"Assemble!"
Following the Rear Admiral's shout, a group of elite Marines ran uniformly toward the center of the plaza.
Among them, some were soldiers from Marine Headquarters. Most of these were top students selected right after enlisting, directly 'fast-tracked' to train and serve at Headquarters.
Another part were Marine elites handpicked from various Marine bases in the New World.
These individuals generally already held their own ranks to some extent.
These two types of Marines mixed together: the Headquarters soldiers lacked sufficient combat experience, but their training and mastered techniques were mature.
The branch base personnel might not have received such uniform training, and their weapons and fighting styles were varied and strange, but they possessed rich experience against enemies.
Mark was one of them.
He came from the New World Marine G-5 Base, serving under Vice Admiral Vergo, known as [Demon Bamboo].
Originally, according to plan, these 'country bumpkin' Marines shouldn't have needed to come here.
But orders suddenly came down, demanding the recruitment of elites from all Marine bases worldwide.
Not just the New World… even branch base Marines from the first half of the Grand Line were summoned.
Mark's squad was thus 'fortunate' to set foot in Marine Headquarters, Marineford, for the first time.
To be honest, before coming here, he had never imagined Marineford was so much larger than their G-5 base.
It was almost as big as a small country.
"Hey, do you think we'll get promoted after going back this time?"
At that moment, Henry, a teammate from Mark's squad, suddenly nudged him with his shoulder, then whispered in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz.
"Stop talking. Don't you see Vice Admiral Vergo is still watching us?"
"As for promotions and getting rich, let's talk about that if we have the chance to go back alive."
Hearing Mark's response, Henry also glanced at Vergo, who still had a piece of sausage stuck to his face. He wanted to say something but finally obediently closed his mouth.
These 'problem Marines' were usually characterized by ignoring discipline and being arrogant and domineering. The three hundred Marines at G-5 couldn't even muster fifty proper uniforms… they often just wrote [Marine] crookedly on their civilian clothes with a pen and called it a day.
"They're more like pirates than Marines."
That assessment basically summed up outsiders' impression of the G-5 branch.
However, the real G-5 Marines, though crude in behavior, had formidable combat abilities and were very willing, even cruel to go after pirates.
At the same time, they were extremely loyal to each other, willing to sacrifice their lives for recognized comrades.
Perhaps that's why these 'rogue soldiers' were chosen to be sent to Marine Headquarters.
Their eyes wandered over the neatly dressed Headquarters soldiers, then looked at the new uniforms they'd just been issued, which were still a bit ill-fitting, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
There were many non-Headquarters Marines feeling as out of place as the G-5 group, but under the high-pressure environment with all senior Marine leaders present, no one dared to cause trouble.
Didn't you see Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the three Marine Admirals had already arrived at the execution platform?
The execution platform consisted of three tiers.
The top level was for executing prisoners, while the middle tier held three chairs. Now, the three Admirals representing the Marine's top combat strength had arrived and sat there in different postures.
Unlike the languid Kizaru or the spaced-out Aokiji, Akainu currently exuded a strong killing intent.
This aura even made his two colleagues nearby glance over.
This hawk-faction Marine Admiral currently only had one hand resting on the armrest, while the other sleeve hung empty, much like the legendary Red-Haired one.
In fact, the Marines had considered providing Akainu with a prosthetic.
Like former Admiral Zephyr.
But the suggestion was rejected by Akainu himself.
His exact words were:
"Let me remember this disgrace until I personally arrest that sinner."
Considering that as a Logia user, losing an arm didn't really matter much, Sengoku simply let it be.
Standing at the highest point of the execution platform, Sengoku could also sense the intense emotions emanating from Akainu below.
It was a terrifying killing intent, like a smoldering volcano, that could be felt without any Observation Haki, even without looking.
'Without a doubt, given the chance, Akainu would risk his life to kill the Great Sinner.'
Thinking this, Sengoku's gaze shifted downward.
On one side stood many reporters.
They pointed their long and short-range cameras toward the execution platform, determined to broadcast the entire process of executing the Pirate King's bloodline to every corner of the world.
Simultaneously, several Admiral candidates selected during the [World Military Draft] quietly hid nearby, just in case.
After all, [Fire Fist] Ace was right beside him now. At such close range, it was hard to say if someone skilled in disguise might have secretly infiltrated.
Opposite the reporters stood five figures of varied appearances.
They were the legendary pirates with 'legal plundering rights'... the Warlords of the Sea.
-Crocodile and Jinbe were captured and then escaped from prison, so they had already been removed from the Warlord roster.
Those standing here now were [Tyrant] Bartholomew Kuma, [Hawk-Eyes] Dracule Mihawk, [Snake Princess] Boa Hancock, Gecko Moria, and [Heavenly Yaksha] Donquixote Doflamingo.
Sengoku knew some inside information, so his gaze lingered a moment on the only female figure below.
Not because Hancock was exceptionally beautiful, but because this woman might be the key factor in restraining Naruto.
Of course, Fleet Admiral Sengoku was still unaware that the Great Sinner he worried about was already standing below openly in clone form.
"Snake Princess, I owe you for last time..."
Among the Warlord, Doflamingo was the first to address Hancock (fake). He hadn't forgotten he still had a subordinate waiting for rescue back home.
During this time, no matter what Orochimaru tried, he couldn't restore Senor Pink from his petrified state.
It seemed hope could only lie with the Mero Mero no Mi user herself.
To persuade the Snake Princess to undo the petrification willingly, it was 'coercion' or 'enticement'.
Regarding benefits, Doflamingo hadn't yet found this woman's weakness.
After all, she lacked neither money nor things, was a ruler of a country herself, so why would she care about what he offered?
As for coercion... to be honest, after witnessing Hancock's true strength, Doflamingo no longer dared to underestimate this woman, even placing her on the same level as Mihawk for a time.
"Hmph!"
Adhering to the idea that 'more talk, more mistakes', this disguised Snake Princess merely snorted coldly, seemingly not intending to engage with Doflamingo's conversation.
In truth, Naruto really didn't have much impression of this flamingo guy.
At the time, his mind was full of thoughts about facing Garp, and his attention wasn't on the battlefield below at all.
Fortunately, Hancock usually acted aloof toward everyone, so Naruto's pretense didn't seem out of place.
Seeing Hancock had no intention of responding, Doflamingo couldn't help but have a few veins bulge on his forehead.
"Boa Hancock... I don't think you realize, I'm someone who values 'family' very much."
Doflamingo began to speak on his own.
"Senor Pink, that man you petrified, is my subordinate, a member of the Donquixote Family. I hope you will release his petrification."
Hearing this, Naruto still had no recollection, so he continued to maintain his disregard.
"Is that so... Then there's no other way."
"I suppose you have family too... sisters, right?"
The threat in his tone wasn't overly concealed. Hearing the conversation, Hancock and Moria turned their gazes over.
And this threat was also heard by Hancock (Naruto).
He immediately responded to this pink flamingo with a friendly smile.
'Great... I'll deal with you first later.'
Bzzz-
Suddenly, the speakers scattered around the huge plaza emitted a burst of static, followed by the voice of Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Before the execution, there is one thing I must convey to everyone..."