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A pirate ship bearing the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates cut steadily across the sea.
Silence lingered on deck.
A group of imposing pirates stood firm, their eyes fixed on the distant horizon where several chaotic pirate ships drifted aimlessly, each flying different flags, yet none offering any response.
At the forefront stood a burly, bearded man with two Western longswords at his waist. He was none other than Vista, known across the seas as Flower Sword, Captain of the 5th Division of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Vista stroked his curved black mustache, his brows knitting slightly.
"They still have not responded after all this time?"
His tone carried a hint of confusion.
"Could it be that the God King is wary of our status as one of the Four Emperors?"
Beside him stood Vice Captain Johnson, a swordsman who also wielded a Western longsword. His expression was serious as he spoke in a low voice.
"Captain, could there be some misunderstanding? Does the God King not intend to meet us?"
Vista slowly shook his head.
"That should not be the case. Considering the friendship between the God King and Pops, even if we arrived unannounced, he would not refuse to see us."
Among the captains of the Whitebeard Pirates, Vista was one of the few who knew the truth.
Edward Newgate was already dead.
Because of that, he had no objection to Portgas D. Ace temporarily leading the crew in his place.
Yet recently, an unsettling rumor had begun to spread throughout the crew.
It claimed that Whitebeard had been gravely injured during the Marineford War and was now unable to move freely. Worse still, the rumor accused Ace, along with Marco, of manipulating Whitebeard to control the entire crew for their own ambitions.
When Vista first heard this, his anger had been immediate.
"A bunch of fools."
His voice had been cold, filled with restrained fury.
"Just as the God King predicted, with Pops absent for so long, the ambitions buried in certain hearts can no longer be contained."
Even so, this was a family matter.
The Whitebeard Pirates were not like other crews. They called each other family, and most of them trusted one another deeply.
But suspicion, once planted, spread like a hidden disease.
It remained invisible in calm times, but once it erupted, it could tear everything apart.
At the same time, the rapid rise of Blackbeard Pirates placed even more pressure on them. Their growing influence showed signs of replacing Whitebeard's dominance.
Many within the crew, still furious over Marshall D. Teach killing a comrade, began directing their anger toward Ace. They called him incompetent, blaming him for allowing the traitor to roam free.
Some even demanded to see Whitebeard, hoping to rally the crew under his name to eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates once and for all.
Even a few captains supported this idea.
Those who knew the truth found themselves in a difficult position.
Whitebeard's body could still be controlled by Shirogai, but involving him in internal disputes felt wrong.
After all, things had changed.
Shirogai was no longer the pirate he once was.
Now, he stood as the God King, a figure whose power shook the entire world. His ability to manipulate life and death alone was enough to instill fear across the seas. On top of that, he commanded a force comparable to the World Government.
If they relied on him to solve internal matters, then who truly owned the Whitebeard Pirates?
Would they still belong to Whitebeard's sons?
Or would they become part of Shirogai's domain?
Even if they trusted his character, the speed at which the world had changed during his silence made such concerns unavoidable.
Several captains, including Vista, were wary of his overwhelming power.
Deep within his heart, Vista held unwavering respect for Whitebeard.
Unless absolutely necessary, he could not accept the idea of Whitebeard's body being controlled by anyone else.
Even if it was Shirogai.
To him, it felt like a desecration.
Yet reality offered no alternatives.
None of them had reached Whitebeard's level of strength. They could not announce his death to the world. For now, they still needed his name to deter the other Emperors and the World Government.
In recent months, Vista had thrown himself into relentless battles, challenging powerful opponents wherever he could find them.
He had no ambition to become the world's greatest swordsman.
Nor did he care about competing with Ace for leadership.
All he wanted was strength.
Strength enough to protect Whitebeard's legacy.
Strength enough to let Whitebeard finally rest.
This sea was their territory.
On this particular day, Vista had planned to visit a nearby Marine base, hoping to encounter one of the newly appointed Admirals.
A battle against such opponents would undoubtedly sharpen his skills.
But shortly after setting sail, cannon fire echoed across the horizon.
It came from the direction of the Sound Country.
Realizing that someone was trespassing in their territory, Vista's expression darkened, and he immediately ordered the crew to change course.
Soon after, scouts in the outer waters reported the identity of the intruder.
The God King.
Shirogai.
Those seemingly scattered and unremarkable pirate ships ahead all belonged to his fleet.
Vista narrowed his eyes.
"Strange. By all logic, his forces should be in the White Sea above..."
Despite his confusion, a new thought surfaced in his mind.
Perhaps this encounter was not a coincidence.
Perhaps it was an opportunity.
He wanted to ask Shirogai one question.
How could he break past his limits?
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