Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Inside the highest-level war room, the atmosphere was as heavy as the dead calm before a storm.
All the Headquarters' Admirals and officers, including the Three Admirals, were gathered. The epaulets on their shoulders gleamed with a cold light, and their faces were etched with the solemnity of an impending downpour.
Kizaru Borsalino, uncharacteristically, had not trimmed his nails; he simply leaned lazily against the back of his chair, his gaze behind his glasses obscure.
Aokiji Kuzan had his arms crossed, eyes closed, as if asleep, but his slightly furrowed brow betrayed his inner turmoil.
Only Akainu Sakazuki sat like a dormant volcano, upright and silent, radiating an almost suffocating heat.
Sengoku surveyed everyone present and went straight to the point: "We just received word that Saint Ian will personally attend Ace's public execution in Marineford."
With that one sentence, the temperature in the war room plummeted to freezing.
After a brief, stunned silence, a buzzing of irrepressible discussions erupted.
"What? I didn't mishear, did I? What is Saint Ian doing at the Summit War? This isn't some interesting game; it's a war where many people will die!"
"What does he intend to do? This is too reckless! We are about to face the Whitebeard Pirates, the man with the power to destroy the world! Swords have no eyes; we cannot possibly divert our attention to ensure his absolute safety!"
No sooner had one Vice Admiral finished speaking than another immediately retorted, "Silence! How can you speak like that? That is Saint Ian, the most esteemed existence in the Holy Land!"
Amidst the arguments, Marine Staff Officer Vice Admiral Tsuru gently tapped the table, and all voices abruptly ceased.
Her eyes, which had seen a thousand sails, swept over everyone, finally resting on Sengoku.
"Sengoku, things might not be that simple," Tsuru's voice was soft but carried significant weight. "From what I know of This Young Master, though his actions are erratic, he would never do something on a whim. His personal presence on the battlefield surely has a deeper purpose."
Sengoku's face darkened: "You mean he wants to use this war to draw out more enemies?"
"Wild speculation is meaningless," Tsuru shook her head. "To ensure nothing goes wrong, you had best go to the Holy Land yourself. If you can meet Saint Ian in person, discussing the war details face-to-face would be best. If not, then go to the Seat of Power to meet the Gorosei."
This suggestion made Sengoku's mouth twitch slightly.
As Fleet Admiral, to run off to the Holy Land right before a major war, wouldn't that be openly telling the Gorosei that he was incompetent?
Thinking this, a sudden idea struck him. His gaze swept over the Three Admirals, finally settling on Sakazuki.
"Sakazuki," Sengoku said in a deep voice, "This Fleet Admiral is busy with military affairs. You will go to the Holy Land in my stead. Don't look for Saint Ian; go directly to the Seat of Power. Since the public execution is his command, the Gorosei must know his full plan!"
"Yes!"
Sakazuki, unaware of Sengoku's little schemes, did not hesitate for a moment. He stood up, accepted the order, and strode out of the war room... Holy Land Mary Geoise, Seat of Power.
After being announced, Sakazuki entered this hall that symbolized the world's highest authority.
Inside the hall, five old men were either reading newspapers, cleaning swords, or sipping tea, completely ignoring the arrival of Marineford's highest combat power.
Sakazuki stood in the center of the hall as straight as a spear, allowing the invisible arrogance and pressure to wash over him. The magma in his chest churned, but reason held it firmly in check.
Dozens of seconds later, Satan Saint, holding a newspaper, finally looked up, his gaze like a knife.
"Sakazuki, you dare not kneel before us even before becoming Fleet Admiral?"
Sakazuki seemed not to hear the implied reprimand. He stood even straighter, his voice as deep as magma rolling across the earth: "I am here on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders to inquire about the public execution of Ace. Marineford just received orders that Saint Ian will personally attend the execution in Marineford. We want to know if Saint Ian has any other arrangements!"
Warcury Saint, the God of Law, put down his teacup upon hearing this and said coldly: "Saint Ian's meaning is clear: to lure the Whitebeard Pirates here and wipe them out in one go! You don't understand such a simple thing, and you call yourself an Admiral of Marineford!"
Before he finished speaking, his tone suddenly intensified: "Go back to your Headquarters and set up defenses! Do what you are supposed to do!"
Sakazuki's face was indistinct in the shadow of his cap brim, but his unconsciously clenched fists, with their bulging veins, betrayed his current rage.
However, he endured it, turning in silence, preparing to leave.
Just as he turned, a lazy voice came from outside the hall.
"Wait."
The heavy doors of the Seat of Power were pushed open, and Ian strolled in with leisurely steps, as if walking through his own backyard, heading directly to the uppermost seat in the Seat of Power.
Inside the hall, the Gorosei, who had been so high and mighty a second ago, changed their expressions dramatically the moment they recognized the newcomer.
Newspapers were dropped, famous swords were sheathed, teacups were set down.
Five figures, trembling with reverence, knelt on one knee before Ian, saying in unison: "Greetings, Young Master!"
This sudden scene was like an abrupt clap of thunder, striking Sakazuki hard!
He stiffly turned around, his pupils contracting violently at the sight before him.
Those were the Gorosei!
The highest authorities of the World Government!
Now, they were kneeling before Saint Ian like servants!
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Sakazuki suddenly awoke, his body's instinct overriding all thought, causing him to instinctively follow suit and kneel on one knee.
Ian sat down on the uppermost sofa, crossed his legs, and his sharp gaze swept over the kneeling Gorosei.
"You old geezers, how can you treat the loyal Admiral Sakazuki like this?"
"If you feel you've been here too long, This Young Master doesn't mind giving you a long vacation. From now on, This Young Master will personally take charge of this Seat of Power!"
The Gorosei's bodies trembled in unison, their heads bowed even lower, and they again said in unison: "Everything is at Young Master's command!"
"Just kidding," Ian said with a smile, waving his hand. "All of you, stand up."
The Gorosei rose as if granted a great pardon, but Sakazuki remained on one knee, motionless.
It wasn't that he didn't dare to move, but that his mind was blank from the shock of this world-altering scene.
"Sakazuki, stand up and speak," Ian's voice came.
Sakazuki's body stiffened. Not daring to delay, he immediately stood up.
Ian rose from the sofa, walked over to him, raised his hands, and heavily patted his broad shoulders.
"Sakazuki, This Young Master has always seen your loyalty," Ian's face showed a gentle smile. "If these old geezers used to order you around, it was because This Young Master had no time for them. Now, This Young Master is here."
"From now on, whatever you want to do, just go ahead and do it. This Young Master will be your strongest backer!"
Hearing this, Sakazuki suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with incomprehensible shock.
Ian smiled: "What? Didn't hear me clearly? Then I'll say it again. From now on, you don't have to worry about the Gorosei's opinions. You only take orders from This Young Master. If these old geezers dare to boss you around again—"
He paused, then said in an almost instigating tone: "Just smash your sandbag-sized fists into their old faces. Smash them without worry, smash them hard, they won't die anyway!"
????
Sakazuki, still in shock, was completely bewildered. He stared blankly at Ian, only snapping out of it after a long while, then bowed deferentially, as if greatly flattered: "Saint Ian, this is not according to the rules."
"Rules?"
"From this day forward, This Young Master's rules are the rules."
Saying this, Ian turned his head, looking at the Gorosei with a genial smile, "Who among you agrees, and who opposes?"
No sooner had he spoken than the Gorosei again knelt down in terror, "Everything is at Young Master's command!"
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