By the time Jack emerged from the Impel down, nearly an hour had passed. After hearing the news about Sabo, Ace had clung to Jack, pressing him for more details.
Unfortunately, Jack couldn't offer much. All he could say was that he had encountered someone resembling Sabo within a certain organization—someone who had clearly lost his memory.
As for how he knew about the connection between Sabo and Ace, Jack claimed he had learned it from the mountain bandit Dadan. During a visit to his hometown with Garp, he'd run into the familiar, rotund bandit, and that's when he'd supposedly heard the story.
When the conversation shifted to his hometown, Ace grew visibly nostalgic, lost in old memories. They lingered on the subject longer than expected, but Jack didn't mind. Having reignited Ace's will to live, he felt satisfied as he finally prepared to leave.
Originally, Jack had intended to pass on a message to Ivankov as well, but his time with Ace had dragged on. Magellan, visibly anxious, had postponed his own bathroom routine and insisted on escorting Jack out of the prison personally before finally attending to his own urgent needs.
Back on the surface, Jack didn't attempt anything reckless. Under the watchful eyes of the surveillance ships, he returned directly to Marineford and quietly resumed his training at home.
The next day arrived—the day of Ace's execution. Knowing everything would be decided today, Jack ended his training early and focused on conserving his strength.
As for the Revolutionary Army, Jack hadn't contacted them—yet. That was his last resort. If Dragon truly chose not to involve the Revolutionary Army, then Jack was prepared to step in himself, even if it meant facing off against Akainu to save Ace.
Meanwhile, in the square at Marineford, the execution platform stood tall—fully constructed and ready. The full might of the Navy Headquarters had been assembled, and the warships designated to escort Ace had already set sail.
Elsewhere, Luffy—hidden aboard the Pirate Empress's ship—was also prepared. The situation had unfolded in such an unbelievable way: Boa Hancock, famed as the most beautiful woman in the world, a Warlord of the Sea, the ruler of Amazon Lily, and captain of the Kuja Pirates, had fallen hopelessly in love with Luffy. Her feelings were so strong that she'd risked everything to sneak him into Impel Down, just so he could try to save Ace.
What none of them realized was that the warship that was supposed to be carrying Ace had already reached Impel Down before they arrived.
Watching Ace being led away in chains, Crocodile sneered, "Didn't you say that Straw Hat brat would come save you? I don't see him anywhere."
Of course, when Luffy did eventually appear before Crocodile, the moment landed like a stinging slap. It made Crocodile feel as if he'd swallowed something rotten. Even so, he refused to give Luffy credit, firmly believing that Jack had somehow orchestrated the whole thing.
At the moment, Crocodile still carried a sense of smugness—this was one of the rare things he could use to mock Jack, and he intended to savor it.
"Ace, don't give up hope," Jinbei said gently, unable to bear the atmosphere of despair.
"Hope?" Crocodile scoffed with a sinister grin. "What hope? He's about to be executed!"
Ace didn't respond. He simply followed the Marines escorting him without resistance. Just before they departed, he turned and said quietly, "Jinbei, keep an eye on Luffy for me."
"Of course," Jinbei replied with a warm smile.
Crocodile, standing nearby, looked like a thundercloud ready to burst. Did they really think Jack's claims were more than just empty words? Were they all in on something he wasn't?
Then, something clicked in Crocodile's mind—Jack had said Luffy would rescue Ace at the execution platform in Marineford. That meant Luffy wouldn't be showing up here in Impel Down. Instead, Jack's plan must be to protect him until he reached the execution site. Ace and Jinbei had likely pieced it together too, which explained why they were ignoring him.
"Damn it," Crocodile muttered through clenched teeth.
He still couldn't believe it. That Straw Hat brat, coming to this place? Impel Down was the most secure prison in the world. Since its creation, only the legendary Golden Lion had ever managed to escape—and he was on par with the Pirate King himself. There was no way that naïve upstart Luffy could make it here, even with Jack's help.
The Navy wasn't Jack's personal playground. It wasn't just veterans like Sengoku and Garp; even the current three admirals were forces Jack shouldn't have been able to contend with.
What Crocodile hadn't anticipated, however, was that Jack's strength had already reached a level nearly on par with the Admirals. And as for Luffy—the so-called chosen one—Crocodile simply couldn't begin to comprehend his unpredictability or potential.
