A plan to disrupt the world

"Old man, what's our new plan?" Marco was the first to speak, curiosity etched on his face. The anticipation in the room was palpable as all eyes turned to Whitebeard.

"Goo la la la~"

"How do you reckon we're gonna save Ace?"

Whitebeard chuckled heartily, his eyes meeting those of the captains and leaders who had gathered around him.

"Of course, we'll go straight for Marineford, show 'em what we're made of, and then bust Ace out. Wasn't that the plan from the get-go?" Bista interjected, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

The other captains nodded in agreement, recognizing the simplicity and audacity of the plan. Though not flawless, it offered them a way to circumvent the formidable Gates of Justice and catch the Marines off guard.

"I used to think the same way, but upon reflection, I've underestimated the Marines!" Whitebeard reached for a nearby wine cask, poured himself a hearty drink, wiped his mouth, and returned the cask to the table. He cast a scrutinizing gaze at the assembled captains.

"This time, Sengoku has gathered a hundred thousand elites. The Seven Warlords of the Sea have been summoned, and they've added three Admiral guards. Mounting a frontal assault to rescue Ace won't be easy!"

His words settled in, and a heavy silence descended upon the captains. While they were pirates and adventurers by nature, they were not foolish. Each of them understood the sheer might of the Marine Headquarters.

Assaulting it head-on, even if they succeeded in rescuing Ace, would come at a great cost to the Whitebeard Pirates. Previously, no one had opposed the plan because it was their father's decision, and as loyal sons, they had stood firmly behind it.

Now, their father himself pointed out the plan's flaws, reminding them of the dire consequences it might entail.

"Pops, what are you suggesting, then?" Marco asked with a hint of suspicion.

"Ace is probably incarcerated in Impel Down by now, right?" Whitebeard spoke deliberately.

"Huh?" Many captains were taken aback. "Father, are you saying we shouldn't go to Marineford but head straight for Impel Down to rescue Ace?"

With this revelation, a buzz of conversation erupted among the captains. Marineford, with its hundred thousand Marines, was indeed an incredibly challenging target to assault for Ace's rescue.

However, Impel Down, in comparison, had significantly weaker defenses. Heading there might indeed result in Ace's liberation.

"The timing to reach Impel Down is the same as reaching Marineford. But Father, we don't know when Ace will be transported to Marineford!" Marco shook his head, voicing a crucial concern.

As his words hung in the air, silence once again enveloped the group. The fiery enthusiasm that had been burning within them was extinguished like a bucket of ice-cold water.

Indeed, they had no knowledge of when the Marines would transfer Ace. What if Ace were sent to Marineford prematurely? Their journey would be in vain.

But that wasn't the only issue. Once they arrived at Impel Down, they would inevitably expose themselves. In such a scenario, breaking into Marineford again would require a full-scale assault, a venture ten times more challenging.

A storming operation would undoubtedly result in heavy losses for the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Goo la la la~" Whitebeard chuckled, his laughter carrying a mixture of determination and uncertainty. The decision weighed heavily on his shoulders, and the fate of the Whitebeard Pirates hung in the balance.

"I understand your concerns, but I've received information that Ace's execution is scheduled for that day. We still have plenty of time!" Whitebeard chuckled.

Having thoroughly studied the original tale of The Pirate, he knew the precise timing of Ace's capture. Rushing to Impel Down now would be far too late. Nevertheless, that was of no consequence because Whitebeard had a different motive for heading to Impel Down – to liberate all the prisoners!

Even with the current strength of the Whitebeard Pirates, launching a direct assault on Marineford would not alter the inevitable outcome, even if he were to regain his peak strength. The Marines held an overwhelming advantage. At the height of his power, he might have been able to face each of the three Admirals individually, but could he still stand against the combined might of Pops, Sengoku, and the three Admirals? Moreover, the Marines harbored numerous concealed high-level combatants. Candidates for Admiral like Momousagi and Tea Dolphin possessed formidable abilities of their own.

To escape this grim scenario, enhancing their strength was the only viable option. Impel Down represented their best choice.

Impel Down's sixth level housed an array of formidable inmates. They didn't require all of them to act; just one or two could confront the Marines and neutralize some of their top-tier combat strength. That was the true objective of their journey to Impel Down.

"Is that so? Old man, you've got the intel?"

"Fantastic! This means we might be able to free Ace ahead of schedule!"

"Ace is relying on us; we're on our way!"

The captains were unaware of Whitebeard's true intentions, but his announcement filled them with fervor.

"Of course!"

"But, to prevent any unforeseen mishaps, this time we'll divide our forces. Joz and Bista, you'll accompany me to Impel Down!"

"Marco, you'll take the rest of the captains and adhere to the original plan."

Whitebeard's voice carried a note of urgency. Even though he was well-versed in the original storyline, he couldn't anticipate unexpected twists. By splitting their forces, they could safeguard Ace's rescue and adapt to any unforeseen circumstances. If things went awry and Ace was transferred to Marineford earlier than anticipated, the main Whitebeard pirate force would already be within headquarters, eliminating the need for a costly assault on Marineford.

"Splitting our forces? Understood, Pops!"

Marco nodded and turned to Joz and Bista. "You two will go to Impel Down with Dad. Ensure his safety at all costs!"

"Don't worry!"

Bista nodded in agreement.

"As long as I'm there, not a soul will lay a finger on Pops!"

Joz confidently reassured.

"Sons..."

Whitebeard rose abruptly and cast a glance at the captains. "Time is not on our side. Let's get started!"

"Yes, Old man!"

The captains responded with unwavering determination.

With that, led by Whitebeard, they exited the room.

Their initial task was to eliminate the 23 Marine warships monitoring their movements as they embarked on this daring mission.