The large execution platform in Loguetown, East Blue, was already built.
The news of Pirate King Roger's execution had swept the world like a storm. As for the news of Shiki's capture, it hadn't been released yet. The Marines were suppressing the information to avoid more chaos. They would deal with Shiki after they were finished with Roger.
Roger's execution was two days away, but Loguetown was already filled with a large Marine presence. Several battleships were anchored in the harbor.
Logically, the area should have been put under martial law, but since the execution would be broadcast to the entire world and they couldn't and shouldn't stop the public from watching, the Marines had only discreetly reinforced their security. They hadn't sealed off the surrounding seas, the harbor, or the streets.
Over the past few days, as the news continued to spread, people had begun to arrive from all over. Among them were the restless Donquixote Doflamingo from the North Blue and Dracule Mihawk, who had traveled the world challenging swordsmen and remained undefeated.
Three massive battleships from Marine Headquarters slowly entered the harbor, dropping anchor next to a few others that had arrived earlier.
After the gangplank was lowered, Momonga, Yamakaji, and Gion were the first to descend. All three wore the rank of Rear Admiral and had on their Justice cloaks, looking imposing and heroic.
Gion had some bandages wrapped around her chest, looking like she had been injured not long ago. But this didn't diminish her charm, and as soon as she disembarked, she caught the attention of many. For a moment, several young men thought they should enlist in the Marines.
After the three of them stood on the docks, two more figures walked down the gangplank. The one in front had sharp, messy black hair, an attractive face, and a resolute aura. He was wearing a white T-shirt, black cargo pants, and high-top military boots, with a Justice cloak draped over his shoulders.
He looked to be in his twenties, but the epaulets on his shoulders were those of a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral!
A famous blade was at his waist, which Mihawk immediately recognized as the Nagasone Kotetsu, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords.
Mihawk knew the sword but not the man. Doflamingo, the former owner of the sword, didn't recognize it. Instead, he raised an eyebrow with interest. "Rodriguez Diarmuid… the one who captured Roger? He looks a bit hurt, and his aura is unstable… I suppose it's to be expected. You can't capture Roger without paying a price."
Doflamingo didn't know that Shiki had attacked Marineford a few days ago, so he assumed Diarmuid's injuries were from capturing Roger.
Diarmuid's aura was indeed unstable. His wounds couldn't heal in just two or three days. Under his T-shirt, his chest and abdomen were wrapped in bandages. He hadn't been showing off by letting Gion and the others disembark first; he had just been drinking medicine for a few minutes.
The man who followed Diarmuid had several scars on his face and looked fierce, with eyes like a rabid dog that would bite anyone who looked at him too long. This was Diarmuid's subordinate, Doberman. Once the Roger affair was over, he would be promoted from Commodore to Rear Admiral.
Momonga and the others paid no attention to the people on the dock, but Diarmuid glanced over and spotted the uniquely styled Doflamingo.
He had to admit, Doflamingo's style was so flamboyant he couldn't hide, or maybe he simply disdained hiding. His short, blond hair and orange sunglasses were on full display. He hadn't yet evolved into his signature tight pants and loafers, but his clothes were still flashy, giving him the air of a rock star. He already wore his pink feathered flamingo coat and had a wicked, debauched smile on his face. It was impossible not to notice him.
"Donquixote Doflamingo. Do you know him?" Gion asked, walking up to Diarmuid.
Doflamingo had a special status. Although he hadn't caused any major incidents yet, he had already made a name for himself in the underworld. Combined with his former Celestial Dragon status, the Marines had already marked him as a potential threat.
Diarmuid looked away, patting the Nagasone Kotetsu at his waist. "This sword was once in the hands of the Donquixote Family. I guess you could say I took it from him."
"I see," Gion nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
So what if he took it? Doflamingo wasn't a good person. The sword was wasted on him. If Doflamingo wasn't happy about it, he could try to take it back from Diarmuid now.
Back in the North Blue, Diarmuid hadn't paid much attention to the Donquixote Family and had just taken the sword. But he had been a little concerned about the fallout, so he had returned to Marineford with Admiral Zephyr and nothing ever came of it.
Now, he didn't care about Doflamingo at all. 'Come and try to take it back,' he thought. 'I'll beat you until you can't get up, you filthy worm!'
Doflamingo, however, had completely forgotten about the incident. A sword from a few years ago wasn't a big deal to him. The Donquixote Family's expansion in the North Blue had hit a bottleneck, and they wouldn't be able to achieve much more there.
Doflamingo had been thinking about a change of pace but still hadn't figured out his next move. Just then, he heard that Pirate King Roger had been captured. He figured he might as well go watch the spectacle.
