"That guy... so strong..."
Diamond Jozu, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' third division, clenched his fist and looked at their clearly aging father sitting in the chair.
That pirate crew defeated the World Government, defeated the Navy, defeated the Red Hair Pirates, defeated Hundred Beasts Kaido, defeated Charlotte Lingling...
Now...
Their father seemed to have become very prominent.
The Konoha Pirates couldn't possibly spare the Whitebeard Pirates, because the Whitebeard Pirates were still the world's 'strongest' pirate crew, even though everyone knew that this title of strongest had long since been taken by the Konoha Pirates, yet they were still in awe of Whitebeard's name and dared not say it outright...
Pirates...
Are always the ones who love to compete for strength and victory.
The vice captain of the Konoha Pirates seems like a belligerent person, naturally unwilling to give up the chance to battle with Whitebeard, and they inevitably had to face the challenge from the Konoha Pirates.
"Father..."
Even though Diamond Jozu was steadfast, willing to believe in his father's ability to overcome all enemies, he still felt a bit unnerved in his heart.
The opposition...
Was no simple foe!
"Gurararara... Jozu..."
Whitebeard looked down at his adopted child, his crescent-shaped mustache trembling with his laughter, his face always appeared calm and confident: "Are you worried they'll come to challenge me, or have you lost faith in me?"
"No, it's Father who's the strongest!"
Jozu immediately laughed, loudly declaring his consistent belief!
Their father...
Is the strongest man on this vast sea!
However, as Jozu and a group of pirates continued to cheer and watch the Image Radio Snail, Whitebeard's smile slowly faded.
This tall man glanced down at the infusion tube in his arm, then looked at the Supreme Great Blade Murakumogiri standing beside him, his expression growing more complex...
In reality...
The power Uchiha Madara displayed was very strong.
Whether it was the terrifying power Uchiha Madara showed or his eternally arrogant and confident gaze in the images, they exerted immense pressure on Whitebeard.
Especially since...
Whitebeard had become old.
Since getting older, disease and aging had been tormenting his body, and he had struck less and less over the years...
Time was like the dealer at a gambling table, watching one after another take the chips it bestowed to gain strength on the sea, and then watching as one after another of those gamblers who once dominated the table slowly lost the chips it granted on the table...
Now...
Whitebeard was the one who had lost to time.
"This kind of thinking is just to comfort myself..."
Whitebeard clenched his fist again, his gaze becoming resolute once more, looking up to the sky, reminiscing about his old rival and old friend: "Roger, even in our era, this pirate crew would be enough to contend with us..."
Shampodi Archipelago.
The plaza with the Image Radio Snail.
All the viewers watching this were exceptionally quiet.
Perhaps they were shaken by the battle between the two Four Emperors and Uchiha Madara, or perhaps stunned by the defeat of the two Four Emperors, or perhaps because they witnessed the arrival of a new era.
"Quite a terrifying opponent..."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, the smile on his face had long disappeared.
"Really terrifying indeed..."
A woman with a cigarette in her mouth appeared beside him, leisurely exhaling smoke beside him: "Just the vice captain has this kind of power, even if the old Rocks Pirates were united, they couldn't possibly be their match..."
This woman's name was Shakky.
She was once the captain of the Nine Serpent Pirates, also a former emperor of the Amazon Lily Kingdom, and a pirate that was a headache for the Navy, now living in seclusion on the Shampodi Archipelago, staying with Dark King Rayleigh.
"Didn't expect you to make such a judgment, Shakky..."
Rayleigh was a bit surprised by Shakky's judgment, yet thoughtfully nodded: "Considering their ongoing performance, whether it was the Alabasta incident, Mary Geoise incident, or these events on Sky Island, indeed..."
"Don't get me wrong."
Shakky shook her head, interrupting Dark King Rayleigh, her gaze becoming sharp: "It's not because of that vice captain of the Konoha Pirates..."
"Then what is it?"
Rayleigh looked at Shakky in surprise, suddenly becoming serious: "Could it be that you have some information about the captain of the Konoha Pirates!"
"No..."
Shakky shook her head again, taking the cigarette from her lips with her hand, speaking calmly: "The Konoha Pirates have secretly stored dozens of Heavenly Celestial Dragon slaves at the Slave Auction, I originally planned to steal some and sell them on the black market..."
"..."
Rayleigh's eye twitched.
Not...
Is such money worth earning?
However, Heavenly Celestial Dragon slaves would definitely be in demand on the black market.
There were many people worldwide who had been harmed by the Heavenly Celestial Dragons, many powerful individuals had also been enslaved by them, filled with hatred for them, willing to spend money to buy a Heavenly Celestial Dragon slave for revenge, they'd certainly be willing to spend that money...
"And then..."
"I met a woman."
Shakky's gaze fell on Dark King Rayleigh, without mentioning the woman further, she calmly asked: "Rayleigh, have you ever felt fear?"