Dispute

The Whitebeard Pirates were defeated. Faced with the Night Pirates' attack, they were basically completely routed. The losses varied, but overall, the atmosphere was very somber.

The members of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered together to discuss how to deal with the situation next.

With their current strength, they would have a hard time stopping the Night Pirates. The Night Pirates' strength is beyond imagination. Marco thought he had overestimated the Night Pirates, but he didn't expect that he had underestimated them.

What made them even more incredulous and distressed was that although they had clashed years ago, the members of the Night Pirates had improved their strength much faster and more terrifyingly than they had.

That's how the gap widened.

They were also somewhat disheartened, as they suffered another defeat at the Night Pirates, shattering their hopes and dreams.

Representing the Whitebeard Pirates, their loss to the Night Pirates was extremely humiliating.

The Night Pirates have a special affection for the Whitebeard Pirates feel the same way about the Night Pirates.

Teach's origins are in the Whitebeard Pirates; this is undeniable and common knowledge. He spent approximately four years there, which is neither a long nor a short time.

Teach's departure and the establishment of the Night Pirates were similar practices within the Whitebeard Pirates, but they maintained a close relationship and Teach became a subordinate pirate crew of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Some wanted freedom, while others were unwilling to be subordinate to the sixteen division commanders, but they all shared one identity: Whitebeard's children.

Teach, on the other hand, completely broke away from the Whitebeard Pirates and severed ties with them. As Teach and the Night Pirates gained fame, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates might have felt proud at first, since Teach came from the Night Pirates.

Although the Whitebeard Pirates and a few others who knew Teach or were on good terms with Teach didn't feel anything, after all, people strive for higher positions, Teach possessed the qualities of a king, Awakening early on; they were mentally prepared for this.

Especially during the two years before the Great Pirate Era began, Teach's frequent absences made them realize and gave them time to prepare, gradually severing ties.

Teach felt that staying with the Whitebeard Pirates would limit his development, and that was indeed the case. So he broke free from the shackles that bound him, and after leaving, his strength increased at an unimaginable speed.

This was something the members of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't have imagined. In fact, Whitebeard and Marco were able to understand Teach, so they didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates gradually grew uncomfortable with Teach and the Night Pirates, especially after the two pirate crews went to war.

Teach initially volunteered to join the Whitebeard Pirates, but then left on his own initiative. He used the Whitebeard Pirates he was done with them, treating them as a stepping stone. That's basically the feeling he got.

Being surpassed by their former comrades and defeated by Teach's pirate crew was a real disgrace to them, especially since they felt they had dragged their Pops down and were utterly useless.

Jozu clenched his fists, making a cracking sound, and lowered his head, lost in deep self-reproach. If he had given the order to retreat earlier, there wouldn't have been so many casualties. Many of the fallen bodies were his comrades-in-arms, members of their Third Division.

Of course, the most furious target was the Night Pirates, especially Slada, the culprit who caused the heavy losses to the crew he led.

At the same time, they also hated their own incompetence, their strength being inferior to Slada's, which ultimately led to their being suppressed and unable to do anything, and in the end, they had to rely on Marco to come and save them.

The other members of the Whitebeard Pirates also comforted him, but Jozu also had to bear a large part of the responsibility for such a huge loss, and Jozu needed to pull himself together.

"We have to admit, our strength is insufficient." Marco sighed. To deal with the Night Pirates, four of the five strongest division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates had already been dispatched: Diamond Jozu, Marco the Phoenix, Griffin Xi, and Thatch.

As the Captain of the Fourth Division of the Whitebeard Pirates, Thatch's strength is certainly not lacking. In addition to being the Whitebeard Pirates' cook, he is also a Great Swordmaster with powerful physical skills, although he rarely uses them.

He mostly stayed on the Mobitz and rarely went on expeditions or expanded his territory like other members, but that doesn't mean he wasn't strong.

While many didn't care about the name or number of the division when it was first established, there was actually a competitive spirit within the Whitebeard Pirates. After all, giving your all is the greatest respect you can show yourself; otherwise, it would feel like a handout.

Kozuki Oden was an exception. He was Whitebeard's sworn brother and hadn't been on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship for long. Although he was very strong, many members of the Whitebeard Pirates were not convinced by him.

Therefore, he also took on the position of Captain of the Second Division, which is a way to maintain balance.

Vista, the last of the "Flower Sword," was dispatched to the battlefield against the Beasts Pirates.

Therefore, it can be said that Whitebeard was the only one holding down the Chaos Sea. Although there were several division commanders, each division commander could only guard a few islands at most, which was the limit.

Although the major crisis that would have engulfed the Whitebeard Pirates was averted by Whitebeard's leadership and suppressed before it could erupt, the crisis they face today is still significant.

