Two days. That was all the time left until the public execution of Portgas D. Ace. Elsewhere, after a grueling four-and-a-half-day voyage, the colossal Gates of Justice guarding Impel Down finally came into view for Monkey D. Luffy and his allies.
Marineford Headquarters
The air at Marine Headquarters was thick with tension. With the execution of 'Fire Fist' Ace looming, every Marine, from the newest recruit to the highest officer, felt the pressure mounting. This war wouldn't be against some rookie pirate crew ; it was against a Yonko, a force of nature that could destabilize the entire world. The fate of the world's balance of power rested on the outcome of the coming battle.
But a wave of relief washed over the fortress with the arrival of one man: Marine Hero Garp. His presence alone was a powerful reassurance, a symbol of strength that calmed the frayed nerves of the rank-and-file soldiers. His reputation was a pillar for the entire Marine organization.
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office, Sengoku's voice boomed across the room. "Garp, you old fool! You finally decided to show your face?"
Normally, Garp would have shot back with a boisterous laugh or a witty retort. But today, he was uncharacteristically silent. A heavy aura surrounded him, and the usual twinkle in his eye was gone, replaced by a deep, troubled look. The silence in the room, usually filled with strategic discussions and reports, stretched until it became uncomfortable. The three Admirals—Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru—and the Great Staff Officer Tsuru all watched him, sensing the gravity of the situation.
Finally, Garp spoke, his voice low and gravelly. "Sorry, Sengoku."
The simple, sincere apology stunned everyone present. This wasn't the Garp they knew. Of course, the top brass understood exactly why he was so somber. They knew about his relationship with Ace, about the impossible position he was in, torn between his duty as a Marine and his love for his adopted grandson. But it was a wound no one dared to touch.
Sengoku, ever the pragmatist, cleared his throat and shifted the topic to the immediate threat. "Let's move on. The Shichibukai are gathering. Besides Jinbe and the Pirate Empress, the other five have arrived. Tsuru, they're your problem now. Keep a close eye on them; we can't afford to trust those pirates."
"Understood," the Great Staff Officer replied calmly. Her sharp gaze and keen intellect were the only things that could reliably keep the volatile Warlords of the Sea in line. These individuals were world-class powers , each capable of immense destruction, and their allegiance was always questionable.
Tsuru then added, her expression thoughtful, "What about Doflamingo? Should I press him for more information? He just came from a meeting with Kaido."
Sengoku stroked his braided beard, considering the suggestion. "Do it. Doflamingo claims Kaido has no interest in this war, but you can never take a pirate at their word. We need to be certain."
Akainu, his face set in its usual grim scowl, interjected with a growl. "I've heard disturbing reports. Kaido and Red-Hair clashed. The word is… Kaido won."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Even the perpetually laid-back Aokiji and the eccentric Kizaru looked serious. A battle between two Yonko—beings whose power rivaled that of the entire Marine command —should have been a prolonged stalemate lasting for days, if not longer. But this one was apparently decided in less than half a day.
"It changes things," Aokiji said, breaking the silence, his lazy tone failing to hide the concern underneath. "The balance of power in the New World is shifting."
Everyone in the room knew that while Kaido was feared as the 'World's Strongest Creature,' Shanks and Whitebeard were considered the true titans among the Four Emperors. For Kaido to force a retreat from Red-Hair was an unprecedented and deeply worrying development.
"It wasn't a total defeat," Tsuru clarified, reviewing a report in her hands. "According to Shanks' own account, it was a tactical retreat after a minor loss."
"A retreat is a retreat," Sengoku stated firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Kaido won the engagement. The result is the same."
Suddenly, Garp spoke up again, his voice sharp and laced with an anger that startled everyone. "Why were they even fighting?"
His question hung in the air, unexpected. Sengoku paused, looking at his old friend before answering. "Our intelligence suggests it was about Wano. Oden's father, the previous shogun, apparently sought out Shanks and begged him to help liberate the country from Kaido."
Akainu scoffed, his contempt clear. "The samurai of Wano are fools. Asking a pirate for help?"
"Mmm, Red-Hair always did like sticking his nose where it doesn't belong," Aokiji added with a lazy sigh.
At the mention of Shanks, a fire ignited in Garp's eyes. "That damned Red-Hair!" he growled under his breath. "If it wasn't for him…" He trailed off, but the unspoken words filled the room. Everyone knew the story of the straw hat and the boy Garp had tried so desperately to turn into a fine Marine.
Sengoku held up a hand, cutting off the tangent before it could spiral. "Let the Yonko tear each other apart. It's good for us. Our focus must be singular: Whitebeard."
Just as he spoke, the office doors burst open. A young Marine officer, pale and gasping for breath, stumbled inside without even knocking. "Fleet Admiral! It's an emergency! We've lost them!"
"Lost who?!" Sengoku demanded, rising from his seat.
"The entire fleet monitoring the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World, sir!" the officer stammered out. "They've all gone silent!"
A chill ran through the room. Sengoku's face turned to stone. They were blind. Whitebeard and his entire armada could be anywhere. Were they heading for Impel Down to rescue Ace, or were they on a direct course for Marineford itself?
Sengoku slammed his fist on the desk. "Damn that Whitebeard! He's playing games with us." He spun around, his orders sharp and decisive. "We won't let him dictate the terms of this war. Get Vice Admiral Onigumo on the Den Den Mushi immediately! I want him to set sail for Impel Down now and bring 'Fire Fist' Ace here, to Marineford. We'll force the battle onto our own ground!"
Everyone understood the strategy: remove the target from the more vulnerable Impel Down and centralize the conflict where the full might of the Marines was gathered. Garp's jaw tightened, a flicker of pain crossing his face before being ruthlessly suppressed.
"Ooh, sounds like a bit of a tricky situation," Kizaru drawled, a lazy smile on his face. "Should I go along to provide some… light-speed assistance?"
"No," Sengoku snapped. "Warden Magellan is more than capable of handling Impel Down. Just send word for them to be on high alert."
As Tsuru began relaying the orders, another messenger arrived, this one calmer than the last. He presented a new report directly to the Fleet Admiral.
"Sir," he said. "A message from Impel Down."
Sengoku took the paper and read its contents aloud, his voice grim. "The Shichibukai, Pirate Empress Boa Hancock, has just arrived at the prison."
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