Enies Lobby.
With Spandine's departure, the atmosphere on Enies Lobby suddenly relaxed, and the minor conflicts among the Navy officers were easy to overlook.
Navy soldiers erected an execution platform and a podium in the center of Enies Lobby, even setting up video transponder snails, as if preparing to announce the execution of the Dragon's son, Luffy, to the world.
Honestly.
Akihara Kagura wasn't worried at all.
Nico Robin was a bit anxious, feeling that the Navy really intended to execute their captain, and the execution date was almost upon them!
However...
The situation seemed unchanged.
Everything appeared to be proceeding according to the World Government's plan.
To comfort Nico Robin, Akihara Kagura told her not to worry about the Straw Hat Pirates, just wait quietly for the outcome.
On the day of execution, a group of Navy soldiers escorted Monkey D. Luffy out from the temporary jail on Enies Lobby, step by step taking him to the execution platform.
"The sun is so nice…"
Monkey D. Luffy smiled, looking up at the sky. This optimistic and cheerful young man still wore his straw hat, as if unchanged.
"Luffy…"
Garp stood by the execution platform, clenching his fists. As he watched his grandson calmly face death, his body trembled continuously.
Making an elderly man watch his grandson die before his eyes was too cruel for this veteran Navy officer…
"Grandpa!"
Monkey D. Luffy felt nothing about this, even smiling and talking to his grandfather: "I almost got killed by you many times when I was little, and this time you can finally kill me…"
"You idiot!"
Garp angrily lifted his fist, wanting to punch!
But the old man stopped before his fist landed on Luffy's head, his heart aching suddenly, as sadness and pain spread through him.
This moment…
Garp felt deeply powerless.
For so many years, he solved countless pirate troubles for the Navy, maintaining order on the sea as a veteran Navy officer, yet couldn't protect his grandson...
This time…
Even his old friend Sengoku had no solutions.
Because the World Government wanted to execute the son of the Revolutionary Army leader, rather than as a pirate. They needed to provoke the Revolutionary Army into fighting the Navy.
A group of Navy soldiers escorted Luffy step by step onto the execution platform; Aokiji stood there, his towering figure quietly watching Luffy along with Garp who followed behind.
"We have received news."
A Navy soldier reported to Aokiji beside him: "The Revolutionary Army's ships lost track on their way from the latter half of the Grand Line, they should be heading towards Enies Lobby now…"
"Prepare."
Aokiji waved his hand signaling for the soldier to leave, then walked beside Garp, accompanying him to watch Luffy held before the execution platform.
"Mr. Garp…"
Aokiji's eyes showed some guilt.
Although Aokiji was one of the Konoha Pirates' spies, he considered himself still part of the Navy. This time, they were following the World Government's order to utilize the respected Mr. Garp's grandson and Mr. Garp's son-led Revolutionary Army for a battle.
This impending war…
Aokiji did not wish Garp to continue participating here.
Whether making Garp face his son Monkey D. Dragon, or witnessing the demise of his grandson Monkey D. Luffy, was unbearable for an old man.
"I will stay here."
Garp shook his head, choosing not to leave.
"..."
Aokiji remained silent for a moment, then had to move aside, holding a transponder snail. His voice spread throughout Enies Lobby through the snail.
"Everyone… prepare yourselves."
Aokiji's voice, transmitted by the snail, sounded somewhat muffled.
Following Aokiji's command, the Navy across Enies Lobby made preparations according to pre-war arrangements, and the video transponder snails began to turn on.
The image transponder snails worldwide received signals from the video transponder snails, immediately projecting everything onto screens. Crowds, who had been waiting, turned their eyes to the projections.
"That is…"
Everyone was shocked by the scene.
Countless white Navy uniforms densely appeared on the screens, including officers ranked from colonel to brigadier general and general officers!
This force usually enough to suppress pirates or decide a nation's fate, all stood with ordinary Navy soldiers!
Upon closer inspection…
Those seemingly ordinary Navy soldiers were actually elite from within the Navy, including lieutenants or second lieutenants!
Fifty thousand elite Navy soldiers!
This was all the military force the Navy could muster amid the scarcity faced by the Navy Headquarters addressing affiliated nations worldwide!
Honestly…
At first glance, it was indeed quite astonishing.
Yet among them, the number of Vice Admirals was pitifully small, especially those renowned powerhouse Vice Admirals of the Navy Headquarters, as they were stationed and unable to move…