Confirmed Participation of the "Big Mom Pirates"

"What an extraordinary statement, Hyōrinmaru. That man was no simple opponent."

Whitebeard spoke with a hint of regret in his tone. "I originally thought I'd have a chance to fight him this time. I never expected him to be taken out just like that."

"It couldn't be helped. As long as that man remained, no pirate on this sea would believe that the Whitebeard Pirates could achieve final victory. They wouldn't enter the fray either."

Yaen spoke in an utterly calm tone, as if he were merely stating a fact.

Whitebeard answered Yaen's doubts with confidence and authority. "I'm the World's Strongest Man!"

"But your sons aren't the World's Strongest subordinates. Just two Marine Admirals would be enough to keep you firmly occupied. If the Marines' other top fighters then swarmed in, how long do you think your sons could hold out?"

After Yaen's retort, Whitebeard was momentarily left speechless.

Yaen took a small sip of the wine Whitebeard had poured himself, then slapped his robe and rose to his feet, saying,

"Whitebeard, the stage has already been prepared for you. Whether you can become a legend capable of surpassing Roger, and whether you can carve an entirely new path out of the Great Pirate Era, is up to you."

"You don't need to remind me of that..."

Whitebeard replied arrogantly, then asked, "Besides, where's Ace? Where did you send him?"

"To a place he ought to go—a place where he can untie the knot that has troubled him for more than ten years," Yaen answered.

Whitebeard narrowed his eyes slightly and demanded, "Are you sure the real Ace wasn't handed over to the Marines and the World Government?"

"Didn't you keep Ace's Vivre Card? Once you reach Marine Headquarters, Marineford, simply use it to confirm whether the person on