According to the original plan, Ace's execution was meant to be a grand spectacle, held only after the World Government's forces had crushed the Whitebeard Pirates. The goal was clear: to maximize the World Government's authority and send a chilling message to the entire world.
But now, chaos had overtaken the battlefield, and the original plan was crumbling. Steel Bone Kong, the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government, realized that executing Ace smoothly and repelling the enemies before them would already be a victory.
So, he made a decision: Ace's execution would be moved up.
Just as he steeled himself to act, a voice cut through the air like a blade: "Hey, you're not planning to execute Ace right now, are you?"
The words stunned the battlefield. Fighting halted as countless eyes turned toward the execution platform.
Steel Bone Kong's face darkened, his gaze locking onto Lin Xuan. That voice, resonating across the entire battlefield, had come from him.
What made it even more striking was the platform Lin Xuan had conjured using his Wood Style—a towering structure that stood ten meters taller than the execution platform. From where he stood, it was as if Steel Bone Kong was forced to look up at him.
Before Kong could lash out at Lin Xuan for ruining his plans, Lin Xuan spoke again, his tone calm but commanding: "I suggest you don't do anything reckless. Otherwise, don't blame me for taking matters into my own hands."
"You insolent brat!"
Steel Bone Kong's rage boiled over. To be threatened so openly by Lin Xuan, in front of the entire world, as the supreme commander of the World Government's forces—it was unbearable.
Yet, beneath his fury, he couldn't dismiss Lin Xuan's words lightly. The situation was already dire for the World Government without Lin Xuan intervening. If he personally joined the fray, it would be a disaster. Kong knew full well he didn't have the strength to stop Lin Xuan—something Lin Xuan had already proven earlier.
Moreover, Lin Xuan's unpredictable arsenal of strange techniques left Kong wary. If he insisted on executing Ace now, there was a real chance Lin Xuan could snatch Ace away before the deed was done.
Frustration gnawed at Kong as he roared, "What the hell do you want?!"
Lin Xuan shrugged casually. "Nothing much. I just want to see who's stronger: your World Government or the Whitebeard Pirates, bolstered by their allies. Here's my deal: if the Navy wins, you can do whatever you want with Ace. If Whitebeard's crew wins, it's only natural they'd save him. During this fight, as long as you don't touch Ace or provoke me, I'll stay out of it. But if you try anything sneaky, don't expect me to hold back."
"You…"
Kong was so furious he could barely speak, his face red with anger. If he could, he'd execute Ace right then and there.
But he didn't dare.
The fear of Lin Xuan's power held him back.
After wrestling with his thoughts, Kong couldn't muster the courage to challenge Lin Xuan's authority. With a cold huff, he fell silent.
The sight left everyone—Navy, pirates, and viewers watching the live broadcast around the world—utterly stunned.
They couldn't believe it. Lin Xuan, with just a few words, had cowed the Commander-in-Chief of the World Government into submission, forcing him to stand down.
This man was terrifying!
The onlookers had no idea that Lin Xuan's words weren't truly for Ace, a stranger he'd never met. His real goal was to stir up awe and boost his reputation.
And it worked. As his voice faded, Lin Xuan felt a rush of satisfaction as over two hundred million points of prestige poured in.
"President Lin's presence is something else," remarked Roger, a man recently returned to this world, his voice tinged with amazement. Even he, in his prime, couldn't have achieved such a feat.
Whitebeard cast a grateful glance toward Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan's words had an immediate effect. The chaotic battlefield, once filled with the clash of swords and gunfire, fell into a tense stillness as combatants paused, awestruck.
Even after his voice faded, the silence lingered.
Then—Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted from beyond Marinford, drawing everyone's attention. The three-way battle raging there had grown even more intense, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Nearby buildings and warships lay in ruins, and the Navy and pirates who had been fighting in the area had long since fled in panic.
"Gulp! That battle's insane!"
"One wrong move, and you'd be dead in an instant!"
Spectators watched the distant clash with wide eyes, their faces etched with shock.
Even Whitebeard, Roger, Shanks, Steel Bone Kong, and Sengoku turned their attention to the escalating fight. Whitebeard and Roger marveled at the Five Elders' strength, quietly wondering how they'd fare against them in battle.
For Kong and Sengoku, however, the mood was grim. They hadn't expected the Five Elders, fighting together, to still be locked in a stalemate.
What infuriated them even more was Lin Xuan. After silencing Kong with his words, he casually pulled out food from who-knows-where and started sipping tea, looking for all the world like he was on vacation.
That infuriating man!
Kong and his allies were livid, but they were powerless against him.
Kong didn't dare act recklessly. All he could do was hope the Five Elders would quickly defeat their opponents and deal with Lin Xuan.
Just then, he felt a special Den Den Mushi vibrating in his pocket. Pulling it out, his heart raced.
It was a call from the Holy Land, Mary Geoise.
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T/N:
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