Shichibukai Meeting
The room was silent as the imposing figures of Sengoku, Garp, and Tsuru entered the conference hall. Upon seeing them, the rear admirals stationed around the perimeter promptly withdrew, leaving only the highest-ranking officers and the seven warlords gathered around the large round table.
Sengoku walked to the head of the table and lightly tapped its surface with his palm.
"Let's begin the meeting," he announced solemnly.
With his words, the door shut automatically, locking with a metallic click. Heavy curtains fell over the windows, plunging the room into a silent dimness. At the center of the table, a circular panel opened, and from it slowly emerged a special Den Den Mushi.
It was a modified projector-type model, with large eyes that began to emit twin beams of light. The reflected images formed on a projection screen along the wall, displaying confidential data gathered by Cipher Pol.
At the top of the hologram, two figures dominated the display: Portgas D. Ace and Edward Newgate, the legendary Whitebeard.
Below them appeared the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, along with information about their identities, bounties, and estimated strength. Further down, an extensive list of the 43 pirate crews allied with the main force. Names, acronyms, symbols, and numbers filled the screen with the scope of that naval power.
Everyone in the room watched in silence.
Sengoku stepped forward and spoke, his deep voice breaking the stillness.
"This is our enemy. The Whitebeard Pirates. Their core is made up of 1,600 seasoned pirates, organized into elite divisions. With the support of their 43 allied crews, we're facing a force of over 50,000 men."
Upon hearing the number, tension among those present grew. Some of the Shichibukai raised their eyebrows. Others remained calm.
Moriah let out a dark laugh.
"Hehehe... A real war, huh? There will be more than enough corpses for me to build an army of the dead like the world has never seen!"
That was why he had agreed to come, even if the summons had been mandatory. A battlefield of that scale was paradise for his macabre ambitions.
"Huhuhu... Will they really come in full force?" Doflamingo asked, his fingers toying with the threads of his pink coat.
Tsuru replied before anyone else could speak.
"They're already on their way." Her voice was cold as steel. "All surveillance ships positioned in the New World have been sunk. None survived to send an alert. Whitebeard is on the move."
She crossed her arms and continued:
"The 43 subordinate crews have also started to mobilize. The New World is outside the Marine's direct sphere of influence. Unlike Paradise, our presence there is fragile. We rely on surveillance units to track the movements of the Yonkou... but as always, when those monsters move, it's our ships that fall first."
Doflamingo smiled with a hint of irony.
"The enemy has over 50,000 men... And what about us?"
Tsuru maintained her serene but firm tone.
"The Navy will gather 100,000 elite marines, drawn from the strongest forces around the world. Additionally, we have over 2,000 officers of captain rank, 60 rear admirals, several vice admirals from HQ, three Navy admirals... and 30 mass-produced Pacifistas."
She paused for a moment, then added:
"And finally, we have you: the Shichibukai."
Her eyes slowly scanned each of the warlords present, silently assessing them.
Sengoku then spoke again.
"From a numerical and strategic perspective, we have the advantage. In firepower, we are prepared. This is a war we cannot afford to lose. The world must see what happens when someone challenges the World Government."
A heavy silence fell over the table. None of the Shichibukai replied.
Dracule Mihawk simply crossed his arms, expressionless. For him, this war was a rare opportunity—to measure his blade against that of the strongest man in the world.
Moriah was already envisioning the bodies scattered across the battlefield, perfect material for a new army.
Boa Hancock stared at the projection, but her mind was elsewhere—or rather, with someone else.
Kuma... no one knew what lay behind his robotic expression. They only knew that he now served the Government directly.
Doflamingo smiled as if watching a show.
And Luffy...
Luffy was the quietest of them all. But inside, the gears were turning. He wasn't there to watch. He was there to act.
When he couldn't hold back a laugh, everyone turned to him.
"What are you laughing at, Monkey D. Luffy?" Sengoku narrowed his eyes.
Luffy just shrugged, grabbing a banana from the table as if the whole thing was nothing but a performance.
"Justice will prevail," he said, taking a bite of the fruit.
Doflamingo burst into mocking laughter.
"Huhuhu... 'Justice'? Do you really believe in those words, kid?"
Then he turned to Sengoku.
"Admiral... why are you so sure Whitebeard will come personally to rescue Ace? He's just the second division commander. Is there something you haven't told us?"
Sengoku's gaze hardened. It was a fair question.
"Some of you don't know yet... but it's time to reveal it."
He paused for a long moment, then his voice fell like a hammer.
"Portgas D. Ace... is the biological son of Gol D. Roger."
Everyone in the room froze for a moment. Even the most impassive Shichibukai showed surprise—and for the first time, Hancock's eyes widened.
Sengoku wasted no time changing the subject.
"This war has three clear objectives. First: kill Edward Newgate, Whitebeard. Since Roger's death, he's become the symbol of pirate resistance. He must fall."
"Second: execute Ace publicly and broadcast the event to the entire world. The son of the Pirate King cannot be allowed to live."
"Third: annihilate the main commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates and eliminate all 43 allied crews that come to his defense. The world must understand that standing against the World Government is a call for erasure."
