Hearing Shanks's words, Sengoku's face turned livid with rage. These bastards actually had the nerve to say they would just let it go? Did they know what the Marines had paid for today's setup? Three Admirals, numerous officers, one hundred thousand elite troops, and the massive deployment of branch forces from local outposts. That's not even counting the money and resources spent.
For today's public execution, the Marines had deliberately dropped all other duties. Even critical operations were temporarily shelved to gather the bulk of their forces right here. This inevitably left regional defenses hollow, giving pirates and ambitious opportunists the chance to slip through the cracks. But for the sake of ending the Pirate King's bloodline, he had resolutely made the call.
The result? Not a single objective had been achieved.
The prisoner scheduled for execution was rescued, and Mock successfully escaped. As for the Marines, the casualties were catastrophic. Marineford was practically beaten to a pulp. And then there were those words Mock had shouted from the platform at the very end. They would undoubtedly accelerate the Great Pirate Era, challenge the authority of the World Government, and plunge the seas into utter chaos.
It was fair to say the Marines had been humiliated publicly, and he, the Fleet Admiral, had been made a fool. Yet now, an Emperor had the audacity to stand right in front of Marine HQ and demand they stand down.
Sengoku glared at Shanks and Rayleigh. These two were absolutely doing it on purpose, deliberately kicking the boy into the sea to force Marine HQ into a compromise. The primary target had escaped, and the casualties were already devastating. If they kept fighting against three Emperors and Rayleigh, Marine HQ would suffer irreversible losses.
However, this was not a game.
"This is war!" Sengoku stared at Shanks with ice-cold eyes. "A brutal war between the Marines and the pirates!"
If they really just let it go like this, where would their dignity lie? Countless opportunists would think the Marines were nothing special, flooding into the seas in droves.
"All Marines, listen up! Immediately enforce a full blockade of the waters around Marineford! Contact the surrounding branch bases. Launch a carpet search at once."
Sengoku clenched his teeth, glaring at the assembly of legends before him.
"Spare no effort in hunting down his trail. Anyone who dares hinder the search, local forces have permission to execute them on the spot. Absolutely do not let a single fish slip away!"
His tone was unwavering. It sounded as if he had entered a true fight to the death.
The pirates expressions tightened. Shanks and Rayleigh frowned. Even Kaido and Newgate's gazes deepened. They clearly hadn't expected that, even at this point, the Marines still refused to stand down. Had Sengoku gone mad? Three Emperors and the former Pirate King's right-hand man were present. If the fighting continued, the Marines held absolutely no advantage.
Faced with the Fleet Admiral's decisive order, every officer rallied behind Sengoku. The three Admirals, the Hero of the Marines... all the top brass stood together. Their previously demoralized fighting spirit flared to life in an instant, their expressions flat as they stared down the enemy.
And it didn't end there.
"All Marines... arrest all members of the Whitebeard Pirates at once!"
Sengoku's expression hardened further. He looked at the pirates before him, fury ringing in his voice. "Absolutely do not let a single member of his crew escape! Anyone who stand in our way will be treated as an enemy of the state!"
As the order rang out, Shanks and Rayleigh exchanged glances. They truly hadn't expected such a rigid command. The order didn't mention them explicitly, it seemed directed solely at Whitebeard, but could they really just turn tail and leave? What would become of an Emperor's dignity?
For Rayleigh, walking away mattered little. He had already sunk low enough to beg on the Sabaody Archipelago, what face was left to save? But Newgate was here to save the son of his idiot captain. Leaving now went entirely against his principles.
Besides, according to Shanks, Newgate was looking after 'another' son of that idiot captain. The boy was named after Roger's very own sword. If he got captured, they would probably have to make another rescue trip all over again.
Rayleigh silently cursed Roger. 'If you wanted to have a son, just have a son! Why produce two half-siblings?' He never noticed it during their adventures together. Who would have thought that, at the very end of his life, Roger would turn out to be such a philanderer? Did he have any idea how much trouble he would cause them from beyond the grave?
"Worororo! Are you threatening me?"
Hearing Sengoku's declaration, Kaido shifted into his human form. He hefted his giant club over his shoulder, a wide grin splitting his face. "I'd love to see Newgate get what's coming to him, but I'm not leaving just yet!"
