"Bulu bulu bulu..."
The den den mushi rang, and Fleet Admiral Sengoku subsequently picked it up.
"Fleet Admiral, report from Impel Down: Straw Hat Luffy has been defeated by Warden Magellan. They are currently pursuing other fugitives!"
"Understood."
Sengoku hung up the den den mushi and glanced at Garp. Taro also narrowed his eyes and looked over.
Garp's mouth was wide open as he slept soundly, a large snot bubble expanding and contracting with every breath, and a half-eaten donut still in his mouth.
Taro knew that although Luffy had been defeated, Magellan didn't finish him off, and he was eventually saved by the Okama King, Ivankov.
Now, Luffy was probably already wailing in pain.
Impel Down, Level 5.5.
In the room locked with thick iron chains, Luffy's screams were heartbreaking.
"Hang in there, Straw Hat-chan! Hang in there!"
Mr. 2 Bon Clay shouted at the top of his lungs, cheering Luffy on. This pirate, who followed the Okama Way and cherished his friends and partners immensely, was a true man through and through.
Bon Clay's repeated cheers finally moved everyone in the Newkama Land, and they all began to shout,
"Hang in there!"
"Hang in there!"
"..."
In the depths of Hell, the brilliant flowers of friendship bloomed!
Hang in there, Straw Hat!
...The sky gradually darkened, then gradually brightened again.
When the sunlight once again shone upon Marineford, the day that would change the world finally arrived.
Taro slept in the headquarters' guest room that night and was woken up early in the morning.
It was 6:00 AM, 9 hours before the public execution of Ace.
Outside the crescent-shaped harbor of Marineford, 50 warships guarded the entire island.
On the square within the bay, 100,000 elite Marines were gathering. Marine Soldiers were busy moving back and forth, transporting ammunition, and the atmosphere was tense.
"Tashigi, today's battle is extraordinary. Be careful."
Commodore Smoker puffed on his cigar and tightened his gloves, advising Tashigi.
"Miss Hina, I am willing to protect your safety even at the cost of my life!"
"Please let me give my life for you!"
Nearby, Fumbudhi and Jango spoke to Hina at the same time.
"How annoying!" Hina lit a cigarette, took a puff, and exhaled smoke. She looked back at the headquarters' main fortress, her gaze deep.
Taro should be inside. That's right, he's a powerful Vice Admiral; there will definitely be important arrangements for him.
"Mike, are you afraid?" Further on the outskirts, Ensign Sherman from the G5 Base asked Mike beside him.
Mike glared at Sherman and gritted his teeth.
"I am Vice Admiral Taro's adjutant. Our Vice Admiral's goal is to trample the 'Four Emperors' underfoot. Would I be afraid?"
"Then why are you shaking?"
"I'm not shaking!"
"I saw it; you really are shaking..."
"This is excitement!"
"..."
At the very edge was the gathering place for unorganized Marine Soldiers.
Mike was the only commissioned officer on Taro's ship, and at the G5 Base where Sherman was from, Vice Admiral Vergo, the base commander, used an excuse not to come and only sent a greenhorn Ensign like Sherman.
Sherman licked his lips, his voice trembling with excitement. "I can't wait."
After a simple breakfast, just like yesterday, he went to the Fleet Admiral's office to wait. It was another day of punching in for work, and Taro seemed a bit lethargic.
"Fleet Admiral, Vice Admiral Onigumo has led four other Vice Admirals, with a total of five warships, to Impel Down. The handover is expected to be completed by 9:00, and they can return to Marineford before 12:00!"
When Taro entered, a messenger was reporting.
"Has the suppression of the prison break at Impel Down ended?"
"Yes, Impel Down reports that only a few fugitives are still being hunted, and all other criminals have been suppressed!"
"Very good!"
Sengoku nodded, very satisfied.
The corner of Taro's mouth twitched. He knew who those so-called "few remaining fugitives" were.
"Buggy the Clown," Mr. 2 Bon Clay, and Mr. 3 Galdino.
These three were the main forces of the prison break team!
One possessed by "Haoshoku Luck"!
One a master of "Super Impersonation"!
One a "Master Key" expert!
Calculating the time, they should be about to start their show.
"The fleet will arrive at Impel Down in 30 minutes!"
"The fleet has arrived safely!"
"The handover of the criminal Ace is complete. The fleet is returning!"
The messenger reported the progress of the fleet led by Onigumo at regular intervals.
Everything was going smoothly so far, but the expressions of the high-ranking Marine officers became increasingly serious. War was imminent, and there was still no word on where the Whitebeard Pirates would appear.
Taro wasn't worried about this; it showed that things were still developing according to the original plot.
On the contrary, if things changed unexpectedly, Taro would be more worried, as it would cause him to lose his greatest advantage besides the System.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku!" Vice Admiral Stoloberry suddenly rushed in.
"What is it?"
"He's nowhere to be found. We've searched everywhere in Marijoa and Marineford, but we can't find any sign of the Shichibukai, Blackbeard."
Stoloberry was slightly nervous. "There's one more thing. A warship without departure clearance has arrived at Impel Down!"
"What?" Sengoku's eyes widened.
Taro also stood up in surprise, about to leave.
"Taro, stop right there!" Sengoku shouted to stop Taro, pointing at the clock on the wall.
"It's already 11:00. Don't go anywhere. I trust Magellan's strength, not to mention that guy Shiliew is there!"
Taro stiffened his neck. "Fleet Admiral, that's exactly why I must go. Shiliew has been locked up for so long; do you really think he can still be a competent Warden?"
"The most important thing right now is..." Sengoku shook his head.
"Fleet Admiral!" Taro shouted, interrupting Sengoku.
Looking at the room full of old men and old ladies, he finally sighed. "I'll be back before the execution."
Sengoku finally fell silent and stopped objecting. Taro nodded heavily to him. "Thank you, Fleet Admiral!"
With that, he pushed open the window and leapt out.
A huge Falcon's shadow was suddenly cast onto the headquarters' square, attracting the gaze of all the Marines and causing bursts of exclamations.
Smoker looked up. "Hey, Hina, that's Taro, right?"
Hina was also looking at the sky. She recognized Taro at a glance and gave a faint "Mm."
"That direction is Impel Down, isn't it? Could something have gone wrong on Onigumo's end?" Smoker puffed on his cigar, his brow furrowed.
Hina, of course, thought of this as well, and her heart grew even more anxious.
"Hey, Mike, look!" Sherman patted Mike beside him.
"Don't touch me. I'm not blind, I can see!" Mike dodged away in disgust.
"It's the Vice Admiral, no doubt. Tsk tsk, as expected of Vice Admiral Taro; he causes a stir every time he makes a move!"
Mike looked proud.
Sherman also looked envious. What kind of Devil Fruit Ability was this, to actually be able to fly!
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