An unbearable, soul-tearing pain shot through his entire body from his head.
His face contorted as he tried to cry out in agony, but Sakazuki’s left hand clamped down tightly on his cheeks, driving him mad with pain.
His hands clawed at Sakazuki’s large hand, veins bulging, but the hand remained unmoving.
Sakazuki looked at the struggling Pudding, her face held by his left hand as he lifted her and shook her side to side.
*Crack, crack…*
A series of crisp sounds echoed, as if his entire body had been dislocated.
The contorted face, twisted in pain, slowly relaxed. He closed his eyes, ceased struggling, and his limbs hung limply as he fainted.
Sakazuki tossed her, sending her flying towards Karol.
"Lock her up."
Karol caught the girl, who seemed to have lost all her bones, with a helpless expression.
"Yes."
He vanished instantly, taking her to be treated first.
Sakazuki looked at the eyeball in his hand, his right hand suddenly glowing red.
*Hiss—*
A sound like a branding iron echoed, the eyeball's pained wail…
The high temperature continued to heat it, and at a certain point, it popped like popcorn.
*Pop!!!*
It exploded outward, vanishing completely…
Sakazuki shook his hand and walked towards the silently standing historical text, letting out a soft scoff.
He placed his hand on it, his Armament Haki surging into the historical text. He lifted it in an impossible manner and walked towards the bulwark.
With a flick of his wrist towards the execution platform.
The massive historical text traced a perfect arc, smashing into the temporarily constructed execution platform.
*Boom!!!*
A deafening sound reverberated across the island, shaking the entire headquarters.
Everyone looked towards the execution platform.
Fortunately, the execution platform was constructed entirely of steel and massive stones, so it did not shatter.
The historical text, flung away, embedded itself halfway into the execution platform.
The side with the writing faced downwards, deeply sunk.
Above the fortress.
*Da da da—*
Rapid footsteps echoed.
Something had struck the execution platform, and several soldiers rushed to report to the Fleet Admiral.
But as they ran up, they found Sakazuki standing quietly by the bulwark, looking towards the execution platform.
The soldiers exchanged glances and were about to speak.
Sakazuki, looking towards the execution platform, said indifferently:
"Notify the reporters. Spread it across the world at the fastest speed."
"The Road Poneglyph that points to the One Piece is in Marine Headquarters."
Sakazuki's cold laugh echoed:
"Come and take it if you dare."
"Otherwise, the Pirate King will forever remain a joke."
There were many Poneglyphs, but only four were Road Poneglyphs that pointed to the final island.
And now the one from Whole Cake Island had been seized by Marine Headquarters. This meant that if no one could break into Marine Headquarters and obtain this Poneglyph…
The goal and dream that pirates had strived for would be shattered…
Without the Road Poneglyph, the legend of becoming the Pirate King and finding the One Piece would, as Sakazuki said, forever be a joke…
------------
On islands across the world.
Approaching noon, people were about to take a break.
Newspapers rained down like falling leaves. People couldn't help but stop and look at the scattered papers, realizing that something big had happened…
"Wh-what!!!"
Countless exclamations arose as people saw the enormous headline on the newspapers:
"The Joke of the Pirate King Legend, the Road Poneglyph to the One Piece!!!"
The headline was exceptionally captivating. The Joke of the Pirate King Legend?
Just this sentence alone made people unable to resist reading further.
Following this was a photograph of a massive stone block embedded in the execution platform at Marine Headquarters.
The spokesperson for Marine Headquarters’ news department recounted the origin of the Pirate King and some secrets, explaining that four Poneglyphs were needed to obtain the Road Poneglyph.
It was how Pirate King Roger had reached the final island, and where the currently known Poneglyphs were held by which great pirates.
These were details unknown to ordinary pirates and the world’s populace.
Yet, they were now being proactively revealed by the Marines.
It also recounted the immense sacrifices made by brave Marines to obtain this Poneglyph, and how glorious the Marines’ invasion of Whole Cake Island had been.
Simultaneously, a formal notice was issued to pirates worldwide:
"Foolish pirates."
"Do you want the Pirate King's treasure?"
"If you want it, you can have it all."
"Come to Marine Headquarters and take this Poneglyph."
Using Roger’s dying words, they mocked all the pirates in the world.
The cause and effect were explained, and now everyone in the world knew that without gathering four Poneglyphs, they could not reach the final island and become the Pirate King.
But the problem was, that was Marine Headquarters…
Under the leadership of Sakazuki, the strongest and most brutal Fleet Admiral in history, possessing the strongest naval force in history…
The reactions of the pirates were unknown.
But the cheers of the world’s populace who saw the newspapers did not cease for a long time…
------------
New World, New Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's office.
Karol looked at the latest newspaper, exclaiming:
"Killing with a single blow to the heart…"
"How many pirates will lose their dreams again…"
"This is too interesting…"
This kind of action was merely to fool the world’s populace and the ignorant pirates, to minimize the chance of people heading out to sea and to shatter the dreams of pirates.
After all, Poneglyphs had been in Big Mom’s possession for years.
Was it possible that no rubbings were made? Besides, after seeing it for so many years, one could memorize it.
These things would not shake the resolve of the Four Emperors.
But was Sakazuki’s sole purpose to disgust them and reduce the number of people becoming pirates?
No…
His target was Pudding.
On this sea, besides those who knew nothing and had taught Robin for years, like Karol, and Vegapunk, there were only two people known to be able to read Poneglyphs, whether on the Marine side, the pirate side, or the World Government.
The last remnant of Ohara, Nico Robin, and a Three-Eyed Tribe member after awakening.
The current whereabouts and true identity of Robin, who had disappeared for years, were known only to Crocodile and a few high-ranking members of the Revolutionary Army.
Thus, there was only one person left on this sea who could possibly interpret Poneglyphs.
It was Charlotte Linlin's daughter, Pudding, the only Three-Eyed Tribe member.
But after waiting for so many years, Pudding showed no sign of awakening, which had long since begun to make Charlotte Linlin impatient.
However, there was nothing she could do. She was the only hope for interpretation.
And now, that only hope had been captured by the Marines and was secretly imprisoned in an unknown location…
Sakazuki stood by the window.
He gazed out at the distant sea with a deep expression, a slight smirk on his lips.
When the day came to publicly execute this "hope"…
The expressions of those scum on the sea…
"It will surely be very interesting…"