"It's over."
A hand wreathed in extreme cold pressed lightly against Ace's back.
"!!!"
Ace felt a chill pierce through his organs in an instant...
The shock and unwillingness on his face, along with the flames burning on his body, were frozen together in that moment.
A crystal-clear ice sculpture appeared amid the ruins.
"Hu—"
After finishing, Kuzan waved toward the disguised merchant ship in the distance.
The Marines on board immediately disembarked.
"Use warm water to thaw the surface, then cuff him with Seastone and keep him under strict watch."
"Yes!"
The soldiers began moving the ice sculpture that sealed "Fire Fist" Ace.
"Step—"
Kuzan walked back toward the ice coffin that held Teach.
"Oh?"
Inside the coffin, though frozen solid, a faint wisp of darkness still lingered around Teach's body.
That darkness seemed alive, stubbornly resisting the ice and protecting its host's life.
"Frozen this long and still not dead..."
"Could it be some strange physique...?"
Kuzan scratched his head.
"Well, I'll report it all together!"
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from his coat and dialed the Fleet Admiral's line.
"Fleet Admiral."
"I've caught a big one here."
...
Marine Headquarters.
The atmosphere in the Fleet Admiral's office was lighter than it had been in years.
Sengoku sat with one leg crossed over the other, happily munching on a bag of rice crackers, each bite sounding with a crisp "crunch."
All the plans were moving forward smoothly.
Gold was continuously being converted into Marine strength. Vegapunk's submarines were already mass-produced. New recruits were training with vigor.
Not long ago, the Elders had called to question the matter of the G-3 Branch killing CP0.
Heh—
And what happened?
He'd chewed them out over the Den Den Mushi, and in the end they even sent him fifty billion Belly as "emotional damages"!
Perfect!
Absolutely perfect!
Ever since becoming Fleet Admiral, aside from slamming the desk in front of the Elders that one time, Sengoku hadn't felt this satisfied.
"..."
Tsuru sat nearby, calmly sipping tea while processing documents, unfazed by Sengoku's antics.
"Bang!"
The office door was suddenly kicked open.
"Sengoku! I'm back!"
Garp burst in, laughing loudly. The moment he saw the rice crackers in Sengoku's hand—
The next second, Garp lunged forward, his massive hand snatching the bag away like lightning.
"Crunch! Crunch!"
He stuffed the crackers into his mouth without hesitation, chewing noisily.
"Hmph—"
Sengoku gave him a sidelong glance.
"That brat Luffy's situation resolved?"
"Mm!"
Garp mumbled through a mouthful.
"Left him with Zephyr and Hawke!"
"I told them already—if he doesn't die, then beat him half-dead!"
"Good."
Sengoku nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to Garp's crude "Fist of Love" education, Zephyr's systematic methods were far more reliable.
Hopefully that brat Luffy could be turned around...
Otherwise, Impel Down would be the only option, leaving him to reflect on his stupidity in despair.
Speaking of which, he wondered how Hawke's trial in Impel Down was going.
"Buru buru~"
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on the desk rang.
Sengoku picked it up. It was Kuzan.
"Fleet Admiral."
"I've caught a big one."
"Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander—'Fire Fist' Ace, along with a Logia-user I happened to run into. Both are in my custody."
"Bang—!"
Sengoku slammed the desk and leapt up from his chair, his joy unrestrained.
"Excellent!"
"Well done, Kuzan!"
"Forget your current mission."
"Bring them back to Headquarters immediately!!!"
"Yes!"
Too good!
Sengoku's heart soared with elation.
That old man Whitebeard was the most protective of his crew!
With Ace as bait, there was no way the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't bite.
This was heaven-sent!
This was the signal for a new era!
"Clatter—"
The bag of rice crackers slipped from Garp's hand, spilling golden pieces across the floor.
He froze in place, his smile vanishing instantly.
Ace... that brat Ace was caught by Kuzan?!
Damn it!
These grandsons of his—why could none of them give their grandfather peace of mind!
"What's wrong, Garp?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru set down her teacup, instantly sensing her old friend's change. She asked gently.
Sengoku also reined in his joy, looking toward Garp.
"Uh..."
Garp knew he couldn't hide it.
Scratching his head, eyes shifting evasively, he muttered,
"Well... Ace is actually my adopted grandson..."
"!!!"
Sengoku's pupils shrank sharply.
In an instant, countless clues strung together in his mind into a complete picture.
Two years ago, a rookie named Portgas D. Ace had risen across the seas like wildfire.
The Marines noticed the "D" in his name, suspecting he was the unbroken bloodline of Pirate King Roger.
The World Government, wanting to control this unstable force, invited Ace to join the Shichibukai.
After all, the Pirate King's bloodline joining the Government's side would be a symbolic victory like no other!
But Ace refused.
He chose Whitebeard's crew, gaining the protection of the "Strongest Man in the World."
Since then, the Marines had never gotten a chance to touch him.
Now, Kuzan had captured Ace!
This wasn't just catching another pirate!
This meant the Marines could publicly execute Roger's bloodline, shocking every would-be ambitious fool across the seas!
And it could serve as bait to draw Whitebeard into a head-on war, achieving the Navy's ultimate goal of purging the Yonko!
And Garp...
Now saying Ace was his adopted grandson... it meant that back then, during the hunt for Roger's heir, Garp had helped hide him!
Rage exploded in Sengoku's chest!
He slammed the desk, pointing at Garp. "Garp, you... fool—!!!"
Sengoku was ready to roll up his sleeves and let this old comrade taste the fists of "Buddha Sengoku."
"Sengoku!"
Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately stepped forward to stop him.
"This isn't the time for that!"
"Huu—"
Sengoku drew in a deep breath, forcing down his fury.
"Garp."
"As a Vice Admiral, you know the Marines' plan. You know the tide that cannot be reversed!"
"Even you, Marine Hero, cannot stand in the way!"
"Sigh..."
Tsuru let out a soft sigh, glancing at Garp's pained expression.
"Garp, that Straw Hat brat just set out. It's not too late for him."
"But Ace..."
"He's already a notorious pirate, the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander."
"It's too late..."
"..."
Garp slowly clenched his fists, the knuckles whitening.
What could he say?
There was nothing he could say.
Sengoku was right. He knew it all.
He knew this era had changed. The Marines were no longer the old force wavering between justice and compromise.
He knew Sakazuki, Hawke, and the younger generation—they were the true iron-blooded Marines.
That brat Luffy had just set out, committed no unforgivable crimes yet. With his old reputation, Garp could still protect him.
But Ace? How could he possibly protect Ace?
If a Marine officer's family could be pardoned at will, then what would his lifelong justice mean?!
Marine Hero Garp...
The word "hero" itself meant making decisions at the critical moment that no ordinary man could bear.
"..."
After a long silence, Garp's clenched fists slowly loosened. He raised his head, the pain and struggle in his eyes fading into a dead, still calm.
His voice was unbearably heavy as he spoke.
"Sengoku, I am a Marine!"
"Ace's .... public execution!"