So when Luffy and his ragtag group actually made it to the sixth level of Impel Down, Crocodile nearly lost the will to live.
"Luffy-kun!" Jinbei called out immediately. He didn't know Luffy personally, but Jack had briefed him in advance, so he recognized him at once.
"Eh? Who are you?" Luffy asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"I'm Jinbei, formerly one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. I opposed the Navy's actions against Whitebeard and tried to help Ace—but I failed and was captured," Jinbei said with a heavy sigh.
"What? Then you're a good guy!" Luffy declared, as blunt as ever. His way of judging character was refreshingly simple.
"And Jack asked for my help," Jinbei added. "He told me you'd definitely make it here and asked me to assist you in saving Ace."
"Alright!" Luffy nodded without hesitation. His sole focus was rescuing Ace—no questions asked—so he immediately set Jinbei free.
"Crocodile, what do you say? Are you accepting Jack's terms?" Jinbei asked, turning toward the shadows instead of leaving right away.
Only then did Luffy notice the figure standing beside Jinbei in one of the cells—none other than the infamous Crocodile.
"Eh?! Crocodile?! What are you doing here?" Luffy asked, genuinely puzzled.
Crocodile's eye twitched in irritation. 'Wasn't it you who got me thrown in here in the first place?' he thought bitterly.
But he quickly masked his frustration and spoke in his usual cool, menacing tone. "Hmph. Straw Hat, Jack, and I had an agreement. But since he wasn't the one who freed me, I'll make a new deal—with you. You get me out of here, and in return, I'll protect you all the way to the execution platform in Marineford. Once we arrive, we're even. Deal?"
"Sure!" Luffy agreed without hesitation.
"Then it's settled," Crocodile said with a smug smile.
And so, Luffy—joined now by Jinbei and Crocodile, two former Warlords of the Sea—along with his crew, several allies, and members of the Revolutionary Army, began their climb upward through the prison. Their goal: reach the surface in time to save Ace before his execution.
—
"Will Whitebeard really show up? The Navy has summoned elite forces from across the world," a rear admiral from a regional branch muttered, visibly awed as he looked over the formidable lineup gathered at Marineford.
"No kidding. We've got 100,000 elite marines stationed here. The crescent-shaped harbor is encircled by more than 50 warships, and countless cannons are aimed at the sea. Even Whitebeard might think twice before charging in," another branch Rear admiral nodded in agreement.
"Fools! Do you even understand who Whitebeard is?" A headquarters vice admiral snapped, his voice stern. "If he were just another pirate, would the Navy go to such lengths? Turn around—take a good look!"
Startled, the two branch vice admirals turned in the direction he pointed. Standing at the front of the naval formation were five of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.
Aside from Crocodile, who had been stripped of his title, and Jinbei, currently imprisoned for refusing to cooperate with the Navy, the remaining five Warlords had all arrived—including Gekko Moriah, whose head was still wrapped in bandages.
At the far end of the square stood the execution platform—the center of today's events. Kneeling atop it was Fire Fist Portgas D. Ace, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, freshly escorted from Impel Down and now awaiting his fate.
Below the execution platform stood the three admirals—Kuzan (Aokiji), Borsalino (Kizaru), and Sakazuki (Akainu)—the embodiment of the Marine Headquarters' highest combat power.
Beneath them were the senior-ranking vice admirals of the headquarters, including Garp and Chief of Staff Tsuru. Flanking them stood numerous rear admirals, though Jack was nowhere to be seen. With the overwhelming number of personnel present, his absence went largely unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Luffy—having just escaped from Impel Down with the help of his allies—had hijacked a warship. Thanks to the powers of the Mimic-Mimic Fruit wielded by the flamboyant Mr. 2 Bon Clay, they managed to deceive the guards and open the Gates of Justice.
Back at the plaza, Sengoku turned to Garp before ascending the execution platform.
"Garp, I'm going to reveal everything," he said firmly.
"Do what you want. I'm done here," Garp replied, masking his emotions with feigned indifference.
At that moment, the entire event was being broadcast live to the world from the Sabaody Archipelago. Reporters and news agencies from across the globe had gathered there, eager to deliver firsthand coverage. With the Navy's surveillance ships all destroyed by the Whitebeard Pirates, no one had any idea where the fleet was or what its current status might be.
"Bring me the Den Den Mushi," Sengoku commanded one of the nearby soldiers as he stepped onto the platform.
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