A sepulchral silence filled the room.
Three objectives. Three paths to victory.
Achieving the first—killing Whitebeard—would already be a significant win.
Completing the second—executing Ace—would also fulfill their purpose.
But achieving all three? That would represent nothing less than the Navy's absolute and undeniable triumph.
Luffy frowned slightly and murmured in surprise: "Killing Whitebeard takes priority over executing Ace?"
Vice Admiral Tsuru shifted her gaze toward him, her expression calm, almost gentle—contrasting with the cold way she addressed the other warlords.
"Ace is just bait, Straw Hat Luffy."
Her tone was calm, almost professorial. With a slight smile, she added: "Looks like you know him."
"I do. I'm sure you already know this, but we met in Alabasta. He tried to recruit me into the Whitebeard Pirates. I almost died laughing. Who in their right mind would want to become someone like that's 'son'?"
Luffy spoke with unexpected seriousness. "At the time, he was after someone. A traitor. Marshall D. Teach... also known as Blackbeard."
Tsuru tilted her head, surprised. "Blackbeard? I've never heard that name. If he's managed to escape Ace for so long, he must be stronger than he looks."
"Hmm..." Luffy scratched his head, thoughtful.
(Where could he be now?)
Even Luffy, with his carefree nature, felt oddly uneasy. War was approaching fast, and Blackbeard, who always acted from the shadows, had vanished.
(That guy's going to wait until the last second, isn't he?) Luffy thought.
(Would be great if Akainu killed him in the middle of the war.)
He looked around. All the other Shichibukai were silent.
(These guys are all useless...)
Sure, his arms were crossed too... but at least he had a plan.
Sengoku interrupted his musings by pressing a button. The image on the screen abruptly changed, now showing the execution platform set up at the entrance of Marineford Bay.
"Enough of this nonsense!" declared the Admiral firmly.
"Let's move on to the battle plan. Pay close attention. All of you are vital pieces in this conflict."
---
Meanwhile, in the heart of the New World...
The seas simmered with silent tension.
The sudden disappearance of the Whitebeard Pirates had stirred the once relatively peaceful waters.
With this move, the other Yonkou had also begun to stir.
Like a chessboard where a single move triggers a chain reaction, the world's balance began to collapse.
---
Onigashima – Domain of the Beasts Pirates
At the island's busy harbor, dozens of pirate ships were being frantically loaded.
Crates of gunpowder, cannons, and firearms were stacked on the decks.
"Move it! Hurry up! This is a direct order from Kaido—the expedition is about to set sail!"
"The target is Whitebeard's territory!"
A pirate laughed as he lifted a crate:
"A once-in-a-lifetime chance! With Marineford and Whitebeard about to destroy each other, we'll take all the islands that old man protects in one go!"
"Ohhh!!" they shouted in unison, thrilled by the promise of plunder and glory.
---
At the edge of the port...
A lone figure watched in silence: tall, long-haired, wearing a red mask. Chains bound her wrists.
It was Yamato.
"Kaido's going to attack Whitebeard's territory..." she murmured, torn between worry and helplessness.
"Princess Yamato, please return to the castle."
The voice belonged to Page One, one of the Tobiroppo and one of Kaido's most loyal subordinates.
Yamato didn't even turn around. "Don't give me orders."
She took a step forward, as if wanting to board a ship, but stopped upon looking at her shackled wrists.
The explosive cuffs...
A gift from her "father."
(Do such fathers really exist?) she wondered bitterly.
But it was nothing new. For Yamato, that invisible prison had become routine.
"Ace is really going to be executed...?"
Heart aching, she turned and walked back toward the castle.
---
Kaido approached from the opposite direction, staggering, holding a sake jar. Behind him, three key subordinates followed like shadows.
"Yamato!" he roared with false cheer.
"While I'm gone, you'd better behave, you hear me?"
Yamato glared at him for a second, her eyes burning with restrained fury, then turned her face away.
It wasn't worth arguing.
Completely ignoring him, she walked past Kaido as if he were invisible.
Kaido merely laughed.
"Hmph. Foolish girl..."
"Daughter?" He scoffed silently.
"She's called herself a man for years... all because of that idiot Oden."
Even now, at 57, Kaido remained bothered by his daughter—and by her choices.
---
At sea, somewhere in the New World...
A ship sailed against the wind, proud and steady. The flag with three horizontal scars fluttered above.
It was the Red-Haired Pirates.
On deck, Yasopp held a letter in hand.
"Beckman, just like you predicted... Kaido really is on the move."
Beckman lit a cigarette calmly.
"That guy would never miss an opportunity like this."
The two turned their gaze to the prow, where Shanks stared at the horizon with a serious expression.
"We'll stop him," the captain said. "First Kaido... then, Marineford."
"We've no guarantee we'll get there in time, Shanks. Kaido won't fall easily."
"That's fine." Shanks smiled, pulling a wanted poster from his inner pocket.
It was Luffy.
"I'm sure Luffy won't sit still knowing his brother's about to die."
Beckman let out a brief laugh.
"Luffy? It really was a surprise to see him become a Shichibukai. Given how things are turning out, it's almost like he saw it all coming."
(End of chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."