Loved this chapter. It kind of showed where the money from Thriller Bark is going since apparently the Strawhats always have to be broke.
Now I'm going to speculate a little bit…
Since the World Government is basically wanting to start to war with Whitebeard I'm thinking Blackbeard is the trump card for them that tips the scales on their side. I mean what other reason could there be as to why now is such an opportune moment to strike against the "World's Strongest?" We know that Whitebeard won't just sit by and watch Ace get publicly executed, and I think Blackbeard won't miss this chance to take on Whitebeard.
Just before his fight with Ace at Banaro island; Blackbeard stated that the "era of Whitebeard" is ending, and this could be the moment that finally sets his statement in stone. While I don't think the execution will happen I can see Whitebeard losing to Blackbeard after the rescue of Ace. That will, as I've stated before in different threads, hype him up as the final antagonist along with maybe getting Whitebeard's title as strongest.
The last part of this chapter says to me that the only certainty will be that status quo of the One Piece world will be shaken, and we can only guess how Luffy and his crew will be a part of it.
And thank you Battle Franky.:happy: