At the premium hot springs resort in Marine Headquarters…
"Yeah?" Mike answered the Den Den Mushi, his voice a lazy drawl.
Kalifa, dressed in a light, comfortable yukata with water droplets and foam still glistening on her fair arms, was kneading his back with the perfect amount of pressure.
After the call with Jinbei, Mike had a feeling his Den Den Mushi wouldn't be quiet for long.
So, he'd made a practical adjustment, replacing the resort's attendant with one of his own.
With CP9's Kalifa handling his massage, taking sensitive calls was far more convenient, with no risk of eavesdroppers.
No matter how busy things got, a man had to have his indulgences.
"Kid, it's me," Whitebeard's deep voice rumbled through the receiver.
It was heavy with an unmistakable exhaustion, but beneath it was a powerful, unbreakable resolve.
"I need your help."
"Help.... you?" Mike's eyes narrowed slightly, his tone laced with amusement.
"Whitebeard, you're a pirate. I'm a Marine. Our allegiances are a bit different, wouldn't you say? Don't waste your breath if you're about to plead for Ace's life. I already warned you back on Fish-Man Island."
"..."
A heavy silence hung on the other end of the line.
He knew Mike was right.
The kid had warned him, told him to be wary of Blackbeard and to recall Ace.
He hadn't taken it seriously enough at the time.
Now…
"It was my mistake," Whitebeard admitted freely, his voice tinged with a bitter self-reproach.
"I got careless. That brat Teach has grown into a real threat."
"..." Mike stayed silent and simply listening.
He knew this wasn't just a call to admit his mistakes.
Nearby, Kalifa, who had been curiously watching Mike take the call, froze.
When she heard the name "Whitebeard" from the receiver, her body jolted, and her beautiful eyes widened in utter disbelief.
Her mind was roiling with shock.
'Whitebeard! That's Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors! The man they call the "Strongest in the World"!'
He was personally calling Captain Mike?
And from his tone, it sounded almost like… pleading?
He was even admitting his own mistakes? How was this possible?!
In that moment, Kalifa felt an overwhelming sense of validation.
To make an existence like Whitebeard personally call for help, to make him admit fault… just what kind of terrifying figure had she and the rest of CP9 sworn their loyalty to?
Beyond the shock, her heart swelled with an indescribable excitement.
They had made the right choice.
This "thigh" they were clinging to was far thicker and more powerful than she had ever imagined.
With that thought, Kalifa's massage became even more gentle, her every movement dedicated and focused, as if afraid to disturb the monumental conversation unfolding before her.
"Kid, I know you're no ordinary Marine," Whitebeard's voice came again, slow and deliberate.
"Let's make a deal. A deal that will shape the future of this entire sea."
"Oh? I'm listening," Mike responded, his interest genuinely piqued.
"My territories in the New World—I'll give them all to you."
"All of them?"
"All of them. This war… that old fox Sengoku is pulling the strings. It won't be easy for me to walk away in one piece. Rather than let those territories fall into the hands of the other Emperors, I'd rather give them to you. At the very least, I know you'll ensure the safety of the people on those islands." He was recalling Mike's actions on Fish-Man Island.
He knew he could trust the kid with his legacy.
"And the condition?"
"Just one," Whitebeard's voice turned grave.
"I want you to protect… my children."
"You mean… Marco and Ace?"
"That's right. I don't have much time left, but those kids are still young. They have long roads ahead of them."
"Saving them won't be so simple," Mike reminded him coolly.
"..." Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, but his heart settled.
He said it won't be easy, not that it's impossible.
That meant the kid had a way, but his current offer wasn't enough to seal the deal.
"Gurararara…" A low, rumbling laugh, laced with a tragic heroism, echoed from the Den Den Mushi.
Whitebeard had made his final decision.
"I'll personally convince Marco to join the Seven Warlords. As for me, Edward Newgate… I'm just an old relic of a bygone era. I will pay the price for my mistakes."
He laid out his final bargaining chips.
"The Marines will have taken down one of the Four Emperors—a great victory for Sengoku. Marco, the right-hand man of an Emperor, will have voluntarily joined the Warlords—a great propaganda win for the World Government. Afterward, he and the others will continue to protect my islands, but as Warlords, they will, in reality, answer only to you. This is everything I can offer. I trust you, Kid. I need your promise."
"Pfft…" Mike exhaled a slow stream of cigar smoke.
The white haze mingled with the steam from the hot springs, completely obscuring his expression.
Beside him, Kalifa's fingers had paused mid-motion.
She held her breath, her beautiful eyes locked on Mike, brimming with a mixture of awe and intrigue.
My god… Whitebeard needs the Captain's promise! To be hearing this so casually… does this mean I'm truly one of his own people now?
A warmth surged through her heart, a thrilling, exhilarating feeling.
What will he decide?
Mike's thoughts raced.
The old man was dead set on dying, trading his own life for the future of his crew.
It was a masterful political move.
Sengoku gets his victory.
The World Government gets their legitimacy.
And as for him…
He would get Whitebeard's entire resource-rich territory in the New World, massively expanding his influence.
He'd gain Marco and the other commanders, strengthening his forces and securing his New World operations.
The New Marine could justifiably establish another major stronghold.
This wasn't just a win-win.
This was an absolute jackpot.
A slow, profound smile curled the corners of Mike's lips.
"Whitebeard."
"I'll play this grand performance with you."