While the capital of Water Seven bustled with activity, the Marine Headquarters was a hive of urgent business.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had communicated with Blackbeard, confirming his status as the newest Shichibukai, and had dispatched Admiral Kizaru to take custody of Fire Fist Ace.
Having learned Ace's true parentage, Sengoku made a momentous decision:
Publicly execute Fire Fist Ace!
While this was a painful prospect for his old comrade Vice Admiral Garp, the strategic implications were immense.
Ace, the son of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger and the adopted son of Whitebeard, was a figure whose public execution would serve as a potent deterrent to pirates across the entire sea.
As for the possibility of igniting a war with Whitebeard, the current Marine forces were confident in their ability to handle even the aging Yonko.
The mobilization order had been issued, and elite Marine forces from every corner of the Grand Line were set to converge on Marineford within days. The day of Ace's public execution would be the day war was declared on Whitebeard!
At this critical juncture, several pieces of news reached Sengoku, instantly causing a throbbing headache.
The Straw Hat Pirates had arrived in Water Seven, a development the Marines had initially intended to overlook. However, the Straw Hats had unexpectedly acquired a staggering sum of gold, tens of billions of Berries, igniting envy in the hearts of countless individuals.
Jack the Drought of the Beasts Pirates was on the move!
Even Big Mom herself was reportedly heading there!
Several Shichibukai were also getting involved, and even CP9, the World Government's clandestine intelligence agency, had their eyes on the prize!
Water Seven was rapidly descending into chaos, with numerous factions converging on the city. While they might hesitate to act overtly, their presence would undoubtedly exacerbate the already volatile situation.
The Straw Hat Pirates were magnets for trouble!
"Huh? Whitebeard Jr., Edward Weevil, and that old woman named Bucking have also gone?" Sengoku's eyes narrowed dangerously. However, recognizing the gravity of the impending war with Whitebeard, he decided to temporarily table this matter, intending to address it later when the opportunity arose.
Unbeknownst to Sengoku, however, the news had already reached someone with a deep personal stake in the matter.
Zephyr, while overseeing the training of a group of sergeants, froze upon hearing the reports about Edward Weevil. A torrent of hatred and murderous intent surged through him. Without a word, he abandoned the training exercise and commandeered a small warship, setting a direct course for Enies Lobby.
Edward Weevil. This man must die!
Not long after Zephyr's abrupt departure from headquarters, Sengoku received the news and sighed helplessly.
"Kuzan, you go after him!" Sengoku gritted his teeth.
Sengoku understood the burning hatred that consumed Zephyr. Now that the former Admiral had set out, there was no persuading him to return. His fellow Marines wouldn't even attempt to.
For Zephyr, the loss of his arm was a minor wound compared to the devastating loss of his entire class of recruits.
Zephyr had poured his heart and hopes into those young Marines.
Ever since pirates had murdered his family, Zephyr had treated almost every recruit as his own child.
And those children, that entire class, had been brutally slaughtered by Wilbur. How could Zephyr not seek vengeance for such a profound loss?!
Sengoku couldn't stop Zephyr; his only option was to provide support. Even during this extraordinary time, they needed to send someone to assist, and Admiral Aokiji was the most logical choice.
Aokiji, fully aware of Zephyr's intentions, set off without a word the moment he received the order. His usual laid-back demeanor was gone, replaced by a palpable, sharp killing intent that radiated from his entire being.
That Weevil... he wanted to kill him too!
Just as Aokiji was about to ride his ice bicycle onto the sea, two voices simultaneously halted him.
"Admiral Kuzan, what's going on?" Captain Smoker and Captain Hina approached.
Both officers had received the summoning order and had rushed to headquarters ahead of schedule. Seeing Aokiji preparing to leave at such a critical time indicated a mission of significant importance. Thus, they inquired instinctively.
However, Smoker suddenly found himself several meters away from Hina.
"Mr. Smoker, please don't imitate Hina. You'll be misunderstood!" Hina said defensively.
"Hina, I told you it was that b*****d Carl and Tashigi spreading those rumors! I never said I wanted to marry you! I've been wronged!" Smoker exclaimed in exasperation.
Ever since Alabasta, Hina had maintained this wary stance, much to Smoker's frustration.
"Mr. Smoker, do you dislike Hina? Hina is very disappointed... very disappointed!" Hina declared dramatically.
"Then what do you want me to do? Do you disagree or are you disappointed?" Smoker retorted, throwing his hands up in exasperation.
"In short, stay away from Hina! And don't just mimic Hina's way of speaking!"
"Okay, okay, I hear you!" Smoker conceded, feeling utterly drained and harboring a strong resentment towards Carl, along with a touch of annoyance towards Tashigi. Their careless gossip had spread like wildfire, and now countless people believed he and Hina were engaged, with many even offering their congratulations.
Even Admiral Aokiji had joined in on the teasing before.
However, Aokiji's current demeanor was far from jovial; his expression was grim and serious.
Smoker's own expression immediately turned serious. "Kuzan, what's happened?"
Aokiji's eyes glinted with a deadly resolve. "The Straw Hats have arrived in Water Seven, and that Edward Weevil has appeared as well. They're currently engaged in a conflict. Teacher Zephyr has already departed!"
Upon hearing this, Smoker and Hina's faces also hardened with killing intent.
Both were Zephyr's disciples. They remembered the near-annihilation of their junior class and the brutal severing of their respected teacher's arm by Weevil. How could they not be filled with rage?
Now, the enemy had resurfaced!
"Admiral Kuzan, let us go too!" Smoker and Hina declared in unison, their voices firm and allowing no room for refusal.
As a fellow disciple, Aokiji understood their feelings perfectly and offered no objection. He simply summoned a small warship, and they set sail towards Enies Lobby.
This Weevil... they were going to make him pay!
Meanwhile, the Capital of Seven Waters was a whirlwind of excitement and hidden agendas.
On the coast in a certain district, a powerfully built man with purple hair, wearing a wrestler's mask, strode ashore with a wide, confident grin.
He raised his fists above his head, theatrically flexing his muscles for any onlookers.
"Weihahaha! Now that Captain Blackbeard has become a Shichibukai, he's about to make some big moves! How can he afford to lose money? I, Jesus Burgess, will relieve the Straw Hats of that measly tens of billions of Berries! The so-called Five Emperors are just a bunch of greenhorns who haven't even scratched the surface of the New World! Let me, a fighting expert, teach them some manners! Weihahaha!"
This boisterous newcomer was none other than Jesus Burgess, the champion helmsman of the Blackbeard Pirates!
However, no sooner had Burgess finished his boastful pronouncements than a black-haired youth with two swords sheathed at his waist materialized not far in front of him.
Carl's voice was cold and devoid of any amusement. "Blackbeard Pirates? You want a piece of this gold too? Perfect timing, actually. I was just wondering how to get some information, and you've conveniently provided it!"
Burgess had inadvertently revealed a crucial piece of information: Blackbeard was now a Shichibukai!
That meant Ace must have been handed over to the Marines, and the monumental battle that would reshape the very balance of power in the sea was about to commence
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