Chapter 387: Paramount War: Luffy Edition
While the various factions across the entire sea were all intensely preparing for the upcoming "Public Execution" respectively.
As the party conducting the "Public Execution" and the provider of the execution site.
Marine Headquarters' reaction was naturally not to be outdone.
For example, right now inside the Tenshukaku.
"Speaking of which, Black Xiezhi—haven't seen you here for quite a while?"
The beautiful Momousagi casually filed her nails with a nail clipper while looking at Roy.
"Hic... indeed, since being transferred to the Star Hunters Unit, this is the first time—Old Man Garp hasn't had time recently, so it was my turn to come this time."
Roy happily took a sip from the flask in his hand.
"Even if you've already joined the Star Hunters Unit, drinking alcohol during meetings is not allowed."
"I'm not drinking alcohol, this is cola."
"Same thing, in your case, drinking this stuff will get you drunk too."
"They're completely different, right... don't make me sound like some weirdo!"
While the two were talking, Giant Vice Admiral Hammer also familiarly leaned over: "I say..."
As soon as he spoke, Momousagi and Roy's brows instantly furrowed.
"What a strong smell of alcohol!"
"Hey hey, you really drank quite a bit, didn't you?"
"Hehehehe, don't mind such trivial matters."
Hammer casually waved his hand.
Then, he leaned his head over again and lowered his voice: "Black, Momousagi... I just heard a rumor..."
He acted all secretive, but due to the Giant's inherently loud voice, there was absolutely no sense of mystery at all.
"A rumor? Don't tell me you got scammed again?"
Momousagi raised an eyebrow and looked at this Giant Vice Admiral.
"Hm? When have I ever been scammed?"
Hammer seemed somewhat dissatisfied.
"Like that matter with Elbaf before—you were crying your eyes out back then..."
Momousagi mercilessly exposed this Giant's embarrassing past without hesitation, and Roy, who heard this, also laughed.
He had also heard—after Elbaf sank previously, because no one knew the specific situation, the Giant Vice Admirals within Marine Headquarters were generally as sad as if they had lost their parents.
It wasn't until later when the Aster appeared and it was confirmed that the Giants seemed to have all joined The Zodiac that the Giant Vice Admirals' moods improved slightly.
Although their country and clansmen joining a criminal organization was somewhat awkward, inevitably causing questioning and ostracization towards the Giant Marines within the Marines as well.
But to the Giants, being able to confirm their hometown and clansmen were fine was clearly already something worth rejoicing over.
But clearly, neither Roy nor Momousagi were the type of people to hold prejudices against the Giants because of this—this was also the reason why Hammer appeared quite close to them.
"Nothing of the sort."
Hearing this, Hammer blushed and waved his large hand, indicating that what Roy said was completely untrue.
Subsequently, he stopped keeping them in suspense and told them what he had heard recently.
"It's about the pirate of this public execution—do you know why they're making such a grand display this time, even specially building fortifications in the center of Marineford, and erecting a massive execution platform?"
He said in a deep voice.
Hearing this question, Momousagi and Roy also looked at each other.
Especially Roy, who was already looking out the window into the distance at this moment.
And from the large conference room of the Tenshukaku where they were currently located, one could coincidentally see—the entire Marineford was indeed amidst a flurry of busyness right now.
Massive fortifications and trenches were being built in every corner of Marine Headquarters, and even in the sea in the distance, one could see World Government ships building a massive "sea wall".
And in front of the Tenshukaku, one could even see a massive, almost completed execution platform.
All of this was for that public execution not long from now.
And Roy also knew, right now most people within the Marines actually didn't quite understand—just for killing a single pirate, why put on such a grand display?
However, within the higher-ups of the Marines, there were more or less rumors.
"I heard that the guy called 'Straw Hat' is Vice Admiral Garp's grandson, and even more so, the son of that 'Revolutionary' Dragon."
Hammer said with a sigh.
"The Government and the Fleet Admiral building fortifications of this level this time is to prevent the guys from the Revolutionary Army from appearing to stop this 'execution'."
"You can understand, right—if the Revolutionary Army really comes out in full force, this execution will be..."
Hammer clicked his tongue twice as he said this.
But exactly when Roy and Momousagi were about to say something after hearing this.
Thud!
The door of the conference room was violently pushed open.
The figures of Marine Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Marine Great Staff Officer Tsuru also walked in from the door.
"All members, take your seats."
Sengoku spoke in a deep voice.
Thus, Roy, Momousagi, and Hammer also nodded to each other and took their respective seats.
By the way... since Roy came representing the Star Hunters Unit this time, his seat had also clearly been adjusted, located at the very front of the long table in the conference room, even ahead of the three Admirals.