Of the eight squad captains, Marco and the other three fared somewhat better. If Jozu had a different opponent, he wouldn't have been in such a sorry state, being suppressed by Slada's immense power. In reality, Slada couldn't defeat him either; there wasn't a substantial difference in their strength.

If he had been given another chance, things wouldn't have turned out that way.

However, the other four squad leaders were far inferior to the Night Pirates' officers; they were no match for them at all. If they hadn't reacted quickly, they might not have been able to escape even if they had retreated.

Such a gap is difficult to bridge. Apart from the seven officers led by the Night Pirates, the other officers, such as Lafitte, are also very strong and can completely restrain Marco. Death Gun Kos is also not to be underestimated.

In addition, there are other powerful newcomers to the Night Pirates, such as Enel, Clemons, and Kaguya.

The affiliated pirate Night Pirates are also very powerful. To gain the recognition of the Night Pirates is a testament to their considerable power, and they also have a significant reputation within the Night Sea Domain.

The advantage in numbers and firepower, combined, makes the difference clearly visible.

This was also Marco's predicament. With the live video broadcast, they were able to look back at the forces sent by the Night Pirates, which were far more powerful than they had imagined, making them lose confidence in the war.

Even Marco, with the power of the Phoenix Fruit, could at most hold back two strong Night Pirates.

However, the Night Pirates weren't that stupid, and they wouldn't give him that chance. Instead, they could easily deal with him by sending Lafitte, and he couldn't afford to abandon Lafitte.

In this way, Lafitte will target other members of the Whitebeard Pirates. Lafitte's killing efficiency is terrifying, and he also has the advantage of flying, making him extremely fast.

Marco could certainly do that, but he cared more about the lives of his comrades than about killing the enemy.

To deal with the Night Pirates, they need more and stronger forces.

They were also aware of the Whitebeard Pirates' situation; it would be difficult for them to spare any more strength unless they abandoned the Chaos Sea, which was completely impossible.

Whitebeard didn't make a move, and neither did the Night Pirates' Teach, Ares, Rediat; this can be considered a tacit understanding between the two pirate crews.

In fact, the Whitebeard Pirates actually benefited, because Teach was the one who truly represented the Night Pirates.

In reality, they have this idea in their minds that they are unwilling to admit or accept, but it is beginning to emerge in their minds.

The Whitebeard Pirates were no match for the Night Pirates, and were surpassed by a rising star pirate crew that had been established for less than half the time of the Whitebeard Pirates.

While the Whitebeard Pirates were dominating the seas, the Night Pirates had just been formed and were unknown to anyone.

This contrast is huge, and the main members of the Whitebeard Pirates are actually still very young and have not yet reached their peak, but they have a feeling of being surpassed by those who come after them.

Their combat strength was inferior, and this problem was difficult to solve. They knew that the other members of the Whitebeard Pirates, who were not here, must have also watched the live broadcast of the war, and they wondered if they would be very disappointed in them.

"Our forces are already scattered. The Night Pirates haven't deployed many of their forces yet, and the Beasts Pirates have only sent a portion of their forces. Our strength alone is far from enough; we need outside help."

That's right, it's foreign aid. Without foreign aid, even if they manage to hold on in the end, the losses would be incalculable, and they would find it difficult to bear.

After these words, there was a moment of silence. Seeking outside help was not shameful, after all, the Whitebeard Pirates were currently facing attacks from multiple sides.

The Night Pirates, the Beasts Pirates, the Chaos Sea —the forces they face may only grow stronger.

Neither the Night Pirates nor the Beasts Pirates can rule out further escalating the war; what they both want is the Whitebeard Pirates' territory.

This is something that must be considered.

"The Beasts are alright, but the main problem is the Night Pirates."

The Beasts Pirates don't have many well-known officers. Although they have a few troublemakers, the Tobi Roppo are nowhere to be seen, and many of them are still just children.

In comparison, the Night Pirates' officers are incredibly numerous and powerful, and combined with their overall strength, they have approached, and even surpassed, the Whitebeard Pirates in just a few years.

This outside help must be someone willing to fight the Night Pirates, but does such an outside help even exist?

In fact, they already had a very suitable person and force in mind: Kozuki Oden of Wano Country.

If they ask for help, Oden would definitely be willing to help them, even if it means facing pressure from within Wano Country.

Wano Country's geographical location also allows it to strike at the Night Pirates, diverting a large portion of their strength. After all, Wano Country is very powerful and is one of the top powers in the New World and the seas.

However, Teach also owes Wano Country a great debt of gratitude, which is a contradiction and a source of great pain for Oden, ultimately leading him to side with the Whitebeard Pirates.

This will definitely lead to an adversarial relationship between Wano Country and the Night Pirates. Even if they are not hostile, they will eventually become indifferent, and cooperation with Wano Country will weaken or even disappear.

Teach understood this, so his approach was to eliminate any hope of what might happen, however slim.

