Plop!
Luffy hit the ground hard, the kind of fall that would have killed anyone else. But as a rubber man, he survived, though gasping for breath.
"Huff, huff…"
Struggling to rise, he glared at Sengoku, now returned to his normal form atop the execution platform. He slammed the ground, gritting his teeth.
"Damn it, I almost saved Ace!"
Unseen by Luffy, a shadow of death had already appeared behind him.
"Straw Hat Luffy," said CP-0 No Name, dagger raised, his expression unreadable. "On behalf of the World Government, I sentence you to death."
Swish!
The blue-glowing dagger shot straight for the back of Luffy's head, poised to kill him instantly.
Ding!
A longsword silently intercepted the blade.
"Huh!"
Luffy leaped, realizing an ambush had been narrowly avoided. "You…! I didn't sense you at all!"
CP-0 No Name's expression remained calm. The flaw in his Hidden Devil Fruit: it automatically revealed itself when making direct contact, preventing unnoticed kills in public.
On the execution platform, Sengoku, Garp, and Ace witnessed the moment.
"A CP-0 agent, wielding the Hidden Devil Fruit, tried to assassinate Luffy, yet was stopped!"
Sengoku's face darkened further. "Another villain from Impel Down… Redfield, the Red Earl!"
Ace whispered in shock, "I didn't even notice an extra person! Luffy was almost killed!"
Garp's large hands tensed in anger. "CP-0's intelligence assassin, hmph."
Secretly gnashing his teeth, Garp turned to Redfield with a grin. "Why is he protecting my grandson?"
"Hmph!"
Sengoku's voice cut cold. "Need you even ask? It's clearly tied to your grandson's Vice Captain."
Garp laughed proudly. "Ah hahahaha, my grandson is truly capable, managing to rope in such a powerful ally as his Vice Captain."
"Have some shame," Sengoku muttered, teeth grinding.
Then Garp froze, scanning the plaza. "Where's Luffy?"
Swish, swish, swish!
The longsword transformed into multiple illusions, slicing toward Redfield's neck, chest, and eyes.
Yet Redfield's expression stayed calm. His heart was like still water as he parried each attack, then retreated slightly, voice emotionless.
"Red Earl Redfield, escaped from Impel Down… how did you sense me?"
"It's simple," Redfield said, leaning on his sword, a devilish smile on his lips. "A Devil Fruit that senses presence. I couldn't pinpoint your exact location, but your killing intent was detectable."
"You're a Devil Fruit user?"
CP-0 No Name's brow furrowed. This shouldn't happen. Could Redfield have acquired a Devil Fruit during his escape?
Swish!
Redfield laughed wickedly, scattering into a sky full of bats, vanishing from sight.
"Hmm? Bats?"
No Name murmured. "A bat ability… like Stussy's. I still can't erase the killing intent entirely."
He recalled CP-0 Stussy and her Bat-Bat Fruit, which gave enhanced echo-location abilities, able to pierce illusions. Now, Redfield had seen through him simply by detecting intent.
No Name turned to Luffy's empty landing zone. "Did he escape? Someone with heightened perception must be protecting him."
He glanced at Whitebeard, locked in battle with Aokiji and Kizaru, and muttered, "Time to change the assassination target."
"Huh?!"
Above a giant ice floe, Luffy looked around in confusion. "Where am I? Marineford?"
"Luffy."
A familiar voice called from behind.
"Shirogai!!! You're here!"
Luffy leaped up, embracing Shirogai from behind, tears flowing.
"Help me! Ace is about to be executed! I can't lose him! Sabo left me… I won't let Ace go too!"
No outsiders were nearby. Luffy openly poured his heart out to his Vice Captain, who now commanded the crew's respect.
Shirogai patted Luffy's head, voice calm but serious.
"You truly tried your best. But I'm disappointed. Charging into enemy territory alone, reckless, is foolish. And rushing into superior foes—foolishness compounded."
"I…" Luffy pouted, aggrieved.
"As a Captain, you must weigh the strength of allies versus enemies. Life isn't a toy to throw to luck or brute force."
Luffy lowered his head, guilty under Shirogai's piercing gaze.
"Your life is not just yours," Shirogai said softly, voice steady. "Countless eyes watch you. If you fall, would your crew not be broken? Where would Zoro, Nami, Sanji, and the others be? A premature death of their Captain leaves nothing but despair."
"I only relied a little… on brute force," Luffy admitted.
Shirogai's eyes, once smiling, were now cold, terrifyingly calm.
"Strength is the key to changing this world. Only the strong command respect. Otherwise, all you leave is a dying wail. Dignity exists above Haki, and truth resides in unrivaled power. The World Government knows this, and so must you."
"Oh…" Luffy nodded obediently.
Shirogai flexed his fingers, and a black mist rose from the ground, forming a dark cube.
The Dark Seclusion Chamber.
He looked at Luffy and chuckled.
"Enter, Luffy. Stay inside. When you emerge, you will have the strength to save your brother."
"Huh? Really!"
Without hesitation, Luffy leaped in. Shirogai followed.
Thump, thump, thump…
Ten seconds later, a wild, childlike laughter echoed through the area.
"Ah haha, ah haha…"