"Regarding some recent rumors within the Marines..."
And at this time, Sengoku's meeting could completely be said to be getting straight to the point.
"I can tell everyone—they are all true."
His gaze swept below, especially looking at Hammer: "The target of this public execution, 'Straw Hat' Monkey D. Luffy, is exactly the son of Revolutionary Dragon."
He clearly heard Hammer's words.
"And besides that..."
Sengoku's words didn't stop there.
After confirming the news about Luffy's identity, he turned around and stuck a few photos on the whiteboard behind him.
"Straw Hat is also involved with several other key figures."
Then, all the Marines present saw four people stuck on the photos respectively.
Besides the already known "Revolutionary Dragon", there were a full three other people.
"First, 'Dark King' Rayleigh—according to intelligence, Straw Hat once operated together with him and attacked a World Government warship... Besides that, they also boarded the Aster together, suspected to have a master-disciple relationship."
Sengoku's words were calm but full of solemnity.
"Second, is 'Red-Haired' Shanks."
"Everyone should have heard more or less about Shanks going to the East Blue over a decade ago... Since then, he no longer wore this straw hat."
"And Straw Hat's hometown happens to be exactly the East Blue."
"We can be almost certain that this straw hat of Straw Hat's is the very one Shanks used to wear."
"There is highly likely a quite close connection between the two."
Speaking up to here, the Marine generals present were already listening in a daze.
Dark King? Red Hair?
"This kid is actually connected to so many legends..."
A Vice Admiral spoke instinctively, but then immediately kept quiet.
Not because he suddenly realized speaking like this was somewhat boosting the enemy's morale while dampening their own, but more importantly...
Right now he had already seen the fourth person stuck on Sengoku's whiteboard.
That was a man wearing a mask of stars, his true face unseen.
"Hey, are you kidding?"
"How is that possible?"
"With that guy..."
They spoke unbelievably.
And at this time, Sengoku's expression was also solemn to the extreme: "That's right."
"Although the source of the news is unknown, the Government has released news confirming one thing... There is a high probability that The Zodiac will participate in this public execution of Straw Hat."
As he spoke up to here, Tsuru beside him, with a similarly solemn expression, also reached out her hand and slammed it heavily on the table in front of her.
"Do you understand now?"
"This execution is not just a simple execution."
"It is highly likely to develop into an unprecedented 'war', one that the legends of the past era, the Four Emperors of the current era, and that Zodiac will all participate in—a 'Paramount War'!"
"So now, put away your pride and casualness—those guys are not opponents you can handle casually."
She said in a deep voice: "Then next... the strategy meeting regarding this war officially begins!"
And hearing this, the more or less casual expressions originally on the faces of all the Marine generals present completely vanished, becoming serious and earnest.
The only exception was Roy.
"Paramount War: Luffy Edition, huh?"
At this time, although he also put on a serious face superficially, he was complaining like this in his heart.
Of course.
Roy wasn't surprised by the Marines' reaction.
In fact, the moment he learned from the Straw Hat crew that Luffy was captured by Shamrock, Roy roughly understood the reason for this incident.
"Nika has been discovered by Imu."
This was the only reason Shamrock attacked Luffy.
As for how Imu discovered it, Roy couldn't be certain, but he could roughly guess it should be related to the unexpected awakening of Luffy's fruit—in the original work, after Luffy awakened, the Five Elders and Imu also reacted specifically to Luffy, even issuing orders for an absolute kill.
But what Roy couldn't quite understand now was.
"Why a public execution?"
This was what he didn't understand.
Although it sounds a bit impolite—since they had already captured Luffy, the contemporary Joy Boy, wouldn't killing him directly be a more convenient choice?
Why must they make a big fanfare and conduct a public execution, even demanding the World Economy News Paper to broadcast it live worldwide.
"Are they trying to take the opportunity to lure all the enemies out and then wipe them out in one fell swoop?"
Roy felt this possibility existed, but was unlikely.
If Imu really had a trump card to completely wipe out the Revolutionary Army + Four Emperors + The Zodiac, then the situation wouldn't be like this at all—He should have flipped the table directly back in Wano Country last time.
However, although he didn't understand why Imu would do this.
But to Roy, he knew that this wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him.
After all...
"I'm not sure what Imu wants to do, but Imu won't know what I want to do either."
He lowered his eyes, his gaze faintly looking downwards.
He seemed to be able to see through the Tenshukaku, seeing the Tarai Current beneath Mary Geoise, and the secrets deep within the giant current.
"The bigger the wind and waves, the more opportunities there are to fish in troubled waters."
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