The "Strongest Emperor of the Underworld": Donquixote Doflamingo.
"Doflamingo, that weakling? He dares call himself the strongest?" Kaido, the Beast King of the New World, scoffed, finding it laughable.
To him, Doflamingo was nothing more than a shivering underling.
But to many others, as the leader of the Donquixote Family, the King of Dressrosa, and a major player in the underworld, Doflamingo was indeed a man of influence.
"Unbelievable, only two of the Warlords have appeared, and they're already this powerful. The Seven Warlords must be an unstoppable force, perhaps even surpassing the Four Emperors!"
"No wonder Doflamingo is allowed to rule Dressrosa without interference from the Navy. If he's one of the Warlords, what's to stop another Warlord from taking over our country while the Navy stands by, powerless?"
The faces of kings from affiliated nations grew grim with worry.
...
The third figure emerged from the waiting room.
It was Gecko Moria.
With his terrifying appearance, Moria struck fear into the hearts of those watching.
"It's him… The one who fought Kaido and barely escaped with his life."
"Another major player."
Anyone with ties to the Beast King, Kaido, would naturally command a certain level of respect and fear.
Then, Fish-Man Jimbei walked out.
"A fish-man?"
"Wasn't he the second-in-command of the Sun Pirates? And now he's joining the Warlords?"
"The Sun Pirates were led by Fisher Tiger, who freed the slaves alongside Kuke, but they were both killed by the Navy. Now Jimbei is standing over Kuke's grave, cooperating with the World Government?"
Many looked at Jimbei with disdain.
But then, to everyone's surprise, Jimbei ignored the World Government official's shouts and turned toward Island No. 1.
In front of everyone, even the Navy and the World Government, he respectfully bowed three times toward the island, showing his unwavering respect for Kuke.
The sight turned Sengoku's face green with frustration as he watched from a nearby battleship.
These defiant pirates… each more rebellious than the last.
The fifth figure appeared.
The Tyrant, Bartholomew Kuma, stepped forward.
To Sengoku's relief, Kuma remained composed, silently taking his seat at the table. Then he leaned forward, fixed his gaze on the government official, and calmly stated, "The World Government promised me that after today, I would be allowed to sink Island No. 1."
Sengoku's face turned a shade of dark purple.
While Kuke's utility might be dwindling, the existence of Island No. 1 still served as an unspoken reminder and a point of pride for the Navy's reputation.
"Hey, hold on—Island No. 1 is my territory," Doflamingo reminded him, frowning. "If you sink it, how am I supposed to make any money off it?"
"You're welcome to try and stop me," Kuma replied, his tone as calm as ever.
Doflamingo gritted his teeth, his veins bulging. He looked ready to explode with anger, but managed to hold back… for now.
The sixth Warlord emerged: Crocodile.
Another infamous figure, Crocodile had once challenged Whitebeard and survived, which in itself was an impressive feat.
In his youth, he had been on par with Douglas Bullet, the infamous Demon Heir.
These accomplishments made Crocodile a name feared across the seas.
Some people even claimed he had the potential to become one of the Emperors.
Many scoffed at this notion.
"Hahaha, Crocodile, the strongest talent? Has he asked our boss? Even if Kuke is gone, his talent was unmatched."
Yasopp and the others laughed so hard they were in tears.
Then, in the most highly anticipated moment…
The final figure cast a massive shadow on the ground as he approached.
The sea erupted in whispers.
"No way!" Shanks, Kaido, and Whitebeard all leaned forward in disbelief, staring at the shadow.
"Could it be Whitebeard?"
The enormous shadow, with the distinct crescent mustache and rare naginata weapon…
All these traits together pointed to only one person—the most feared and revered man on the seas: Whitebeard himself.
In the eyes of all who were watching, Edward Weevil stepped out, followed closely by his mother, Bakkin.
The visual Den Den Mushi focused on Edward Weevil, broadcasting his image to the world.
"It's not Whitebeard!" Shanks and the others breathed a collective sigh of relief, almost laughing at the close call.
"Who is this guy? Why does he look so much like Whitebeard?" Kaido muttered, perplexed by the uncanny resemblance.
Was he some kind of impersonator?
"What… is this?" Whitebeard himself was at a loss for words.
"Dad, who is he?" Whitebeard's sons asked, all equally confused.
Who was this person?
"How the hell should I know?" Whitebeard grumbled, scratching his head. He had no siblings or biological children, so how could there be someone like this out there?
"He is the biological son of Edward Newgate, Whitebeard," declared the World Government official, his voice echoing through the screens and into countless ears.
Pfft—
Whitebeard spat out his drink, and Shanks choked, pounding on his chest to catch his breath.
Kaido dropped his jug of sake, which shattered on the ground.
"Whitebeard's biological son?"
"Whitebeard has a real son? This has to be fake, right?"
"It can't be! He looks exactly like him; they have to be related!"
The seas erupted with gossip and speculation.
Shanks finally managed to catch his breath, only to choke again when he caught another glimpse of Edward Weevil on the screen.
It was difficult to process.
"Shanks, the bigger issue is that Whitebeard's son has joined the Warlords. Could Whitebeard himself be in cahoots with the Navy and World Government?" Ben Beckman voiced his concerns.
Shanks' expression turned serious.
This possibility was terrifying.
If the mightiest pirate crew joined forces with the Warlords, the World Government, and the Navy, it could spell the end of the pirate era.
Many pirates realized the same and were pale with fear.
Kaido was equally anxious, cursing Whitebeard under his breath.
"Dad?" Diamond Jozu and Vista gave Whitebeard concerned looks. "Why keep this hidden from us?"
"We're your sons too, you know."
Whitebeard's face fell. "I don't have a son!"
He quickly added, "Not a biological son, at least. You'll always be my sons, the ones I care about most."
Whitebeard, who rarely showed anger, glared at the screen.
Who was this guy?
He had driven him to say things he'd never intended.
"But, Dad, who is he? Why is he claiming to be your son?"
Diamond Jozu and the others looked to him, brimming with questions.
"How the hell should I know?" Whitebeard scrutinized Edward Weevil.
He was sure he'd never made such a mistake in his past.
Then, his gaze fell on Bakkin standing beside Weevil.
It clicked.
An old acquaintance from years ago.
The memories of her past antics flooded back, and Whitebeard's expression turned to one of utter resignation.
"Whitebeard! I'm telling you, you have a son now! He's Edward Weevil!" Bakkin boasted proudly to the Den Den Mushi, reveling in her so-called success.
"Bakkin?"
Both Kaido and Big Mom recognized her and couldn't help smirking.
"Hahaha!"
Kaido burst into laughter, slapping his leg. "Now it makes sense."
"Haha! Bakkin actually managed to get her hands on Whitebeard's genes. This is going to be good!" Big Mom laughed heartily.
Only Whitebeard himself…
Was losing his grip on reality.
He finally understood what had happened. Bakkin's constant lurking around his quarters, offering to clean his sheets and wash his clothes…
Having dominated the seas for decades, Whitebeard's calm demeanor shattered, and a stream of expletives ran through his mind.
________________________________
P/S: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 144+ at patreon.com/Emik01.
_________________________