Chapter 272: Ace's Execution Day

As the day of Ace's execution drew closer, the situation on the sea became eerily calm.

Pirates vanished, the Navy lay low, and the whole world was waiting for that day of public execution.

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat crew, who had been swatted away by Bartholomew Bartholomew Kuma, were scattered across various islands. They were desperate to escape, but for various reasons, they couldn't get away, and it was even difficult to get news from the outside world.

Except for Luffy, who had been swatted to Amazon Lily—or rather, the original Amazon Lily; Hancock and the others were long gone.

"Luffy! Calm down! I know you want to save Ace, but this war is not something you can intervene in. You are still too weak!"

Luffy’s eyes were filled with tears: "No, I must go save Ace. He is my brother; I cannot just watch him be executed by the Navy!"

"And I don't need to go to Navy Headquarters. Ace is still in Impel Down; I just need to break him out!"

Lei Li said with a headache: "Luffy, I understand what you mean, but the problem is, do you know where Impel Down is?"

Luffy was stunned: "Uncle, don't you know?"

Lei Li wondered how he would know. He had never been captured, so how could he know where Impel Down was?

"This, I really don't know. I only know that Impel Down is located somewhere in the Calm Belt, but the specific location is probably only known to the Navy."

The Navy?

A face instantly appeared in Luffy's mind: Karl! Aside from his grandfather, Karl was the only Navy member he knew who was relatively easy to talk to.

"Uncle, I know Karl. Can you help me contact him?"

Lei Li was shocked: "You know that guy? Didn't he capture you?"

Luffy shook his head: "He said that for my grandfather's sake, he could turn a blind eye to me, so he never captured us. As long as I can contact him..."

Before he could finish, Lei Li waved his hand: "Impossible. I am a pirate, he is a Navy member; how could I contact him? And this kid isn't as easy to talk to as you say!"

*Thump*—

Luffy knelt on the ground, dejected: "Is there really no way? Can I not even see Ace one last time?"

Seeing Luffy Move Move Like this, Lei Li felt uncomfortable, but he really had no other way, unless...

Lei Li looked at the forest in the distance. This was Amazon Lily, Boa Hancock's territory. Perhaps, considering that he and Xia Qi had saved her life back then, she could help?

"Luffy, wait here, I'll be right back."

"Sorry, Luffy, I really have no way this time."

This was hell. There wasn't a single soul on Amazon Lily. What was going on? Had the island moved?

Wait, that actually seemed possible. He vaguely remembered Xia Qi telling him a few years ago that the people of Amazon Lily hadn't been active for a long time, and even if they did come out, it was just to shop.

After taking a few deep breaths, Luffy said seriously: "There must be a way, Uncle!"

Impel Down.

"Sigh~ there's really no choice. If it weren't for you, Karl, coming to say this yourself, I would never have agreed to this plan."

"But since Fleet Admiral Sengoku has agreed, I have nothing to say."

Karl smiled slightly: "So, you agree?"

Magellan sighed heavily and nodded: "I have no choice! I will take good care of the Blackbeard Pirates when the time comes, but if he goes too far, I won't sit idly by."

"Rest assured, his only goal is the criminals in Level 6."

Magellan said gloomily: "Those are all criminals your Navy worked so hard to capture, and you're just going to let them run away?"

Karl chuckled and patted Magellan's arm: "Isn't that why you're here? Just make sure to prepare Vivre Cards for everyone in advance. No matter where they run, I will kill them one by one!"

"Fine, I'll do as you say."

Magellan's task was actually very simple, summarized in four words: play along.

Whatever Blackbeard did, Magellan and his men would just cooperate. In short, ensure Blackbeard dared to bring his people into Navy Headquarters.

And that day was coming soon, because there were only three days left until Ace's public execution.

Three days later, Navy Headquarters dungeon.

The jailer removed the chains from Ace's feet and said coldly: "Stand up! Time to go..."

*Creak*—

The heavy wooden door opened, and accompanied by the crisp sound of chains, Ace slowly walked up the steps—the steps leading to the execution platform.

Meanwhile, in the South Blue.

"Only three hours left. Will Whitebeard really break into Navy Headquarters?"

"Who knows! Even if it's Whitebeard, he's quite old now. How is breaking into Navy Headquarters any different from suicide? The Navy has two Navy Heroes!"

At this moment, an old woman reading a newspaper said calmly: "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? It is precisely because he is an opponent that cannot be ignored that the Navy has mobilized elites from all over the world and is waiting in full battle array."

"Therefore, I believe Whitebeard will definitely appear."

"Then, what will happen if Whitebeard appears?"

"That, I don't know."

East Blue.

"Whitebeard, he's a pirate from a long time ago! Regardless, the Navy definitely won't lose."

"Yeah! No matter what kind of pirate it is, they can't defeat the Navy."

North Blue, Lubneel Kingdom.

"Come quickly! It's about to start. Vice Admiral Karl is from our Lubneel Kingdom; he will definitely defeat that Whitebeard Pirates! He is a Navy Hero!"

West Blue, an island in winter.

"*Brrr*~ it's so cold! Why hasn't it started yet? Boss, bring me some more wine to warm up!"

"Get lost! Who has the heart to do business on a day Move Move Like this? Once the Navy and the pirates start fighting, who knows what kind of turmoil the world will face! Go back, go back! If the world still exists tomorrow, I'll definitely open for business! For now! I'm going to watch the broadcast!"

Sabaody Archipelago, the gathering place for news reporters.

Because this was closest to Navy Headquarters, the broadcast footage was the most up-to-date. In order to deliver the first-hand news to the world, they were all on high alert, as if they were the ones going to the battlefield.

At this moment, there were less than three hours left until Ace's execution.