While Bob was making preparations, the Marines was also secretly planning.
Marineford.
Sengoku, now promoted to Fleet Admiral, wore a coat symbolizing the Marine justice and a white cap adorned with a seagull.
His explosive hair was tucked under the cap and beneath his round glasses, a long beard hung down to his chest, where numerous medals were displayed.
The wrinkles on his face highlighted his age, but his expression remained as composed and cold as ever.
"How about it!"
"Where do you think would be the most suitable location for Ace execution this time?"
Sengoku voice was strong and resonant, echoing through the conference hall without fading. As he spoke, Sengoku glanced at the many high-ranking Marines officials present.
Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru, as well as Vice Admirals Garp and Tsuru.
Only the familiar figure of Zephyr was missing, he was no longer a member of the Marines, having become a deserter.
After scanning the room, Sengoku focused his gaze on Akainu and Aokiji. In truth, he had already made up his mind, but he still wanted to hear their opinions.
"Of course, it should be at our Headquarters, Marineford!"
Akainu, dressed in a red and white Navy coat, wearing a cap, and with a pink flower pinned to his chest, spoke with righteous indignation.
His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
Hearing this, Sengoku shifted his gaze to Admiral Aokiji.
Feeling the Fleet Admiral eyes on him, Aokiji, with his thick curly hair, remained silent for a moment before offering a different opinion.
"I think executing him at the Headquarters is fine!"
"But it should be done in secret, not as a public execution!"
Hearing this, Sengoku said nothing and once again shifted his gaze, this time to the gray-haired Garp.
"Garp!"
"You—"
Before Sengoku could continue, Garp, who had been sitting, stood up, his face seemingly struggling to suppress something.
The next moment.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Garp stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
"Garp, you—"
Seeing Garp leave so abruptly, Sengoku expression turned rather unpleasant.
"Sengoku, let it go!"
Tsuru, who had transformed from a young beauty to a gray-haired woman, suddenly spoke up, cutting Sengoku off in time. Her tone was filled with helplessness.
A hero in the eyes of the soldiers, yet his son was the world most wanted man, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. His grandson had become a pirate, and a Supernova at that.
Anyone could understand the bitterness of it all. Everyone present was a genuine top figure in the Marine. They all knew that Ace was a child Garp had raised as his own grandson.
"Sigh!"
Seeing Tsuru expression and Garp troublesome family situation, Sengoku also sighed in resignation and said no more.
After composing himself, Sengoku looked at the two who had spoken earlier and said in a deep voice.
"You two, share your views!"
"Akainu! What's your opinion?"
Hearing Sengoku's question, Akainu square face was filled with the word "justice," his brows furrowed as he spoke.
"Ace, as the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Publicly executing him at our Headquarters, Marineford! This will be a huge deterrent to the pirates!"
***
In the underground world, within a vast and luxurious casino.
Several intimidating-looking men were gathered around a gambling table, sorting their chips while discussing something.
"Have you heard? The second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates has been captured by the Marines!"
"That news has spread everywhere. It's said that the Marine Headquarters' top brass personally released the information!"
"Exactly! That pirate named Ace is going to be publicly executed at Marineford!"
"Damn, this is a huge deal!"
"Holy crap, the Marines are trying to make an example out of him! They're actually going to execute him publicly at their headquarters!"
"It seems Ace is doomed for sure. I wonder what kind of scene it'll be!"
"..."
The gamblers at the table were discussing the event of Ace public execution at Marineford.
After the World Government and the Marines decided on the execution site, they spared no effort in spreading the news far and wide.
In an extremely short time, nearly all factions had learned that Ace, the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' second division, would be publicly executed at Marineford.
Although the exact timing was still unknown, the entire world began to stir with unrest.
At the very top of the casino, in an extravagantly decorated room.
A middle-aged man with grayish-green hair slicked back, wearing pink clothes and trousers, and sporting purple sunglasses, sat on a sofa.
"Purupurupuru..."
The man, who had been quite relaxed, immediately turned serious upon hearing the sound. After composing himself, he quickly retrieved a golden Den Den Mushi from a golden cabinet.
The Den Den Mushi was entirely golden, its mouth still muttering incessantly.
