"Where's the Great Treasure?"
Just as everyone fell into stunned silence, Lina's voice suddenly rang through the area at the worst possible moment.
...
The news of Sabo's public execution spread across the world like wildfire.
From the Four Seas to the New World, the entire world of pirates, Marines, and civilians descended into chaos.
Anyone with half a brain could tell that something massive was about to happen.
A storm capable of overturning the entire world was approaching.
...
East Blue, Windmill Village.
Inside Makino's tavern.
"What?! What the hell is going on?! How did Sabo get captured by the World Government?!"
A burly man with a yellow beard stared at the newspaper in his hand with wide eyes.
The front page displayed a massive announcement regarding Sabo's upcoming execution.
Attached beneath it was Sabo's wanted poster.
DEAD OR ALIVE
Sabo
1,774,000,000 Berries
However, unlike ordinary wanted posters, this one had a giant red X slashed across it.
Anyone familiar with Marine procedures understood exactly what it meant.
A marked poster like this only appeared when the target had either been captured or confirmed dead.
"Sabo... why?! We only just found out he was still alive not long ago, so why are they executing him now?!"
An old man with a thick nose and a steel nail pierced through it clenched the newspaper tightly, his face filled with anger.
"This can't be real..." a freckled woman muttered weakly.
Behind the counter, Makino covered her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Even Woop Slap, who usually complained about pirates causing trouble, sat quietly in the corner drinking in silence.
The entire tavern felt heavy.
So did the whole village.
It was almost identical to the atmosphere during Ace's execution at Marineford.
Back when Sabo, Ace, and Luffy were children, the three brothers had been infamous troublemakers throughout Windmill Village.
But despite all the chaos they caused, the villagers still cared deeply for them.
Everyone had watched the boys grow up.
To the people here, they were family.
So whenever news arrived that Ace, Sabo, or Luffy were still alive, the village celebrated together, regardless of whether they were wanted criminals.
Likewise, when news of Ace's execution spread in the past, the entire village had been consumed by grief and fury.
Fortunately, Rolan had appeared during the Paramount War and rescued Ace along with Whitebeard.
That single act had shaken the world.
It had also saved everyone in Windmill Village from heartbreak.
But this time was different.
Very different.
Even people living in East Blue understood the terrifying implications behind this public execution.
The World Government itself was taking action.
And according to the newspaper, the Marines would be leading the execution.
Not only that, Cipher Pol and the Government Army would also participate.
The scale alone was enough to terrify people.
"Damn it... with that kind of lineup, even the Revolutionary Army probably can't save him..." an elderly villager growled before draining his drink.
As soon as he finished speaking, a middle aged man wearing a scholar's cap slowly adjusted the feather fan in his hand.
"You still don't understand?"
The tavern quieted down immediately.
"The Marines publicly executed Ace because they wanted to crush Whitebeard and display their authority to the world."
"This time is no different."
"The World Government isn't executing Sabo simply because he's a Revolutionary Army commander."
"Their real goal is the Revolutionary Army itself."
"The public execution is bait."
Everyone turned toward the speaker.
Zhuge Kong'an, Windmill Village's most famous strategist.
His words were harsh, but nobody could deny the logic behind them.
A young black haired woman bit her lip nervously.
"Then... does that mean Sabo can't be saved?"
Silence filled the tavern.
Then someone suddenly spoke.
"Rolan will go save him... right?"
The moment those words were spoken, hope instantly returned to several faces.
A scarred man slammed his palm against the table.
"That's right! Sabo is Ace and Luffy's brother! There's no way Rolan would ignore this!"
"If Rolan goes, it'll be fine!"
"The Ion Pirates are the strongest crew in the world!"
"Exactly! Didn't Rolan already crush Marineford once before?"
"He's the strongest man alive!"
The atmosphere gradually became excited again.
But Kong'an's expression remained grim.
"Do you really think the World Government is stupid?"
His words immediately silenced everyone again.
"They already suffered humiliation once during the Paramount War."
"This time, they'll be fully prepared."
"What happened at Marineford will never happen again."
"The Marines alone were already terrifying back then."
"But now the World Government itself is stepping in directly."
"The strength they'll mobilize this time will surpass Marineford."
The hope everyone had just regained vanished once more.
Then Kong'an continued.
"There's another important detail."
"The Revolutionary Army has already joined Earth, the territory ruled by Rolan."
The tavern froze.
Unyel swallowed nervously.
"You mean... the World Government's real target is Rolan?"
Everyone stared at Kong'an in disbelief.
He slowly nodded.
"Rolan openly declared war against the World Government during the Paramount War."
"The Revolutionary Army threatens the Government from the shadows."
"But Rolan is different."
"He possesses the power to destroy them head on."
"And now the Revolutionary Army has allied with him."
"At this point, the world has effectively divided into two factions."
"The World Government."
"And Earth."
"How could the World Government possibly tolerate another force powerful enough to stand equal with them?"
"This execution is likely a declaration of war."
"Their real goal is to eliminate Earth entirely."
The tavern became deathly silent.
Even the loudest drinkers no longer spoke.
Because deep down, everyone understood something terrifying.
This war would be far more dangerous than Marineford.
Even the Ion Pirates might not be enough this time.
Thump! Thump!
Woop Slap suddenly smashed his cane against the floor.
"What are all of you idiots standing around for?!"
"It's about to rain! Go home and bring in your laundry already!"
Nobody responded immediately.
But eventually, the villagers slowly began leaving the tavern one after another.
Outside, dark clouds had already begun covering the sky above Windmill Village.