New World, Foodvalten Island.
The island's residents were warmly entertaining the visiting members of the Whitebeard Pirates, expressing their gratitude for the crew's years of protection.
Among the various pirate territories across the New World, life within Whitebeard's domain was considered relatively peaceful.
In a world as cruel as the New World, it was already a miracle for ordinary people to survive—let alone live comfortably.
That was why, within the regions under pirate protection, Whitebeard was beloved by the people—or at least, appeared to be on the surface.
At that moment, Edward Newgate, the great Whitebeard himself, was sharing drinks with his "sons" at a grand feast, watching them laugh and celebrate with a smile of pure contentment.
This was the life he had always dreamed of—sailing across the seas with his family, enjoying joy and laughter every day.
Even the old pain in his heart had long been resolved. Now, he only needed to wait for Ace to grow stronger so he could pass the pirate crew to him.
Thinking that, Whitebeard's gaze drifted toward the young man who had fallen asleep mid-meal.
'Just a little longer,' he thought. 'I can still hold on a few more years… give my sons more time.'
"Pops! Pops! Big news!"
From above, Marco's anxious shout broke his thoughts, drawing an exasperated sigh from Whitebeard.
"Oi, Marco, don't ruin the mood! Everyone's having a good time here."
As the once-lively hall quieted down from Marco's words, Whitebeard muttered in mild annoyance.
"Pops, it's the Thunder God! He fought Red-Hair! Look!"
Marco retracted his phoenix form and landed beside Whitebeard, handing him a newspaper.
"Thunder God? The one who defeated Kaido?"
Awakened by the commotion, Ace leaned over curiously. He'd long admired that man.
When Ace had first set sail, the Thunder God's legend had already spread across the seas.
He'd always wanted to meet him for a spar—but it was easier said than done.
The man had a flying ship, always appearing and disappearing at will. No one ever knew where he would be.
Unless he came looking for you, it was nearly impossible to meet him.
"Yeah! That's him! This time, he beat Red-Hair!"
"The paper says he's on the verge of ruling the New World… that guy just can't stay out of the spotlight."
Marco's expression darkened slightly as he recalled the headlines.
That man only ever seemed to target Emperor crews like theirs. At this rate, wouldn't he come knocking on the Whitebeard Pirates' door next?
"Tch, they say he's not much older than me, yet he's defeated people as strong as Pops!"
"I really want to meet him!" Ace said, eyes blazing with excitement.
"Hey, Ace! Don't underestimate him! That man isn't someone you can take lightly!" Marco warned sternly.
"His rise was built on the bodies of the strongest! He's terrifyingly powerful!"
He couldn't let this reckless hothead provoke the Thunder God. The entire crew had high hopes for Ace—one rash move could lead to disaster.
"Gurararara…"
"Ruling the New World? He's a hundred years too early for that!"
Whitebeard raised his massive sake jar, taking a few hearty gulps before flashing a wild grin at Marco and Ace.
"You've got nothing to worry about. I'm the Whitebeard!"
"Gurararara!"
His thunderous laughter shook the hall, igniting the crowd in a frenzy. His "sons" looked at him with fiery devotion, shouting at the top of their lungs:
"Yaaaah!"
"Pops is the strongest!"
"Long live Pops!"
"Long live the Whitebeard Pirates!"
Waves of cheers erupted as the feast reached its peak.
Marco looked at the ecstatic crowd and shook his head helplessly.
"Ah… you guys never change."
"C'mon, Marco! No need to worry! With Pops around, the Whitebeard Pirates are the strongest!"
Ace threw an arm over Marco's shoulder and dragged him toward the table, laughing.
"Come on! Drink, drink!"
"Ace, you damn brat!"
...
Wano Country, Onigashima.
In contrast to Whitebeard's joyous scene, the atmosphere here was heavy and suffocating.
At the head of the hall, Kaido sat with a newspaper in his left hand and a dark expression on his face. His right hand unconsciously touched the deep scar piercing his abdomen.
Watching his captain's involuntary motion, King's lips twitched slightly. He couldn't help but marvel again at Kaido's monstrous resilience and his Mythical Zoan recovery rate.
When King had dragged Kaido's nearly lifeless body up from the depths of the sea, the man had looked like a charred corpse.
King had thought it was the end—yet here Kaido sat, alive and mostly healed except for that one brutal scar.
Such absurd regeneration truly made King believe that his captain was chosen by fate itself. Who else could survive such devastation?
As he silently reflected, Kaido suddenly burst into manic laughter.
"Worororororo!"
"Ruling the New World? That damned bastard?!"
He crushed the newspaper in his massive hand and threw it aside, his laughter laced with fury.
That insolent fool really had the nerve to go after Emperor-level fighters one by one—did he actually plan to dominate the seas?!
The memory of that storm-wreathed figure filled Kaido with unease.
That power of thunder… and those unpredictable methods.
He knew all too well—until he figured out how that man fought, he couldn't hope to beat him.
The thought made his mood even worse. He snatched Maria's sake jar and drank straight from it.
Below, the Beast Pirates' officers exchanged nervous glances. The rotund Queen kept glancing at Jack.
"Kaido's been so irritable since he got hurt… should I sing to calm him down?"
"You sing and we'll both die!"
The "Drought" Jack rolled his eyes hard. This idiot really had no self-preservation. Singing when Kaido's in a rage? He must have a death wish.
Nearby, Page One shivered, instinctively trying to make himself invisible.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his sister staring absentmindedly at the newspaper on the ground. He quickly nudged her.
'Now's not the time to space out! Do you want to die?!'
Ulti glared at her clueless little brother but couldn't help stealing glances at the paper again.
The report made her heart stir with excitement. Finally, there was news about them.
Still, she couldn't help frowning—why did those idiots always cause such chaos wherever they went?
'If only I were with them,' she thought wistfully. 'I could keep them in check… just like I keep this stupid brother of mine under control.'