Chapter 112: The Execution Stage: Strife on Harth Island

Far from Harth Island out at sea, Admiral Wenhu lay hidden on a small boat.

His thoughts churned with confusion and inner struggle, yet beneath it all he was brimming with anticipation.

Wenhu knew the Rocks Pirates were about to arrive, and as a Navy admiral, the idea of rescuing a reviled Celestial Dragon left his heart in turmoil.

Still, he reminded himself he was an admiral—this wouldn’t be the first time he had faced such a dilemma.

As he wrestled with himself, a distant fleet appeared on the horizon.

It was the Rocks Pirates, at last reaching their destination—Harth Island.

Golden Lion brought the fleet to dock at the harbor and soon the pirates swarmed ashore.

They roared and howled in excitement, fired up for the moment ahead.

There are no impenetrable walls; some had already guessed why they’d gathered here.

Standing on the shore, Rocks faced the frenzied pirates, spread his arms wide, and shouted.

“Hahaha! Today, we’re pulling off something big!”

His voice crashed across the sky and sea like thunder.

“We’re executing a Celestial Dragon—rejoice, everyone!”

Rocks’ announcement stunned most of the pirates on the spot.

Their eyes widened, a jolt of shock racing through them.

“Awooo!”

“Long live Rocks!”

“Lord Rocks is the strongest!”

“If it’s a beheading, the World Government and the Navy won’t just stand by.”

“Hmph, we’re the strongest crew here!”

The pirates erupted in a deafening cheer. Not a single one held back. Many among them had lost their homes to Celestial Dragons, forced into slavery and made to join pirate life. Their hatred ran deep.

“Alright boys, set up the stage—we’re putting on a show today!”

“Awooo!”

“Leave it to us, Lord Rocks!”

Below, the crowd buzzed with heated excitement.

Every pirate thrust themselves into the work, eager and energized. After all, executing a Celestial Dragon—nobody had ever seen such a thing.

A confident smile gradually broke across Rocks’ face.

He sensed the mood shift with his words; not a soul faltered or hesitated, only growing more fired up.

Rocks was well aware that trouble could break out. Karl had already told him the exact timing for capturing the Celestial Dragon.

He didn’t believe the Navy or the World Government would just sit on their hands.

At the same time, his gaze flicked toward the waters to his front left.

“I’m hiding far enough… There’s no way they’ll spot me, right?”

Far off, Admiral Wenhu raised his binoculars, noticing Rocks glance his way. He immediately crouched low.

His heart pounded—if discovered, he’d be mobbed by the entire Rocks Pirates crew.

Wenhu drew a steady breath, then quietly slipped further away from the coast.

Watching the pirates zealously build the execution platform, Wenhu was gripped by a deep, uneasy feeling.

He knew that once the platform was finished, a brutal battle was all but certain.

Without wasting a moment, he dialed the transponder and reached Fleet Admiral Hill back at headquarters.

“Fleet Admiral Hill, I’ve made it to Harth Island and finished evacuating the civilians,” Wenhu reported, his voice firm and urgent.

Fleet Admiral Hill answered at once, recognizing just how dangerous Wenhu’s position was.

“Well done, Admiral Wenhu.”

Hill affirmed his actions.

“Kong is rushing to Harth Island at full speed. I’ve sent Sengoku and others as well, and the World Government’s deployed CP0, waiting for their chance.”

The news brought Wenhu a bit of relief, knowing he wasn’t completely on his own—strong allies had his back.

“Understood. Thank you.”

Wenhu hung up and turned his attention back to the tense scene unfolding before him.

He watched every move on the island with intense focus, alert for any sign of danger.

If the pirates so much as tried to hurt the Celestial Dragon, he’d charge in to stop them, stalling for time until reinforcements arrived.

Meanwhile, Kong was leading over thirty thousand Navy soldiers at top speed toward Harth Island.

They had just one goal: stop Rocks and his pirates from executing the Celestial Dragon.

“Listen up! This is our most important mission yet! I want everyone ready—there’s no room for mistakes!”

Rocks’ thunderous shout whipped the pirates into an even greater frenzy. They prepared madly, itching for the battle to begin.

Because none of them doubted that the World Government and the Navy wouldn’t respond to such a bold move.

At the heart of the World Government’s power—Mariejois!

A magnificent palace suddenly collapsed, sending shockwaves rumbling through the area.

“How dare he?!”

“This is outrageous!”

A roar of fury ripped through the sky, splitting the clouds above.

An elder with a white beard seethed, no outlet for the news delivered by Fleet Admiral Hill.

“Enough. Calm down.”

“Besides, we’ve already sent our people, haven’t we?”

Another of the Five Elders flashed in to block his hand as he was about to lash out.

“Hmph!”

The white-bearded elder snorted angrily and strode out of the room.

In another meeting room, the Five Elders were gathered in a circle.

“This must be handled properly. If not, we’ll have to answer both to the higher-ups and the Celestial Dragon families.”

The bald Five Elder sitting to the side shot a determined look.

“Exactly. The news hasn’t broken out yet, but since Rocks is intent on a public execution, he’s sure to boast about it afterward.”

“This concerns both our World Government’s prestige and the status of the Celestial Dragons.”

All the Five Elders carried heavy expressions—they knew any misstep would deeply damage the World Government’s reputation and authority.

They immediately jumped into discussion, working out countermeasures. They needed to act fast—to stop Rocks and his pirates, to keep the Celestial Dragon safe, and to defend the government’s standing.

The Five Elders’ thinking was simple: block the news with the newspapers, then wait for a chance to wipe out the Rocks Pirates.

But what they didn’t know was that the video transponder snail had been developed. Their scheme might soon be worthless.

“Looks like our old friends have arrived.”

As the pirates finished building the execution platform, a vast Navy fleet appeared in the distance, led by Kong, with Admiral Wenhu at his side. Clearly, they’d joined forces.

By their side stood Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, and other top officers.

It turned out Fleet Admiral Hill worried Kong and Wenhu alone wouldn’t be enough to take on the Rocks Pirates, so he secretly dispatched Sengoku and the others to the front half of the New World at Sabaody Archipelago, following Kong to Harth Island.

“The Navy’s here!”

“Boom, boom, boom!!!”

The Navy was first to attack, unleashing a rain of cannon fire onto the pirates at sea.

“Quake!”

With a deafening roar, Newgate swung his massive fist, shattering the air. Cannonballs exploded mid-flight, torn apart by the shockwave.

The whole battlefield trembled, and the Navy finally realized this would be a brutal fight—they’d need everything they had to stop the Rocks Pirates and protect the Celestial Dragon.