Whitebeard Sea Region.
Just when the Straw Hat crew was having a tough time, the Whitebeard Pirates were also struggling because they had lost two of their key members on the ship.
Whitebeard and Uchiha Sasuke.
However, due to the Akatsuki's crackdown on many pirate gangs, these people didn't have to face many challenges, but they did have to deal with the problem of depleting their resources.
If they still wanted to live at sea, besides helping with maritime transport, there seemed to be no better way.
The Whitebeard Pirates were too large; they certainly couldn't continue being pirates because if they crossed the line, they would be hit by Akatsuki.
Moreover, to keep the name of Whitebeard alive, Portgas D. Ace and Marco even went to take the Akatsuki's test and became one of them.
The sea does not die, nor do pirates.
There will always be some evildoers who risk becoming pirates…
Moreover, the sea is filled with the crises of violent storms, and occasional attacks by Sea Kings; not everyone can sail the Grand Line, which also led the Whitebeard Pirates to gradually start some escort and transport business.
In the past, Whitebeard was also very loyal, leaving behind many accolades for them in the New World, and the whole Whitebeard Pirates gradually got back on track, even expanding their business to other sea regions…
This change… is truly outrageous.
Nobody would have thought that one day, the Whitebeard Pirates, who once reigned supreme in the New World, would become a group that makes a living by escort and shipping…
On the Moby Dick.
Marco, Ace, and a group of captains counted money all night here; they had been running business for more than two months, even crossing the Windless Zone several times.
Now, they've finally made a big sum of money.
"We need to build a few more Moby Dicks..."
Marco adjusted his glasses and packed up several boxes of money.
Because recently the Whitebeard Pirates' business had become increasingly prosperous, they needed to build more ships to undertake more maritime business, and the Moby Dick's design was spacious, very suitable for transporting large goods.
"Alright."
Ace absent-mindedly nodded.
"Shall we hold a banquet?"
Marco glanced at Fire Fist Ace.
In the past, Fire Fist Ace loved to hold banquets; whenever something happy happened, Ace would clamor for a party.
Since the war ended, a smile rarely appeared on Ace's face. Marco didn't want Ace to be immersed in sadness like him… even though Marco himself was still in great pain.
"..."
Ace fell into silence.
Compared to the past, after experiencing the great upheaval at Marinford, his biological father Gol D. Roger, foster father Whitebeard, and dear friend Uchiha Sasuke were gone…
Ace had grown significantly.
Now, Ace was gradually starting to take up responsibilities for this band of pirates. After thinking for a while, he slowly lowered his head: "Then let's have a banquet! We haven't had one in a long time, and Dad and Sasuke wouldn't want everyone to live in sorrow all the time, right..."
While Ace was speaking, tears uncontrollably streamed down his cheeks, dripping onto the deck bit by bit…
Just when everyone thought Ace was about to cry out loud, he suddenly wiped away his tears and laughed: "Hahaha… Saki, we're having a banquet, let Dad and Sasuke see that we've made a big sum of money!"
"Yeah!"
"Dad will be happy to see his sons earn a lot of money!"
"What father wouldn't be happy to see his sons making money!"
"Dad, we're going to have a banquet!"
The entire Moby Dick suddenly became lively. Everyone couldn't help but gaze at the sea and shout out, their laughter mingled with sorrow…
Clearly they were laughing…
But tears were streaming down every face…
In everyone's heart, they were reminiscing about their father, someone they could never forget, who gave them a family during the darkest and most confused times in their lives…
The Moby Dick was brightly lit all night.
All the alcohol purchased on the ship was consumed, and almost everyone on board was dead drunk, except for Portgas D. Ace and Marco.
Ace stood outside on the deck railing, looking up at the dark ocean, occasionally taking a sip of juice from his cup, sometimes revealing a smile, sometimes a touch of sadness.
"Ace, didn't you always hate drinking juice the most?"
Marco, holding a glass of juice, slowly walked over to Ace, patted Ace's shoulder, and said softly: "Ace, these days Jozu and Vista have been working hard, go have a drink with them!"
"No, I want to keep watch."
Ace slowly shook his head, gently sighed, and said: "Sasuke is gone; I need to take up his share and continue living..."
