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"Besides that, I have another important matter to discuss, one that concerns you as well." Ian finally broached the subject, piquing the interest of Marco and the other Whitebeard commanders.
"What important matter could that be? I'm curious what someone standing at the pinnacle of this sea needs help with, especially something that involves me." Whitebeard inquired.
"It concerns Kaido, and Charlotte Linlin. They're likely conspiring against me right now, and I happen to think they shouldn't exist any longer." Ian stated calmly.
"Kaido of the Beasts?! And Big Mom?!" Marco and the others were stunned.
"That's right. You should know where Kaido's base of operations is. And he likely played a role in the death of someone important to you." Ian smiled faintly.
"Of course we know. That bastard Kaido has occupied Wano Country and made it his base! That country belonged to a dear friend of ours!"
The Whitebeard Pirates exclaimed, their voices filled with barely contained rage.
They hadn't forgotten the injustice inflicted upon Kozuki Oden twenty years ago, especially Izo, the former retainer of the Kozuki Family and the 16th division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Pops, this is our chance! We can take back Wano from Kaido!" Izo's eyes burned with fervent passion. As a native of Wano, he had dreamt of liberating his homeland and avenging his lord for two decades.
In the past, even the Whitebeard Pirates would have suffered heavy losses in a full-scale war against the Beasts Pirates. But now, things were different.
They had a powerful ally, Ian, who rivaled even Whitebeard, the World's Strongest Man. Even if Big Mom joined forces with Kaido, her crew was in disarray, making this the perfect opportunity to strike.
"Pops, Izo's right. We've waited long enough. It's time to settle the score with Kaido and avenge Oden!" Diamond Jozu and Flower Sword Vista added, their blood boiling with anticipation.
However, the final decision rested with Whitebeard. All eyes turned towards the legendary pirate, awaiting his judgment.
"Gurarararara! Alright, my sons! Prepare for war!" Whitebeard bellowed, raising his fist in the air.
The Whitebeard Pirates erupted in cheers, their spirits soaring at the prospect of joining forces with Ian to attack the Beasts Pirates in Wano.
The older members of the crew, like Izo, Marco, Jozu, and Vista, who shared a deep bond with Oden, had waited patiently for this moment.
Now, their chance for revenge had finally arrived.
"Kaido! You will pay for what you did to our lord, for the suffering you inflicted upon Wano!"
Izo roared, his eyes filled with tears of rage.
"Oden, we will avenge you! Watch over us from above!"
"I don't know why you've chosen to involve me, but my gut tells me you mean no harm. Maybe this is my chance to finally do what's right. To hell with the balance of power between the Marines and the pirates! I'm with Whitebeard now, and nothing else matters!"
Whitebeard's booming laughter echoed through the air. This unwavering loyalty to his family, his willingness to sacrifice everything for them, was what had drawn Ian to him. Unlike the other world, where family often betrayed you for their own gain, here, family was everything.
"Gurarararara! My sons, let's not just stand around! The feast is about to begin! We can't be rude to our guest!"
Whitebeard announced.
"You're right, Pops!"
"Hahaha! Let the feast begin!"
No pirate could resist the allure of a good feast.
As evening approached, the setting sun painted the sky in fiery hues of red and orange, casting long shadows across the land.
Beneath a towering cliff on a cherry blossom island, petals danced in the gentle breeze, adding to the serene beauty of the scene.
A massive bonfire crackled merrily in the center of a clearing, surrounded by smaller torches illuminating the surrounding beach. The atmosphere was as warm and inviting as the fire itself.
"Hey, Vista! That's my sake, you bastard!" Thatch, the 4th division commander, lunged at Vista, fist raised. Vista took a sip of the sake and replied calmly, "Oh, my apologies. I didn't realize. There's plenty more where that came from. Just fetch another bottle."
Whitebeard, usually frugal, rarely hosted feasts. He preferred to send his wealth back to his homeland, supporting the people he considered his family.
He chuckled, watching Thatch and Vista's playful banter. "Such silly sons I have. Gurararara! Tonight, the drinks are on me! Don't hold back!"
Marco downed his drink in a single gulp and turned to shout, "More sake! Pops is paying! Drink up!"
Whitebeard raised an eyebrow at Marco. "Marco, you're not making this easy on my wallet, are you?"
Despite the boisterous atmosphere, the Whitebeard Pirates exuded a strong sense of familial love and camaraderie, a bond stronger than blood.
In contrast, the Big Mom Pirates, composed primarily of Big Mom's biological children, lacked this warmth and connection, despite their shared bloodline.
Ian stared at the sake in his cup, his eyes glistening slightly. He closed his eyes and took a sip, Whitebeard's earlier invitation triggering a flood of memories and introspection.
In his former life, happiness and belonging had always seemed out of reach. Even now, after so long in this world, he still felt like an outsider. He yearned for connection, for family, yet he was afraid.
He didn't know how to navigate these unfamiliar emotions, these experiences he had never known.
The Whitebeard Pirates' warm hospitality continued throughout the night. Ian, bombarded with drinks by Whitebeard, Marco, and the others, could have easily resisted the effects with his enhanced physiology and powerful soul.
But he chose to indulge. He needed this release, this temporary escape.
"Gurarararara! What's wrong? Finally giving up?" Whitebeard boomed, a triumphant grin on his face.
"If you can't handle it, don't push yourself. I can have the nurses take care of you." He gestured towards a group of scantily clad nurses in leopard print outfits, a mischievous glint in his eyes. Ian smiled politely and declined.
