Chapter 453

Not only Admiral Sengoku thought so.

All other high-ranking officials of the United Kingdoms—whether members of the Morning Star Guild, former Four Emperors’ subordinates, or top commanders of the land, sea, and air forces—held the same view.

Why did Blackbeard go mad?

Because as a child, he offended Barzab Seven.

Keep in mind, this happened twenty years ago, yet Barzab Seven still remembers it to this day!

Blackbeard’s madness made the United Kingdoms’ high-ranking officials realize: no matter what, never, never, never provoke Barzab Seven.

When Akainu heard the news, his back was drenched in sweat.

Thank goodness I switched sides quickly.

Otherwise, if Barzab Seven ever turned his attention to me, death might even be a relief.

It’s not that Akainu feared retaliation—he simply couldn’t bear to die so miserably.

Compared to death, Akainu preferred to dedicate his life to justice, spending the rest of his days protecting the billions of civilians across the seas.

Not like Blackbeard, pretending to be insane in a desperate bid to escape Barzab Seven’s retribution.

Akainu didn’t believe Blackbeard was truly mad.

A man as ambitious as Blackbeard wouldn’t crack under minor pressure—the only explanation is that Blackbeard is faking it.

Thinking of this, Akainu began to consider whether he should act and kill Blackbeard.

Blackbeard is a rebel, a reactionary trying to overthrow the United Kingdoms and drag the seas back into chaos.

All reactionaries deserve to die!

Killing Blackbeard would warn the world to cherish the hard-won peace, and also relieve Barzab Seven of a nuisance.

Even if Barzab Seven hasn’t targeted Akainu himself, better safe than sorry—what if eliminating Blackbeard makes Akainu the next target?

It would be better to proactively ease relations.

Besides, Blackbeard once served in Whitebeard’s crew; given Whitebeard’s character, he’d surely go to Barzab Seven to plead for mercy.

Rather than let Barzab Seven be put in an awkward position, Akainu believed it was better for him to play the villain.

Hmm, that’s settled.

Akainu acted immediately, volunteering to take charge of escorting Blackbeard back to Marine Headquarters.

As Akainu had anticipated: when Whitebeard learned Blackbeard had gone mad, he fell silent for a long while, then decided to plead for mercy from Barzab.

But his sons, prepared in advance, blocked him.

“Father, you’re being foolish.”

Led by Marco, Deputy Minister of Health, and Jozu, Deputy Minister of Energy, all the Whitebeard Fleet captains stood before Whitebeard.

They had finally washed clean and become high-ranking officials in the United Kingdoms’ ministries.

If Father goes to plead for Blackbeard, won’t that drag them back to the days of the Whitebeard Pirates?

How could that be allowed?

Marco spoke on behalf of his brothers.

“Father, Trafalgar Law wanted to rebel—rebellion is a capital offense; Trafalgar Law deserves to die.”

“It’s written in the Constitution. Barzab Seven would rather marry only one wife than break the Constitution—do you want to make Barzab Seven suffer?”

“Father, you don’t want that, do you?”

Hearing this, Whitebeard fell silent again.

Seeing this, Marco pressed harder.

“Think carefully—if Barzab Seven, out of respect for you, pardons Trafalgar Law’s death sentence, how many reactionaries across the seas will be emboldened to rebel?”

“Father, the Four Seas have finally stabilized—this chaos must not return. Do you want to see billions of civilians suffer through war?”

“Besides, from the moment Trafalgar Law chose rebellion, he should have expected this end.”

With this, Marco spoke with deep emotion.

“Father, Trafalgar Law must die.”

Whitebeard stared at Marco,

the son who once refused absolutely to join the United Kingdoms—now pouring his heart and soul into defending this newborn nation.

The contrast was painfully stark.

At that moment, Whitebeard finally understood.

Why, in the eight hundred years before, the World Government had remained unshakable, and no one had ever succeeded in toppling it like Barzab Seven had to establish the United Kingdoms.

Because Barzab Seven had bound every faction together.

He liberated all slaves, abolished the distinction between member and non-member states, turning them into provinces, giving billions of civilians the chance to eat and survive.

He made the land, sea, and air forces, former Four Emperors’ subordinates, and powers like Elbaf and Fish-Man Island all stakeholders.

Every single force across the seas—from top to bottom—was now Barzab Seven’s.

Trafalgar Law, how could you not see it?

Why not just run a honest business? Why choose the one path with no chance of success?

“Enough.” Whitebeard slumped down.

Marco seized the moment to play his final card.

“Father, Luffy is pregnant—she’s carrying Trafalgar Law’s child. You needn’t worry about Rocks’ bloodline ending.”

At these words, Whitebeard sighed.

“I’ll listen to you. Trafalgar Law’s child… will stay with Luffy.”

Having lived most of his life, Whitebeard knew perfectly well: even if he pleaded with Barzab Seven, even if Barzab Seven pardoned Trafalgar Law, it would be useless.

There were plenty within the United Kingdoms eager to eliminate the nuisance for Barzab Seven.

Blackbeard, Luffy, even their unborn child—all were beyond pardon.

Even though Whitebeard had promised not to plead, Marco and the others still weren’t reassured—they stayed behind, taking turns to keep Whitebeard company.

To prevent him from doing something foolish.

Though Whitebeard had been persuaded, many others still went to Barzab Seven—but without exception, all begged for one thing: execute Blackbeard as soon as possible.

Including the Admirals of the land, sea, and air forces, Marine Fleet Admirals Kizaru and Aokiji, and even the kindly Fujitora and Buggy.

It wasn’t that they held grudges against Blackbeard—rather, Barzab Seven had never shown such intense focus on anyone before; even when dealing with Yimu, he hadn’t cared as much as he did about Blackbeard.

Clearly, Blackbeard posed an extreme threat.

A threat must be crushed in the cradle.

Besides, rebellion is a capital offense.

Blackbeard must die.

Barzab Seven listened to the people’s voice and ordered the public execution of Blackbeard and his old-era accomplices at the new Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Admiral Sengoku personally supervised the execution.

…

Marine Headquarters, New Marineford.

In the enlisted barracks.

Having no home and being a victim kidnapped personally by Blackbeard in the East Blue, the deserter Kobi was brought back to Marine Headquarters and housed by Akainu.

Mainly because Akainu suspected Kobi’s identity was suspicious—he very likely descended from a Celestial Dragon.

Otherwise, why would Blackbeard have personally kidnapped him?

Until Kobi’s identity was confirmed, it was safer to keep him under close watch.

Thanks to his tip about Blackbeard, Kobi became a celebrity in the enlisted barracks.

“That bastard Blackbeard ganged up on me—seven or eight men beat me up, demanding I apologize. I ignored them. He had strong fists—I had tougher bones.”

As he spoke, Kobi stripped off his shirt, revealing his torso covered in dense, unhealed scars.

“See? Scars are the mark of a real man.”

At that moment, an enlisted soldier rushed into the barracks and handed Kobi the latest issue of the Xinwenshe newspaper.

“Kobi, Blackbeard’s being publicly executed—right here at HQ, on Barzab Seven’s orders.”

Hearing this, Kobi burst into tears.

That bastard is finally going to die.

Once Blackbeard is dead, no one will know… about his dark past aboard the Queen’s ship—and he could even turn that dark past into a badge of honor.

Kobi is destined to become Marine Admiral—how could he possibly carry a dark past?!