In the capital of the Goa Kingdom, High Town, two massive screens had been set up early in the morning. Not far from the screens, a group of uniformed Goa Kingdom soldiers stood guard over two large Transponder Snails.
The citizens of the distant Goa Kingdom were still unaware of the specific events unfolding in Kalmar City. Following orders from the Marines, they had brought the Transponder Snails to the square at dawn, awaiting the execution of the man who had once been both loved and feared across the East Blue—Morgan William.
As East Blue natives, regardless of their personal opinions of Morgan William, no one could deny that he was once a Pivotal Figure in the region. With the execution time announced in the newspapers approaching, people began gathering in the square in small groups, carrying mixed feelings of satisfaction, sympathy, or mere curiosity. Before long, the square was packed with people.
Amidst the crowd were two small boys, Ace and Luffy, who were pushing their way forward with great effort, drawing complaints and curses from those around them. The two paid no attention, with Luffy even making a mischievous face at a middle-aged man who yelled at him for stepping on his foot.
After much effort, the two boys finally made it to the front of the crowd. Ace tilted his head back to look at the giant screens, while Luffy curiously examined the Transponder Snail nearby, which was surrounded by Goa Kingdom soldiers and appeared to be dozing off with its eyes closed.
Suddenly, as if receiving a signal, the previously dormant Transponder Snail jolted awake. Its mechanical eyes snapped open, and beams of light projected from them onto the giant screens.
Luffy's mouth formed an "O" shape in astonishment.
The crowd stirred uneasily. After all, the broadcast was beginning several hours earlier than the time announced in the newspapers and official notices.
What appeared on the screen was also far from what people had expected. They did not see a defeated Morgan William being escorted from the prison under the watchful eyes of triumphant Marines, nor did they see an executioner sharpening their blade or a gallows prepared for the event.
Instead, the people in the square saw an angry mob, led by a group of uniformed soldiers, marching toward an area filled with villas and elegant buildings.
The Goa Kingdom soldiers and officials guarding the Transponder Snails were at a loss, unsure of how to respond or whether they should shut down the broadcast.
This task was originally supposed to be handled by Marine Headquarters personnel, but due to a lack of manpower, it had been "outsourced" to the local World Government affiliate. However, compared to the Marines, these local officials were far less capable of assessing the situation. Without explicit orders from the Marines to cut the signal, they dared not stop the broadcast.
The unexpected scene on the screens left the crowd bewildered, but Ace, watching the chaos unfold, was visibly excited. His freckled, youthful face lit up with enthusiasm.
Ace had been following the events surrounding Morgan William closely for some time. For one, the leader of the Marines sent to capture William was none other than his grandfather, the Marine Hero Monkey D. Garp.
More importantly, Ace's sworn brother, Sabo, was a student at William's Neustria Academy.
Sabo occasionally wrote letters to Ace and Luffy, sharing stories about his life at the academy and in Kalmar City. He had even described his involvement in the aerial battle against "Golden Lion" Shiki and his crew, which had left Ace and Luffy awestruck with envy.
Ace knew that while Sabo might have initially harbored some reservations, he had since developed a deep sense of belonging and affection for Morgan William's cause and the students and faculty of Neustria Academy.
After William's arrest, Sabo had also gone silent, leaving Ace deeply worried. He scoured newspapers daily and wandered the city and docks tirelessly, searching for any news. Luffy, too, was concerned about Sabo's safety. However, in Sabo's absence, the once-rebellious Ace had matured significantly. He comforted his youngest sworn brother, even going so far as to forge letters in Sabo's handwriting to reassure Luffy that their brother was safe.
Interestingly, despite their grandfather Garp being a Marine, both Ace and Luffy secretly hoped that Morgan William would emerge unscathed.
Heroes are often revered because they seem distant from ordinary people. Both William and Garp had been hailed as heroes, but for Ace and Luffy—two rebellious children—Garp's constant punches and his eccentric, undignified behavior made it impossible for them to feel any sense of awe or admiration for him. They knew him too well, leaving no room for mystery or reverence.
In contrast, thanks to the tales spread by bards at the docks, taverns, and restaurants, as well as the narratives shaped by newspaper coverage and Sabo's glowing praise in his letters, Ace and Luffy held a vastly different view of William. To them, William's image was far grander than Garp's.
Even so, the two boys understood that the chances of Morgan William escaping unscathed were slim. Yet the chaos in the East Blue over the past few days had sparked a glimmer of hope in their hearts. Ignoring Dadan's discouragement, they had come to watch the broadcast, and to their surprise, they were greeted with an unexpected twist.
Meanwhile, in Kalmar City, the two Transponder Snails responsible for the broadcast were actually under the control of operatives from Branch Five of the Intelligence Division. These agents had revealed their identities to Sergeant Vasco, the leader of the rebel guards, arguing that the events unfolding in the city should not remain confined within its borders. The world needed to know. Even if they ultimately failed, exposing the truth would prevent the Marines from covering up the situation.
Vasco agreed and handed over control of the Transponder Snails to the operatives, assigning two soldiers to assist them. Under the watchful eyes of the Transponder Snails, Vasco continued leading the mob toward the prison where William was held.
Though Vasco's group included only a handful of trained soldiers, with most being unarmed civilians, the collective defection of the garrison forces and the Marines' focus on defending the prison allowed them to march unimpeded to the street outside the prison gates.
The remaining Marines stationed outside the prison stood ready, weapons drawn, under the command of a few lieutenants. They formed a defensive line in front of the gates, blocking the mob's advance.
At the same time, a squad of Marines appeared behind the mob. This was the same unit that Vice Admiral Dalmatia had dispatched to intercept the rebel guards. Leading the charge was Commander Smoker, his face filled with urgency as he and his men effectively trapped Vasco and the mob in the street before the prison.
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