Shanks listened to Teach's desperate plea for mercy with an unreadable expression. His heart remained completely unmoved, neither sympathetic nor disdainful.
He knew Teach well enough to not be surprised. A man like Teach, someone who had clawed his way to power through cunning and brutality, begging for his life when cornered was not unexpected.
Shanks himself was far from a saint.
Though he often appeared carefree and approachable, anyone who had sailed these seas long enough understood what kind of man a Yonko truly was. Once Shanks decided to eliminate an enemy, he showed absolutely no mercy.
The world only needed to remember what happened to the Kid Pirates.
When they recklessly challenged him, Shanks had erased them without hesitation, destroying their ship in an instant and ending everything they had built. In the New World, foolish ambition without strength only led to one conclusion.
Did people truly think the Yonko were weak old monsters waiting to fall?
If not for waiting on Lloyd's arrival, Shanks would have already ended Teach himself.
At times, wars between pirates were even crueler than conflicts between pirates and Marines.
Without another glance, Shanks turned away from Teach and headed toward the medical room.
He was going to see an old acquaintance.
Inside the ship's medical room, Edward Newgate lay motionless on a massive bed.
Beside him stood Benn Beckman's trusted physician, Hongou, carefully inserting needles into Whitebeard's body. Several medicine bags hung nearby, swaying gently with the movement of the ship.
After entering the room, Shanks looked at Whitebeard's frail condition and asked quietly,
"Hongou, how is Newgate doing?"
Hongou paused before replying,
"To be honest, his condition is terrible. Age, old wounds, and accumulated illnesses have completely broken his body. At best, all I can do now is keep him alive for one more week."
Shanks lowered his gaze.
A faint sigh escaped his lips.
"I never imagined the Whitebeard from back then would end up like this."
He folded his arms.
"If he were still fully conscious, he probably would have preferred dying in battle."
As if reacting to Shanks' voice, Whitebeard's eyelids twitched slightly.
But that was all.
Hongou adjusted another needle before speaking again.
"He may still have some awareness left."
His tone softened.
"Honestly, seeing him like this... it's hard not to feel something."
Shanks stepped closer to the bedside and looked down at the once mighty pirate.
Then, after a brief silence, he spoke slowly.
"It means the new era is finally arriving, doesn't it, Newgate?"
...
Night gradually fell across the sea.
On the deck, Shanks and the others gathered for dinner, enjoying the cool ocean breeze beneath the starry sky.
Only Charlotte Brulee remained inside the room, keeping Charlotte Chiffon company.
Teach and his crew had been tied up near the side of the ship.
A delicious meal had been placed before them. The aroma was rich, the presentation appealing, enough to make anyone hungry.
Yet none of them touched a single bite.
Because everyone knew exactly what this was.
Their last meal.
The mere thought of the Celestial Dragons arriving at any moment crushed whatever appetite Teach had left. Even his beloved cherry pie no longer tempted him.
Sometimes death itself was not the terrifying part.
The true torment came from waiting for it.
Minute after minute.
Second after second.
That endless anticipation slowly destroyed a person's spirit.
Meanwhile, on the opposite side of the deck, Shanks and his crew enjoyed dinner without concern.
Lucky Roux ripped off a massive chunk of grilled meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and spoke while chewing.
"So, why hasn't the boss's boss shown up yet?"
Everyone knew exactly who he meant.
Lloyd.
That was Lucky Roux's private nickname for him, and after hearing it so many times, nobody found it strange anymore.
Beside him, Benn Beckman exhaled smoke from his cigarette.
"Someone like him isn't free whenever he's called."
He glanced toward the sea.
"Besides, we're not in Marine territory. He probably can't just use his ability to arrive instantly."
Shanks had already drunk quite a bit.
His cheeks were slightly flushed as he lazily nodded.
"Exactly!"
He let out a loud burp before laughing.
"My big brother is the Fleet Admiral. He has mountains of work every day, hahaha! Being a pirate is way more relaxing."
He raised his drink dramatically.
"Poor big brother~"
Buggy instantly grimaced.
"If I were Lloyd, I'd punch you the moment I heard that."
Shanks casually wrapped an arm around Buggy's shoulders.
With an annoyingly smug grin, he leaned closer.
"Buggy, you're jealous, aren't you?"
His grin widened.
"Jealous that I've got such an amazing big brother?"
Buggy's nose turned red immediately.
"Stop acting so full of yourself!"
He pointed furiously.
"You shameless guy who lives off connections! Just because you're a Figarland doesn't mean you can do whatever you want!"
Shanks tilted his head innocently.
The look on his face said everything.
With Lloyd backing him?
Yeah.
He pretty much could.
Buggy rolled his eyes so hard they nearly flipped backward.
Clicking his tongue, he turned away and drank in silence.
He refused to waste another word on this shameless connections user.
Seeing Buggy's frustration only made Shanks laugh harder.
In another corner of the deck, Charlotte Katakuri quietly ate his donuts.
Yet his attention repeatedly drifted toward Brulee's room.
Though he said nothing, concern lingered heavily in his heart.
Especially after learning that Chiffon was pregnant earlier that afternoon.
A quiet sigh escaped him.
His future nephew would likely grow up without a father, just as he had.
Was this the curse of the Charlotte Family?
Children destined to lose their fathers?
More importantly, Chiffon genuinely cared for Teach.
If Teach died...
Could she endure the pain?
Just as Katakuri sank deeper into thought, a familiar voice echoed from above.
"Looks like everyone's eating well."
Katakuri froze.
Everyone on deck instinctively looked up.
Shanks immediately sprang to his feet.
"Big Brother!"
Above them, a figure hovered in the night sky.
It was Lloyd.
Arms crossed.
Expression indifferent.
Black wings moved gently behind him as he descended through the darkness, eventually landing firmly on the deck.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Teach's face turned deathly pale.
The last bit of hope inside him shattered.
He knew.
This time, he was truly finished.
Buggy immediately straightened his posture.
His face twitched nervously while his throat bobbed uncontrollably.
Shanks hurried over with a large barrel of wine, grinning brightly.
"Bro, you're finally here! I've been waiting all day!"
Lloyd glanced sideways at him.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"Hm. Unlike you, some of us are busy handling actual responsibilities."
Shanks froze.
"...Brother."
He swallowed nervously.
"You just got here, right?"
"That's right."
Lloyd's smile widened slightly.
"But your brother has very sharp ears."
He folded his arms.
"Otherwise, how would I hear my dear little brother complaining in the middle of the ocean?"
Shanks stiffened.
An awkward laugh escaped his mouth.
"Heh... heh..."
The sound resembled a duck choking.
Without another word, Lloyd took the wine barrel from Shanks' hands and drank directly from it.
After a long sip, his sharp gaze slowly shifted toward Teach and the others tied near the side of the ship.