Revolutionary Army Headquarters — Baltigo!
Luffy, Sabo, Dragon, Robin, and Koala gathered together!
"After discussing with the Chief and me, the probability of 'jailbreaking' from Impel Down is much higher than 'rescuing from the execution ground' at Marineford."
Sabo looked at Luffy, "The fewer people, the better. Just the two of us!"
"Mm, I'll listen to you!"
Luffy nodded. He wasn't good at thinking anyway, and now he had an external brain... it couldn't be more perfect!
"Sabo, can't I go with you? I'm your partner!" Koala's face showed worry.
"Sorry, I can't take you this time!"
Soon, blue electric arcs streaked across the sky, stirring up gusts of wind and clouds, heading straight for Impel Down!
...The ink-black giant tower, standing deep in the sea, pierced the clouds. Its iron walls, like prison walls, were covered in moss. Red flags fluttered at the top of the tower, and the sea breeze carried a salty, oppressive scent, like a giant beast lurking in the deep sea, exuding a deterrent that warned all living beings to stay away.
—This is the world's strongest "iron wall," Impel Down!
Deep within Impel Down, a man with a robust chest was bound by sturdy Sea Stone handcuffs, his eyes burning with defiance. Though imprisoned, he still exuded a fiery aura.
Outside his cell was a white-haired old man!
"To have survived such severe injuries! Ace... thanks to you, Marineford, no, the World Government, is in complete disarray! Hahahahaha!"
"Quick, kill me!" Ace's hoarse voice revealed his resolve.
He absolutely could not bear his family being imprisoned because of him... anyway, he should have died long ago!
"You want me to kill you?" Garp inexplicably glanced at Ace and sighed.
"Fool, nothing you do will help! ...Even if you die, Whitebeard won't give up! ...No one can stop them now! ...We've angered the King of the Sea!"
Ace lowered his head, tears falling one by one.
Memories of reveling with the Whitebeard Pirates appeared in his mind, scene by scene!
'Pops, Marco, Jozu, Little Oars...! It's all my fault, please don't let anything happen to you because of a reckless person like me...!'
Garp looked deeply at the weeping Ace, the heaviness in his heart making it hard to breathe.
He tightly clenched his well-honed fist. [Justice! It's too heavy!]
...Outside Amazon Lily's outer harbor,
After much nagging from Nyon, the Empress, unable to bear it any longer, finally decided to answer the Marineford's summons and head to Mary Geoise (though it was actually due to her sense of responsibility for the Amazon Lily Kingdom).
Under the dark night, the sea was turbulent. The Empress's proud figure stood on a luxurious ship pulled by two sea snakes.
A man in a Marine coat had been waiting on the warship for a long time.
"I've been waiting for ages, Boa Hancock!" Momonga impatiently looked at the haughty Empress.
Hancock, in turn, cast a proud glance at him, her voice full of coldness and aloofness, "If this concubine were not the Queen of Amazon Lily, I would not associate with your kind!"
"I'm going to Impel Down... to see the man who instigated this war. This matter, I believe, was already mentioned in the den den mushi!"
Momonga jumped onto the warship. "This matter... the higher-ups have pretty much allowed it, on the condition that only you and that snake can board the warship!"
"Time is tight, and the mission is urgent! If you want to see him, hurry up!"
"Thump... thump!"
Her wine-Red Hair danced wildly in the wind, a high-slit, long gown with golden patterns on a red background outlined her graceful figure, and her high heels clanged on the ship's deck. Her bright eyes were arrogant, her red lips frosty, and a queenly aura surrounded her. Every step she took was both stunning and intimidating.
After the Empress unfroze the Marines, the warship slowly sailed towards Impel Down!
In the luxurious cabin, Boa Hancock sat elegantly on the sofa.
She spread out the neatly folded newspaper on the table.
Her fair arm propped up her jade-like face, her dark hair sliding over her fingertips, as she gazed blankly at the figure in the newspaper.
