183 183. War Of The Best

"Look, they are bringing up Fire Fist!"

Someone somewhere in the world pointed at the projection.

Ace was brought up to the scaffold and chained there. Two executioners stood beside him with their swords at the ready.

Sengoku along with Garp approached the scaffold.

"Okay, Garp? I will tell them everything."

Garp turned his head and said, "Do what you want. I'll be downstairs."

Garp broke away from Sengoku and walked down. Leo and Tsuru was already there watching the marines down at the bay.

Leo watched silently as Sengoku took stage.

Tens of thousands of marines stood nervously on the plaza.

How many will die for this pointless justice?

He didn't know.

Crackle...

Sengoku stood beside Ace and spoke into a transponder snail.

"I have something to tell you all."

Every marine stopped at once and listened.

"Portgas.D.Ace... the death of this man today holds great significance."

Garp had a complicated expression on his face.

Tsuru sighed, "It's not your fault, Garp."

Garp suddenly cheered up and laughed, "Buhaha, women are sweet at times like this, Tsuru-chan."

Tsuru didn't say anything and shook her head. As someone who worked and fought alongside Garp for decades she knew him better than anyone.

Sengoku spoke, "Ace, tell them the name of your father."

Ace said without hesitation "My father is Whitebeard."

Sengoku denied his words calmly, "No."

Ace shouted, "Yes, he is! Whitebeard is my only father!"

Sengoku didn't refute him and said, "We looked for you with our eyes wide open at that time. Because we heard that there might be a child of that man on some island."

"Based on a small amount of information from Cipher Pol, we checked all newborns, and preborn children and their mothers, but we couldn't find you."

"No wonder."

"Your mother risked her life to bear you. She used a trick that can be called as a mother's pride. That misled us... no, the whole world."

"There is an island called Baterila in South Blue. Your mother's name is Portgaz.D.Rogue. She did something that completely defied natural law."

"She kept her baby inside her womb for 20 months! And as soon as she gave birth to you, she lost all of her strength and passed away."

"A year and 3 months after the father's death, a child was born with the blood of the world's most henious man in his veins."

Sengoku's eyes turned sharp. He looked at Ace.

"That was you."

Ace didn't speak. However he clenched his fist as Sengoku spoke.

"You know it, surely?"

"Your father is...

"The King of Pirates."

"Gold Roger!"

A hundred thousand men stood below, but no one made a single sound. Not just them, the whole world turned silent.

"Fire Fist Ace is the son of Gold Roger?!"

Every single soul watching the projection was shocked for several seconds before erupting into chaos.

The marines were even more shocked.

"So it still exists. The bloodline of the King of Pirates!!"

"The legend of Gold Roger continues!"

"This is turning out to be a good show. Haha."

"I am glad they got him. The son of the Pirate King, surely he must be evil."

Many were shocked, relieved and excited.

Garp had a forlorn expression. He looked at Ace and couldn't help but think back to that fateful day.

He sighed and shook his head helplessly.

Leo had an inscrutable expression on his face. He heard everything without an ounce of emotion on his face, however a storm was raging inside him.

He could feel the emotions of everyone down below. Except for one person everyone else wished for Ace's death.

This is messed up.

He said to himself.

Garp who was next to him closed his eyes powerlessly. That legend who chased after cruel pirates looked defeated at this moment.

Sengoku continued, "It was 2 years ago. You took over your mother's name and rose up in the world as the captain of the Spade Pirates with your exquisite speed and power."

"And that's when we noticed that Roger's blood still flowed."

"But Whitebeard also noticed that at the same time. And to make you the next King of Pirates he let the son of his old rival onto his ship."

"You were protected by Whitebeard."

"If we continue to let you roam free, you will one day become the next King. That's why it means a great deal to execute you today."

"Even if it means an all-out war with Whitebeard!"

The marines roared in response to Sengoku's words.

Suddenly a marine ran over and reported, "Fleet Admiral, I have a report. The gate of justice is opening without order. And we can't make contact with the control room."

"What?!"

Sengoku was startled.

The lookouts suddenly exclaimed.

Sengoku looked over the horizon.

Shadows of ships appeared one after another without any sign.

"They appeared so suddenly! How did they get in?"

Sengoku asked himself in shock.

"It's a vast fleet of pirate ships!"

"They are all big-time captains well known in the New World!"

"43 ships on total! We can't find Whitebeard or his commanders!"

Reports came one after another.

Leo who was watching from above suddenly frowned. He looked down below to the edge of the plaza and muttered.

"He is here."

Hm?

Garp and Tsuru heard him and followed his eyes.

Garp said, "That's an impressive way to make an entrance."

Tsuru robbed her forehead, "We got the line up wrong."

Suddenly a marine yelled, "I see a shadow in the bay!"

His voice grabbed everyone's attention.

The calm sea started to roll over. Ripples spread out from the bay.

"I get it now. They all coated their ships and approached from underwater!"

Sengoku spoke to himself.

The water rose up like a giant tide. A huge ship coated with a glossy layer burst out and crashed into the sea.

"Here comes Moby Dick!"

It was Whitebeard's ship!

Two more ships modelled like Moby Dick broke out of the water.

"They have infiltrated the bay!"

Someone was looking at the ships through a binoculars and exclaimed.

"That's the first division commander, Marco. The 14 commanders... they're all here!"

Clang! Clang!

Footsteps came from Moby Dick.

The marines held their breaths and waited.

A tall figure walked up the steps and came onto the deck of Moby Dick. He held a bisento in his right arm and faced the entire marine army with an arrogant smile.

"It's been a while, Sengoku."

Sengoku spoke solemnly, "Whitebeard."

Whitebeard's gaze turned shape, "You better tell me that my beloved son is all right."

Sengoku clenched his teeth, "I can't believe we let him get this close."

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes and said, "Give me a second, Ace."

He pierced the bisento onto the deck of the ship and clenched his fist before throwing it back.

Cracks started to appear where his fist met. It spread through the air.

"He cracked air?"

The marines found it unbelievable.

Suddenly the calm sea started to rage. Tides rose up like leviathans and overshadowed the entire bay.

"The tides are way too high!"

The marines were panicking.

However the sea calmed down soon. It appeared as if nothing happened.

"It's over?"

"It's way too quiet."

The marines whispered among themselves.

Whitebeard grabbed the bisento and looked at Ace.

Ace kneeling beside Sengoku clenched his teeth, "Pops... everyone... I ignored your words and took off on my own! I will accept the consequences of my recklessness."

Whitebeard clearly heard him and said calmly, "No."

"I told you to do so... son."