It was here that he would witness Roger's last words and decide to become a pirate, riding the new wave of the era. He was incredibly capable, and with his methods and strength, he would become a major force on the sea, eventually becoming one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. And then… well, then he would meet the chosen one and get beaten down.
"Vice Admiral Diarmuid, Chief of Staff Tsuru and the other Vice Admirals are waiting for you," a Marine Major said, rushing up and saluting.
"Oh? They're waiting for me?" Diarmuid was surprised. 'Since when did I have so much influence?'
"They probably want to hear from you, the one who was there during the Shiki incident," Gion said with a laugh.
Diarmuid nodded. The news about Shiki hadn't been released to the public, but the higher-ups in the Marines all knew about it.
"Lead the way," Diarmuid said to the Marine Major. He then waved to Momonga and the others. "Let's go. We'll see Chief of Staff Tsuru first. Admiral Sengoku ordered that she is in charge of everything here in Loguetown, and we all have to follow her plans."
"Yes, all for justice!" Momonga and the others replied. They followed Diarmuid toward the town.
Diarmuid didn't notice a young man with white hair in the crowd looking at him with admiration and awe.
"The Marine's Ferocious Tiger, Vice Admiral Rodriguez Diarmuid… the Bane of Evil. He's the one who captured that wicked Pirate King. I have to join the Marines and be just like him. Justice!" the young man whispered.
That young man was Smoker. His hometown was also Loguetown, and he would be one of the people who would witness Roger's execution.
Diarmuid knew he was there, but he didn't plan on interfering. He knew the boy would join the Marines eventually and become a student of Zephyr. When the time was right, Diarmuid would bring him under his command and take good care of him.
Diarmuid loved rebellious troublemakers. A few beatings and all their problems would go away!
The Marine base in Loguetown was an ordinary branch office, but now it was a hub for top-ranking Marine officials. Chief of Staff Tsuru sat in the office of the base commander. The original commander didn't even have the authority to sit in and listen to the conversation.
Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino were all sitting there. Some of the older Vice Admirals were present as well, like Vice Admiral Comil, who was balding, and Vice Admiral Jonathan, a friend of Garp's.
Knock, knock, knock.
A few knocks came from the door, and the Vice Admirals who were chatting looked toward the entrance. Chief of Staff Tsuru smiled. "That must be Diarmuid. Come in."
As soon as she spoke, the door opened. Diarmuid was the first to step inside. "Hahahaha, how did you know it was me, Chief of Staff?"
"Well, you are the boy who worked under me for two years," Chief of Staff Tsuru said with a chuckle.
During his two years working in the Intelligence Division, Diarmuid had occasionally disagreed with her on some things, like the establishment of the "non-existent agency." But for the most part, the two got along very well.
Chief of Staff Tsuru was willing to mentor Diarmuid, and he was willing to learn her wisdom and political skills. The disagreements were just about work and didn't affect their personal relationship.
When Diarmuid came in, Gion, Momonga, Yamakaji, and Doberman followed him.
Momonga and his group didn't have a network of connections and were now considered Diarmuid's close subordinates.
As for Gion, even though she was one of Diarmuid's direct subordinates, she had been transferred from Chief of Staff Tsuru's office. Her relationship with Chief of Staff Tsuru was very close. Although they were different in age, they called each other sisters and were very close.
"Tsuru-nee!" Gion greeted with a smile. Momonga and the others said hello to Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino. Diarmuid casually sat down next to Vice Admiral Jonathan, greeting him with a smile. "It's been a while, Vice Admiral Jonathan."
"Hehehe, it has. The last time I saw you, you were still a Rear Admiral," Jonathan said with a laugh.
"Hahaha, I think you're right. It looks like you're going back to Headquarters?" Diarmuid asked.
"The Marine G-8 Branch has been completed. The construction is finally finished after more than two years. When the Loguetown affair is over, I will go back to Headquarters to report to the Fleet Admiral. But…" Vice Admiral Jonathan smiled. "I might go back to G-8 to be its first base commander, hahaha."
"That's a big promotion! Two years of construction weren't for nothing. The Fleet Admiral still remembers you," Diarmuid laughed.
"Hahaha, I can't compare to you young people. I heard from Tsuru that Admiral Sengoku intends to send you out after this is over to train you by making you a base commander?" Jonathan asked.
"Yeah, that's right. But I haven't decided where I want to go yet," Diarmuid nodded.
"How about G-7?" Jonathan suggested. Diarmuid was stunned for a moment, thinking back on the details of that base.
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