News of Whitebeard, known as the "Strongest Man in the World," being captured shocked the entire world.
After hearing the news, pirates in the Four Blues and the first half of the Grand Line were stunned, but they also instinctively began to rein themselves in.
After all, if even Whitebeard had been captured by the so-called "New Marines," Marine Headquarters would have more time and energy to devote to small fry like them.
While most pirates around the world began to restrain themselves after learning of Whitebeard's capture, the great pirates active in the New World did not spare even a moment to mourn for Whitebeard.
With Whitebeard gone, the Whitebeard Pirates had already reached the brink of collapse. The prosperous and peaceful islands once controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates had become targets for countless pirates.
When the potential gains were great enough, creatures like pirates would take any risk.
Some large pirate fleets began sending their subordinates to tentatively raid islands controlled by the Whitebeard Pirates, probing the strength the Whitebeard Pirates still had left.
After leaving the waters of Whole Cake Island, the Moby Dick relied on Kozuki Oden's Vivre Card to hurry toward Wano Country. Without Whitebeard to lead them, they urgently needed someone to take charge and guide them onward.
Kozuki Oden was the "younger brother" acknowledged by Whitebeard and had once served as the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. The crew all recognized him as the new "leader" who could keep them united.
On the way to Wano Country, Marco, Vista, and the other division commanders began sending messages to their subordinates scattered throughout the New World, ordering them to assemble.
The gathering point was Whitebeard's hometown—Sphinx Island.
During this time, Marco and the other commanders would occasionally receive intelligence about their territories