A few days later, inside a bar on some Island.
Several idle civilians gathered around a table, loudly discussing the recent major events.
The bartender weaved between the tables, carrying drinks for the guests.
The topic of their conversation was the events that had taken place in Wano just days before.
"Who would've thought that Bob would reappear in our sights—and on Onigashima, no less!"
A pirate held an oversized mug in one hand and a freshly printed newspaper in the other.
"Shocking! The Long-Absent Bob Reappears!"
The day after Bob left Onigashima, Morgans, the president of the World News Co., received the news from his News Birds scouting across the world.
He immediately drafted the article that same day.
He knew that anything associated with the name "Bob" would inevitably cause a massive uproar across the world.
Sure enough, the newspaper sold out instantly upon release and spread like wildfire among the populace within days.
The copy in the pirate's hands was already one of countless reprints.
"Yeah! Kaido and Big Mom were there too! Along with Kid, Law, Straw Hat and the others!" A bearded man nearby chimed in.
"Those rookie pirates—always acting high and mighty in the New World! Serves them right getting beaten up by Bob. Let's see if they still dare to strut around!"
"That's nothing. What's really important is that even the World Government's forces got involved, only to be wiped out by Bob in the end!"
"I feel like this could be the spark—maybe even a prelude to an all-out war!"
"An all-out war? That… would probably be even bigger than the Summit War!"
"Ah, well, these things are beyond us civilians. But after the battle on Onigashima, Kurozumi Orochi was killed, and Wano Country seems to have been completely liberated. I heard the samurai there are now cleaning up Orochi's remaining forces!"
"So Wano's going to be restored, huh?"
"..."
The pirates in the bar chattered back and forth, discussing the events on Onigashima and speculating about the aftermath of the battle.
Bob's reappearance resonated deeply with the common folk.
Though they had never truly interacted with him, just hearing of his deeds gave these people—oppressed under the World Government's current order—a sense of solace.
Without a doubt, after the battle on Onigashima, the liberation of Wano Country elevated Bob's reputation to new heights.
This was the first major uproar Bob had stirred worldwide in the two years since the Summit War.
At the same time, many speculated whether his sudden reappearance signaled his intent to openly challenge the World Government again after two years of silence.
And whether, after killing the World Government's agents, he would ignite an even greater war.
*****
Meanwhile, in an uncharted stretch of the New World…
A massive pirate ship was slowly sailing across the sea, its hull resembling a giant whale, with a flag fluttering on the deck bearing a white skull and an unmistakably large beard.
This was the Moby Dick, the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Inside one of the ship's cabins, Whitebeard sat at a large table, his body connected to numerous IV tubes.
After the Summit War, he had continued sailing the seas with his crew, but as time passed, his body grew increasingly frail.
Seated across from Whitebeard was another man, holding a barrel of alcohol as he gazed at the legendary pirate.
"I know my body well!"
"This isn't about drinking or not drinking!"
Though tethered to IV lines, Whitebeard's face showed no trace of suffering—only a serene smile.
He understood his condition perfectly.
Against the passage of time, nothing could hold out forever.
Except, of course, Bob!
"Not drinking could buy you a few more years!" Bob said sternly, setting the barrel down on the floor.
He then pulled out a pot of freshly brewed tea, poured it into a cup and slid it towards Whitebeard.
"Drink tea! Nourish yourself! This is the proper leisurely life for an old man!"
"Gurararara!"
"Who'd have thought someone like you would drink this stuff!"
"And you always act so damn serious!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily at the offered tea but made no move to take the cup.
For him, nothing but alcohol was worth tasting.
"I heard you went to Onigashima recently?"
"How's that Straw Hat Kid's strength?" Whitebeard wasn't interested in Bob's recent activities but asked this instead.
"Not bad."
"Probably just about at Emperor-level, I'd say." Bob swirled the steaming cup in his hand before taking a sip.
"Gurararara!"
"As expected of a descendant of the D. clan! To reach Emperor-level at such a young age!"
"Ace better step up his training, or his little brother will surpass him!" Whitebeard roared with laughter at Bob's words.
To think Luffy had only been sailing the New World for such a short time, yet his strength already rivaled the Emperors'.
Even in the era of Rocks, he would've been an extraordinary genius.
"He awakened his fruit and transformed." Bob raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
As the Child of the World, it'd be stranger if he wasn't a genius!
"Edward, do you know Joy Boy?" Studying Whitebeard's increasingly aged face, Bob suddenly asked.
"Joy Boy?" Whitebeard frowned, deep in thought, before finally shaking his head.
"Why? Is he important?"
"A great man from 800 years ago." Bob said, "Supposedly, he was fated to liberate the entire world."
"Liberate the entire world? You mean you're Joy Boy ?" Whitebeard's expression changed drastically, as if he had heard something astonishing.
He sprang up from his chair in an instant, causing the IV bag on the stand to clatter noisily.