After Blackbeard finished speaking, the entire ship fell silent once more.
Everyone's eyes kept shifting back and forth between Teach and Marco.
Now that Whitebeard was dead, the only ones truly qualified and capable of becoming the new captain were the two of them.
One was Marco the Phoenix, who had followed Whitebeard the longest and been most highly valued by him.
The other was Marshall D. Teach, ambitious yet possessed of both strength and strategy.
The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.
Just then.
Marco suddenly raised his head. A bitter yet relieved smile appeared on his pale, exhausted face.
"I support Teach as captain."
His voice was soft, yet incomparably clear.
Everyone froze and turned to look at him in unison.
In terms of how long they had followed Whitebeard, Marco had actually joined earlier.
And compared with Teach's rough but shrewd nature, Marco, who had handled every detail in service of the Whitebeard Pirates, was clearly more to everyone's liking.
No one understood why Marco had chosen to give up.
"Let it be this way."
Marco slowly rose to his feet and walked step by step before Teach. Then, beneath everyone's shocked gazes, he lowered his head.
"From now on, whatever you say, Teach, I'll do." Marco's voice was hoarse but resolute. "I know I'm not cut out for it. I'm only suited to charging into battle behind Pops. I'm not suited to leading everyone onward."
He raised his head and looked at Teach, his eyes filled with sincerity.
"Besides..." Marco took a deep breath. "Making Teach the new captain was Pops's final wish. Before he died, he told me privately. He said that if he died, Teach was to take his place and lead everyone onward."
"Pops believed in you." Marco's voice was low.