As the date of Roger's execution drew nearer, an uneasy atmosphere pervaded everywhere.
Around the world, countless eyes turned towards Marineford, the Marine Headquarters, all eagerly awaiting the outcome.
Executing the Pirate King Roger is arguably the biggest event on the seas since Roger became the Pirate King, its significance far surpassing any previous battles on the seas.
If the execution is successfully completed, delivering the ultimate punishment to Roger, it would be a moment of celebration for the Marines and the general populace alike. It would signify that no matter what, pirates could never cause too much upheaval on these seas.
However, if the execution of Roger fails, those bloodthirsty sea wolves will become even more reckless. After all, if even the captured Pirate King cannot be executed, it would indicate that the Marines and even the World Government have become incredibly weak.
Aside from a few individuals, almost no one wishes for Roger to survive this execution.
Ordinary people don't care if Roger completed the monumental feat of circumnavigating the world or what he discovered on the final island. For them, those things are too far removed from their daily lives.
What they care about is what to eat tomorrow, not worrying about pirate raids, not being oppressed by nobles, and not being extorted by idle thugs on the streets.
"Hurry up and die, pirate!"
This is the true sentiment of the masses across the seas. The existence of pirates makes their already difficult lives even harder.
Although the World Nobles and the aristocracy impose heavy burdens, sometimes taxing decades in advance, at least people can still scrape by. In contrast, pirates, those sea wolves roaming the seas, would wipe them out entirely.
But these ordinary people, who are truly at the bottom of the food chain in this vast sea, can do nothing but wait for the outcome.
Time flies.
There is only one week left until the public execution of the Pirate King Roger.
During this period, elite troops from various Marine bases around the world have been summoned under the banner of justice, arriving at Marine Headquarters and then heading straight to Loguetown after resupplying.
In the process, some unexpected events occurred. The Big Mom Pirates of the New World suddenly went on another rampage, and this time their target was not kingdoms or pirates of the New World but Marine bases located there.
Although Charlotte Linlin did not lead this expedition, Katakuri still showcased terrifying strength, destroying two medium-sized Marine fortresses in just three days and planting the Big Mom Pirates' flag in those waters, declaring them territories under the Charlotte Family's control.
In response, the Marines had to urgently dispatch part of their forces to the New World.
Meanwhile, the Marines continuously sent out surveillance ships to gather real-time intelligence on the movements of major pirate groups like the Whitebeard Pirates, the Beast Pirates, the Nicholas Pirates, and the remnants of the Roger Pirates.
Executing the Pirate King Roger is currently the most important task for both the Marines and the World Government.
However, no matter how many surveillance ships the Marines dispatched, all of them were invariably sunk by these pirate groups.
Apart from learning that the Kaido Pirates were currently battling Gecko Moria in Wano, there was no other useful information.
To minimize losses, the Marines had no choice but to abandon their efforts to monitor these pirate groups.
The disappearance of these sea monsters from view only made the atmosphere within the Marines more tense.
In the restricted waters of the New World, a nursery rhyme suddenly echoed across the sea.
Through the breaking fog, a ship resembling those in fairy tales slowly emerged.
This ship is the Queen Mama Chanter, the flagship of the Big Mom Pirates.
On the deck, Katakuri stood with a sea chart in his hand, surrounded by the surviving members of the Charlotte Family.
"Katakuri, are we really going to follow Nicholas's orders?"
Cracker, sitting with his legs crossed on the shoulder of a biscuit soldier he had created, asked Katakuri.
Katakuri put away the sea chart and calmly looked at Cracker.
"Do you think we're in a position to negotiate with Nicholas? With both Nicholas and Dragon against us, considering Mama's state at that time, refusing would likely have led to our annihilation."
Cracker, though visibly disgruntled, didn't refute, because Katakuri was right. If it were just Nicholas, they might still have a fighting chance, considering Nicholas was also worn out from his long battle with Mama.
But when Dragon appeared, everything changed.
"So, Katakuri, are we really going to attack the G1 Marine base beneath the Red Line?"
Compote also looked hesitant, knowing their agreement with Nicholas involved launching an attack on the G1 base soon.
The G1 base, under the World Government's nose and backed by the Red Line, was clearly not on the same level as other Marine bases.
"Yes, although I don't know what Nicholas and Dragon are planning, it's clear that Roger's execution and our attack on the G1 base are meant to divert the attention of the Marines and the World Government. Those two are probably planning something that will shock the world."
....
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Marineford was busier than ever.
Elite Marines from around the world had gathered, and numerous warships were docked in the port. Ships constantly departed and arrived, and supplies were continuously loaded onto these warships.
At the port, nearly a hundred fully armed Marines stood in formation, anxiously watching a newly arrived warship.
As a long gangway extended from the warship to the shore, two figures, one tall and one short, descended from the deck.
"They've arrived—Hawk-Eye Mihawk and Bartholomew Kuma…!!"
The Marines suppressed their inner turmoil, gripping their weapons tightly as they watched the two figures walk down the gangway.
Even though neither showed any hostility or released their auras, their mere presence exerted a suffocating pressure.
This was the aura of great pirates!
Vice Admiral Issho, in charge of welcoming the two, wore his usual attire—a purple robe, a Marine justice cape, and he leaned on his cane-sword, his white eyes fixed on the two men.
"Dracule Mihawk."
"Bartholomew Kuma."
"We've been expecting you."
"Let's skip the pleasantries and get straight to it."
Mihawk spoke directly, while Kuma nodded in greeting.