic:
"A spy, perhaps? Bah… it doesn't really matter. They're already invading from beneath the sea. Whether the gate is open or not… makes no difference now."
Meanwhile, Luffy arched his eyebrows, genuinely surprised.
(What…? I swear I didn't do that…) he thought, shaking his head slightly.
He felt Garp's gaze weighing on him like a silent mountain and could only sigh, completely helpless.
(I'm not taking the blame for this one…) he muttered, frustrated, calmly grabbing the cup of green tea beside him and taking a sip, as if nothing was happening.
Then, he casually turned his gaze to Hancock at his left.
Or rather… to her pet snake.
Salome was coiled up, resting with her usual bored demeanor, but her eyes were sharp, as if perceiving everything.
Suddenly, an idea crossed Luffy's mind, and he smiled mischievously.
Leaning slightly forward, he whispered:
"Hey… turn into a chair for me."
Upon hearing that, Salome let out a loud huff, as if to say "don't bother me," and turned her head, solemnly ignoring the command.
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."