New Moves!

Li's words were calm, yet they made everyone feel as though their breathing had stopped. Whitebeard—the man who had once competed with Pirate King Gol D. Roger for the title of Pirate King. In that era, Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion had all been legendary pirates. On the present-day Grand Line, Whitebeard was acknowledged as the strongest pirate in the world, without question. With Golden Lion missing and Roger dead, no one believed there was anyone on the Grand Line capable of defeating Whitebeard.

"Ha ha...!"

They had expected Whitebeard to be angered, but instead, he threw back his head and laughed. There was no displeasure in his tone. At the sound of his laughter, the tense atmosphere instantly dissolved completely, and the pirates under Whitebeard relaxed as well. Right, what was there to be nervous about? They knew Whitebeard's character well enough. As long as no one bullied one of his pirates, Whitebeard would never truly lose his temper.

Shanks held down his straw hat with his head lowered, while Asama Ryoma and the others all prepared for battle. They did not know what Whitebeard would do, but they did know one thing: since their captain had spoken those words, there was no taking them back. If Whitebeard insisted on protecting Kaido, then their captain would definitely go to war with Whitebeard.

"Brat Li, compared to back then, your temper hasn't changed one bit. But I suppose you know why I'm protecting Kaido. Yet even under these circumstances, you still chose to help Kaido. It seems you've made the necessary resolve as well. Indeed, the Marines are no longer much of a threat to you. Even if you kill Kaido here, whether it's the Marines or the Seven Warlords of the Sea, none of them can shake your foundation.