New World!
Moby Dick!
"Jinbe, stop thinking about it. Even I don't mind, so why do you?"
Whitebeard couldn't help but scold Jinbe, who seemed distracted after drinking.
"That's right, Jinbe!"
Jozu, standing nearby, raised a cup of sake and clinked it with Jinbe's.
"Indeed, Pops doesn't mind, so why should you?"
A strong arm rested on Jinbe's shoulder. Thatch also took out a cup of sake and clinked it with Jinbe's.
This person was Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander, who had not yet been ambushed and killed by Blackbeard Teach.
"I understand, Pops!"
Gulp, gulp!
He picked up his beer and chugged it down.
He didn't say why he was worried. He was afraid that if he voiced his concerns, it might displease them.
He was worried about Marco's safety!
He always felt that Esdeath was no ordinary person. Even he wasn't confident he could win against Esdeath, especially underwater!
"Pops! Pops!"
A man with a panicked expression suddenly ran frantically from the deck, holding a newspaper in his hand.
"Gurararara, what's wrong, my dear son? Did you see news about Marco?"
"Yes! And no. Never mind, Pops, just read it yourself!"
The crewmate's expression was complex. He didn't know how to explain it, so he just handed the newspaper to Whitebeard.
"No need! Just read it out loud!"
Whitebeard was confident in Marco's strength. How could news about Marco be bad news?
It would be better to just read it out loud and let everyone enjoy themselves.
The man's expression fluctuated between sunny and cloudy. He was hesitant, unsure whether to read it or not.
Jinbe seemed to have guessed something, and his expression also became serious.
"Zehahahahaha! What's wrong? If you can't read, let me!"
A plump, dark figure took the newspaper from the male pirate's hand and read it carefully. He was still a little interested in that Marine.
"Teach, then you read it!"
Whitebeard glanced at the pirate who didn't know whether to speak or not, and didn't bother with such a small matter.
"Impossible!"
Just one look, and Teach's face changed. This change was significant; everyone seemed to realize something was wrong.
"Don't panic! Read it out, Teach!"
Whitebeard frowned. Had something unexpected happened?
"Yes, Pops!"
Teach's face became serious, and his heavy voice rang out as he slowly said: "Whitebeard First Division Commander Marco defeated by Marine Supernova Marine Rear Admiral Esdeath, severely wounded — fled!"
Word by word, his voice grew heavier, and everyone's expressions became grim.
The lively banquet fell silent, becoming tranquil.
"Could it be fake news concocted by the Marine?"
Jozu was unwilling to believe what was written in the newspaper and couldn't help but question it.
"No, it's real!"
The front page of the newspaper was flipped over!
It showed Marco, transformed into his human form, rolling in a pool of blood, his face filled with pain.
"Marco!"
Immediately, all of them looked at the image in the newspaper in disbelief. They had lived together for so long and had never seen Marco in such pain!
What unknown events had transpired?
"Pops!"
Everyone's eyes were bloodshot!
Even Whitebeard's heart clenched. How could this be?
Aside from encountering Garp and Sengoku, which Marine could possess such strength to defeat Marco?
"Marine!"
His happy smile vanished instantly, and Whitebeard's face darkened.
"Jinbe, did you leak the information!"
Jozu even turned his entire body to diamond, looking menacingly at the silent Jinbe.
Such injuries, except against those few individuals, were simply impossible to inflict, especially considering the Phoenix's characteristics.
It just didn't make sense!
"Bastard, how could it be Jinbe? He's right here now, how could he betray Marco?"
"Don't let hatred blind you!"
Whitebeard reprimanded Jozu with a stern face, but he was extremely unhappy right now.
"Pops, is that Captain Marco!"
As soon as Teach spoke, everyone looked towards the sky.
Marco, who was fluctuating up and down in the air, occasionally plummeting, finally returned to the New World.
"Sail the ship over!"
Upon seeing Marco, Whitebeard gave the command, and the ship sailed towards Marco's direction in the sky.
"P-Pops, and everyone!"
Marco, flying by sheer willpower, lost consciousness upon seeing the Moby Dick and plummeted straight down from the sky!
Whitebeard reacted quickly and caught Marco, immediately noticing the massive wound on his chest. His first reaction was to shout towards the ship: "Call the ship doctor!"
...
Suddenly, the entire world erupted!
Esdeath had once again shocked the entire world!
This news wasn't just about Esdeath and Marco's battle; even the location of the battle with Golden Lion was photographed.
The ice sea surface extending for an unknown distance and the hundreds of meters tall giant ice dragon on the sea surface!
The pitted and uneven ice surface!
"Marine Supernova Esdeath Repels Golden Lion Single-Handedly, Defeats Phoenix Marco!"
Countless people stared in disbelief at the news. Defeating Marco was one thing.
But who was the other person?
That was the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki, who was on par with Pirate King Roger and Four Emperors Whitebeard!
What did this signify?
It signified an unprecedented increase in Marine Esdeath's prestige!
The Marine's strength was steadily growing!
And it wasn't over yet!
Another piece of information also swept across the entire world in a short amount of time!
Fish-Man Island was incorporated into the Sabaody Archipelago, no longer residing in the 10,000-meter deep sea but coming to the surface!
The reason for this event was surprisingly also due to the efforts of that Marine named Esdeath!
The attention this event garnered was no less than the previous two events; in fact, it might have been even greater, as great pirates always existed.
But Fish-Man Island returning to the surface—this was the first time in hundreds of years anyone had heard news of Fish-Man Island coming to the surface!
Didn't that mean that if they were willing to spend some time to go to Shambles, they could see those legendary mermaids!
One event after another occurred, all stemming from one person, a Marine Rear Admiral!
Esdeath!
Among the common people, she was known as the legendary Navy Queen!
...
"Check System Shop!"
"Ding!"
"Do you wish to spend 5,000 Prestige to refresh the System Shop?"
Esdeath then remembered that she had forgotten to refresh the System Shop since her last purchase.
"Check my attributes."
"Ding!"
"Host: Esdeath
Abilities: Demon's Manifestation: Demon's Extract Advanced, Swordsman, Navy Six Styles Mastered, Conqueror's Haki Advanced, Dual Haki Intermediate, Sage Body, Zanpakuto — Hyōrinmaru!
Prestige: 455,555!"
-------------------------------
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