Under the gaze of hundreds, Ace's figure gradually receded into the distance until he finally disappeared onto the deck of the Marine warship.
"Warden, aren't we heading back?"
After standing in place for a long while, the guards couldn't help but speak up as they watched the Marine ship nearly vanish from sight, yet still, no order came from Magellan.
"Oh—right. All personnel, return to Impel Down!"
"Yes, sir!"
With Magellan's command, the guards filed back into Impel Down one after another. Though the most critical task had been completed, it didn't mean their work was over. Several escaped prisoners were still at large, and there was no time to rest.
Feeling the key quietly nestled in his pocket, Kidd finally allowed himself a slight sigh of relief. He had prepared this key for himself before setting out—just in case Luffy failed to remove the handcuffs, he wouldn't be left waiting for death.
Even though the plan to disguise himself had been decided long ago, now that the moment had arrived, Kidd couldn't help but feel nervous.
After all, he was about to face a group of individuals standing at the pinnacle of the world—figures like Fleet Admiral Sengoku and Vice Admiral Garp, all of them absolute powerhouses.
But the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring—there was no turning back now. With no other options, Kidd could only steel himself and move forward.
"For the sake of getting stronger, I'll risk it all!"
That was the only consolation he could give himself.
In less than half an hour, Marineford, the headquarters of the Marines, loomed ahead. Even as an enemy, Kidd couldn't help but acknowledge the grandeur of the island.
Towering mountain ranges flanked either side, while the central entrance was fortified with an impregnable defensive system—a truly unassailable stronghold. Yet, this was only the surface of its might. The true terror that made all criminals tremble lay in the formidable powerhouses stationed here.
It was precisely because of them that this place bore the title of "Symbol of Peace" in the era of pirates.
Unlike usual, however, Marineford was unusually lively today. Tens of thousands of Marines were gathered at the port, standing in strict formation, their tense and uneasy atmosphere enveloping the entire bay.
Seeing the neatly arranged ranks of Marines before him, Kidd couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. The sheer scale was terrifying—tens of thousands of battle-hardened soldiers, each one a veteran who had seen bloodshed, every one of them possessing the strength of an officer.
At this sight, Kidd couldn't help but feel grateful for his past decision—the choice to charge into Level 6 of Impel Down.
Otherwise, in this war, he would have been nothing more than a common cannon fodder.
Soon, Kidd was escorted to the execution platform. As he took in the two figures standing on either side of him, his heart clenched.
To his right was Fleet Admiral Sengoku, and to his left, the "Hero of the Marines," Vice Admiral Garp.
Even though they were merely standing there silently, the pressure they exuded was overwhelming, so much so that Kidd began to doubt his transformation technique—had they seen through it?
But when his eyes met Garp's clouded gaze, his racing heart finally settled. In those eyes, Kidd saw only reluctance and regret. Clearly, his identity remained undiscovered.
"Why are you still here?" Sengoku was the first to speak, though his words weren't directed at Kidd.
"I'm sitting right here. Got a problem with that?"
Garp's tone, however, was unyielding, outright rejecting Sengoku's question. His voice carried not a shred of room for doubt, as if he were ready to throw hands at the slightest provocation.
"Do as you please."
Sensing the turbulence in Garp's emotions, Sengoku knew better than to provoke him further. There was no telling what madness the man might unleash, and if that happened, the entire situation could spiral out of control because of him alone. That was the last thing Sengoku wanted, so he acquiesced to Garp's presence.
"Why… Why didn't you just listen to me back then?! Why?! Why?!"
Four "whys" in a single sentence—even though the matter had nothing to do with him, Kidd couldn't help but sympathize with Garp. His circumstances were nothing short of tragic.
A hero of the Marines, yet his own son was the world's most wanted criminal, the leader of the Revolutionary Army. His grandson was a rising pirate aiming to become the next Pirate King, a member of the "Worst Generation." Even his adopted grandson was a pirate—a commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, no less. Not a single one had followed the path he'd hoped for, and not one had given him peace of mind.
"Grandpa, I—"
The moment the words left his mouth, Kidd realized his mistake. Ace had always referred to Garp as "old man," never "grandpa." His momentary "politeness" could very well blow his cover.
"You—what did you just call me?!"
Kidd cursed inwardly. Just as he feared, Garp had noticed the change in address. What worried him even more was the sudden surge of volatile energy erupting from Garp—like a volcano on the brink of eruption, unstable and ready to explode at any moment.
"Of course I called you 'old man.' What else would it be?"
As he spoke, Kidd turned his face away, avoiding Garp's gaze, while his hands quietly slipped into his pockets, ready to flee at any moment.
Yet, what came next wasn't an interrogation or a fist from Garp—only silence.
A long while passed without a single word from Garp, the only sound being the erratic fluctuations of his turbulent aura.
When Kidd finally turned back to look at him, what he saw were tear-filled eyes. Tears welled up in Garp's eyes, swirling uncontrollably, and despite his desperate attempts to hold them back, they streamed down his face like a broken dam.
What Kidd didn't know was how many years Garp had waited to hear that word—"grandpa." His love for Ace was no less than that for Luffy. He had long regarded Ace as his own grandson and had yearned to hear him say it.
But Garp also knew Ace would never call him that so easily. Because of Roger, Ace had shut himself away—longing for family but afraid to reach out, terrified that his existence would bring harm to others.
Just when Garp had nearly given up hope, the voice he'd longed for suddenly reached his ears. In that moment, he felt that everything he'd done was worth it.
But when he remembered Ace's current predicament, his eyes involuntarily fell upon the seastone handcuffs restraining him.
The aura around him grew even more unstable, more violent.
"Garp! Don't forget your duty!"
Sensing the danger, Sengoku immediately called out to Garp, inwardly cursing—of course, the one thing he feared most was happening.
Hearing Sengoku's voice, Garp's emotions settled slightly. The rampaging aura around him slowly receded as he struggled to restrain himself.