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Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office
BOOM!
There was a loud noise as the door to the Fleet Admiral's office suddenly burst open.
Sengoku, who was handling official paperwork, raised his head and looked toward the door.
There stood Marine Hero Garp, his face grim with anger.
"Sengoku, is everything in this paper true?" Garp demanded, slamming the newspaper down on the desk. "Are you really going to publicly execute Ace? He's my grandson!"
"Garp, remember your position," Sengoku shot back with equal force. "You're a Marine, and he's a pirate. Furthermore, Ace is obviously Roger's son, yet you've hidden this fact from us for years. I haven't even held you accountable for that matter yet."
Sengoku slapped the table forcefully. "Additionally, this decision has received support from the Five Elders. Under the law, there's no way to change it now." His tone softened slightly. "Garp, if you don't want to witness Ace's public execution, I can permit you to be absent from the battle."
Garp clenched his fists, wanting to argue further but finding no words. Emotionally, he couldn't bear the thought of Ace being executed. But the concept of justice that defined his life restricted his actions.
In the corner of the office, Admiral Kizaru Borsalino took a sip of tea and set down the newspaper he was reading.
"It's really scary, this man named Teach," Kizaru drawled. "We just had the Shichibukai meeting in the Holy Land of Mariejois, and someone as powerful as Fire Fist Ace was captured so quickly." He glanced at Sengoku. "But, Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you really want such a man to become a Shichibukai? This man seems to have some issues with Ikki. If Ikki sees the news that Teach has become a Shichibukai, I wonder if he'll be reluctant to continue treating Vice Admiral Gion."
Kizaru unfolded the newspaper to show the section depicting Blackbeard capturing Ace. One line clearly described the conflict between Ikki's group and Blackbeard's crew before Ace and Golden Lion appeared, as well as how Ikki's companions had killed some of Blackbeard's crew members.
"This is... troublesome," Sengoku said, rubbing his forehead. "I didn't expect Ikki and Blackbeard would have a conflict. But Blackbeard's Shichibukai appointment letter has already been issued by the World Government. It's too late to change course, and we need Ace too." He sighed. "When Ikki shows up, I'll speak with him personally."
Sengoku sighed inwardly. The Marines had received no information about the conflict between Ikki and Blackbeard. Sengoku himself had only learned about it after the World Economy News Paper was released. By then, the World Government had already announced to the world that Blackbeard would become a Shichibukai.
Kizaru raised his eyebrows. Since Sengoku said he would take responsibility for this matter, he could continue reading his newspaper in peace.
New World, Whitebeard's Territory
"Pops, here's the latest newspaper."
Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, handed the newspaper to Whitebeard, his expression unusually serious.
"Gurararara, Marco, you don't look well," Whitebeard laughed as he took the newspaper, but his face froze when he saw the front page.
"This is... Golden Lion Shiki has been killed?"
On the newspaper cover, a photo clearly showed Ikki piercing Golden Lion's heart with Zangetsu. The headline proclaimed Golden Lion's death at Ikki's hands.
"When did such a character appear on these seas?" Whitebeard wondered aloud with a heavy sigh. "Someone actually managed to kill Golden Lion, who disappeared from Impel Down all those years ago."
He never imagined that Golden Lion, who had escaped from Impel Down and once visited his ship, would be killed by an unknown figure by the time he heard of him again.
"Pops, look closer. This man is extraordinary," Marco pointed out. "The report says Marine Admiral Aokiji seems to be specifically looking for this man, though I don't know why. But that's not the most important part." Marco's fists clenched unconsciously. "This man fought with Teach before battling Golden Lion. Their fight was interrupted, and in the end... Ace was captured by Teach and handed over to the Marines!"
"What? Marco, are you serious?" Whitebeard's eyes widened. "Ace was defeated by Teach and given to the Marines?"
"You must be joking, Marco. Did you read it wrong?" The crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates, who had been drawn by the conversation between Marco and Whitebeard, gathered around upon hearing that Ace had been captured.
Whitebeard frowned and quickly scanned the newspaper. Soon he found the second story reporting that Teach had become the new Shichibukai, and that Ace had been captured and imprisoned in Impel Down.
BOOM!
Suddenly, Whitebeard's powerful Conqueror's Haki surged outward, causing even the clouds in the sky to lose their shape under its pressure.
"TEACH! YOU TRAITOR!"
Beyond Whitebeard, the other Four Emperors also saw the newspaper and recognized Ikki. Even they were shocked by Golden Lion's death and Ikki's existence.
However, all of this had little to do with Ikki at the moment. Currently, he was accompanying his companions on Sky Island for further training.
Aboard the Explorer, Inside the Training Room
In the arena, Nojiko and Ikki's figures kept intertwining as they wielded their swords, attacking each other with precise movements.
Nojiko's hands were wrapped in thick flames, having clearly entered the Sun Breathing state.
Ikki, meanwhile, held two swords he had obtained from Golden Lion, transformed into Katen Kyōkotsu. He was using Golden Lion's dual-sword style to deliver continuous strikes against Nojiko.
DING!
A crisp sound rang out as Ikki and Nojiko clashed again, their faces close enough to see each other's expressions clearly.
Both Nojiko and Ikki laughed.
"Ikki, are you really not going to the party?" Nojiko asked. "The Sky Island natives and Shandians seem to really like you. Perhaps at the banquet, you might see a beautiful woman who inspires you to paint."
"Speaking of beauties, isn't there one right in front of me?" Ikki replied with a smile. "And rather than attending a banquet, I'd prefer to help you improve your strength. If you could become familiar with Golden Lion's swordsmanship through my demonstrations, it would help you when you challenge Golden Lion Shiki's sword shadow later."
"Well, if you're thinking of me that way, I'll have to work extra hard," Nojiko said. She took a deep breath, narrowed her eyes, and swung her flaming blade at Ikki once more.