Chapter 45: Chapter 45 : All-out war!!
"I'm heading to Marine Headquarters! I'm going to save Ace!!!"
Luffy was the first to stand out from the crowd, charging toward the warship on Buggy's right!
"Luffy~~, I'm coming with you!"
Boa Hancock quickly followed and joined Luffy on the warship on the right.
Although neither of them acknowledged Buggy's words, their actions inspired others and fueled their determination.
Bullet remained silent, leaping directly onto the warship on the right.
"Hmph, I'm set on claiming Whitebeard's head!"
Crocodile sneered and made his way to the same warship.
"Haha, World Government! Marine Headquarters! I'll make you bleed for this!"
World Destroyer Byrnndi World's eyes blazed with fury as he marched toward the warship on the right.
Shortly after, the Corrupt King Alvaro Pizarro, the Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon, the Colossal Battleship Sanjuan Wolf, and the Heavy Drinker Vasco Shot—those notorious pirates from the sixth underground level—also boarded the warship, their faces grinning with anticipation.
All the prisoners from the sixth underground level were infamous pirates. Their boldness boosted the confidence of the prisoners on other floors.
With Buggy's encouragement, they all climbed onto the warship on the right, shouting loudly!
In the end, the two warships on the right were packed with passengers, and Sanjuan Wolf alone occupied half of the ship!
As a result, the prisoners took over a warship on the left with full force.
But Buggy didn't intervene. The remaining warship was more than sufficient for those who chose not to join the battle at Marine Headquarters!
Buggy glanced at the Red Count and the prisoners, who were demoralized by their torturous experiences in Impel Down, and said scornfully, "Sir Red Count, you should take the lead. Otherwise, I doubt they'll even have the courage to make a move!"
"Ahem..." The Red Count cleared his throat twice. He didn't make any immediate moves but glanced at Buggy and inquired, "What do you mean by the Sleeping Ancient Town?"
Buggy grinned and replied, "With your Observation Haki, you should be able to read minds. Why don't you get it?"
A brief flash of red light flickered in the Red Count's eyes, but it vanished quickly. He shook his head and said, "Your thoughts are too complex. There's chaos and light mixed together. I don't understand!"
Buggy smiled and said, "If you don't get it now, just take your time. You'll have plenty of time to figure it out later!"
"Interesting, I owe you one!" The Red Count grinned and made his way to the last empty warship.
With the Red Count leading the way, the remaining prisoners hurried to follow him.
In the end, only Buggy, Mr. 3, Shiryu, Domino, and the Okamas led by Ivankov were left on the dock.
Mr. 3 and the others were waiting for Buggy's instructions.
Ivankov was still torn about whether to head to the Navy Headquarters.
In the original plot, Ivankov mistook Ace for Dragon's son and thought that Dragon would also be going to the Marine Headquarters to rescue his son.
Thus, he had followed Luffy to the Marine Headquarters without hesitation.
But now that the misunderstanding had been cleared, Ivankov was conflicted.
Buggy turned to Ivankov and asked, "Ivan, haven't you made up your mind yet?"
Ivankov shook his head without answering Buggy's question. Instead, he looked at Inazuma and said, "Inazuma, go with the Red Count. Once you're out, contact Dragon and Sabo and let them know what happened here!"
Inazuma scowled upon hearing this. "Just ask someone else to handle this. I want to go to the Navy Headquarters with you!"
Inazuma had already learned that Ivankov was heading to the Navy Headquarters, and he wanted to accompany him.
Ivankov shook his head. "This is too important. I don't trust anyone else to do it. Only you can go!"
Inazuma hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded in agreement.
Seeing that everyone had made their decision, Buggy waved to Mr. 3 and the others and headed towards the warship where Luffy and his crew were.
Ivankov gave Inazuma a few more instructions and then directed the Okamas to follow Buggy onto the ship.
Once everyone was aboard, Buggy took to the air once more, pointed at the Gate of Justice, and shouted, "Alright, boys, let's go! Announce our return to the world!"
"Yeah!!!"
Under Buggy's command, three warships and thousands of pirates set sail towards Marine Headquarters with tremendous fanfare!
...
Meanwhile, at the Navy Headquarters.
"And your father is the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
As Fleet Admiral Sengoku made this announcement, the reaction around the world was explosive! The same was true for the elite navy assembled in Marineford Square.
"How can this be? Such a cursed bloodline still exists in the world!"
"No way! Fire Fist Ace is actually the son of Pirate King Gol D. Roger!"
"If Fleet Admiral Sengoku says it, then it must be true!"
"So, the son of the Pirate King has joined Whitebeard's crew. Is he planning to use Whitebeard's power to claim the title of Pirate King for himself?"
"Hmph, no matter what, it ends here! Fire Fist Ace's ambition will be crushed here and now!"
...
The navy officers buzzed with conversation and whispers.
However, the higher-ranking officers didn't intervene because they were just as stunned. Sengoku, standing on the execution platform, paid no mind to the commotion. His gaze briefly flicked to Garp below the platform, showing a glimmer of guilt.
"Garp, I'm sorry, but this is for the Navy! For the world!"
The momentary guilt in Sengoku's eyes vanished, replaced by steely determination.
Sengoku continued speaking into the loudspeaker Den Den Mushi: "About two years ago, when you sailed the seas under your mother's surname as the captain of the Spade Pirates, we realized that the Pirate King's bloodline had not been extinguished!"
"But at the same time, Whitebeard in the New World noticed this!"
"To train you as the new Pirate King, he allowed the son of his former rival to join his crew!"
Ace's face twisted with anger upon hearing this. He shouted, "No! I joined the Whitebeard Pirates because I wanted my father to become the Pirate King!"
"You're the only one who thinks that!" Sengoku sneered. "In reality, the only reason we haven't attacked you all these years is because Whitebeard protected you!"
Ace was stunned, struggling to believe what he was hearing.
Ignoring Ace's reaction, Sengoku continued, his gaze fixed ahead. "If left unchecked, Whitebeard will fully unleash the potential of Fire Fist Ace and cast the world back under the shadow of the Pirate King!"
"Therefore, capturing Fire Fist Ace here is of utmost importance!"
"Even if it means going to war with the Whitebeard Pirates, we will not hesitate!"
**********
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