Dispersing the Crowd, Midnight Rendezvous!

Seeing that Chen Ye had no good ideas either, everyone gradually shifted their attention away from him.

For a moment, everyone in the war council chamber fell silent.

But that brief silence became the final spark that ignited the Powder Keg.

"Enough!"

Lakyo, Captain of the 7th Division, slammed his fist onto the Sea Chart, making the pointers on the table jump wildly.

"What a waste of time!"

"What use can we expect from a Newcomer?!"

His bloodshot eyes swept across the room, and the fury he had been suppressing erupted once more.

"I say we stop discussing this!"

"Everyone! Every ship! Charge straight into Marineford right now!"

"With our fists and blades, we'll take Ace back!"

His words completely ignited the stifled atmosphere.

"That's right! Why waste words on those Marine bastards?!"

"Even if there's a Sea of Swords and Flames ahead, I'll be the first one in!"

"Kill them all!"

"Save Ace!"

The flames of vengeance that Marco had forcibly suppressed returned with even greater ferocity.

In an instant, the entire war council chamber went from a grave secret room back to the chaotic disorder of a Vegetable Market.

The Division Commanders, Heroes who usually commanded fear and respect wherever they went, had now been completely consumed by rage.

They argued and roared at one another.

Every so-called "plan" they proposed was utterly useless, nothing more than a pointless march toward death.

Marco opened his mouth, wanting to stop them again, but found his voice so insignificant amid the Avalanche and Tsunami of furious roars.

Looking at those faces twisted by anger, a deep sense of helplessness rose within him.

It was useless.

No one could listen anymore.

Chen Ye remained standing in that corner.

Watching the nearly out-of-control scene before him, his expression did not change in the slightest, as though he were watching a farce that had nothing to do with him.

Just as the chaos reached its peak—

BOOM—!!!

A deafening crash, so heavy it seemed to stop everyone's hearts, suddenly exploded!

It was not someone slamming a table.

Nor was it someone stomping their foot.

It was Whitebeard.

His hand that was not hooked up to an IV came down heavily on the armrest of the massive chair beside him.

The entire council chamber, along with the Entire Moby Dick, shuddered violently from that blow!

All the arguments.

All the roars.

All the fury.

Were utterly silenced in that instant.

The air froze.

Time stood still.

Only the heavy breathing of the Division Commanders and the others, stirred beyond measure, remained in the chamber.

"Enough."

Whitebeard spoke slowly. His voice was not loud, yet it carried an irresistible majesty, like a Giant Ship crushing across ice.

He slowly rose from his throne.

The shadow cast by his enormous body enveloped the entire council chamber.

He did not even look at any of his sons.

"Shut the hell up, all of you!"

"Look at yourselves. What do you look like?"

"A bunch of idiots blinded by rage!"

"You think you can go to war against the most elite Marines in the world like this?"

"You still think you can save Ace in your current state?"

Whitebeard's voice suddenly rose, turning into thunder that shook the ears.

"You want to throw your lives away! You want Ace to watch every last one of you die before his eyes!"

Those words were like a bucket of Ice Water poured over everyone's heads.

All the commanders shuddered. The frenzy vanished from their faces in an instant, replaced by shame as they lowered their heads.

That was right. In their current state, they would only be going to die!

Whitebeard swept his gaze across the crowd that had fallen into dead silence again, his voice returning to its usual steadiness.

"From this moment on, the meeting is over."

"Stop all this pointless arguing."

"Every last one of you, get back out there. Sharpen your weapons, polish your cannons, and get yourselves into the best condition possible!"

He paused. An unquenchable flame burned in those eyes of an emperor.

"Remember!"

"We are going there to save someone!"

"Not to die!"

With that, he ignored everyone, turned, and strode toward the exit of the council chamber.

No one dared make another sound.

Everyone lowered their heads, ashamed of their earlier loss of control.

Heavy Footsteps gradually faded away.

Just as Whitebeard's massive figure was about to pass Chen Ye in the corner—

His steps paused, almost imperceptibly.

Only for half a second.

So quickly that almost no one noticed.

Then, without looking back, he walked out of the council chamber.

Night.

Deep as ink.

The Moby Dick, the great ship that carried the pride of an era, sailed quietly beneath the moonlight.

The clamor and frenzy of the day had already faded.

On deck, the Crew Members followed Pops's orders and made their final preparations in silence.

Blades were sharpened, their scraping harsh and piercing.

Cannons were polished, the gleam of the oilcloth cold as frost.

Everyone had made thorough preparations for battle!

No one noticed.

A lone figure quietly made his way to the Moby Dick's enormous Whale Head.

This was the highest point on the ship.

Chen Ye sat cross-legged, allowing the cold sea wind to whip against his thin clothes.

His eyes were closed, his expression calm, as though he had Become One with the night.

He was waiting.

He knew.

They would definitely come.

No one knew how much time passed.

A set of steady footsteps sounded across the silent deck, drawing closer.

There were two sets of footsteps.

One was heavy as a mountain, each step making the deck groan faintly.

The other was much lighter, nearly soundless.

Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes.

He did not turn around.

He merely looked toward the distant horizon where sea met sky and spoke calmly.

"Pops, Brother Marco.

"You came."

Under the moonlight, two figures stopped behind him.

At their head stood a man as towering and majestic as a mountain.

Whitebeard.

Beside him stood the man with Pineapple Hair.

Marco.

Marco looked at Chen Ye's calm back, and the doubt in his eyes finally turned into certainty.

He knew it.

This mysterious Genius Youth definitely had a way!

Whitebeard said nothing. He merely stood there, quietly watching Chen Ye's back with eyes that seemed to see through everything.

The sea wind lifted the Cape Coat behind him.

It snapped loudly in the wind.