With the announcement from Marine Headquarters, news reporters from various factions stationed at the special hub of Sabaody Archipelago once again became busy. Huge screens were quickly set up in the squares and bustling areas of the archipelago's districts.
Information brokers kept a close eye on the situation around Sabaody, maintaining intense communication with their contacts embedded in various factions.
Pirates, risking great danger, also began to arrive one after another, landing at different points on Sabaody Archipelago and blending into the crowds, all eager to witness this globally anticipated live execution.
Shakky Rip-off Bar became exceptionally lively due to the sudden live broadcast of the execution.
In less than an hour, the small bar hall was packed with people—all of whom had arrived at Sabaody Archipelago in the past two days, intending to use it as a transit point to reach the Ryugu Kingdom, located 10,000 meters beneath the sea.
Among them were pirates from two crews whose ships had been coated by Rayleigh. Their coating had already been completed, but their departure to the Ryugu Kingdom was delayed due to the sudden announcement from Marine Headquarters.
As for the other group, they were likely a newly arrived pirate crew, numbering only about seven or eight people.
"Captain, do you know what the relationship is between the so-called Whitebeard Jr. mentioned in the Marine Headquarters announcement and Whitebeard, the man hailed as the strongest in the world in the New World?"
In booth number one, a tall pirate, already red-faced and slurring his words from drinking, suddenly stood up. He looked excitedly at a middle-aged man sitting across from him, who was draped in a coat, and began to speak animatedly.
"Although the Marine Headquarters announcement didn't mention their relationship, the fact that they're making such a big deal out of this public execution suggests they already know the connection between Whitebeard Jr. and Whitebeard. They're probably using this live broadcast to declare war on the Whitebeard Pirates!"
"Haha, your analysis makes perfect sense!" The middle-aged man laughed heartily.
"If Whitebeard Jr. weren't someone significant, why would Marine Headquarters go to such lengths?"
"But—" After a brief pause, the middle-aged man suddenly shifted the topic.
"More than the relationship between Whitebeard Jr. and Whitebeard, I'm more interested in learning more about the newly appointed Fleet Admiral of Marine Headquarters! After all, we're pirates. Once we head to the New World and become the new Emperors of the Sea, we'll inevitably cross paths with him! Ahahaha~"
"Right, that's something we definitely need to consider!"
"Captain, why don't we take this opportunity to challenge Whitebeard? If Whitebeard Jr. really is Whitebeard son, he'll surely come to Marine Headquarters to rescue him. We could ambush them halfway and catch them off guard!"
"If we take down the Whitebeard Pirates, Captain, you'll become one of the new Four Emperors! Yahaahaha~"
Amid the flattery of his crew, the middle-aged man gradually became carried away. Narrowing his eyes, he put on a thoughtful expression and said.
"Indeed, Whitebeard is old. It's time for him to step down from the throne of the strongest man!"
Hearing this, the pirates around him roared in unison. "Long live the Captain!"
Standing behind the bar, Shakky didn't cast a scornful glance at these ignorant and fearless remarks. In the Grand Line, no matter the era, there was never a shortage of blindly ignorant 'heroes.' Living their lives adrift at sea, they were trapped in their own perceptions and information bubbles.
After a few lucky victories, they would inevitably grow arrogant, naively believing themselves to be the most powerful beings in existence. This is precisely why, even though Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido have dominated the New World for years, each with their own resounding reputations, there are still countless ignorant and fearless individuals who dare to challenge them.
However, up to this point, only one person has managed to make a name for himself—Shanks, a former apprentice on Roger's pirate ship. Others, like the current Warlord of the Sea, Gecko Moria, who once challenged Kaido, ended up with all his crew members dead in a tragic defeat.
The pirates currently boasting loudly in the tavern wouldn't even stand a chance against Whitebeard's division commanders, let alone Whitebeard himself.
At that moment, Rayleigh, wearing a straw hat, pushed open the tavern door and walked in.
Under Shakky gaze, Rayleigh walked straight to the bar, picked up a glass placed on the counter, and downed it in one gulp. Then, with a bitter smile, he looked up and said.
