The atmosphere became strangely tense. The more the Elders analyzed it, the more likely the possibility seemed. God Valley was the precedent, after all.
"If Renault actually dares to show up, it will be the perfect chance to eliminate him," the blonde Elder said with a dark, vicious glint in his eyes. "Don't forget what Lord Imu said before going into slumber."
"Once Renault is found, Lord Imu will personally strike to remove that thorn in our side. If our guess is right and Renault tries to interfere, it will be the ideal time to kill him."
The other Elders nodded. In their minds, Lord Imu was an invincible existence. One Renault—or even ten—would be no match.
"Hehehe... In that case, let's see if this execution brings us a pleasant surprise. If we can bait Renault out, it will save us a lot of trouble."
They weren't afraid of Renault causing trouble; they were afraid of him staying hidden. The ocean was vast. With Renault's abilities, if he truly wanted to hide, they could search for a lifetime and find nothing.
"Tell Sengoku to broadcast the news immediately. The bigger the spectacle, the better. I want to see if that man can truly keep himself hidden!"
"Agreed!" "Agreed!" "Agreed!" "Then it is settled!"
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
The Fleet Admiral's office was packed. Every Marine officer with the rank of Vice Admiral or higher was present. One Fleet Admiral, one legendary veteran, three Admirals, and hundreds of Vice Admirals. These were the pillars of the Navy, the anchors of peace in the world!
However, as time had passed, clear factions had emerged within the Navy. On one side were the Moderates, led by Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Admiral Aokiji. On the other side were the Hawks, led by Commander-in-Chief Kong and Admiral Akainu. As for Admiral Kizaru, he sat with neither, forming his own faction of "just doing the bare minimum."
The Moderates sat on the left side of the conference room, while the Hawks sat on the right, the line between them clearly drawn. The newly arrived Vice Admirals whispered among themselves, wondering what could have prompted such a meeting. The last time a general summons of this scale occurred was years ago.
"Could it be about Whitebeard?" "Or maybe Shanks?"
One Vice Admiral offered his guess. For Sengoku to issue an emergency summons for all high-ranking officers, it had to be an event capable of shaking the entire world. Only Whitebeard and Shanks had that kind of influence currently.
"I don't think so. Whitebeard has been fairly quiet these last few years," Vice Admiral Onigumo said, shaking his head. "Only his subordinate fleets cause occasional trouble. Would they really require all of us to sit here for that?"
Kizaru, busy trimming his fingernails, ignored the chatter and leaned toward Vice Admiral Tsuru. "Tsuru-san, do you know what's going on? Arara, even I'm curious."
Admiral Aokiji leaned in as well. Tsuru's rank might be lower than theirs, but she, Sengoku, and Garp were the legendary "Iron Triangle" of the old era. She was the Navy's Chief Strategist. Whenever a major decision was made, Tsuru was usually in the loop right alongside Sengoku. She was the Navy's ultimate source of inside information.
But this time, Tsuru shook her head, her brow furrowed. "It happened suddenly. Even I haven't received any news. Wait until Sengoku finishes his call; he'll announce it."
Hearing that, Kizaru and Aokiji pulled back, their interest waning. On the stage, Sengoku was speaking in low tones into a Den Den Mushi that looked like the sword-wielding Elder. When the officers saw Sengoku hang up and turn toward them, the chatter stopped instantly. Every officer sat up straight.
Sengoku scanned the hundreds of officers and spoke in a heavy voice. "Everyone, the reason for this emergency summons is one person. 'Fire Fist' Ace, Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division!"
As he spoke, Sengoku cast a deliberate glance toward Sakazuki (Akainu). Feeling the gaze, a confused Akainu straightened his posture, his mind racing. Does this involve me?
Sengoku continued: "We have conclusive evidence that Fire Fist Ace's true identity is the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger—the evil bloodline that Roger left behind in this world!"
"What?!"
The moment the words were spoken, the conference room erupted into an uproar. Roger had a child? And that child was alive? Hadn't they all been wiped out decades ago?
Almost simultaneously, hundreds of gazes landed on Akainu, whose face had turned grim.
