"Hey, did you guys hear? Newgate has appeared on the Grand Line."
On an unnamed island in the New World, a group of men relaxed by the shore. Their leader, a man with a wide grin, burst into laughter.
"Yeah, I heard. He's got a bunch of kids with him," replied a handsome middle-aged man with golden hair, smirking.
"Newgate's dream is to have a family. I heard those kids are his family—Golollolo, he's become a dad!" Roger's laughter boomed across the beach.
"Everyone sails out to sea for their dreams. Newgate's dream just happens to be different," Rayleigh mused. "Former members of the Rocks Pirates are already making waves across the sea again."
"Hahaha! I can't wait to meet him again. I wanna see what his 'family' is like!" Roger grinned.
"What's so interesting about a bunch of brats?" Scopper Gaban shook his head.
"Still, I'm looking forward to it."
News spread across the world that the Whitebeard Pirates had appeared in Water 7, causing a commotion and clashing with the Marines.
At the same time, in Water 7, Roy was furiously scolding Whitebeard and the others.
"I told you guys already, the Marine HQ is close to here. We were supposed to lay low until the ship was ready, and you've gone and caused trouble everywhere. Now the marines are on our tails!" Roy roared at Whitebeard and his crew.
Despite being the smallest in the group, Roy's authority was absolute. The others—even Whitebeard—stood with their heads bowed like scolded children.
A month earlier, they had arrived in Water 7. Roy had sought out Tom and commissioned a massive new ship with their 500-million-berry budget.
Tom accepted the job, designing the Moby Dick according to Whitebeard's vision.
With only Tom working on it, it would take a month to complete. Roy had them stay on the island, but word soon spread about special nearby islands, like the Gourmet Capital and Saint Poplar Island, so Whitebeard took the kids to explore.
But somehow, they ended up clashing with the Marines, defeating a Vice Admiral… and then Admiral Sengoku showed up, leading to a battle.
Whitebeard and the others were forced to retreat, fleeing back to Water 7.
"What do we do now? The Marines have the island surrounded," Marco muttered.
"Wait here. I'll negotiate with Marines," Roy said coldly.
"Negotiate? With the Marines? How?" Whitebeard frowned.
"By using the lives of everyone in Water 7 as leverage."
"WHAT?!" Whitebeard's eyes widened.
"Relax. It's just a bluff. The ship will be ready tonight—we leave then."
"Really? It's done?" Whitebeard perked up.
"You're such a hands-off captain. Can you show a little more concern?" Roy scolded him loudly.
No one else would dare treat the legendary pirate like this—but Roy had always been the exception.
"Wait here. I'm going to negotiate with the Marines."
Roy took a deep breath and marched toward the docks, Whitebeard following behind.
At this moment, the Marines had completely surrounded Water 7. More and more warships were arriving as time passed.
At the helm stood Admiral Sengoku from Marine HQ.
"Admiral! Whitebeard has come out," a marine soldier who was watching the dock shouted back to Sengoku.
Sengoku—his afro unmistakable—stood and strode to the front artillery deck.
Even without binoculars, he could see Whitebeard… and the small figure at his feet.
"Sengoku!" Whitebeard's voice boomed across the water.
"Newgate," Sengoku replied, watching him carefully, always on guard.
"Bring the ship closer."
The Marine vessel advanced, stopping a few dozen meters from shore.
"Let us leave, Sengoku."
"Not a chance," Sengoku replied firmly.
"Do you really want to see all of Water 7 sink into the ocean?" Whitebeard warned.
Sengoku's expression darkened. "What are you implying?"
"You know my power. If you're determined to keep me here, I won't back down. Think about it, how many people will have to die just to keep me here? At the very least, Water 7 will be buried underwater. The Marines will also pay a heavy price. Think carefully, Sengoku," said Whitebeard.
"Are you threatening me, Newgate?!" Sengoku gritted his teeth.
"This isn't a threat. It's a negotiation. I haven't caused any real destruction. As long as the Marines stand down, I won't retaliate," said Whitebeard.
"You're a pirate. It's the Marines' duty to capture you!" Sengoku insisted.
"Then tell me—what will it cost you to take me down? Just you… alone?" Whitebeard retorted.
Sengoku's face twisted. Admiral Zephyr was on leave, visiting his son. And Garp had rushed to the New World after hearing rumors of Roger's reappearance there.
Fleet Admiral Kong was occupied at HQ.
Sengoku was the only top-tier Marine combatant here.
And he knew, after their last clash earlier, that he couldn't defeat Whitebeard alone. Not without catastrophic collateral damage.
"You know you can't stop me, Sengoku. I'll leave for the New World today. You know I don't attack civilians or Marines unprovoked."
Sengoku gritted his teeth. He did know Sengoku had fought Whitebeard for years. Whitebeard wasn't like other pirates. But that didn't mean he was willing to just let Whitebeard go.
However, the Marines' current forces weren't enough. Sengoku knew he couldn't take down Whitebeard alone. Worse yet, Whitebeard had grown even stronger. If they really went all out, Water 7 might not just be sunk—the entire surrounding sea could be devastated. Even the nearby Enies Lobby would be hit by a tsunami.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
While Sengoku was hesitating, a nearby warship—no one knew when it had arrived—suddenly fired its cannons.
Three cannonballs roared through the air, heading straight for Whitebeard and Roy.
"WHO FIRED?!" Sengoku roared angrily.
Whitebeard's eyes narrowed. He raised a fist—
CRACK!
And shattered the air itself.
The shockwave obliterated the cannonballs mid-flight and kept going, hurtling toward the offending Marine ship.
Sengoku saw who was on that ship: a Vice Admiral aligned with the World Government, someone he didn't get along with.
As the shockwave slammed into the ship, Sengoku did nothing. He just watched coldly.
That Vice Admiral arrogantly drew his blade to resist the shockwave.
BOOM!
But his strength was no match for Whitebeard's. He and the entire warship beneath him were shattered by the quake.
"Idiot. Did he really think he could face that kind of attack?" Sengoku scoffed. But when he turned back, Whitebeard was already gone.
"Tch. I don't believe you won't show yourself again. Surround the island!"