"Oh my god! Is he finally here?"
"That world's number one swordsman, Shano!"
"Hey, stop squeezing me! You're stepping on my feet!"
The deck erupted in excitement at the lookout's words. Pirates from all squads rushed to the starboard side.
Marco was startled, then quickly spread his blue-flame wings and soared high into the sky. Looking out into the distance, he saw Vista's speedboat, flying the rose flag, breaking through the waves, accompanied by a figure he hadn't seen in a while.
"He's really here."
Marco laughed cheerfully and landed back on the deck with a plop. Looking at his companions who were crowded together, he held his forehead and shook his head:
"Hey, newcomers on the ship, stop looking and hide in the cabin while there's still time."
"Huh?"
A newcomer who had just joined was surprised. "Why, Captain Marco?"
"Haha, idiot."
The old hands next to him sneered:
"When the Emperor of the Sea comes to meet alone, there must be some clash of momentum. The aura of that level, even if released just a little, is not something you can withstand!"
"We old people are almost the same..."
One veteran felt puzzled. He turned to Marco and asked, "Do you think I can hold on, Captain?"
"It's hard to say," Marco replied slowly. "It's said the domineering aura of that guy is the best in the world. I'm afraid it is not inferior to my dad…"
His expression suddenly changed. He looked up at the sky.
The once clear sky had been suddenly covered in dark clouds. Black and red lightning flickered through the clouds, and the air over the sea seemed to grow stagnant and heavy.
"From so far away… tsk, what an aura!"
Marco narrowed his eyes. Diamond Joz, Captain of Division Three, and Thatch, Captain of Division Four, had now arrived behind him.
"Are you here alone?"
Joz twisted his neck and grinned. "What a shame! I wanted to see for myself the true character of the three great officers under the Fall."
"I guess something's keeping you busy," Thatch said, smiling as he lit a cigarette. "Otherwise, the two of you, plus Vista, would be perfect for a sparring match with the Three Evils."
"Hahaha, don't be so modest, Captain Thatch!"
A toothless veteran in the background chimed in. "You're one of our highest-ranking officers too. How could you leave yourself out?"
"Me?" Thatch felt a warm feeling as he listened. He patted Teach's shoulder, smiling silently. Teach was honest, and he liked hearing that, but he knew his own limits. He was half a logistics officer, and his strength was still inferior to other high-ranking captains. He probably was no match for the "Three Evils."
Thunder rumbled in the sky, black and red lightning intensified, and the sea trembled violently.
Marco's expression froze. He shouted softly, "We're here!"
Almost simultaneously, Vista's speedboat stopped beside the White Whale. At Vista's invitation, a handsome black-haired young man, sword on his back, gently stepped onto the White Whale's steps.
Thump.
With one step, the entire White Whale sank slightly, and silent ripples rose on the surrounding sea.
The commotion on deck stopped abruptly, and everyone subconsciously held their breath, staring wide-eyed at the slender figure approaching the deck.
Thump.
The young man's second step made a newcomer near the gangway collapse to the ground, vision darkening.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?"
The bald man beside him reached out to help, only to see the rest of the group collapse uncontrollably, like dominoes.
"You?"
The bald man froze, eyes wide, and then collapsed himself, unconscious.
Boom.
With his third step, the young man finally reached the deck and raised his head slightly. At that moment, the air on the White Whale seemed to stop flowing; even the waves around the sides froze in mid-air.
The oppression was more terrifying than anyone had imagined. Marco's face was grim. Not only the newcomers, but many veterans were half-kneeling, clutching their chests and breathing hard. Teach, closest to him, had collapsed, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.
Boom.
With the fourth step, Whitebeard, who had been staring at the bow, finally stood up with a broad grin, slamming his great naginata to the ground.
"Gulala! That's enough, stop it, Shano!"
Boom!
An equally terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted, colliding with Shano's overwhelming pressure.
Crack!
The thick clouds above split apart. Two streaks of black and red lightning, as thick as pythons, surged into the distance, stretching beyond the horizon, endless in sight.
"Is this the clash of the ultimate Conqueror's Haki on the sea…"
Marco's scalp tingled, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. It had been a long time since he had seen anyone with Conqueror's Haki rival his father. Only a small number of strong veteran crew members remained fully awake on the deck.
"Gulala! Such an astonishing spirit that I didn't expect, little Shano!"
Whitebeard laughed, striding forward. Each step caused the deck to tremble. The legend of the old times, the strongest man in the world, had excitement flashing in his eyes, as if he had finally found a worthy opponent.
"You're not bad either, Whitebeard," Shano said, taking a few steps forward, black hair fluttering. He looked directly at the legendary pirate, grinning, eyes filled with a desire to fight.
The two men's eyes met, as if a flash of lightning passed between them.
"Hey, hey, the atmosphere doesn't seem right, Marco!"
Joz's face changed. "It's okay to clash with Conqueror's Haki, but why do I feel like Dad and this guy want to spar?"
"Don't think so…" Marco smiled bitterly, took a few steps forward, put his hands to his mouth in a trumpet shape, and shouted:
"Hey! Dad! Stay calm! This is a guest, not an enemy. Besides, you just removed the bandage and changed the medicine yesterday. Your body may not be able to withstand this!"