Originally, she wasn't interested in Ace. But suddenly, as if by a strange impulse, she wanted to see him!
[Straw Hat Luffy, what kind of person are you exactly? I really want to meet you!]
...Meanwhile, at Marineford!
Sengoku slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide, staring at the reporting general.
"What did you say?! All 23 'surveillance ships' responsible for monitoring Whitebeard's main ship, the Moby Dick, have lost contact?!"
"Not only that," the reporting general's forehead was dripping with cold sweat, "in the New World, other pirate crews have also started to become restless! ...Now, how large is their scale? When will they arrive? We have absolutely no intelligence!"
Sengoku gritted his teeth, his glasses glinting golden!
"Were they one step ahead? Pass on the order: Impel Down is to be strictly guarded. Also, notify the Admirals and Staff Officer Tsuru... to hold a meeting!!"
Soon, a sarcastic voice came from outside.
"Oh my, Fleet Admiral Sengoku truly has great authority, calling a meeting in the middle of the night!"
Sengoku's forehead immediately showed several dark lines. He didn't need to turn around to know who this irritating voice belonged to!
Kizaru was already standing at the office doorway, leaning against the doorframe, hands in his pockets, looking at Sengoku with a half-smile.
Sengoku suppressed his anger and roared, "If you're here, don't block the door! Get in here!"
...Soon, the sleepy Aokiji, the serious Akainu, and the wise and gentle Staff Officer Tsuru all took their seats.
"The main reason I called you here this time is to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates!" Sengoku looked at them. "Everyone, speak freely!"
Akainu stood up, a scorching hot aura rising from him.
"They are merely remnants of an old era. Whitebeard... leave him to me!"
Kizaru filed his nails, looking at Akainu with a half-smile.
"Sakazuki, you truly are terrifying! Well then... I'll take Marco!"
Aokiji slumped in his chair, pulling up his eye mask.
"Oh my, then who will be my opponent??"
Looking at the three Admirals, each with their own peculiar expressions, Sengoku's eyelids twitched!
He slammed the table heavily, his beard flying up in anger.
"You bunch of idiots! I'm asking you for an overall strategy, not to pick your opponents!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku in a rage is truly terrifying! ...Forming battle arrays? Isn't that the Fleet Admiral's job? Does the Fleet Admiral want to slack off too??"
Kizaru's words were always startling!
"If you can't speak properly, then shut up!"
Sengoku was almost driven mad by that scoundrel Borsalino! Day after day, he was sarcastic, always starting with "Oh my!"
"Let's stick to our previous encirclement plan!" At the crucial moment, Staff Officer Tsuru adjusted her glasses and spoke.
The scene fell silent for a moment... the time for foolishness was over!
"The Whitebeard Pirates are nothing to fear! But... this is a war! Whether it's Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, or Sakazuki's Magma-Magma Fruit, or... their dominance in war is too strong!"
"—This time, many people will die!!"
Tsuru's cold voice echoed in the silent office!
"There's no other way!" Sengoku's voice was deep but held a sense of resolve.
"Battlefields are never without casualties! This is a tempering of blood and fire. The Marines who survive will become true steel warriors!"
"If we win, the Marines' Justice will shock the world. The people of the world will gain an extra layer of protection!"
"Therefore, even if thousands upon thousands of people must die, this war must be fought! And it must be won with overwhelming force!"
"Since the Sabaody incident, the Marines' prestige has significantly declined. We... truly cannot afford to lose!"
Sengoku's determination echoed throughout the office!
Akainu clenched his fists, his eyes full of resolve!
Kizaru paused his nail filing, a faint glimmer in his toad-like glasses!
Aokiji gently pulled his eye mask down, covering his eyes!
Late at night, the Fleet Admiral's office glowed with yellow light!
That night, the high-ranking officials stayed awake all night!
They did not do it for themselves, but only for the Marines to suffer fewer sacrifices and gain more prestige!