As Ace's words faded, an inexplicable deathly silence fell over the vast ship's deck.
The pirates, all veterans who had weathered countless storms and could stand on their own in these seas, wore exceptionally grim expressions.
No!
Rather than disbelief alone, a trace of inexplicable fear had also surfaced.
They had not survived in these seas until now merely by relying on luck.
Every one of them had a capable mind. Though Ace had been somewhat vague, with careful thought, they could still deduce the final answer.
"Ace, are you saying that the Sin of Pride Escanor, the One-Punch Monster Saitama, and even the Blood Flag rookie Ulquiorra are all the same person?" Marco was the first to speak.
"No, should I say... they are all Uchiha Qin Yu?"
That single remark pierced through the vague topic, instantly tightening everyone's nerves as all eyes fixed on Ace.
Feeling the countless gazes upon him, Ace nodded heavily.
For a moment, a chorus of sharp intakes of breath rang across the vast deck.
Guessing it was one thing; having it confirmed was another.
Now that Ace had personally admitted it, the meaning was entirely different.
"Alright, Ace, I understand your good intentions, but don't forget—your old man is Whitebeard, a living legend of this world. No matter how formidable that brat is, he'll have to survive the coming turmoil before he can truly claim the title of emperor." Whitebeard patted Ace's shoulder and spoke in a deep voice.
"Don't forget, there was once an era known as the age of Rocks. His methods may not have been as varied as Uchiha Qin Yu's, but his momentum was just as overwhelming. Yet in the end, he only fell on Upper Yard. This is an order where the survivors are king."
The somewhat heavy