"Whitey Bay is right!
This is the price for laying hands on the Whitebeard Pirates—prepare to die!"
In an instant, Karl found himself surrounded by more than a dozen commander-level combatants.
The situation was extremely dangerous.
"Elb—"
Before anyone could move—
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Biubiubiubiu—
Countless beams of light rained down toward the deck.
Marco's eyes narrowed.
He shot into the sky, azure wings spreading wide, intercepting every single light projectile in one sweep.
Floating above, Admiral Kizaru scratched his head.
"Oh? All blocked already?
That's pretty scary~"
On the deck, Karl finally exhaled in relief.
Kizaru's here… good.
That meant he could look for a chance to disengage—after all, when the sky falls, it's the tall ones who hold it up.
Karl looked straight at Whitebeard.
"Whitebeard, Marine reinforcements have arrived."
"I know you don't fear war—but the Marines don't fear it either."
"But you don't want your sons to be injured… or even killed, do you?"
Whitebeard stared at Karl in silence.
Those words had struck the core.
He truly did not fear war—
but he had never wanted his sons to die for something insignificant.
"…Hmph."
After a long pause, Whitebeard spoke.
"Since that's the case—how about this?"
"We each take a step back."
"You take your people and leave.
We do the same."
"How does that sound?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Whitey Bay's expression changed.
If Father agrees… then what about my revenge?
Karl had "lost" an arm—but reattached it instantly.
That was practically the same as nothing at all!
"You think you can just walk away?!" she shouted.
"We are the Whitebeard Pirates—we don't fear the Marines!"
"That's right! Why should we retreat?!
If anyone steps back, it should be you!"
"Enough."
Whitebeard stood up.
The deck fell silent.
He walked slowly to the center of the ship and looked down at Karl.
"Your name is Karl, right?"
"I'll remember you."
Then he turned toward his crew and shouted:
"We're leaving."
Whitey Bay clenched her teeth, glaring at Karl with burning hatred.
And when she saw Karl preparing to depart—
Her blood boiled.
She grabbed her weapon and charged.
"Die, you bastard!!!"
"Whitey Bay!"
"What are you doing—stop!!!"
At the instant her attack was about to land, Karl turned around and calmly caught her weapon with his bare hand.
She couldn't move an inch.
"You want revenge for your crew?" Karl said quietly.
"That's unfortunate."
"Because right now—you're not strong enough."
"And in the future… you won't be either."
He didn't say anything more.
To him, she was insignificant.
If not for her status as one of Whitebeard's senior crewmates, she would already be dead.
High above, Kizaru finally relaxed.
Good, good…
As long as it doesn't turn into a full-scale fight, everything's fine.
He really didn't want to clash with Whitebeard.
Compared to him, Kaido was far easier to deal with—
a straightforward brute.
Big Mom was manageable too.
But Kaido at least had the confidence to charge headfirst.
Once Karl left, the Moby Dick and the surrounding pirate ships slowly withdrew as well.
Whitebeard sat back down in his seat.
Yet the person on his mind was still Karl.
That Marine had left a deep impression on him.
Conqueror's Haki.
Unshakable composure under pressure.
Strength far beyond what his age suggested.
Decisive—almost ruthless—resolve.
"…The Marines have worthy successors now," Whitebeard murmured.
And himself?
Just as Karl had said—
his time was running out.
One day, he would die.
When that day came…
could this family still hold together?
Who would take his place?
Marco… perhaps.
But Marco lacked the presence of a true king.
So who among his sons could shoulder that burden?
Whitebeard didn't know.
But deep down, he felt that one day, that person would appear.
Elsewhere — Vice Admiral Onigumo's Battleship
"Cough… cough… Karl, thank you… for saving me."
Karl withdrew the holy light and smiled.
"It's my duty.
How are you feeling, Vice Admiral Onigumo?"
Onigumo checked his body.
It felt as if he had never been injured at all—
only exhaustion remained.
"I'm fine. Just… tired."
If Karl had been there earlier,
I might not have lost to Marco.
Then again—
…Wait.
It wasn't just Marco, was it…?
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