This time, unlike before, the presence of Good—the Reckless Maniac Admiral who didn't fear consequences—had forced both Yonko crews to act far more discreetly.
Deep in the forest of an uninhabited island, one renowned figure after another appeared.
Marco, Jozu, Ben Beckman… All of them were commander-level powerhouses. Any one of them could easily found a pirate crew that would be a major headache for the Marines.
The two sides came to a stop, about a hundred meters apart, maintaining a cautious distance.
And there, Whitebeard and Red-Hair finally came face to face.
Red-Hair tossed a massive gourd of wine toward Whitebeard and teased, "Who would've thought that two of the sea's emperors would one day have to meet in secret like this?"
"This is just shameful."
Whitebeard caught the wine gourd casually and snorted, "This isn't so bad. You young punks love making a big scene. Me? I've come to prefer staying low-key."
As he spoke, he uncorked the gourd and gave it a sniff, immediately frowning.
"Brat! This stuff is trash! No sincerity at all. Nowhere near as good as my wine."
Despite the complaint, Whitebeard still tilted his head back and glug-glugged it down.
Red-Hair shook his head helplessly. Says it's bad wine, yet drinks it down without hesitation.
He didn't argue and instead grinned, "Whitebeard, if you agree to one thing, I'll bring you all the good wine you want."
Whitebeard had already finished the wine in just a few moments.
He shot Red-Hair a sharp glance and said seriously, "Then get on with it. This old man's time is precious."
Red-Hair's expression turned somber. "Whitebeard… I ask that you recall Ace."
"…Huh?"
Whitebeard's brows furrowed deeply, his voice already carrying a note of displeasure. "And what if I say no?"
His voice carried the full weight of his authority, but Red-Hair didn't back down.
"I've been through countless battles. My body's covered in scars…" he began.
Whitebeard stayed silent, watching him closely.
Red-Hair pointed to the three claw marks over his left eye. "But only this one still aches."
"The one who gave me this scar… is your man, Blackbeard—Teach!"
Whitebeard remained quiet, his gaze steady.
"I wasn't careless. That guy was biding his time from the very beginning. He never sought fame, never fought for a commander position—just waited in the shadows until he had the power… and then he acted."
Red-Hair's tone grew heavy. His eyes deepened as he looked at Whitebeard and spoke each word carefully:
"He's aiming for the very top. With his own twisted will… he'll come back for your throne."
Whitebeard finally responded, his voice steady. "So what is it you really want from me?"
"Stop Ace," Red-Hair said firmly. "Please."
Whitebeard suddenly burst into laughter. "You idiot! Who the hell do you think you are to lecture me?! You're a hundred years too early!"
"Teach broke our most sacred rule. He raised his hand against his own crewmate. And for that… he must pay the price!"
Red-Hair met his gaze, but Whitebeard didn't flinch.
The two stood in tense silence.
In the end, Red-Hair gave a bitter sigh. He understood now—the request had failed.
Whitebeard would never recall Ace.
"This era running wild… no one can stop it anymore," Red-Hair muttered before turning to leave.
Behind him, Whitebeard showed no concern. "There's nothing to fear! I am Whitebeard!!"
And with that, the first secret meeting between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Red-Hair Pirates came to an end.
…
Time passed quickly.
Several days later, Akainu, Kizaru, Good, and Gion (Momousagi) finally returned to Marineford.
The moment they set foot on the deck, they were greeted by a massive crowd of excited Marines.
Gion frowned. "What's going on? Why are all these soldiers here?"
Good waved it off casually. "Who knows? Probably some celebration or something!"
Gion: …
Celebration? In the Marine headquarters? She really didn't know what to say anymore.
But after spending these last few days with Good, she was… getting used to it.
At that moment, the Marines spotted Good and instantly burst into cheers.
"It's the Reckless Maniac Admiral! He's back!"
"So that's Admiral Good? He really does look like a beast!"
"He defeated Whitebeard, of course he's a beast!"
"Whitebeard—the strongest man alive, a mountain looming over the Marines for years—has finally been shaken!"
"All thanks to Admiral Good!"
"He's our hero! The new hero of the Marines!"
…
The crowd surged toward Good like a tidal wave.
Akainu, annoyed by the chaos, released his overwhelming Admiral-level presence. The soldiers immediately froze, terrified, and backed off.
Akainu left without another word.
Kizaru, on the other hand, simply pursed his lips and muttered, "Yo~"
He was a little surprised by the reaction. Just a few days had passed, and yet Good had already become a Marine idol.
Gion was shoved and jostled in the chaos, utterly speechless.
"Do you all have no discipline?! This is still working hours! What kind of behavior is this?!"
But her words fell on deaf ears. The soldiers continued swarming Good, showering him with praise and congratulations.
And that's when Gion realized something unsettling.
In just this short period, Good had gained more influence among the Marines than she—someone who had served for years and was once a top candidate for Admiral.
It wouldn't be surprising if he were considered the next Fleet Admiral someday…
Though after thinking about it more, she shook her head.
That's impossible. After all… sometimes his brain just doesn't work right…
…
After finally escaping the crowd, Good and Gion walked through the corridors and soon arrived at the Fleet Admiral's office.
Gion paused, preparing to announce their arrival and wait for permission.
But before she could say a word, Good pushed the door open, laughing loudly.
"Fleet Admiral! I'm back! Mission complete!"
Gion froze for a moment, then sighed and followed him inside, swallowing her formal greeting.
And then… her eyes widened in surprise.
Inside the room… sat two unexpected figures.
Blackbeard.
And Ace.
…
(End of Chapter)
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