A strangely oppressive atmosphere spread across the vast ship's deck.
Like an invisible giant hand, it clenched everyone's hearts.
The situation, which had originally been stable, had suddenly been completely overturned.
No one could readily accept such an abrupt change.
"Red-Haired brat, I'll spare you this time." Whitebeard drew back the bisento he had swung up and dropped heavily into his specially made chair.
He slammed the bisento in his hand fiercely onto the deck.
Seeing Whitebeard, who had been so imposing and murderous moments ago, suddenly stop, not only Benn Beckman and the others, but even Red-Haired Shanks understood that this negotiation had succeeded.
"Pops, are you all right?" Marco was the first to lose his composure.
Whitebeard snorted coldly. "Don't worry. My body may be far worse than before, but it's not as bad as that Red-Haired brat claims. I can still sink him into the sea."
His somewhat stubborn words left everyone present with differing expressions.
Outsiders might not know the full story, but Whitebeard himself knew very well that although his harsh words sounded impressive, things were no longer like they had been in his prime. He might truly be able to sink Red-Haired Shanks into the sea, but he likely would not be able to emerge unscathed either.
Faced with this response, Red-Haired Shanks had already achieved his goal. He gave an awkward laugh and said, "Whitebeard, you're right. These scrawny arms of mine can't compare to yours."
"But as captains, we should also consider those under our command. I've said everything unpleasant that needed to be said today."
"If you still think there's no need to choose your successor in advance, then just pretend you never heard me."
At this point, a trace of gravity flashed across Red-Haired Shanks's face. "According to information from