Moreover, Whitebeard had just done the heartwarming thing of letting Squard go.
This genuinely displeased and angered some of the newly joined subsidiary captains.
Why keep any traitors alive when not even one was killed on the spot?
They now seriously doubt that Whitebeard and Fire Fist Ace have even the slightest chance of becoming the Pirate King.
Neither Whitebeard nor Fire Fist Ace had a good personality.
If that's the case, it's better to leave the Whitebeard Pirates as soon as possible.
Like Chameleon Cameo and Whirlpool Spider Squard, they left this retirement pirate crew.
"Ace, I will definitely save him!"
"Anyone who doesn't want to can leave the Whitebeard Pirates right now!"
After Whitebeard regained his breathing, he addressed all the subordinate captains in a domineering manner.
This is a good opportunity to weed out some unscrupulous individuals.
"Pops, that's not what we meant."
"Yes, Pops, now that we've accepted your protection, we will definitely fight for the Whitebeard Pirates."
···
Under Whitebeard's Conqueror's Haki, a large number of his subordinate captains hurriedly expressed their loyalty.
After all, even if one wanted to leave, one couldn't bring oneself to do so in this tense atmosphere.
The best option would be to take a leisurely stroll while visiting Marineford, or find a chance to leave.
If the World's Strongest Man could truly defeat the Marine Headquarters, then they would be ferocious hyenas, following Whitebeard to the position of Pirate King, or even the King of the World.
"Marco, Whitey Bay, mobilize all forces immediately and find out everything about Ace."
"I will let the whole world know that anyone who dares to lay a hand on my family will be destroyed by me!"
Whitebeard's voice still carried anger; he was filled with rage at Akainu for deceiving Squard.
He's determined to blast that lava brat to pieces!
"Yes, Pops!"
At Whitebeard's command, the entire pirate crew sprang into action.
This old, lurking beast has finally become angry.
···
On a dragon-headed pirate ship in a certain sea area.
"What? Fire Fist Ace has been arrested?"
Red-Haired Shanks' expression turned somewhat serious; this development was a little different from what he had imagined.
He originally only wanted to use the World Government and the alliance of the two Emperors to perform a 'surgical operation' on the overblown Whitebeard Pirates weaken them.
To eliminate some arrogant affiliated pirate crews, curb the expansion of the Whitebeard Pirates, and maintain the balance of the New World.
He really didn't mean to kill Whitebeard and Fire Fist Ace.
After all, the Whitebeard Pirates are part of the balance, making the World Government and the high and mighty Celestial Dragons more wary.
As a result, the Marine Headquarters has now directly captured Fire Fist Ace.
This will almost certainly erupt into a completely uncontrollable world war.
"It seems the World Government really wants to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"It's estimated that the World Government might have spies trying to persuade Big Mom and Kaido to take over Whitebeard's territory, thereby reducing the likelihood of them interfering in the war."
"Those guys in Mary Geoise might even give you a chance to keep the two emperors in check if they have other ideas."
Benn Beckman, after reviewing the intelligence reports on Fire Fist Ace's arrest and execution, gradually deduced the World Government's objectives.
In addition, there was some inside information we had just obtained about the Whitebeard Pirates.
This greatly surprised Benn Beckman; it seemed that they and the Twin Emperors alliance had been used by the World Government and Marine Headquarters.
What kind of idiot was that Squard the Maelstrom Spider who betrayed Fire Fist Ace?
He's absolutely a genius.
"Damn it, I never intended to target the captain's son. I only wanted to weaken the Whitebeard Pirates' affiliated pirates."
Red-Haired Shanks suddenly grabbed his red hair in frustration.
During this period, the Red Hair Pirates did indeed show dissatisfaction with the Whitebeard Pirates' rampant expansion, and even forcefully defeated several Whitebeard's affiliated pirate crews that invaded Shanks's territory.
This led to increasingly tense relations between the Red Hair Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates.
Even the alliance of the two emperors is targeting and guarding against the wildly expanding Whitebeard Pirates.
In addition, the World Government continues to increase its military presence in the New World.
The situation in the New World is becoming increasingly chaotic and decadent, almost on the verge of a full-blown outbreak.
With Fire Fist Ace now captured, the New World Navy has withdrawn to its Marine Headquarters in the Grand Line.
This was a massive war that could have broken out in the New World.
The battlefield suddenly shifted to Marineford on the other side of the Red Line.
It seems that the World Government and the Marine Headquarters are still wary of the other three Emperors and do not want a war to break out in the New World.
Currently, no navy is directly engaging the Whitebeard Pirates in battle, and the alliance of the two emperors certainly won't clash with Whitebeard.
However, the two emperors' desire to seize the opportunity for personal gain remains unchanged.
"What if the Whitebeard Pirates really are going to Marineford to rescue Fire Fist Ace?"
"Do you want to go help Whitebeard rescue Ace, or stay in the New World to keep the two Emperors at bay?"
Benn Beckman exhaled a deep puff of smoke; the situation had changed rather quickly.
Based on previous developments, he thought the World Government and Marine Headquarters would engage in a major war with the Whitebeard Pirates.
The Red Hair Pirates and the alliance of the two Emperors will take the opportunity to weaken the Whitebeard Pirates' hundreds of affiliated pirate crews, completely shattering the Whitebeard Pirates' dream of becoming the Pirate King.
However, the Three Emperors probably won't just stand by and watch the World Government completely wipe out the Whitebeard Pirates.
If necessary, they will still drive the World Government and Marine Headquarters fleets out of the New World.
Let the New World restore balance.
That would create a world where only the Whitebeard Pirates are injured.
The Whitebeard Pirates' rampant expansion has created a sense of crisis for the World Government and the Three Emperors.
This is punishment for the Whitebeard Pirates.
This world doesn't need such powerful pirate crews.
"I don't want anything to happen to Ace, but I also don't want the Whitebeard Pirates to become so powerful that they disrupt the balance."
"If only Whitebeard could disband these affiliated pirate crews on his own initiative."
Shanks suddenly sighed. If it weren't for the Whitebeard Pirates' uncontrolled expansion, they might not have aroused the suspicion of the World Government and the Three Emperors.
The New World can remain as quiet as ever.
It was all the Whitebeard Pirates' own fault.
Of course, the bastard who exposed Ace's identity bears even greater responsibility.
"This war is inevitable, and the World Government will not allow Fire Fist Ace to live under any circumstances."
"Have you made your decision, Shanks?"
Benn Beckman looked intently at his captain, the inheritor of Roger's will, who also possessed Celestial Dragons blood.
Sometimes, Benn Beckman really wished Shanks was just an ordinary pirate, without all these messy relationships.
Even if Benn Beckman is incredibly smart, he still has to consider Shanks' complicated and messy relationship and balance all the relationships involved.
This will consume a lot of his brain cells.
After all, Shanks wanted to maintain a good image in front of Roger Pirates, but he also didn't want to become his Celestial Dragons father and brother with no chance of a complete mortal feud.
Being Shanks' strategist is indeed a very brain-teasing job.
That Shanks, he promised to create the freest pirate crew ever.
Now he has to rack his brains every day to maintain a balance between the various parties.
This is fucking scrambled eggs!