At that moment, aboard the Moby Dick, the Whitebeard Pirates were filled with confusion. None of the division commanders understood why their "old man" had suddenly ordered the ship to rush toward this remote stretch of sea.
This area wasn't under the control of any of the Four Emperors. It was a vast, desolate ocean with barely a handful of islands — and those that existed were home to ancient nations that had long refused to join the World Government.
As the ship drew nearer to their designated destination, Whitebeard — Edward Newgate — finally revealed their true purpose.
"What!? Both Teach and Ace have fallen into Souta Kiryuu's hands!?"
"Souta Kiryuu wants us to attack a key island controlled by the World Government before he'll release Ace?"
"That bastard Souta Kiryuu! He actually dares to threaten our old man!?"
The commanders burst into a heated uproar, their anger flaring. The idea that anyone would dare use Whitebeard's family as leverage was intolerable.
Originally, they'd even felt a trace of respect for Kiryuu — the man bold enough to kill a Celestial Dragon and defy the World Government itself. But now, that respect was gone.
"Gurararara! We'll deal with Souta Kiryuu later," Whitebeard laughed heartily, his deep voice echoing across the deck. "First, we get Ace back."
That booming laughter, filled with effortless confidence, instantly calmed the crew. As long as their old man was here, there was nothing to fear.
"Yeah! Rescue Ace first — then we'll settle things with Souta Kiryuu afterward!"
The cry spread across the giant white whale ship, the men shouting with fearless unity.
"Hah! That bastard Teach is in Kiryuu's hands too! This time we'll make him pay for Thatch's death!"
"Attacking a key World Government island? Sounds exciting enough to me!"
"Hey, Pops — you think Kiryuu himself will show up there?"
The crew buzzed with energy. Every man was fired up — eager to save Ace, and more than ready to face Kiryuu and Teach afterward.
"That island he mentioned must hold something Kiryuu wants," Whitebeard said in a low, steady tone. "If that's true, he'll definitely show up."
Even now, Whitebeard didn't know much. He had simply followed the eternal pose Kiryuu had sent.
Marco the Phoenix was about to ask another question when something caught his eye. He froze, staring toward the eastern sky.
Whitebeard and the commanders followed his gaze — and there, in the distance, a dark speck appeared against the clouds.
"Is that Souta Kiryuu's airship?"
"That bastard finally shows himself?"
"No, wait… that ship's too big! You can see it clearly even from here!"
"Hold on — that looks like… the Golden Lion Shiki's floating fortress!!"
The realization spread across the deck like wildfire.
"Shiki, that lunatic, is here too!?"
Whitebeard took a deep breath, his face darkening. Could it be that even the Golden Lion had been forced or manipulated by Souta Kiryuu?
What was on that island that made Kiryuu pull so many strings — even enough to provoke the World Government?
"Pops," Marco said, his voice grim. "During the Sorbet Kingdom war, Shiki fought alongside Kaido, Big Mom, and even the Revolutionary Army. You think this is another one of Kiryuu's setups — maybe another war?"
The thought weighed heavy. At first, they'd assumed Kiryuu simply wanted them to storm a heavily guarded island. But now it seemed far more complicated.
Rescuing Ace might mean clashing directly with the full might of the Navy and the World Government.
Marco's worry deepened as he looked at Whitebeard's frail body. The old man wasn't like Kaido or Big Mom — he couldn't fight recklessly anymore. Even a normal battle took a toll on his health, worsening the sickness that plagued him.
Meanwhile, aboard the massive airborne fortress, the Golden Lion Shiki had also noticed the familiar shape of the Moby Dick below.
"That damn Kiryuu! What the hell is he playing at? Why's Newgate here!?" Shiki snarled. "Don't tell me that fool's after Pluton too!?"
The Golden Lion clenched his jaw. "That little brat's breaking the rules — calling in multiple monsters at once! What, does he think he can eat the whole damn cake himself!?"
It made no sense. Newgate — a man who lived only for his crew — had never cared for power or ancient weapons. The thought of him being lured here for Pluton was absurd.
"Jihahahaha! Fine then! I'll see for myself what the old man's doing here!"
With that, Shiki barked out an order to approach the Moby Dick. He wanted a word with his old rival — face to face.
Far above, on a sea of clouds, Big Mom — Charlotte Linlin — rode her thundercloud, Zeus. Her sharp eyes caught sight of a massive azure dragon soaring through the skies in the distance, a dark figure flying beside it.
"Mamamama! Kaido!!" she shouted, grinning with all her teeth.
With her "little brother" Kaido nearby, no scheme of Souta Kiryuu's could possibly threaten her.
"Wororororo! You old hag! You showed up too!?" Kaido bellowed, his laughter rumbling through the heavens. "Heh, this is getting interesting!"
Kaido cast a cold look toward Big Mom. Because she had once given him the Azure Dragon Fruit, he owed her a massive debt — one she never let him forget.
Every meeting was the same: she'd call him her "little brother," laughing about the favor she'd done him. It drove him insane.
"Kaido!" Big Mom yelled back. "What did Souta Kiryuu use to lure you here!?"
If not for Kiryuu's message about Sister Carmel's whereabouts, she never would've come rushing so recklessly. She didn't believe a word about "ancient texts" or "the Pluton battleship."
"I came for war, old hag!" Kaido roared with glee. "Seeing you here just proves that brat wasn't lying!"
War. The word made Big Mom's expression twist. Kaido's purpose was far simpler than hers — and far more dangerous.
It suddenly struck her that maybe, just maybe, they had all been fooled by Souta Kiryuu once again.
"Hmph! Out of my way, woman!" Kaido barked. "Abel, let's move!"
Without waiting for her response, Kaido and his lieutenant, the Blazing Calamity King, surged ahead toward the island Kiryuu had designated.
Moments later, a shadow dropped from the sky — the Golden Lion himself descending from his flying island.
"Jihahaha! Newgate, you've changed, old friend!" Shiki said, landing heavily on the Moby Dick's deck, a cigar between his teeth. "Come on, tell me — you're here for Pluton too, aren't you? Don't tell me this is just a coincidence."
Whitebeard glared back coldly. "Pluton? I don't know what the hell that is. I'm here to bring back my son."
His voice was low but edged with fury. It was clear now — Souta Kiryuu had used more than one trick to summon these monsters of the sea to the same battleground.