He couldn't help but wonder if Weevil, the self-proclaimed son of Whitebeard, was truly his offspring. Bakkin also favored leopard print, and it wouldn't be surprising if they had shared a past, considering they had sailed on the same ship. Those seemingly old and unattractive women had likely been beautiful in their youth. Cocosia, Big Mom, and even Vice Admiral Tsuru were testaments to this.
The nurses, their figures accentuated by their revealing outfits, exchanged disappointed glances at Ian's refusal. Who could resist a powerful and attractive man? The feast continued late into the night.
Ian conversed with the Whitebeard Pirates, listening intently as Whitebeard and Marco recounted their adventures at sea. Tashigi, seated beside him, was equally captivated, enthralled by the tales of the world's most powerful pirate crew. Their experiences were enough to fill volumes, and she found herself completely immersed in their stories.
The other pirates lay scattered around the bonfire, snoring loudly, Marco, Jozu, and the others among them.
"Let's go." Ian stood up, brushing the sand off his clothes. Tashigi rose silently and followed him, disappearing into the darkness.
Not everyone was asleep. One figure, seemingly passed out, remained awake, his eyes following Ian's retreating form. It was Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach.
"A war against Kaido? His crew is entirely composed of Zoan users. This is my chance."
Blackbeard's eyes narrowed, a calculating glint in their depths. As he plotted and schemed, his breath hitched in his throat. He saw Ian, walking away with Tashigi, suddenly turn his head and look directly at him.
"!!!" Blackbeard was certain. That gaze was meant for him. In the instant their eyes met, a wave of terror washed over him, as if he had been plunged into icy water.
His breath caught in his throat, his eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and a shiver ran down his spine. He wanted to flee, to run as far away as possible, but his body was frozen, paralyzed by fear. However…
Ian made no further move.
He had simply looked at Blackbeard, a deep, unsettling gaze, before turning away and continuing on his path.
"What's wrong?" Tashigi followed Ian's gaze, but she saw nothing unusual, only the sleeping forms of the Whitebeard Pirates. She continued walking, her pace unwavering. "Nothing."
Ian and Tashigi walked further and further away, eventually disappearing into the darkness. Only then did Blackbeard finally exhale, his clothes soaked in cold sweat. He had never felt such terror before.
He hadn't experienced this level of fear even in the presence of Gol D. Roger, Shiki the Golden Lion, or Garp the Hero. That single glance from Ian had made him feel as if he were already dead, his soul extinguished.
Blackbeard sat up, gasping for air, his eyes wide with fear.
That man… He was not to be trifled with. At least, not yet.
"…Ugh… What's wrong, Teach?"
A nearby Whitebeard commander, roused by Blackbeard's sudden movement, mumbled sleepily.
Blackbeard, struggling to regain his composure, stammered, "N-Nothing… Just a bad dream…"
...
Several days later, in Wano Country.
"Gurarararara! Don't underestimate Wano, Ian. Its borders aren't easily crossed. Even our ship nearly capsized in those treacherous currents thirty years ago!"
Whitebeard warned, gesturing towards the towering waterfall cascading down into the sea. After the feast, their anticipated clash hadn't materialized, much to Ian's amusement. Wano would offer far more exciting opportunities.
"Then we'll fly." Ian smiled faintly.
He unleashed the power of Shiki's Float-Float Fruit, lifting their entire ship into the air and soaring over the waterfall, reaching the top in moments and landing on Wano's outer coast.
"He can actually fly?!" The Whitebeard Pirates were once again astounded.
Even the other Yonko crews exchanged surprised glances. Whitebeard, witnessing this feat, frowned slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.
"That ability… Could it be…?" In the current era, the Four Emperors reigned supreme over the Grand Line. But before their rise, there had been another era, an era of three legendary pirates: the era of Gol D. Roger.
Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, Shiki the Golden Lion, and Gol D. Roger had clashed for supremacy, with Roger ultimately claiming the title of Pirate King. Whitebeard continued to rule the seas, while Roger's execution ushered in the Great Pirate Era. Shiki, after escaping from Impel Down, had vanished without a trace.
The Four Emperors rose to power after Roger's era, but the Whitebeard Pirates were well aware of Shiki's abilities.
His Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, allowed him to levitate any non-living object he touched, from small items to entire fleets, even islands.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed as their ship approached the shore of Wano, finally getting a clear view. This wasn't the power of the Float-Float Fruit. It was a different kind of force, a raw power capable of lifting objects against gravity.
Had this devil even mastered the sky itself?
Only Blackbeard had a vague sense of unease, a suspicion that Shiki the Golden Lion was among Ian's victims. Did this devil truly consume souls?
BOOM!
Their ship landed on the shores of Wano with a thunderous crash. Ian stood at the bow, his figure as steady as a rock, unfazed by the impact.
As they gazed upon Wano, witnessing the devastation wrought by Kaido and his crew, the Whitebeard Pirates clenched their fists, their hearts filled with righteous fury.
"I'll scout ahead. Follow me." Ian announced.
"Wait…" Whitebeard stopped him.
Ian paused. "Is there something else?"
"We're allies now. I can't let you go alone. Marco will accompany you. He can guide you." Whitebeard gestured towards his first division commander.
"Yes, Pops!" Marco spread his fiery wings and soared into the sky.
"Very well." Ian didn't object. He bid farewell to Whitebeard and, carrying Tashigi in his arms, took to the skies, following Marco towards the heart of Wano. Even scarred by Kaido's reign, Wano retained its beauty.
His subordinates, seeking pleasure and comfort, had adorned their surroundings with plundered treasures and lavish decorations.
The Flower Capital....
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