Maintaining good relations with Wano Country is more beneficial than harmful to the Night Pirates.

As for other external aid, it would be impossible to do so without sufficient strength. The Whitebeard Pirates do not seem to have any powerful friends in the New World. As pirates, they are basically hostile to other forces.

Even the Roger Pirates had a complex relationship of both enemies and friends.

As for external assistance, we can only rely on Wano Country.

Although the enemy of my enemy is my friend, the strongest force the Night Pirates have clashed with over the years is the Whitebeard Pirates. Other dominant forces are also enemies of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Therefore, it is impossible to deal with the Night Pirates in this way. On the contrary, it is easier to shift the target to oneself. Compared with the powerful Night Pirates, the Whitebeard Pirates are easier to bully now and can bring greater benefits.

This is a dead end, and the most crucial thing Wano Country, also requires his Pops's approval.

They have strong pride, as do their Pops, and now the Whitebeard Pirates do indeed need external help to bear the pressure from the Night Pirates.

"The Night Pirates want the Night Pirates Notting Sea Domain, don't they? Then just give it to them. It's not worth it to have our comrades constantly sacrificed for these islands." The atmosphere was somber, and as everyone was at a loss for words, one member spoke with his head down.

"How can that be?" Several members instinctively objected, without any politeness.

"Why not?" The member clenched his fist, his tone somewhat forceful. "Why not? Give me your reasons. What's wrong with admitting defeat? Is it more important than your comrades' lives?"

The other members opened their mouths, but didn't know what to say.

This member's best friend in the Whitebeard Pirates had already sacrificed himself, and he didn't want any more people to die.

At this time, internal conflicts and antagonisms began to arise within the Whitebeard Pirates.

These represent two different ideologies: one is to voluntarily admit defeat, avoid excessive damage, and reduce sacrifices.

Another option is to uphold the pride of the Whitebeard Pirates, persevere, and fight the Night Pirates to the end; they cannot give up so easily.

Both ideas are correct. The members of the Whitebeard Pirates all have their own pride, but they also care about the lives of their comrades.

In the current situation, it's impossible to have both. Different approaches lead to two different outcomes, neither of which is acceptable to the Whitebeard Pirates.

It's just a matter of which direction you prefer.

The best outcome would naturally be having outside help, but getting past my Pops would be a tough hurdle.

The atmosphere was tense, and even a bit heated.

"Sigh, calm down." Marco spoke up, sighing. Hearing his voice, the Whitebeard Pirates members around him quieted down, all their eyes falling on him.

"Let's ask Oden for help. If Pops blames us, I'll take the blame." Marco had made up his mind and said earnestly, "Faced with such a predicament, we should work together."

For the sake of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco was willing to go against his Pops's wishes. People are selfish, and this was also the thought of most of the Whitebeard Pirates.

The addition of Wano Country will make things much easier for the Whitebeard Pirates.

Ultimately, Oden only stayed on the Whitebeard Pirates' ship for less than four years, possibly even less Teach, because he left the Whitebeard Pirates midway to join the Roger Pirates and even helped Roger become the Pirate King.

This was undoubtedly a betrayal for some members of the Whitebeard Pirates, who even believed that their Pops, Whitebeard, should be the Pirate King.

He felt somewhat guilty towards Oden because they had a very good relationship, and he felt that he had taken advantage of Oden.

But for the sake of the Whitebeard Pirates, this was something they had no choice but to do.

"Are they arguing? Heh!" Mostima chuckled.

Unbeknownst to the Whitebeard Pirates, everything they said had been recorded and was being played elsewhere.

On the Night Pirates' side, they listened to the voice coming from a machine in front of Mostima through the video feed.

This is a listening device developed by the Night Pirates' Academy of Sciences at Teach's request. It can eavesdrop in real time, so how could Observation Haki detect it?

There are members of the Night Pirates within the Whitebeard Pirates, though they are few in number and not among the core members of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Ask Wano Country for help? The timing is perfect. The Beasts Pirates should also take action."

Even if they had to ask Wano Country for help, Mostima and his crew weren't worried at all. Although they knew they wouldn't be asking for help anytime soon, the Whitebeard Pirates still had their pride. If they asked Wano Country for help after their defeat on the first day, the whole ocean would laugh at them and look down on Whitebeard Pirates.

Soon, Wano Country will be too busy to help itself, and it's uncertain whether the Whitebeard Pirates will still have the face to ask Wano Country for help.

The Night Pirates' intelligence agents discovered that the Beasts Pirates were making some clandestine moves, searching for information about Wano Country and Zunesha.

The Beasts Pirates will definitely take action, and soon, the Whitebeard Pirates' plans will be thwarted.

The seven islands have already fallen into the hands of the Night Pirates, but their operation is not over yet; it has only just begun. They will not give the Whitebeard Pirates any more time to prepare.

This is Teach's will, and also the will of the Night Pirates.