"Pfft—"
Hearing the voices of the reporters below, Rayleigh couldn't hold back and spat out the alcohol in his mouth, then began coughing violently.
"Cough cough... these guys... cough, are they insane?"
Although from an outsider's perspective, it was unclear what was happening between Meiser and Hancock, still... they didn't have to jump to conclusions about seduction, did they?
This is a battlefield, damn it!
Who would be so idle as to think about that kind of thing in a battle of this level?!
How could these bastards even come up with such nonsense!
"Just a bunch of sour grapes," Shakky said. "No need to pay them any mind."
Then, Shakky turned her gaze to Meiser and Hancock on the screen.
"To be honest, though, I really hope they end up together."
As if reminded of something, Shakky chuckled.
"Oh?" Rayleigh was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Actually, so do I."
"Hahahaha."
Well now, it all depends on whether this kid can pull off the same feat as he did.
Shakky shot him a sidelong glance. "You wish."
"These reporters really have too much time on their hands," Law said, exasperated as he watched the clamoring reporters.
Even an idiot wouldn't think about that kind of thing in such a situation—it'd get you killed!
Whatever, no point bothering with these people.
Shaking his head, Law turned his attention back to the live broadcast and muttered, "It's a good thing he didn't control Doflamingo, otherwise... I wouldn't have the chance to get my revenge myself!"
Just wait. In two years at most, he would go to the New World and take Doflamingo's head!
"The world's most beautiful woman, huh?" Apoo grinned. "How enviable."
Although he wasn't particularly interested in women, if he could have the world's most beautiful woman... that would be quite a status symbol!
But unfortunately, he didn't have that opportunity.
"If you're interested, you could always challenge the Blood-Eyed Ninja," Hawkins suddenly remarked from beside him.
"I'll pass," Apoo shook his head.
That guy could even control a Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea—going up against him would be suicide.
Apoo had some self-awareness about his own strength.
"Captain," Absalom swallowed hard. "That Blood-Eyed Ninja guy..."
"Probably not."
Moria shook his head. "Back in the Devil's Triangle, he shouldn't have had this kind of power."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have struggled so much in that fight.
Recalling how the other had nearly been beaten to death by Kuma, Moria grew more convinced of his theory.
"So you're saying he gained this power in just the past few days?" Absalom said in disbelief. "Is that even possible?"
"The seas are vast—anything can happen out here."
As he spoke, Moria looked at Meiser's eyes and thought to himself, 'Maybe it's because of those eyes.'
After all... the pattern in this man's eyes was different last time!
Meanwhile, in the New World.
In Totto Land, Smoothie and others were also watching the man on the screen with shocked expressions.
"This is truly astonishing."
Looking at Meiser and Hancock on the screen, Smoothie said in amazement: "He can actually control two Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
Does that mean aside from the Sweet Four Generals and Mama, no one in Totto Land could resist his hypnotic ability?
"It seems convincing him to willingly join Totto Land won't be easy," Mont-d'Or remarked.
At the very least, we'd need to send one of the Sweet Four Generals or... have Mama personally intervene!
"Even so, if we can make him sincerely submit, it would be tremendously significant for Totto Land!" Perospero said.
This way, we could rely on his ability to massively expand Totto Land's territory!
We might even... directly take down those Underground Kings!
At this thought, Perospero's eyes began to gleam.
As for whether the Blood-Eyed Ninja might turn against Totto Land?
Don't be ridiculous—even if that guy can hypnotize Royal Seven Warlords, he's no match for Mama.
After all... Mama is invincible!
The others fell into thought after hearing Perospero's words, then chimed in agreement: "Indeed."
"As long as he's willing to submit, Totto Land's power will definitely grow rapidly!"
"Absolutely right!"
"Hahahaha."
Watching her increasingly delighted siblings, Smoothie instead furrowed her brow.
'Would a man like this truly yield to Mama?'
Forget it, let Brother Katakuri and Mama worry about this matter.
"Hmm?"
This girl... why hasn't she glanced over here even once?
