"Ohh~" The Newkamas captured the scene perfectly, their eyes sparkling at the raw emotion on display.
Ignoring the catcalls and whistles, Sabo walked slowly into the interior of the warship, his heart finally at peace.
Step... step... step... At that moment, Whitebeard emerged from the center of the Moby Dick.
"Pops..." As he approached, the crew reflexively parted, creating a wide path for the legendary man.
Luffy gave a cheerful wave toward the giant. "Uncle Whitebeard, I'm heading out too!"
Whitebeard looked around at his sons, then glanced at the Revolutionary warship that was now a mere speck on the horizon. Finally, he fixed his gaze on Luffy.
"Gurararara... Brat... you said you wanted to be the Pirate King, didn't you?"
Luffy's playful grin slowly faded. He straightened his back, meeting Whitebeard's gaze with a level, unwavering stare. "That's right. The one who becomes Pirate King... will definitely be me!"
"Even if it's you, Uncle, I won't back down an inch!"
Luffy's voice was firm, resonant, and filled with a resolve that brooked no argument.
Gulp... The surrounding Whitebeard Pirates swallowed hard, a collective sense of unease washing over them.
"Pops..." Ace looked between the two with a worried expression. Even Jimbei and Kenshin felt their hearts skip a beat; the tension was becoming suffocating.
They won't actually start fighting here, will they? In the world of pirates, "common sense" meant nothing. Pirates were defined by their freedom to do exactly what they wanted, whenever they wanted. A clash between two kings wasn't just possible—it was often expected.
"Gurararara!"
The anger everyone feared didn't manifest. Instead, the corners of Whitebeard's mouth curved into a satisfied smile.
Eh? A collective row of question marks appeared above the crew's heads. They stared at the old man in confusion.
"I have spent nearly my entire life sailing these seas," Whitebeard began, his gaze slowly sweeping across the deck. "Once, my only dream was to have a family. Today, this Whitebeard fleet is the home I have built over decades."
"Every person here is family to one another. We met on this vast ocean and became members of this crew. That is our shared destiny."
"Some of you might be wondering... why? Why does the Whitebeard crew, despite having the power to conquer everything, remain where we are?"
"Especially after Roger was executed. We became the undisputed kings of the sea, the strongest force afloat. Yet, we never made a move toward the title of Pirate King."
"After all... we are pirates."
His words seemed directed at Luffy, yet they resonated through every member of the fleet. In the wake of his serious tone, not a single person moved. They watched him with bated breath, waiting for the truth.
Many of the veteran members were already misty-eyed. Whitebeard wasn't just giving a speech; he was recounting the history of his life—and theirs.
"Do you know why?" Whitebeard's eyes landed on the younger generation of his crew.
The rookies and those who had only joined in recent years looked on with intense curiosity. This was a question that had haunted the world for decades. The Strongest Man in the World, Edward Newgate—a living legend who had clashed with Gol D. Roger as an equal—could have claimed the throne easily when the Pirate King died. Back then, Whitebeard was in his absolute prime.
The position was right in front of him. Why did he sit still for twenty years while new stars rose and the "Four Emperors" era took shape? Was he truly a "loser" of the old era, as the rumors claimed?
The crew hated those rumors, but they never had a solid answer to silence the critics. Today, their blood was pumping. They hungered for the answer.
"Hmph..." Marco and several other first-division veterans stepped forward, arrogant smirks on their faces.
"Because he didn't need to!"
They spoke without a hint of hesitation. In fact, they spoke with immense pride.
"This..." Everyone was baffled, including Ace. He had always wanted Whitebeard to become the Pirate King, so he was the most curious of all. Why did Pops stop? After his "worthless father" died, the seat was vacant. Pops was the only one qualified to be the second Pirate King.
Luffy swallowed hard, trying to keep his composure. This was a world-shaking revelation.
"That's right." Whitebeard gave a grand wave of his arm, his captain's coat fluttering in the sea breeze. He turned to face the open ocean.
"My whole life... I have searched for a family. The title of Pirate King was never my goal, nor the goal of this crew."
"Twenty years ago, Roger found the world's greatest treasure—the ONE PIECE—and became the King. It is true that the Whitebeard Pirates were the only ones who could have followed in his footsteps."
Hiss... A cold breath was sucked in by many. This was a silent confirmation of the ultimate legend: the treasure was real.
"Pops..." Ace murmured.
"However," Whitebeard continued, "my dream had already been realized. The Whitebeard Pirates is my home. You are my family."
"Having all of you... that 'great treasure' couldn't hold even a shred of my interest. Gurararara!" He broke into a deep, booming laugh.
"POPS!"
The eyes of the crew grew wet. Most of them were outcasts, people the world had abandoned. In their loneliest hours, it was Whitebeard who had pulled them in. It was Whitebeard who gave them a home.
"Gurararara! I didn't say all this for nothing. I said it to witness the New Era!" Whitebeard's presence suddenly surged, his voice turning thunderous and powerful.
He shifted his gaze, letting it rest on Luffy and Ace.
"I believe that you young men will be the ones to change this era in the near future. This chaotic, stagnant world... it's time someone shook it to its core."
"Gurararara!"
The crew looked at Luffy and Ace with entirely new eyes. The endorsement of the Strongest Man in the World had officially shifted the gears of history.
What will happen as the Four Brothers begin their journey to change the world? One thing is certain—the sea will never be the same again.
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