Buru buru. Buru buru.
The Den Den Mushi rang softly.
One of the Five Elders picked up the receiver.
"Sengoku. What is it?"
"Honored Five Elders," Sengoku replied solemnly.
"There is a matter I must report to you."
"Speak."
Sengoku took a moment to organize his thoughts. Then, without embellishment, he relayed everything Garp and Ezra D. Vale had revealed to him.
On the other end of the line, silence followed.
The Five Elders were clearly shaken, but their concern was not limited to Ace alone.
What they truly wanted to know was this.
What did Ezra D. Vale intend to do?
After all, Ace and Ezra had crossed paths far more often than most realized.
"Five Elders?" Sengoku asked cautiously.
"What should I do next?"
The Five Elders exchanged glances.
This matter required consultation with Ezra D. Vale and with Imu.
"Sengoku," one of them said finally,
"we will deliberate and give you an answer shortly."
"Yes, honored Elders."
After ending the call, the Five Elders immediately contacted Ezra.
The call connected quickly.
"What is it?" Ezra asked calmly.
"Young master, is this a good time to speak?" they asked carefully.
Ezra glanced at Garp's retreating figure and nodded.
"This is about Ace, isn't it?"
The Five Elders nodded almost in unison.
"Proceed as you see fit," Ezra said flatly.
"There is no need to consider my feelings."
The Five Elders paused, momentarily surprised.
It seemed this matter had not affected Ezra's emotions as much as they had expected.
"We understand, Young Master."
The call ended.
With no resistance from Ezra, the Five Elders immediately went to Imu's chamber.
They received their answer swiftly.
"Make it public," Imu said coldly.
"The task his father failed to complete will be finished by the son."
"Yes," the Five Elders replied respectfully.
They withdrew and contacted Sengoku once more.
The call connected instantly, as if Sengoku had been waiting the entire time.
"Sengoku. After deliberation, we have reached a unanimous decision."
"Portgas D. Ace has committed unforgivable crimes."
"He will be publicly executed."
Sengoku froze.
"Five Elders," he said quickly,
"Ace currently serves as the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. If we publicly execute him, Whitebeard will not remain silent."
"If they attempt a rescue "
Before he could finish, the Five Elders cut him off.
"There is no need for further discussion."
"We will dispatch CP0 to assist."
"Our objective is simple."
"Use Ace to lure out the Whitebeard Pirates and annihilate them completely."
Sengoku's mind raced.
The conclusion he reached made even him uneasy.
This plan… might actually work.
"I understand," Sengoku said slowly.
"Honored Five Elders."
"Do not fail us, Sengoku," they replied.
"This time, the Whitebeard Pirates must be erased."
The line went dead.
Sengoku sat in silence, already planning how to trap Whitebeard and leave him with no escape.
"Someone," he ordered suddenly.
"Summon Vice Admiral Tsuru to my office immediately."
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
Sengoku knew his own mind was not enough for this.
After Tsuru arrived, the two spent hours refining the execution plan.
Every detail had to be flawless.
Any mistake would turn the Navy into the world's greatest joke.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Ezra D. Vale was training at home when Sengoku's Den Den Mushi rang.
"Buru buru."
Ezra picked up casually.
"What is it, Uncle Sengoku?"
"Ezra," Sengoku said,
"bring your people to the entrance of Marineford."
"Blackbeard has delivered Ace, but he refuses to enter the bay."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"So soon? Understood."
He stood and headed straight for the harbor.
At that moment, a crude ship resembling a raft appeared at the edge of Marineford's waters.
The distance was deliberate.
Close enough for the handover, far enough for Blackbeard to flee if necessary.
Soon, a Navy warship marked with a distinctive blade insignia approached.
"Captain," Lafitte whispered, his voice trembling,
"that emblem… it's Admiral Flame."
Blackbeard's expression darkened.
"Bring Ace up," he ordered.
"And tell everyone this. If anything feels wrong, we leave immediately."
"Yes, Captain."
Moments later, the two ships drifted closer.
Tap.
A soft sound echoed as someone stepped onto the deck.
Blackbeard spun around.
Ezra D. Vale was already standing before them.
"What?" someone gasped.
"That speed… you have to be joking!"
Ezra ignored their shock.
He looked at Blackbeard with cold eyes.
"Marshall D. Teach," he said calmly.
"Where is Ace?"
Blackbeard pointed toward the cabin, laughing.
"Zehahahaha! No need to rush, Admiral Flame. He'll be brought out right away."
The sound of shackles clinking echoed.
A thin, battered figure was pushed forward.
Portgas D. Ace.
His condition was terrible.
Blackbeard had kept his promise to feed him, but his wounds had never healed under the restraint of Seastone.
"Admiral Flame," Blackbeard said greedily,
"Ace is right here. As for my appointment letter…"
Ezra flicked the document toward him without a glance.
With his other hand, he grabbed Ace and stepped back.
In the blink of an eye, Ezra returned to his warship.
After confirming the document's authenticity, Blackbeard wasted no time.
He knew better than anyone that Admiral Flame was not someone to provoke.
As Blackbeard's ship fled Marineford's waters, Ezra's lips curled slightly.
"Take him away."
"Yes, Admiral Flame."
Ace was escorted into the ship's holding cell.
Ezra contacted Sengoku.
"Uncle Sengoku. We have him."
Sengoku nodded on the other end.
"Ezra, do not return to Marineford yet."
"Escort Ace directly to Impel Down."
Ezra raised an eyebrow.
"You do not want to verify his identity?"
Sengoku chuckled softly.
"Do you really need me to tell you whether he is real or not?"
The call ended.
Ezra turned to the woman beside him.
"Hina," he said,
"inform the crew. Destination, Impel Down."
"Yes, Admiral Flame."
The warship changed course immediately.
Ezra also contacted Magellan, instructing him to prepare for Ace's arrival.
Magellan agreed without hesitation.
With time to spare, Ezra made his way to the holding cell.
He stopped in front of Ace, who sat silently within.
Slowly, Ezra stepped closer.