But before she could say anything, she noticed the Visual Den Den Mushi, which had been operating normally, suddenly shut off the transmission.
Smoothie: ???
Wait, what's going on?
"Hey!"
"Why did the image cut out?" Galette stood up and said: "Did the Den Den Mushi break?"
"Not sure."
Perospero frowned, then turned to a nearby Chess Soldier and said: "Hey, check it immediately! If the Den Den Mushi is broken, fix it quickly!"
This war is extremely important—we must receive updates in real time.
After all... if Whitebeard dies, we can dispatch forces to invade his territory!
"Yes, sir!"
The Chess Soldier didn't hesitate, immediately turning to run toward the Visual Den Den Mushi.
A moment later, the Chess Soldier returned and reported: "The Visual Den Den Mushi isn't malfunctioning. The issue is that we can't receive the signal from Marine Headquarters anymore."
"Can't receive the signal?"
"Correct."
The Chess Soldier nodded: "It's likely Marine Headquarters deliberately shut down their Visual Den Den Mushi."
Hearing this, everyone present stiffened.
"Damn it, looks like the Marines don't want us getting firsthand intel," Oven said with a grim expression.
Are they afraid Totto Land will keep expanding its territory?
"What a bunch of cunning bastards!"
"What do we do now?"
"What else can we do? We can only wait for news."
"That's all we can do."
Ignoring her siblings' conversation, Galette stared at the darkened wall and murmured, "Though I don't know what's happening at Marine Headquarters... Meiser, you must survive and come to the New World!"
"Report, Fleet Admiral! Everything is prepared!" announced the communications soldier.
Sengoku glanced at him and asked, "Are all deployments within the bay in position?"
"All are in position."
"And the Visual Den Den Mushi?" Sengoku continued. "Have they all been shut down?"
"All live broadcast feeds from the Visual Den Den Mushi have been cut."
"Good." Sengoku nodded.
The upcoming battle wasn't suitable for public broadcast, so cutting the live feed was necessary.
As for the outcome of this war...
They could always broadcast it live after annihilating the Whitebeard Pirates!
Then Sengoku ordered, "Make the preparations. Bring the executioners over. It's time to begin!"
"Yes!"
After watching the soldier leave, Sengoku glanced at Garp, who remained silent, then shifted his gaze to Meiser.
"Blood-Eyed Ninja... will you use Kuma's ability?"
Hearing Sengoku's words, Garp turned his attention away from Luffy and looked toward Meiser standing beside Hancock.
He then said, "Using Kuma's Devil Fruit ability, that kid could appear here in an instant."
"I know," Sengoku replied calmly. "I'll stop him."
If that guy tried such a method, he'd intercept him with his own attack immediately!
This time, Garp didn't respond, only tightening his fists.
"You understand everything?" Meiser said.
"Yes, I understand."
Meiser nodded, then glanced at Kuma and said, "Kuma, send me to the execution platform!"
Receiving the command, Kuma didn't hesitate and immediately slapped Meiser, sending him flying through the air.
"Bam!"
"Where did he go?!"
Seeing Meiser suddenly vanish, the Marines grew tense.
Just then, a man noticed movement on the execution platform and shouted, "The execution platform!"
The Marines stared in shock at Meiser, now enveloped within a pale golden giant on the platform.
"What is that golden giant?"
'So he really plans to rescue them directly from the execution platform,' Borsalino thought, watching Meiser appear there. 'In that case, let me...'
Before he could finish the thought, he saw the man move, and the glowing light around his body instantly faded, clearly abandoning his attack plan.
"Garp?"
Sengoku was visibly startled to see Garp rushing toward Meiser, clearly not expecting the man to intervene.
Meiser was equally surprised when he saw Garp appear mid-air, never imagining the old man would attack him.
'I was prepared to fight the Marine Fleet Admiral, but instead, it's this old man Garp?
Is this old man insane?
I'm here to save his grandson—what's the meaning of him trying to stop me?'
Could it be... because of those two characters on his back?
