The next day.
News that shocked the entire world spread across all seas.
"Golden Lion Shiki, One of the Four Emperors, Captured and Imprisoned in Impel Down!"
The front page of the newspaper featured a large photograph—
Golden Lion Shiki being escorted toward Impel Down by Garp and Sengoku, looking disheveled and bound in Sea Stone chains.
The entire world was stunned.
"This... how is this possible?!"
"First Pirate King Roger, now Golden Lion Shiki... both captured?!"
"The Marines are defying the heavens!"
Countless pirates felt their hearts sink upon reading this news.
First the Pirate King, then one of the Four Emperors.
Was the era of pirates coming to an end?
"Two legendary pirates imprisoned in Impel Down within days..."
A civilian asked curiously, "Aren't the other Sea Emperors in the New World going to rescue him?"
Someone "in the know" nearby scoffed:
"You've clearly never been a pirate. The conflicts between pirates are even fiercer than those with the Marines!
They'd be glad to see each other dead—why would they rescue one another?"
"Hey, what if Raiver, the World's Strongest Man, made a move? Could he storm Impel Down and rescue Roger and Shiki?"
"Do you think he's stupid?" The man rolled his eyes:
"That man now resides in the world's most luxurious palace, surrounded by countless beauties, dining on delicacies and drinking fine wines.
They say even the Celestial Dragons don't live as extravagantly as him!"
"Why would he risk storming Marine Headquarters when he's already living in bliss?
Besides, no matter how strong he is, he can't possibly take on Marine Headquarters alone, can he?"
In the world's perception, Raiver was strong, but not strong enough to single-handedly challenge Marine Headquarters.
After all, Marine Headquarters had hundreds of thousands of troops, top-tier fighters like Sengoku and Garp, and Marshal Kong overseeing everything.
Not to mention the three increasingly prominent Admirals with unfathomable strength and top-tier Logia-type Devil Fruits—Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji!
These three were hailed as the Marine's undisputed new pillars and future combat power, successors to the legendary trio of Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.
...
New World, Whitebeard Pirates.
On the deck of the Moby Dick, Newgate sat in his massive chair, holding the newspaper.
Beneath his crescent-shaped mustache, his usually bold face showed a trace of complexity.
"Shiki..."
He murmured the name softly.
They had once fought side by side in the Rocks Pirates.
Now, he could only learn of his capture through the newspaper.
"You fool..."
He sighed, put down the paper, and gazed at his sons training on the deck.
Marco circled in the air, Jozu lifted weights, Vista practiced his swordsmanship...
Young faces, full of vitality and hope.
A gentle light flickered in Whitebeard's eyes.
The only thing that mattered to him now was his sons.
As for Shiki...
"Gurararara..."
He chuckled and raised his bowl of sake.
"I hope you'll reflect deeply in Impel Down. One shouldn't be too arrogant in life."
...
Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.
The headquarters of the Big Mom Pirates.
Charlotte Linlin sat on her massive chair, holding the same newspaper in her hand.
After reading for a few seconds—
"Mamamamamama!!!"
She threw her head back and laughed uproariously, her laughter shaking the entire castle.
"Heaven helps me! Shiki, you've finally paid the price for your arrogance!"
She abruptly stood up.
"Children!"
"Yes! Mama!"
Katakuri, Cracker, and all her other children responded in unison.
"Go seize that bastard Shiki's territory for me!"
"Yes!"
Excitement flashed in everyone's eyes.
With the Golden Lion captured and the Flying Pirates leaderless, this was the perfect opportunity to expand territory and plunder resources!
The Big Mom Pirates mobilized in full force!
...
Wano Country, Onigashima.
The headquarters of the Beasts Pirates.
King—the man entirely clad in black—hurried into the hall holding a newspaper.
"Boss."
Kaido was lying on the ground surrounded by empty liquor barrels.
He lazily opened his eyes upon hearing the voice:
"What is it?"
"The Four Emperor Golden Lion has been captured."
Kaido bolted upright.
"What?!"
King handed him the newspaper.
Kaido took it, quickly scanned through, then—
"Worororororo!"
He burst into laughter filled with excitement!
"That bastard Shiki has finally fallen!"
King said:
"Boss, with the Four Emperor Golden Lion captured, the Flying Pirates are now leaderless. We should go plunder and strengthen our forces. Perhaps we can take this opportunity to replace Golden Lion as the fourth Sea Emperor of the New World!"
Kaido took a large gulp of liquor, narrowing his eyes in thought.
"Makes sense."
He stood up and stretched his limbs.
"But what about Wano Country here..."
King replied:
"That fool Kozuki Oden already believes in our agreement and is currently dancing in the Flower Capital. If we secretly go out plundering and return, someone of his intelligence won't notice."
Kaido thought for a moment before grinning:
"Wororororo! Then let's depart!"
The Beasts Pirates mobilized in full force!
The power structure of the New World was quietly shifting.
Meanwhile, in the distant East Blue, at Loguetown.
The execution platform had been completed.
In five days, Pirate King Roger would be publicly executed here.
Countless people were gathering from all over the world.
Pirates, civilians, reporters, information brokers...
Everyone wanted to witness that moment with their own eyes.
And in the deepest cell of Impel Down, two legendary pirates were separated by a single wall.
Roger leaned against the wall, a faint smile on his lips.
Shiki was bound tightly and thrown in the adjacent cell.
"Shiki."
Roger suddenly spoke.
"...What do you want?"
"Give up! Do you really think you can accomplish what even Rocks failed to achieve back then? Your crew was so powerful back then, yet you ultimately lost and the pirate crew fell apart."
"Gehahahaha, that's because they had already lost their ambition to conquer the world, content to guard their little territories in the New World."
...
Five days later, East Blue, Loguetown.
The usually tranquil town was experiencing unprecedented commotion today.
The streets were packed with people, shoulder to shoulder in a massive crowd.
Pirates, civilians, merchants, reporters, information brokers... people from all walks of life flooded the already small island until it was completely jam-packed.
Taverns were full, inns were full, and even warehouses by the docks were rented out as temporary lodgings.
Everyone had come for the same purpose—
To witness the execution of Pirate King Roger with their own eyes.
The Marine Headquarters had dispatched an unprecedented number of troops for this event.
Thousands of elite Marine soldiers were transferred from the headquarters, patrolling every corner of Loguetown.
And the high-level combat forces were deployed in full strength.