Sengoku shot him a glance, then ignored him. Without Mock around, that brute had no reason to interfere. The priority now was annihilating the Whitebeard Pirates, displaying their absolute might to intimidate the ambitious and minimize the fallout of the war.
"Gurararara!"
Unfazed by the threat, Newgate gripped his bisento and stood his ground. "You want to capture my sons? Let's see if you have what it takes, Sengoku."
Newgate fumed at the audacity, trying to arrest a man's sons right in front of their father.
The two sides squared off once more, the atmosphere growing heavier by the second. Marine HQ versus the Whitebeard Pirates. The war wasn't over yet.
Seeing this, Rayleigh sighed. He hesitated, mentally cursing his captain again, and was about to step forward when Shanks leaped off his ship. The red-haired pirate grabbed his shoulder and stopped him.
Rayleigh looked at him in confusion, but Shanks just shook his head.
"Don't bother. They won't fight."
Shanks looked at Fleet Admiral Sengoku, he spoke after thinking for a moment. "By my calculations, it should be about time."
The words had barely left his mouth when Vice Admiral Tsuru walked over through the ruined plaza. She sighed. "That's enough, Sengoku."
She held out the Den Den Mushi in her hand, an edge to her tone. "A call from the World Government. You'd better take it."
"What? It ends just like this? I refuse to accept it! The Marines haven't lost yet! Give me a little more time, I've already blockaded the seas. Marine HQ will crush the Whitebeard Pirates as soon as possible!"
"I said the Marines haven't lost! We haven't lost! I absolutely refuse to let it end like this!"
"Who do you think caused this? Where is the support the World Government promised? Why haven't they shown up even now? It just ends like this? Do you have any idea how much damage Mock has caused?"
"This isn't a negotiation, it's an order! I..."
Hearing those cold words and looking at the impatient Den Den Mushi in his hand, Sengoku instantly calmed down. Though his face remained pale, he took a deep breath, gritted his teeth, and said, "Yes. I understand. Once things are handled here, I will head straight to the Holy Land."
*Purururu~*
The connection clicked off. Sengoku stayed frozen as he stared at the limp receiver. He raised his head as he looked at Shanks, who was smiling right back at him.
The nerve of him. What a calculation.
He could probably guess why the reinforcements hadn't arrived. But how did Shanks actually pull that off? The World Government placed heavy importance on Mock's execution, so why would they choose to compromise at a time like this?
"Looks like it's over. Worororo."
A thick, mocking laugh snapped Sengoku from his thoughts.
"What a theatrical war, Sengoku." Kaido made no effort to hide his scorn. After glancing at the assembled Marines, he soared into the air, transforming back into his beast form. "Since that's how it is, I'll be taking my leave. Worororo, it was truly interesting. I'll have to throw a party to celebrate when I get back. Shame I don't know where that brat ran off to. I was planning to invite him to join my crew."
With that, the massive dragon circled once before flying away from Marineford, leaving behind a group of Marines with hardened expressions. They heard the mockery in his words clearly. However, the World Government's orders were absolute.
"Sengoku..." Tsuru hesitated for a moment, then walked to his side, seemingly about to offer some comfort.
"I'm fine!" Sengoku cut her off. He waved his hand, staring blankly at the pirates in front of him. His eyes flickered, and his voice went cold. "What are you all standing around for? Arrest the Whitebeard Pirates immediately!"
Tsuru blinked in shock, but quickly understood his angle. Her tone turned serious. "Everyone, stay sharp! The war isn't over yet! Arrest them all!"
However...
"Gurararara, is it over? Sengoku." Whitebeard gave them no face at all, letting out a loud laugh. "My sons, it's time for us to retreat!"
"Pops, the ships are ready!"
"Grab Teach and get on board! We're heading back to throw a party! Gurararara."
"Don't let them get away!"
In the end, despite the Marines' nominal pursuit, the Whitebeard Pirates successfully withdrew. Marineford, once overflowing with combatants, now held only the Red Hair Pirates, Rayleigh, the Shichibukai, and Dante's faction.
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