At that moment, Meiser noticed the anomaly around Garp.
Why... are there lightning sparks flickering around this man?
No!
This feeling is... Conqueror's Haki!!!
Could this old man be using the Conqueror's Haki Infusion that Uncle Rayleigh once mentioned?
At this thought, Meiser's pupils instantly contracted.
Without hesitation, Meiser activated the Pupil Technique in his right eye while still airborne.
Kishuto Goryouson!
"Clang!"
As the right eye's Pupil Technique activated, Meiser's body once again entered a state blending illusion and reality.
The next instant, the fist enveloped in Conqueror's Haki rapidly expanded in Meiser's vision!
"Galaxy: Meteor Fist!"
"Boom!"
Garp's fist violently struck the Susanoo in mid-air, creating devastating effects!!
"Crash!"
The Susanoo hit by this punch disintegrated at incredible speed, shattering into fragments of Chakra.
Meiser, who had been inside the Susanoo, then experienced the full force of the punch firsthand.
In that moment, Meiser felt as if he'd been struck by a mountain - in just an instant, every bone in his body shattered!
Indescribable agony instantly shot through Meiser's brain!!
Is this the power of Conqueror's Haki Infusion?! Meiser thought in shock: It destroyed my third-stage Susanoo in an instant?!
Moreover, after delivering such a powerful punch, it didn't even damage the execution platform below... Is this the control of the Marine Hero?
Truly terrifying!
With these thoughts, Meiser was sent flying.
"Whoosh!"
Like a cannonball, Meiser crashed toward the ice surface in the bay.
The next moment...
"BOOM!!"
A terrifying explosion sounded as the ice surface was blasted into an enormous crater!!
The flying ice chunks shot out in all directions like cannonballs, striking people nearby and sending them flying with agonized screams.
"Rumble!"
The ice surface began shaking as if some monstrous beast were moving beneath it, making people in the distance unable to stand steadily!
The clouds in the sky had been completely dispersed by the Conqueror's Haki, turning the weather perfectly clear!
This scene deeply shocked everyone on the battlefield.
"The—the sky cleared?!"
"This... this is the Marine Hero's power?" a pirate gulped: "This is too terrifying."
If that had hit them, wouldn't they have been instantly pulverized?
"Damn, with that old man guarding there, can we break through?"
"Not sure..."
At this moment, these pirates began feeling traces of fear.
Understandably - the old man's reputation and power were both too frightening.
Marco also frowned while watching Garp, uncertain whether he should fly over to rescue anyone.
Given his abilities, flying over would probably just get him knocked back too.
Meanwhile, the Marines' morale instantly rose by several levels because of Garp.
"See? This is our Marine Hero's power!"
"Excellent! Vice Admiral Garp has made his move! We can definitely wipe out these pirates now!"
"Ooh!!"
The Marines, their morale soaring, charged at the pirates with fierce battle cries.
In contrast, the pirates' morale had noticeably dipped, clearly because of that man's presence.
Noticing this, Whitebeard frowned and roared, "Don't be intimidated by that man's reputation! When it comes down to it, he's just a Marine!"
The pirates were momentarily stunned by his words, then shouted back, "He's right! We have Pops on our side! There's no need to fear that guy!"
"Charge! Let's take them down!"
"Ooh!!"
Their faith in Pops' invincible strength instantly revitalized their morale, and they surged forward toward the Marines with renewed ferocity.
"Just a Marine, huh?"
Garp's expression grew complicated as he met Whitebeard's gaze.
At that moment, Sengoku spoke up, "Garp, you don't have to do this."
He understood his old comrade's anguish, which was why he hadn't asked him to participate from the beginning.
After all... the one about to be executed was his grandson, wasn't it?
Garp fell silent for a moment before replying in a strained voice, "I... am still a Marine."
Sengoku grew quiet at this, then sighed.
Very well. He would let Garp follow his own path.
Just then, a woman's furious roar erupted from below.
"Bastard!!"
"I won't forgive you!!"
Sengoku: ???
Was that... Boa Hancock?