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 assume the position of Fleet Admiral on the same 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 came through the Transponder Snail.
"Fall back three hundred meters." The surrounding Marines immediately 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 Government and become 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 predicament.
The Three Elders gritted their teeth. "Do you think your status means we won't dare to act against you? The last time 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 Government's prestige.
Akainu finally felt at ease.
"Shanks, you have one month left to live. What now? You can't pull a Kuke and come back from the dead, can you? And don't expect Kuke to come and save you—he wouldn't dare!"
Confident and triumphant, Akainu let out a laugh.
Soon.
The World Government'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 something 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 Government's official newspapers framed 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 reinforcements later.
By doing this—
The Marines' strength appeared even more overwhelming, and Akainu's name 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 same 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 becomes 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 time 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 name.
Not just in the first half of the Grand Line, but across the entire sea.
With Shanks' capture, his fame reached an all-time high.
No one could compare.
Meanwhile, 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 come back yet?"
Lucky Roux and the others anxiously watched the horizon, hoping to see Shanks swimming back at any moment.
"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 encirclement.
Not even Rocks in his prime.
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 time—
Until he had solid confirmation, Rayleigh didn't want to go through the same emotional rollercoaster again.
"Special abilities?" Ben Beckman looked at him in confusion.
"Something 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?