"Is that so? They plan to execute Ace ahead of schedule. I see..." Whitebeard nodded slowly, his expression unreadable. After a beat, he added, "Thanks."
"No problem," Luffy replied casually.
This exchange left the onlookers in a state of collective shock. The Strongest Man in the World was conversing with this rookie, Straw Hat, as a total equal.
"Alright! Ace... just wait for me!" With that, Luffy leaped off the Moby Dick and began sprinting toward the execution platform.
"Out of the way! Move! Move!" He threw punches and kicks at anyone who crossed his path, his momentum completely unstoppable.
Watching Luffy charge recklessly into the fray, Ace opened his mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. You're all fools... Pops is a fool, Luffy is a fool... why come for me? This was my mistake...
In short order, "First Son of the Sea" Jinbe, the Revolutionary Ivankov, and the army of Newkamas joined the battle.
"Get out of the way!" Luffy flattened soldiers left and right, charging so fast he looked like he couldn't brake even if he wanted to.
"We can't let him outshine us! Third Division, move out!" Jozu roared, raising a massive arm.
"YEAH!" The morale of the Whitebeard Pirates reached a fever pitch as they surged toward the Marine lines.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Clang! Crash!
The roar of cannons and the clashing of steel filled the air once more. The pirates launched a ferocious offensive, and the sounds of slaughter within and outside the bay echoed toward the heavens.
"Let's move." Kenshin and Sabo, dressed in the uniforms of Marine commissioned officers, gradually blended into the chaotic battlefield.
"Drake said to find someone with the number '3' on their head. What does a '3' look like on a person?" Kenshin scanned the area but saw nothing that fit the description.
"I think I see him..." Sabo said, his expression turning quite peculiar.
"What?" Kenshin looked around frantically. For a moment, he saw nothing but the endless waves of pirates he had to cut through to stay undercover. "Get lost!"
A circular slash cleared the area, sending the surrounding pirates flying.
"Over there."
Following the direction of Sabo's finger, Kenshin spotted a group of pirates in striped prison grays. He guessed they were the escapees from Impel Down. At their head was the "legendary" weakling, Buggy the Clown.
Right beside Buggy stood a man with a hairstyle shaped into a literal, giant number "3." Kenshin's lip twitched. He finally understood why Drake had said the target would be obvious. The man's hair was a triumph of individual style over common sense.
"That's our guy. Let's head over," Sabo said.
Whoosh—! A sudden whistle of displaced air cut toward them.
Clang! Kenshin met the incoming strike with his blade.
"Argh!"
Pushing the attacker back, Kenshin skidded several paces. He finally looked up to see his opponent and muttered, "'Flower Sword' Vista."
"Oh?" Vista looked surprised. This Marine appeared to be a mere Captain or Commander, yet he had effortlessly parried a strike from one of Whitebeard's top men. "It seems you're quite the swordsman. The Marines really do have hidden talents everywhere."
Bang! Bang! Bang! Clink! Clink! Clink!
Sabo drew the lead pipe from his back, spinning it with such speed that it became a blur, deflecting a barrage of incoming bullets.
"Sixteenth Division Commander, Izo."
Sabo felt a bit of irony. They had barely stepped onto the battlefield and they were already drawing the attention of Whitebeard's heavy hitters. Something felt off.
"I received a report that there were two powerful individuals intentionally wearing low-ranking uniforms. It seems the reports were accurate," Izo said, raising his dual flintlocks once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Clang! Sabo parried the shots. He realized they had been a bit too careless; on a battlefield like this, you couldn't slack off for a second.
"Izo, Vista, listen to me," Sabo said, backing away while parrying. "We aren't Marines."
Clang!
Kenshin and Vista's blades locked. Vista looked at him with a skeptical brow. "You say you aren't Marines? What proof do you have?"
"Uh..." Kenshin racked his brain but couldn't come up with a logical explanation. He stammered for a second.
"I think you might find my face familiar," Sabo cut in calmly.
"Hmm?" Izo and Vista both paused, looking Sabo over. A sense of recognition began to dawn on them.
"You're Sabo... from the Revolutionary Army?" Izo's brow furrowed. He recognized the man, but he couldn't understand why the Revolutionaries would be here. One thing was certain, though: the Revolutionary Army was the World Government's greatest enemy. They certainly weren't on the Marines' side.
"What is the Revolutionary Army doing here?" Izo asked, instinctively categorizing Kenshin as another Revolutionary.
"Heh..." A smirk touched Sabo's lips. "I'm here to save my brother!"
"Brother?" Vista and Izo asked in unison, confused. "Which brother?"
"Our goal is exactly the same as yours."
"What!?" Vista and Izo exchanged a shocked glance. "Are you saying your brother is... Ace?"
"Exactly. It will all become clear later, but I am going to save Ace no matter what," Sabo said, looking toward the shackled figure on the platform with a gaze full of resolve. "So, we are not enemies today."
"This is..." The two commanders hesitated. Sabo was the second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army; his strength was unquestionable. Having him as an ally would be a massive boon, but they couldn't ignore the possibility of an ulterior motive.
"We have a plan to save Ace. If you cooperate with us, success is practically guaranteed," Sabo said, striking while the iron was hot. He suddenly remembered something vital Drake had mentioned: Whitebeard was destined to be betrayed and stabbed by one of his own during the early stages of the war.
Sabo didn't know how Drake knew this, but he believed him implicitly. Drake wouldn't lie about something so serious. Meeting the Division Commanders now was the perfect chance to prevent that tragedy.
"Oh?" This was major news. Whether it was true or not, information like that could be the turning point of the war. The two commanders decided to hear him out. "Let's hear it."
"Right," Sabo nodded. "But we have to keep up appearances. We'll talk while we 'fight'."
"Fine."
The four of them engaged once more, their weapons clashing in a choreographed display of combat.
"First, I need to know—where is Squard of the Whitebeard Pirates right now?"
"Squard?" Vista asked, confused. "He should still be outside the bay. Why? What about him?"
"Good. Listen carefully: one of you must go and stand guard by Whitebeard immediately. If you see Squard make any suspicious move, you must restrain him instantly." Sabo took a deep breath.
To prevent them from doubting him, Sabo explained the potential reasons Squard might be manipulated into a betrayal, adding that the man was likely being deceived by the Marines. He knew it was a hard sell; these were the Whitebeard Pirates—the idea of a "son" stabbing their "father" was unthinkable to them.
"I know you probably don't believe me. But as I said, just have someone stay near Whitebeard. Treat it as a precaution. Just in case."