"That's right!" Vista, who had just stepped off the speedboat, rushed toward them. "Please restrain yourself a little, Dad! Even if you're okay, the White Whale and the newcomers can't handle it!"
"Huh?" Marco was stunned. "Who are you?"
"I'm Vista! Idiot!" Vista was furious. "Isn't it just that you have no beard? Can't you recognize me? Be careful or I'll pull out your pineapple hair too!"
Whitebeard glanced at them and grinned, suppressing his aura. He sat back down, laughing.
"Don't worry, I know my limits. It's just been so long since I faced an opponent of this level, so it's inevitable I got agitated."
As the two emperors' auras dissipated, the air on the deck began to flow again.
"Come on, Shano! Let's drink!"
Whitebeard swung a large wine jug, producing an oversized wine glass from nowhere. "Drink to your heart's content! These are fine wines I've treasured for nearly twenty years! If you hadn't helped us, I wouldn't have given them!"
"Really? Then I'll obey."
Shano took the wine jug, smiling, and walked calmly toward Whitebeard. He took a seat in the center of the deck, clinked glasses with Whitebeard, and both drank deeply.
"Good wine indeed!"
"Hahaha, I wouldn't lie!"
The two Sea Emperors drank heartily, calming down and returning to a normal atmosphere. Marco and Joz exchanged a glance, breathing a sigh of relief.
Some pirates who had been stunned began to awaken, looking around in bewilderment.
"What just happened?"
"I thought I saw the sky split open. Was it an illusion?"
"Me too. Is this the power of the Sea Emperor? It's terrifying…"
The newcomers huddled together, trembling. The veterans rubbed their chests, heartbeats pounding, sharing lingering fear. This level of power clash was reminiscent of the day of the battle with Roger.
"Hey, Teach, are you okay?"
Thatch noticed something, squatted down, and patted Teach's shoulder. Teach was barely holding himself together, leaning against the railing, his face pale and bloodless.
"Thief… thief, hahaha…"
Teach looked at him, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, Captain Thatch. That guy had such a terrifying aura. I almost thought he was going to die…"
"You're a veteran, you shouldn't be so easily overwhelmed," Thatch said, a little surprised. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead, realization dawning. "Oh, I see…"
Had he overreacted?
Teach's eyes darkened, but then Thatch hugged him and laughed heartily.
"You haven't eaten since last night, have you? You must be starving, that's why you're so weak. The banquet is still being prepared in the kitchen. I'll go get you some food so you can fill your stomach first!"
"Hehe, did you find out? Captain, thank you for your help."
Teach forced a simple smile and scratched the back of his head. Only after Thatch left for the kitchen did the smile fade.
He wasn't actually hungry.
It was like not feeling sleepy even though he hadn't slept in a while. He didn't need to sleep; it was an innate gift. He himself wasn't entirely sure why, but he knew exactly why he wasn't hungry… it was because of that fruit.
Teach's gaze drifted involuntarily to the center of the deck.
The handsome, dark-haired boy, drinking and chatting cheerfully with his father, displayed such a gracious demeanor that Teach unconsciously clenched his fists hidden within his sleeves.
"It's all your fault…"
Afraid of being noticed, he glanced at him, then tilted his head, teeth clacking.
If it weren't for this guy… if it weren't for this guy who had produced the Fly Fruit, how could he have ended up like this!
He had no interest in regular delicacies, instead gravitating toward leftovers. Especially those that had spoiled, stank, and rotted in the heat—those became his special craving, his mouth watering at the mere sight of them.
For this reason, he had often sneaked into the kitchen, at dark and windy nights, to grab the slop bucket and pour it directly into his mouth. Once he started, he couldn't stop, even licking away the crumbs lingering on the edges.
At such moments, he felt both immense satisfaction and an immense surge of shame and anger.
However, that wasn't the worst part…
Every time he passed the restroom door, or even when he relieved himself, the pungent, distinct smell would cause him to rub his hands together, a surge of uncontrollable urges rising within him.
That level of desire… if his will wasn't strong enough, he might have actually done it!
"Thief, ha, ha, ha…"
Teach suddenly let out a nervous chuckle. He stared at Shano's back, then quickly moved away again, a cold, hateful glint in his eyes.
Just wait… just wait, Shano.
Whether it was intentional or not, whether he knew what that fruit was at the time or not… it would be fine if he couldn't obtain the Dark-Dark Fruit, but if that day ever came, Shano would truly become a powerful being standing at the pinnacle of the ocean.
Sooner or later, I'll make this guy experience this utter humiliation!
"Hey, over there."
Shano, who was chatting and laughing with Whitebeard, suddenly narrowed his eyes and turned his head, his gaze fixed across the noisy crowd at Teach.
"…"
Teach froze, forcing a quick, innocent smile. After glancing around, he pointed at himself. "Eh? Are you calling me, sir?"
"Of course it's you," Shano chuckled. "I remember you. You met me last time with Marco on Fishman Island, right? You ate a really bad fruit too. I'm responsible for that. As an apology, come and have a drink too?"
He casually tossed the wine jug over.
Teach quickly reached out to catch it, subconsciously shaking it. A little more than half the jug remained.
No one noticed that within the jug, a nearly transparent potion was now spreading silently through the wine, rapidly blending with the toss and catch.
The ripples dissipated, and calm returned.