The crew watched him go, letting out inward sighs of relief. This Admiral was ultimately a weapon of the World Government, not an ally.
Kuro turned to look at his boss. He was about to ask what their exact role would be during the execution and whether they needed to rendezvous with Mock first, when,
"Ah." Dante let out a melancholic, dramatic sigh.
Just as everyone thought their captain was deeply moved by the Admiral's heavy words, Dante shook his head in sheer disappointment, muttering, "The hospitality at HQ... is just terrible. Making honored guests walk the rest of the way by themselves?"
Everyone stared flatly at their captain. Was now really the time to complain about customer service?
Before anyone could voice their disbelief, Dante waved a hand. "Alright, forget about everything that ice cube just said. Everyone, just do what you need to do."
He didn't care about Kuzan's heavy warnings. Acting up? Did that lazy guy even have the right to lecture about duty? Spouting grand lines about justice while half the time he slept standing up.
Paying absolutely no mind to the hidden snipers monitoring them, Dante led his reluctant group forward.
Before long, they arrived at a secluded, well-fortified courtyard. There was no one else around. It was abundantly clear HQ had specifically chosen this isolated location to quarantine them.
After arranging for Kuma to attend the warlord meeting, having Kuro activate the covert listening device developed by Vegapunk, and assigning Enel and Viola to stand guard around the perimeter, Dante found a comfortable spot on the grass and lay down.
Now, all that was left was to wait for the execution to commence.
At the thought, Dante sighed again, thinking, 'I wonder what Mock is up to right now.'
Right after he thought,
*Purupuru Purupuru~*
The Den Den Mushi in his coat rang.
Dante frowned. After seeing Kuro nod to confirm the line was secure, he answered the call. But before he could even offer a greeting, Mock's familiar, utterly desperate wailing came through the speaker.
"Boss, save me!"
Time passed by, piece by agonizing piece.
Soon, the fateful day of the public execution arrived.
The execution was still some hours away, yet the sprawling crescent plaza was already packed with military might. Following the global announcement, Sengoku had summoned every available officer to heavily fortify Marineford. They would defend the island to the death, eliminating any chance of a rescue. Of course, the primary objective wasn't merely to stop anyone from saving Marshall D. Teach. More importantly, it was to lure the East Blue Overlord into an inescapable net prepared specifically for him, seizing the perfect opportunity to eliminate the massive threat. They absolutely could not let that chaotic pirate run wild any longer.
Standing behind the massive wooden scaffold built for this very event, Sengoku waited for his cue while using the elevated cover to secretly survey the harbor. For this event, HQ had practically emptied its global reserves. One hundred thousand elite soldiers had gathered here, major officers were recalled from the New World, and distant branches ordered to dispatch heavy units to assist. This was arguably the largest-scale military gathering since the organization's establishment. Even the execution of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, hadn't warranted such a staggering display of force. Yet now, they were taking such extreme precautions against Roger's hidden son.
Sengoku sighed in deep resignation, though his facial expression remained authoritative and stone-cold. After sweeping his gaze over the defensive lines, the tension in his shoulders finally eased. Each unit stood perfectly at its assigned post, and the veteran officers had gathered near the platform base. Even if the target successfully broke through the bay, he wouldn't make it up the steps. His only lingering worry was... with such an overwhelming display of lethal force, would Mock actually show his face?
Based on Roger's legendary personality, a public declaration of war and a captured crewmate guaranteed his appearance. But Mock's actual personality? HQ knew next to nothing about it. Especially after the defection of Branch 16, all intelligence they had previously submitted required fresh, highly skeptical review. After all, Sengoku couldn't guarantee whether Dante and Mock were actually colluding in secret.
At this thought, Sengoku narrowed his eyes. His gaze landed on the East Blue faction's designated viewing area, and his expression shifted. Aside from causing that minor brawl upon their initial arrival, Dante's group had been frustratingly obedient lately. However, whether they were quietly plotting a betrayal, he had no idea. On their very first day moving in, this group had effortlessly intercepted all covert surveillance devices. Even when HQ secretly dispatched elite Black Ops infiltrators to probe their perimeter, every single spy was instantly discovered and tossed out.
Come to think of it, how did the rogue branch manage that flawless detection? Could there be a master of Observation Haki hidden among them? Or had Dante awakened a special sensory ability over the past few years? Even scouts hiding at a massive distance were instantly caught.
Though, the sheer power Dante currently wielded was not to be underestimated. Not to mention the dangerous individuals missing from his roster. Just the ones standing here included the former pirate Kuro, now acting as their Chief Instructor. A small-time criminal with a bounty of only 16 million berries, he should have rotted in a cell. Instead, he had grown into a formidable assassin. Based on the combat analysis of the conflict at the pier, his speed and lethality had reached at least the level of a Rear Admiral.
At this thought, Sengoku internally cursed the corrupt Captain Morgan all over again. Why did the East Blue constantly produce incompetent officials and dangerous renegades? And it didn't end with Kuro. Add to that the warlord Bartholomew Kuma, who had clearly aligned himself with the boy, as well as Dante himself.
The sheer, quiet pressure they radiated just by standing there forced HQ to proceed with extreme caution. Especially the rebel leader. Based on the grim intelligence Kuzan brought back, the boy was incredibly dangerous. Even an Admiral had to take his blade seriously.
Sengoku swept his gaze over the other figures standing near Dante.
Enel. Specific origins and power levels remained completely unknown, but judging by his confident posture... He appeared to be a high-ranking officer within their ranks, so he had to be immensely strong.
Viola. Former executive of the Donquixote Family, now acting as secretary to the rebel leader.
And the standard soldiers they had brought along... Their overall physical condition and discipline easily matched HQ' elite troops. Was it any surprise? The boy was a generational prodigy who had shattered every record. Even after his unjust exile to the weakest sea, entirely alone, he still trained such a formidable marines through sheer brilliance.
Sengoku cursed inwardly again. This time, his fury wasn't directed at the rebels, but at the arrogant Celestial Dragons whose petty actions got the boy exiled in the first place. If Dante had stayed under his wing, he might already be an Admiral candidate, or even wearing the coat.
A bitter pity. That chance was gone forever. There was no use dwelling on the past now.
Just then, as Sengoku's thoughts churned with conflicted regret, a massive wave of cheers erupted across the crescent plaza.
The Admirals had arrived.
Akainu, Kizaru, Aokiji.
The three top combat forces emerged together, their white coats billowing as they took their grand seats directly below the execution platform to stand guard.
"Are those the Marine HQ Admirals?" Enel looked up, studying the three seated figures with idle curiosity before letting out his signature laugh. "Yahahaha, they don't look like much."
"Anyone chosen for that rank is a monster," Dante said, shaking his head slightly at the lightning user's arrogance. "As the highest combat power of the World Government, they stand at the absolute pinnacle of the sea. You've gotten a lot stronger, Enel, but there's still a massive gap between you and them. Watch closely today. Zephyr-sensei specifically sent you here so you could witness true power for yourself."
"I got it." Enel pouted at the lecture but didn't argue. After all, against this captain... he wouldn't stand a chance right now. He looked back up at the three men, a hint of genuine gravity entering his eyes.
"Admirals, huh? I'll see just how strong they really are." He spoke, growing impatient again. "How much longer? Are they starting or not?"
"Don't rush. They've made their entrance, so it shouldn't be long now." Dante also looked up, but his gaze bypassed the chairs, it was fixed on the towering scaffold. Seeing two figures step out onto the platform, his eyes narrowed. "It's starting."
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