Sabaody Archipelago.
Akainu was reporting the results of the battle to the Three Elders.
"I've decided—one month from now, we will publicly execute Red-Haired Shanks," Akainu proposed. He planned to assu the position of Fleet Admiral on the sa day.
It would be the ultimate blow to pirate morale and a massive boost to the Marines' reputation.
The Three Elders neither agreed nor refused.
Instead, they said, "Give the Transponder Snail to Red-Haired Shanks. We want to have a word with him."
Akainu frowned.
What was there to talk about with a pirate like Shanks?
But he still placed the Transponder Snail in front of Shanks.
"Everyone, leave."
The commanding voice of the Three Elders ca through the Transponder Snail.
"Fall back three hundred ters." The surrounding Marines imdiately withdrew.
"You too, Sakazuki."
Akainu's frown deepened.
But he had no choice but to step back.
Once everyone was gone, the Three Elders finally spoke directly to Shanks.
"Shanks, you should be well aware of your position. Now that you've been captured, you have no choice. The only option you have is to fully submit to the World Governnt and beco one of us."
That was their offer.
Shanks chuckled. "Sorry, but I prefer my freedom."
The Three Elders' expressions darkened. "You've already lost your freedom."
"Oh."
Shanks barely reacted, showing no concern over his predicant.
The Three Elders gritted their teeth. "Do you think your status ans we won't dare to act against you? The last ti you refused to cooperate with us against the Sun and Moon Pirates, you lost whatever privileges you had. Either submit—or die."
"Then I choose death."
Shanks didn't hesitate.
"Good. Very good."
The Three Elders ended the conversation. "Bring Sakazuki back in."
When Akainu returned, they gave him their final decision.
"Sakazuki, proceed as planned."
They had approved Akainu's proposal.
Shanks would be executed.
The execution would elevate the Marines' power and the World Governnt's prestige.
Akainu finally felt at ease.
"Shanks, you have one month left to live. What now? You can't pull a Kuke and co back from the dead, can you? And don't expect Kuke to co and save you—he wouldn't dare!"
Confident and triumphant, Akainu let out a laugh.
Soon.
The World Governnt's official newspapers reported on the events of Sabaody.
The news shook the seas.
"One of the Four Emperors, Red-Haired Shanks, has been captured by the Marines?!"
"Akainu, along with the two new admirals, crushed the Red-Haired Pirates, drove back Dark King Rayleigh, defeated all the Supernovas of this year, and even captured Shanks."
"The Marines actually pulled off sothing this huge."
"No wonder Akainu is called the most ruthless monster in the Marines. The two new admirals are also monsters. Not even an Emperor can stand against them—who can stop the Navy now?"
"People used to think the Four Emperors could match the Marines. But even with Rayleigh and the Supernovas' help, the Red-Haired Pirates still couldn't hold their ground against Akainu's team."
"The admirals are terrifying."
As expected, the World Governnt's official newspapers frad the battle in the Marines' favor.
They credited Akainu for everything.
The reports emphasized his power, painting the picture that he personally defeated Shanks.
They left out the fact that Kizaru and the others only arrived as reinforcents later.
By doing this—
The Marines' strength appeared even more overwhelming, and Akainu's na carried even more weight.
"Akainu might be the strongest man on the sea now."
Many rookies began to believe Akainu was truly the strongest.
Absolutely unmatched.
"In one month, Shanks will be executed. And on that sa day, Akainu will officially take over as Fleet Admiral. This is unprecedented."
"Has there ever been a Fleet Admiral in history who made such a bold and dramatic entrance?"
"He hasn't even been sworn in yet, and he's already taken down an Emperor. Once Akainu becos Fleet Admiral, will there even be a place for pirates anymore? The New World might fall to the Navy sooner or later."
"This era… is the worst ti for pirates."
Many rookie pirates fell into despair.
Akainu's dominance filled them with fear.
Becoming an Emperor was the ultimate dream of most pirates.
But now, that dream was crushed.
If even an Emperor could be captured, what hope did they have?
Akainu's na.
Not just in the first half of the Grand Line, but across the entire sea.
With Shanks' capture, his fa reached an all-ti high.
No one could compare.
anwhile, the remnants of the Red-Haired Pirates, along with many of the Supernovas who had escaped, had scattered across the sea.
They were more concerned than anyone else about the fate of Sabaody.
Within the Red-Haired Pirates—
The mood was heavy.
The usual laughter and drinking were gone.
Everyone sat in silence, heads lowered in frustration.
"Boss hasn't co back yet?"
Lucky Roux and the others anxiously watched the horizon, hoping to see Shanks swimming back at any mont.
"He won't be coming back today," Ben Beckman muttered, his eyes fixed on the Vivre Card in his hand.
Shanks' Vivre Card.
It was burning.
A sign that its owner was in dire condition.
Dark King Rayleigh silently took a sip of his drink.
Deep down, they all knew.
There was no way Shanks could have escaped.
With the entire Marine elite there, aside from Kuke, they couldn't think of anyone in the world who could break through that encirclent.
Not even Rocks in his pri.
Not even Roger.
"Shanks is in danger, but he's not dead yet."
Rayleigh studied the Vivre Card.
Then, he turned to Ben Beckman and the others, his eyes filled with expectation. "Does your crew have any special abilities?"
He had lived through this scenario before.
Ten years ago.
Kuke had told him to retreat first. Back then, Rayleigh had been miserable, even shedding tears, filled with frustration—only to later realize he had worried for nothing.
This ti—
Until he had solid confirmation, Rayleigh didn't want to go through the sa emotional rollercoaster again.
"Special abilities?" Ben Beckman looked at him in confusion.
"Sothing like what the Sun and Moon Pirates have—resurrection, long-distance teleportation… anything like that," Rayleigh asked, his eyes hopeful.
Ben Beckman: "..."
Silence.
"You don't?" Rayleigh asked, suddenly looking disappointed.
Ben Beckman sighed. "Rayleigh-san, not every pirate crew is like the Sun and Moon Pirates. There's only ever been one crew like them in history. How could we possibly compare?"
You're overestimating us.
"My apologies," Rayleigh smiled bitterly.
"We don't just lack special abilities—we don't even have a single Devil Fruit user on board. We have nothing," Ben Beckman shattered Rayleigh's last bit of hope.
Now, Rayleigh was starting to feel uneasy.
No special abilities.
What was going to happen to Shanks?
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