Chapter 41 — Part 3
After Whitebeard's words, the entire battlefield fell into heavy silence.
All eyes turned to Sengoku.
Pirates and figures from the underworld watching from afar felt greed rising inside them. They wanted the Marines to continue the fight — so Whitebeard could destroy them.
But Whitebeard himself thought differently.
He had not come here for war. He had wanted to celebrate with his sons. Yet when he saw Kaido and Big Mom's condition, he understood — if the Marines defeated two Emperors, the balance of the New World would collapse. The Yonko would appear weak. The world would shift too violently.
So he came not to fight — but to end the war.
Sengoku clenched his fist. He understood why Whitebeard had appeared.
He looked across the battlefield.
Bodies of Marine soldiers and officers who fought to the very end lay everywhere. His heart tightened in pain.
Garp stood beside him.
Sengoku looked at him.
Garp met his gaze and silently nodded. No words were needed.
Sengoku took a deep breath and shouted:
— All Marines! Lower your weapons! The battle is over!
A wave of relief spread across the battlefield. Weapons slowly lowered.
Only Akainu seemed ready to protest, but Kizaru placed a hand on his shoulder and slowly shook his head.
The Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates sighed in relief.
Kaido and Linlin carefully began retreating.
Katakuri and King lifted the frozen Cracker and Queen.
Whitebeard said nothing. He simply turned and returned to his ship.
When the pirates left, only the Marines remained.
Sengoku immediately began giving orders.
Medics were to treat the wounded.
The heavily injured were to be sent back to Marineford.
Akainu, Kizaru, Momonga, and Onigumo were ordered to return.
Sengoku, Garp, Aokiji, and several officers stayed behind to help.
Later, Sengoku quietly asked:
— Garp… did I make the right choice?
Garp, chewing on a cracker, replied:
— Yeah. You did the right thing ending the war.
With sadness in his voice, Sengoku said:
— But if we had continued… even with Whitebeard… we could have destroyed two Emperors.
Garp looked at him seriously:
— Yeah, we could have. But at what cost?
Akainu and Kizaru were badly injured. More soldiers would have died.
Were you ready to pay that price?
Sengoku stayed silent for several minutes.
Then he exhaled deeply.
— You're right… Thank you, Garp.
Garp burst out laughing:
— HA-HA-HA! Of course I'm right! I'm a genius!
Sengoku was about to smile when he suddenly shouted:
— Wait… that's my cracker!
— Don't be greedy, Sengoku! Learn to share with your friends!
And the two old friends began arguing again — as if no war had taken place.
But both of them knew…
Today, the world had changed.