"Impossible!" Akainu stood up abruptly to object. To ensure no loose ends were left, he had meticulously calculated the possible birth dates for Roger's child. To be safe, he had even included babies born two months early or two months late. Every infant within that range had been terminated under his watch. Under those conditions, how could anyone have survived? It was unthinkable!
"Enough, Sakazuki. I don't blame you for this. I will explain the details later. Our priority now is how to deal with Ace."
Hearing Sengoku say that, Akainu had no choice but to sit back down.
"The Five Elders view this with extreme importance. They have issued an order: in one month, a public execution of Ace will be held at Marine Headquarters! I don't need to explain the significance of this, do I?"
The officers' expressions varied. After a moment of thought, they realized the weight of it. If the world knew that Roger's only bloodline was being publicly executed, it would be a massive symbolic victory for the Navy.
"Fleet Admiral, what about Whitebeard?" a Moderate Vice Admiral asked.
"Exactly. Once the news is out, Whitebeard will not remain idle. That is why I have called you all here. Many of you have dealt with him and know his character. To prevent the Whitebeard Pirates from sabotaging the execution, we must prepare in advance! Tsuru, announce the news of Ace's public execution at Marine Headquarters immediately."
Tsuru frowned slightly. "Fleet Admiral, shouldn't we set up our defenses before making the announcement?"
"No! Announce it immediately!" Sengoku replied with an air of absolute authority. "That is an order from the Five Elders."
"Very well. I'll see to it as soon as the meeting ends." Since it was a direct order from the top, Tsuru didn't question it further.
"Aokiji, Sakazuki—from now on, you two are responsible for the defensive layout of Marine Headquarters. The other Vice Admirals will cooperate fully. There must be no mistakes."
"Rest assured. if the Whitebeard Pirates dare to come here, I'll make sure none of them leave alive!" Akainu barked. If Ace truly was Roger's son, he intended to pull the problem out by its roots and destroy the entire Whitebeard crew while he was at it.
"Understood, Fleet Admiral," Aokiji said, far more calmly than Akainu.
"The Navy is currently at its strongest. We have 150,000 elite soldiers and hundreds of Vice Admirals. We won't need to pull forces from the four seas or the New World yet. However, to be absolutely certain, we will call upon the Seven Warlords of the Sea. It's time those people did some actual work. Before that, I have one more announcement: Silver Axe, one of the Warlords, has been killed. He has been replaced by 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach. I will send out his information shortly."
"Oh." The room remained unimpressed. To the Navy, the Warlords were just seven pirates—scum of the sea. They didn't care who died or who replaced them. When needed, they were expected to perform. If they failed, the Navy would simply hold them accountable.
"Onigumo, Doberman, Strawberry, Onigumo, Momonga, Dalmatian—the six of you will go find Mihawk and the others. Tell them this is a mandatory summons. Everyone must attend! Any Warlord who refuses will not only lose their title but will be hunted relentlessly by the Navy!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"
The Vice Admirals accepted their orders.
"Good. That's all for now. Everyone is dismissed, except for Garp!"
The officers rose and filed out of the room. As they passed Garp, many gave him a side-glance. The normally boisterous Hero of the Navy looked exceptionally downcast today—silent and lost. Once everyone was gone, Sengoku closed the door.
He looked at Garp with a complicated expression. "Garp... there was nothing I could do this time."
Sabaody Archipelago.
Under Renault's orders, Gecko Moria, Crocodile, and Yasopp had arrived over two weeks ago. They had found a medium-sized pirate ship and finished the coating. A few days later, Renault finally arrived.
"Did you find the person I asked for?" In a secret base on the islands, Renault swirled a glass of rum and spoke softly.
"Boss, we found Rayleigh. At this time of day, he's usually at the bar," Yasopp reported.
"He hasn't changed a bit. Still a drunk old man..." Renault chuckled and shook his head. "Let's go meet my old friend. Now that Ace has been captured, I wonder how he'll feel when he finds out who the boy really is."
Yesterday, he had received the news. The Navy had announced Ace's execution in one month. The timeline was tight, but there was still enough time.
