Uta’s head snapped up, her gaze fixed on Sakazuki with disbelief.
Meanwhile…
The world erupted in uproar. Sakazuki’s words suggested a hidden truth behind the Red-Haired Empire’s destruction, and it seemed a young girl was responsible…
--------
On islands across the globe.
People gathered before Den Den Mushi screens, stunned.
It wasn’t just Sakazuki’s words that drew them in; many had suffered under pirates:
“Whoa, seriously?!”
“How old was this girl eight years ago?”
“Could it really be?!”
“If Fleet Admiral Sakazuki says so…”
“It’s highly probable…”
“After all, she’s the Red-Haired’s daughter.”
“Destroying a country, that’s pretty normal…”
“Aren’t pirates all like that?”
----------
The New World.
Pirates and Marines were on the move.
No one could predict what would happen next. They prepared for all-out war!
Far from Marine Headquarters, on a Red-Haired Pirate Ship.
Everyone’s eyes burned with killing intent as they sped towards Marine territory. All their subordinate pirates were mobilized.
Watching Sakazuki’s interrogation of Uta.
Red-Haired unconsciously clenched his fists, staring intently at the screen:
“Sakazuki…”
A frenzied killing intent surged with Conqueror’s Haki, changing the very sky…
---------
The New World, New Marineford.
On the execution platform.
Sakazuki looked at Uta, his voice indifferent:
“Wasn’t I clear enough?”
“Daughter of Red-Haired.”
“Tell me.”
“Did you not hear the cries of tens of thousands of citizens in the dead of night, questioning you?”
“Asking why you killed them!”
Uta’s body seemed to lose all strength, her head shaking weakly, her voice choked with pain:
“I don’t know…”
Sakazuki let out a soft scoff:
“You don’t know?”
“How could you not know?”
“The true culprit behind Elegia’s destruction.”
“The singer who used her Devil Fruit to slaughter tens of thousands, Uta…”
-------
Countless islands seethed.
Though it had only been speculation before, hearing it directly from Sakazuki’s lips, people had no doubt…
Angry voices rose, shouting with hatred:
“Kill her!”
“Kill her!!”
“Kill her!!!”
Someone started the chant, and slowly, all the people joined in the demand for her death…
The entire world seemed filled with the roar of slaughter…
-------
The New World, New Marineford.
On the execution platform.
Sakazuki’s voice continued:
“As the Marines delved deeper into the investigation.”
“We uncovered the hidden truth behind this incident.”
“The entire world was deceived by the Red-Haired Pirates.”
“The true culprit behind Elegia’s destruction is the Four Emperor Red-Haired’s daughter standing beside me, Uta.”
“As a child, she consumed a terrifying Devil Fruit.”
“During a music festival held by the Kingdom of Elegia, her powers went out of control.”
“This young girl, merely nine years old at the time…”
“Slaughtered the entire country.”
“The only one who knew, King Gordon, foolishly aided Red-Haired in deceiving this child, and deceiving the whole world.”
“Everyone believed Elegia was destroyed by the Red-Haired Pirates.”
“This child who annihilated a kingdom, killing tens of thousands, grew up…”
“Resting upon the graves of countless vengeful souls, happily living amidst the ruins of the destroyed Elegia…”
“Such pathetic self-deception, glorified by pirates as sacrifice! Glorified as loyalty!!”
“But no one thought of the cries of those tens of thousands of wronged souls!”
Sakazuki looked at Uta, her pupils unfocused:
“This has been concealed for eight years.”
“However…”
“As the primary perpetrator, Red-Haired’s daughter… you truly don’t know?”
Uta’s body was like a soulless puppet, motionless.
Sakazuki watched her, his indifferent voice continuing:
“You know, but you refuse to accept…”
Uta’s consciousness flickered back, she spoke in agony:
“I don’t know…”
Sakazuki ignored her denial and continued:
“Not only do you know…”
“You are perfectly aware, but you chose to escape reality…”
“You chose to blame everything on your father, Shanks the Red-Haired…”
Uta lowered her head deeply, her face dark, and whispered:
“I don’t know…”
Sakazuki looked at her and said:
“You do.”
Uta’s body trembled, and a dark growl rumbled from her:
“I said…”
She suddenly looked up, as if transformed:
“I don’t know!!!”
Her frenzied expression, blood-red eyes, and enraged demeanor…
Everything pointed to the truth…
A tremendous power erupted from Uta, nearly breaking free from the two soldiers restraining her.
Boom—
A Conqueror’s Haki that shook the heavens and earth erupted from Sakazuki.
Everyone on the island felt a ringing in their ears, a wave of dizziness.
Uta, at the epicenter, was pressed firmly to the ground. The iron spikes piercing her body were mixed with Seastone powder, and combined with the Seastone shackles on her back, she was rendered incapable of resisting.
Sakazuki waved, signaling the two restraining soldiers to step down.
He looked at Uta, who lay collapsed on the ground, utterly drained, and knelt beside her.
His whisper, like that of a demon, tempted the hearts, torturing Uta and the Red-Haired Pirates far out at sea…
“How pathetic…”
“A failed father and a failed daughter…”
“Red-Haired carried everything, wanting to protect his daughter.”
“Unaware that his daughter already knew everything and chose to evade it…”
“How disappointed Shanks will be when he sees your true face…”
It was a perfectly montaged lie, yet it was undeniable, because what Sakazuki said was the truth, merely rearranged…
But no one cared about that, because… the tides were turning!!!
On the execution platform.
Uta collapsed on the ground, shaking her head frantically, her silent wail…
Sakazuki slowly extended his hand, placing it on her neck, and directly lifted her to her feet.
Screech—
The iron spikes tore through flesh, pulling off large chunks of skin, but they did not break. The bone of her lower leg was clearly visible.
But it no longer mattered…
Sakazuki, with Uta’s neck in his grip, looked towards the Den Den Mushi:
“Red-Haired, and the other Four Emperors in the New World.”
“This is just the beginning…”
“Guard what is most precious to you…”
“We…”
“Will take you one by one…”
Crack—
A crisp sound echoed, and the lifeless body crashed to the ground…