"The young Fleet Admiral of the Navy really doesn't play by the rules, does he?"
"What happened?" Shakky eyes flickered with confusion.
Rayleigh didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to look at the pirates in the tavern, his gaze tinged with a hint of sympathy.
"Right now, there are over a dozen Navy warships outside, led by Sakazuki!"
"Moreover, the Sabaody Marine Base, under the command of Vice Admirals Strawberry and Bastille, has mobilized its entire force. Any pirate crews that have just arrived at Sabaody Archipelago or have been staying here these past few days are in for a rough time!"
Shakky blinked, her reaction slightly delayed. "What do you mean?"
Before she could finish her sentence, her pupils suddenly contracted.
"Are you saying that Sakazuki intends to eliminate any potential threats around the Navy Headquarters and Sabaody Archipelago before the live execution?"
Before Rayleigh could nod, the seven or eight pirates who had been quietly sitting in booth number three suddenly stood up and turned their heads toward the bar.
"Huh? Did they hear us?" Rayleigh tilted his head to look at them and said cheerfully.
"Since you've heard it, you might as well settle your bill and run for your lives!"
"BOOM—"
As soon as Rayleigh finished speaking, the tavern door, which had just been closed, was suddenly slammed open.
Immediately after, the expressionless Strawberry stepped in, his unusually long skull towering over everyone. His sharp eyes swept across the room, and he coldly declared.
"Run? The entire Sabaody Archipelago is now under the range of our cannons. Where do you trash think you can escape to?"
....
At the same time.
On the deck of a large Navy warship that had set sail from the Navy Headquarters with orders to eliminate any threats around the Navy Headquarters and nearby waters, Sakazuki, wearing his military cap, glanced at the approaching port of the Marine base.
He then picked up the Den Den Mushi and issued a command without a trace of emotion.
"Relay my orders, all warships are to lock onto their respective target areas. Upon sighting any pirate ships, they are to engage immediately. Not a single pirate ship is to escape!"
"Furthermore, all troops landing in the various districts of Sabaody Archipelago are to commence operations at once, eliminating all pirates lurking on the island. Leave none alive."
With Sakazuki command, a full-scale purge targeting the pirates hiding on Sabaody Archipelago began. The sounds of gunfire, clashing swords, and agonized screams echoed throughout the districts of Sabaody Archipelago, lasting from dusk until nightfall.
Finally, when the night completely enveloped Sabaody Archipelago, the operation specifically aimed at eradicating the pirates came to an end.
...
Sabaody Archipelago, District 13.
In the Rip-off Bar, not a single pirate managed to escape. They were all apprehended by Vice Admiral Strawberry and the marines under his command, lined up on the open ground opposite the bar, kneeling on both knees.
Strawberry, holding a thick stack of bounty posters, leisurely flipped through them under the light emanating from the bar.
Soon, he pulled out one of the posters and slapped it onto the forehead of the middle-aged man who had been shouting in the bar earlier, claiming that Whitebeard should step down from his throne as the strongest.
"Captain Eric of the Charge Pirates, hailing from the North Blue. On his way into the Grand Line, he pillaged and burned three villages. He also collaborated with other pirate crews to invade a town with a population of ten thousand, resulting in the deaths of over a hundred innocent civilians. Bounty: 67 million berries. Not a Devil Fruit user!"
As he spoke, a cold glint flashed in Strawberry eyes.
"Truly unforgivable!"
Before the middle-aged man could react, a soldier standing behind Strawberry quickly stepped forward and, with practiced ease, fired two shots into his heart and one into his head.
Strawberry didn't spare the man another glance, instead continuing to flip through the bounty posters.
Soon, another pirate's poster caught his attention.
Just like before, after reading out the pirate's name and crimes listed on the poster, another soldier stepped forward and swiftly fired three shots, ending the pirate's life.
This process repeated, and in no time, over a dozen kneeling pirates had been executed on the spot.
Not just in Grove 13, but across the other areas of Sabaody Archipelago, similar brutal executions were taking place under the cover of night.
Every three gunshots signaled the end of another heinous pirate's life.
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