New World, Moby Dick. After Teach finished speaking, a heavy atmosphere weighed on the hearts of everyone. "Teach, you bastard! Do you know what you're saying? Apologize to Pops right now!" Marco shouted angrily at Teach.
"Teach, what exactly are you trying to do? Don't you know how many of our brothers would die in this fearless battle if it came to war?" Thatch roared at Teach as well.
"Haha, a bunch of cowards! If you don't even dare to face a formidable enemy, what face do you have to sail these seas?" Teach confronted Marco and Thatch without fear. His words pierced the hearts of almost everyone present.
"I'm disappointed in all of you! Pops, the man you've become is no longer the one I once admired!" Teach snarled at Whitebeard with a fierce expression. "From today, I'm leaving the Whitebeard Pirates! I have no interest in being associated with a bunch of cowards."
With that, Teach turned and left the central deck, reached the side of the ship, and boarded a small boat, leaving the Moby Dick. Seeing Teach's departure, no one on the ship said a word; they all remained silent.
"Teach, you scoundrel!" Marco, full of anger, angrily shouted, and his entire body transformed into a blue phoenix, soaring toward Teach.
"Marco!" Just as Marco was about to rush out, Whitebeard stopped him. Marco turned to look at Whitebeard, confusion on his face. "Marco, everyone has different pursuits. If Teach wants to go, let him go."
"As for me, I no longer have the right to be his father." For the first time, Marco and the others saw a touch of desolation on Whitebeard's face.
"Pops..." Far away, Teach, who was leaving the Moby Dick on a small boat, had a gloomy expression. "That old Whitebeard, what a disappointment! I used to think he was an extraordinary man, but he lacks ambition and is content to play family games with his sons."
"I thought I could find the Dark-Dark Fruit more easily on his ship, but that brat, the son of Locke, ate it!" The more he thought about it, the angrier Teach became.
"Damn it, I can only move on to the second plan now!" With his decision made, Teach controlled the small boat and sailed toward the first half of the Grand Line.
"Now it seems I'll have to find an alternative for the Dark-Dark Fruit and devour it!"
Teach's angry roar echoed in the airspace over the sea. Blossom Island, Grims, and Jin returned to their base a day later and conveyed Whitebeard's intentions to Rox.
Locke sat in his chair, lightly tapping the tabletop.
"Heh, that old Whitebeard, quite audacious. But..."
"Jin, have our officers prepare for departure. Instruct the sailors to get the Conqueror ready. If Whitebeard wants to meet in person, let's see him. It's been many years since we've met." With Locke's orders, the Conqueror was quickly prepared for departure.
All the officers of the Locke Pirates boarded the ship. Except for Vinsmoke Reiju and Barrett, the rest of the officers were ready. "Hehehe, Whitebeard, finally, I get to see the man behind the legend.
It's been a while." Moriah had never seen Whitebeard before, and he was genuinely excited. "Hehe, Moriah, be prepared for that man. His presence is quite strong," Irida reminded Moriah with a sly smile.
"Tsk, that old Whitebeard. It's been ages since I've seen him. Back in Mariejois, if it weren't for his help, we might have been captured by the Marines and thrown into Impel Down." Sasuke reminisced.
"Alright, enough with the reminiscing. If this negotiation doesn't go well, we'll be on the brink of war." "Because, unlike Charlotte Linlin, he's not the same. He's a man who's been through countless battles, and he's at his peak, undoubtedly the world's strongest man." After hearing Barrett's words, everyone fell silent for a moment.
"Hehehe, that's enough, Barrett, don't scare us. No matter how strong he is, he's just one man, and he has no chance against the Locke Pirates." Moriah said with absolute confidence. Indeed, with the strength of the Locke Pirates, one Whitebeard didn't seem to pose a threat.
"Well, let's prepare for departure. Let's go meet an old friend." With Locke's words, the Conqueror slowly left the port and ventured into the deep sea. Grand Line, Marine Headquarters, Mariejois. "Is the intelligence accurate? Did that bastard Locke meet Whitebeard?" Sengoku was shocked when he heard what Kaku reported.
He knew about the relationships between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Locke Pirates. For Locke, Whitebeard had undoubtedly been a benefactor. Moreover, nearly all the factions on the seas now knew that the Rox Pirates were preparing to launch a war to control the New World.
Given the relationship between Locke and Whitebeard, Sengoku couldn't help but worry that the two factions might join forces. "According to reliable information, they have indeed made contact." Kaku replied solemnly, sharing Sengoku's concerns.
"Damn it! Kaku, inform all the Vice-Admirals to gather in the meeting room. Also, issue an Orange Alert to all of Mariejois. Simultaneously, dispatch all the elite forces from around the world to gather here in the headquarters and prepare for war!"
Hearing Kaku's report, Sengoku issued orders. "Darn it! What do Rox and Whitebeard want?!" Sengoku strode towards the meeting room. The New World, a specific sea area, the massive Moby Dick, and the Conqueror finally met.