As night fell, Sabaody remained as lively as ever. The nightlife here was just as vibrant as it was in Tesoro's Golden City.
Inside a certain tavern, guests from all over the world were drinking cheap rum and boasting loudly, the atmosphere thick with smoke and laughter. In a secluded corner, a white-haired old man with small round glasses sat, looking somewhat tipsy as he drank steadily. His deep eyes gazed out the window, lost in thought.
Suddenly, he saw two men and two women walk through the door. When his eyes landed on the man in front, his heart skipped a beat, though he quickly masked it.
Renault walked in, followed by Yasopp, Shakky, and Hancock. With the Paramount War approaching, Renault saw no more need to hide. Besides, he had been gone for decades; even walking down the street in plain sight, very few would recognize him now.
"Clear the room," Renault said coldly.
Shakky stepped forward, frost erupting from her body and quickly covering the interior of the tavern. "Everyone out!! Now!!"
Feeling the sudden drop in temperature and the obvious threat, the patrons shivered and fled. Even the owner scrambled out. They knew big shots when they saw them. In seconds, the bustling tavern was empty, save for Renault's group and the drinking old man.
Renault walked over and sat across from him. Shakky picked up a bottle and poured him a glass.
"So, is this the life the Vice-Captain of the Pirate King Roger leads now? Seems a bit dull."
Rayleigh didn't seem to mind the teasing. He took a slow sip of his drink and spoke. "You've been a ghost for decades. Now you show up... surely it isn't just to buy me a drink?""Is it not allowed?!"
"Most people couldn't get a drink with the Dark King Rayleigh even if they begged."
Renault drained his glass in one gulp.
"Out with it. What do you want?" Rayleigh cut straight to the chase.
"The Navy released a piece of news yesterday. In one month, they will hold a public execution for 'Fire Fist' Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, at Marine Headquarters. I assume you've heard of it."
"And?"
Sabaody Archipelago was right next to Marine Headquarters; Rayleigh naturally knew. But what did it have to do with him? Ace was Whitebeard's man; if anyone was going to have a headache over it, it would be Whitebeard. Rayleigh was now just a retired old man living a peaceful life. Even if Whitebeard and the Navy went to war, he would merely be a spectator. Fate had its own ways.
"If Ace's identity were that simple, I wouldn't have come looking for you."
At Renault's signal, Hancock picked up the bottle and poured Rayleigh another glass.
"What do you mean?" Rayleigh's interest was piqued. Was there a hidden secret?
"Because Fire Fist Ace is Roger's son. His biological son!"
"The only bloodline he left behind in this world."
Renault saw the confusion in Rayleigh's eyes and chuckled softly. "Ace shouldn't be called Portgas D. Ace. He should be called Gol D. Ace!"
...
Silence!
The room fell into a deathly stillness instantly. There wasn't a single sound in the entire space. Rayleigh's hand, which was about to set down his glass, froze mid-air.
"Ace... is his son?!"
Rayleigh's eyes glazed over slightly as he murmured under his breath. As Roger's right-hand man, he had fought alongside him for a lifetime and was his most trusted confidant. He never knew Roger had a son. And to find out now, when the boy was about to be publicly executed by the Navy?
"Renault, you truly have given me a surprise."
A mix of shock and joy. He instinctively brought the glass to his lips, only to realize he had already drained it.
"Apologies. Could I have another?"
"Of course."
Renault smiled. Hancock, taking the cue, filled Rayleigh's glass once more. Without a word, Rayleigh downed it.
And so it went. Rayleigh kept drinking, and Hancock kept pouring. Had it not been for Renault, Hancock would have lost her temper long ago.
"I haven't drunk this much in a long time..."
After the final glass went down, Rayleigh finally set it aside. As if slipping into a memory, he began to speak to himself.
"After Roger disbanded the crew, we asked him what his plans were. He said he wanted to find a place to get married and have a child."
"At the time, we thought he was just making another one of his usual jokes. We knew Roger's heart wasn't set on such things. Besides, he was deathly ill and didn't have much time left. How could he possibly do something like that?"
"I never expected he actually left a child in this world."
Rayleigh couldn't help but chuckle again.
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