"..."
Marco suddenly fell silent.
The banquet on the Moby Dick continued, while Ace and Marco, the two men, stood on the deck gazing at the sea, in deep thought, occasionally wiping away tears from the corners of their eyes.
Just when they were still in tears...
A small boat had somehow sailed beneath the Moby Dick, with four figures of varying heights on board, and a familiar laughter echoed from the sea.
"Gurararara..."
This unique laughter immediately caught the attention of Ace and Marco!
Whitebeard Edward Newgate stood on the small boat, grinning at his two sons: "Looks like my sons are doing quite well..."
"Dad!"
"Dad!"
Marco and Ace's eyes simultaneously lit up; they seemed incredulous as they wiped their eyes. Once they confirmed it was indeed Whitebeard, they suddenly leapt off the Moby Dick!
On the Moby Dick.
Saki, bleary-eyed from drunkenness, saw this scene, and his wine immediately sobered him up halfway: "Hey, Marco and Ace seem drunk and have jumped into the sea. Damn it... They're both Devil Fruit ability users. Vista, quick, come with me to save them!"
A group of drunken guys rushed to the railing like the wind, and they all saw that unforgettable figure; everyone couldn't help but wipe their own eyes.
"Did I see wrong..."
"That should be Dad!"
"How could I mistake my own father!"
"Dad seems younger now!"
"That's what Dad looked like when he was younger!"
"Hey, Dad is back!"
"Has Dad really returned?"
"Everyone, Dad is back!"
"Sasuke seems to have returned too!"
"They seem to be accompanied by Dark King Rayleigh and Gol D. Roger!"
The whole Moby Dick was bustling as over a thousand people rushed down nearly capsizing the small boat. Several Devil Fruit users were bobbing up and down in the sea...
Until Whitebeard and Uchiha Sasuke were finally welcomed back onto the Moby Dick, these former pirates were able to settle down.
Whitebeard had changed a lot.
Now, Whitebeard's face was marked with a series of cracks, and like Gol D. Roger beside him, he exuded the aura of the deceased.
Whitebeard was already dead.
In that war, Whitebeard's ailments were already unable to sustain him for long; after the war ended, Whitebeard's life had reached its end.
It was just that some members of the Whitebeard Pirates, when imprisoned, saw Whitebeard revived just like Gol D. Roger...
The offering for resurrection...
It was Marshall D. Teach.
Therefore, the entire Whitebeard Pirates had designated their missing captain as disappeared rather than dead, even though they knew Whitebeard was no longer alive.
On the Moby Dick.
A group of people stood on the deck, tears flowing.
Whitebeard stretched out his large palm, patting each of their heads, grinning: "Gurararara... Vista, Jozu, Saki... Don't cry..."
"Dad, what's going on?"
Marco clenched his fists, his rationale gradually returning, asking heavily: "What on earth did Uehara Naraku do..."
"Let me explain this matter."
Uchiha Sasuke took a deep breath.
Uchiha Sasuke was not dead; however, in reality, Uchiha Sasuke's life had been more painful than death during this period. Compared to the past, his life now was a fate worse than death.
In that war, he ultimately chose to stand on the opposing side of Uehara Naraku, yet it did not change anything.
As punishment for Uchiha Sasuke, a Whitebeard who should have rested in peace was resurrected by Uehara Naraku's Reanimation, becoming one of Naraku's Reanimation beings.
After Uehara Naraku resurrected Whitebeard Edward Newgate, Uchiha Sasuke and the Reanimated Whitebeard Edward Newgate formed a small team.
Their mission was to patrol the world in secret.
Uchiha Sasuke wanted to revive Whitebeard, but he was always stopped by Whitebeard.
Similarly...
Dark King Rayleigh and the Reanimated Gol D. Roger did the same; these two also became a pair of partners, with their mission being to assist the Akatsuki in patrolling the sea.
This truly left them uncertain whether to be grateful for Uehara Naraku's mercy or to despise his inhumane methods even more...
Whatever the case...
At least everyone could meet again.
Gol D. Roger was more open-minded, watching his son cry at Whitebeard's side, sighed: "That person... Although the process seems painful... But the outcome actually isn't so bad..."