"Boss, it's Tesoro!"
"What are your orders?"
Hearing the familiar voice on the other end, the man spoke slowly.
"Hmm!"
"You've heard about the news of the Whitebeard Pirates' public execution at Marineford, right?"
Tesoro nodded respectfully and replied.
"I've heard!"
"The entire underground world is already buzzing about it!"
A faint smile appeared on Bob lips upon receiving the confirmation.
"Starting today, cut off all weapon transactions with the Marines!"
"Don't move around recklessly during this time. Wait for my instructions at any moment!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Tesoro quickly responded.
"Understood, Boss!"
After Bob received the confirmation, he gave a few more instructions before hanging up.
Though Tesoro knew the other end had already disconnected, he carefully stored the Den Den Mushi back into the cabinet.
After finishing this, Tesoro picked up a black-and-white Den Den Mushi. Soon, a tall man with gold-rimmed glasses walked in.
Seeing Tesoro sitting on the sofa, he respectfully asked.
"Boss, what are your orders?"
Hearing this, Tesoro, who had regained his usual arrogant demeanor, spoke.
"Cut off all weapon supplies to the Marines and sever all profit dealings with them!"
The bespectacled man expression immediately changed. He stammered.
"B-Boss, this might not be appropriate!"
"This will cause us enormous losses and could even offend people on the legitimate side!"
"Please reconsider, Boss!"
Hearing the man words, Tesoro raised an eyebrow slightly and let out a disdainful chuckle.
As the leader of this underground world, how could he not know these truths? But so what?
Compared to the orders of the boss, these things are utterly insignificant.
Because he knew that without Bob, he wouldn't be where he is today.
Thinking of this, Tesoro couldn't help but recall the events of the past. He still remembered that year when he was sixteen, at the human trafficking market, he fell in love at first sight with a woman named Stella and they developed mutual affection.
Three years later, when Tesoro was nineteen and had finally saved enough money to buy Stella freedom, he discovered that she had been easily purchased by a Celestial Dragon.
If it hadn't been for Bob, who suddenly appeared in a kingly manner, stunning those people and leaving behind a Golden-Golden Fruit, he could only imagine the consequences of Stella being taken by the Celestial Dragons.
She would undoubtedly have suffered cruel abuse.
From that moment on, Tesoro knew that his life belonged to Boss Bob.
A mere arms business?
Even if Bob wanted him to hand over the entire underground world, Tesoro wouldn't bat an eye.
"Leader?"
Seeing that Tesoro hadn't responded for a while, the bespectacled man called out softly. Hearing his subordinate voice, Tesoro snapped back to reality.
"What? Do you have an issue with what I said?"
Tesoro face darkened, his tone icy.
Hearing this, the man expression changed drastically, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
The man before him was the Golden Emperor, who controlled a quarter of the world wealth and had influence in both the underworld and the legitimate world.
When it came to killing, he wouldn't care whether the person was his subordinate or not. So he quickly spoke up.
"Understood, Leader!"
"I'll get it done right away!"
The news of Ace execution at Marineford had not only spread throughout the underground world but had also reached every corner of the pirate community.
Whether it was the Grand Line or any other sea, the hot topic of the moment was dominated by this news.
The only event that could compare in scale was the execution of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, back in the day.
At this moment, the entire world's focus was on Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines. Of course, everyone's expectations were different.
Some wanted to see the spectacle, hoping that the pirates would face the justice of the Marines.
Others wanted to witness a great battle, as the execution at Marineford would surely draw many pirates and there were those who didn't want too many innocent people to be dragged into this.
***
In a certain part of the New World.
A small wooden boat slowly advanced across the sea, with a red-haired man carrying a sword at his waist standing at the bow. Beside him was a large wooden barrel, with the character for "sake" prominently displayed in black.
In his hand, he held a newspaper, the headline of which was strikingly bold.
"Shocking! Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace, to be Publicly Executed at Marineford!!"
The Red-haired man eyes narrowed as he tossed the newspaper aside and looked toward a massive pirate ship in the distance.
On the flag of that pirate ship was a skull with a crescent-shaped mustache. It was none other than the ship of one of the Four Emperors—Whitebeard!
------------------------------
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator