Upon learning Ace's identity, they immediately set out for the Holy Land, Mariejois.
This time, even Garp—who usually avoided any contact with the Gorosei—came along.
Sengoku understood Garp's feelings and, after a few words of warning, didn't stop him from joining.
Mariejois, inside the grand hall—
The room was pure white, radiating nobility and authority.
The Five Elders were gathered—some seated on lavish white sofas, others standing, one in a white kimono calmly polishing the blade of the First Generation Kitetsu.
These were the men who stood at the pinnacle of the world's power.
After hearing Sengoku's report that Ace was Roger's son, their expressions changed noticeably.
Roger was the only man they had failed to stop from reaching Laugh Tale and learning the world's true history.
It was because of Roger that the Great Pirate Era began, with countless people chasing after the One Piece.
The World Government hated him to the core, and now they had captured his son—this was an opportunity beyond measure.
"Back then, your Navy and CP spent months scouring that devil's homeland for a pregnant woman, yet we never found her," one Elder murmured.
"To think the devil's child has grown into a devil himself… Fire Fist Ace!"
They spoke as though recalling a bitter past.
After a moment of silence, the room grew heavy with tension.
Then the eldest Elder's voice cut through: "Since Ace is the devil's son, with the devil's blood in his veins, the whole world must be informed!"
"We will broadcast his execution to the world—publicly execute Fire Fist Ace!"
"Let all know who he is, and that the devil will meet his end!"
Publicly executing Ace would greatly bolster the World Government's authority—reassuring civilians and striking fear into pirates.
Across from them, Garp's face darkened. Ignoring Sengoku's warning, he spoke out, "Five Elders, the boy is innocent!"
Sengoku frowned—too late to stop him.
The Gorosei's gazes sharpened. The Navy's Hero, himself a bearer of the "D," had never seen eye-to-eye with them.
If not for Garp's influence in the Marines, they would have found a way to remove him long ago.
The eldest Elder's tone was cold. "That devil's child has chosen the path of piracy—there is no innocence to speak of."
They were unwavering—Ace's public execution was certain.
Garp's expression was grim, but he had no rebuttal. Ace had indeed become a pirate.
Sengoku spoke next, his voice steady. "Elders, Ace is Whitebeard's second division commander. If we execute him publicly, we risk drawing Whitebeard's wrath."
"Whitebeard treasures his crew like family. This could mean open war."
The eldest Elder waved dismissively. "No matter. Didn't Good defeat Whitebeard just days ago? With the Fourth Admiral in our ranks, if Whitebeard dares come, we'll end him once and for all."
"It's time the old era ended."
The decision was final—Ace's execution would go forward.
Sengoku and Garp had no choice but to accept it.
Plans for the execution began immediately.
Sengoku ordered elite forces from every branch to gather, along with the strongest Marine officers.
They would also summon the Seven Warlords—if war was coming, the Whitebeard Pirates would be crushed completely.
In Sengoku's office, the full Marine high command assembled.
Akainu was tasked with summoning Jinbe, the Knight of the Sea; Aokiji would summon Boa Hancock; Momonga would summon the weaker Moria…
As for Good, after some negotiation, he was assigned to go to Dressrosa to summon the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo.
Given Doflamingo's… unique position, Momousagi was assigned to accompany Good.
Orders were given, and they dispersed.
A few days later, in the latter half of the New World—aboard the Moby Dick.
Marco, in phoenix form, landed on the deck at high speed.
Seeing his urgency, Whitebeard's brows furrowed. "What's happened?"
Marco landed before his old man and spoke quickly. "Old man! It's bad—Ace… Ace has been captured by the Navy!"
"What?"
The surrounding division commanders' faces darkened instantly.
"How could this happen? Why would Ace be caught by the Navy?"
They trusted Ace's strength. Unless he'd faced an Admiral, there was no way he'd be defeated.
Even Whitebeard's calm expression hardened. "Marco, what happened?"
Marco wasted no time, explaining how Blackbeard had captured Ace, traded him to the Navy, and gained the title of Warlord in return.
It was fresh intelligence—news so recent that the Navy hadn't even announced Ace's execution yet.
The moment Marco revealed that Ace would be executed publicly, the Moby Dick erupted in fury.
"That bastard Teach again!"
"I'd cut that traitor into a thousand pieces! He killed Thatch, now he's trying to kill Ace!"
"Unforgivable! He's spitting on the name of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"What now, old man?"
Whitebeard's expression turned grim. This was serious.
If the Navy planned to execute Ace, it could only mean they had learned his true identity.
Which meant… to save him, they would have to go to war.
Whitebeard's voice was deep and commanding. "Marco, gather all the allied crews of the Whitebeard Pirates."
After a pause, his tone grew heavier. "And… contact Red-Hair."
…
(End of Chapter)
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