Reactions Across the Seas, the World's Shock

Kozuki Oden's hometown!

Whitebeard took the newspaper, his gaze sweeping over the images of thunderclouds and shattered earth before landing on the photograph of the destroyed Flower Capital.

"The Flower Capital... Oden mentioned it before, didn't he?"

Whitebeard said in a deep voice.

"Pops, the Flower Capital is his family's home."

Kozuki Oden had boarded Whitebeard's ship after leaving Wano Country, and was later taken by Roger to Final Island.

That was why many people aboard Whitebeard's ship knew Kozuki Oden.

After hearing Marco, with his pineapple-like head, Whitebeard frowned as he stared at the newspaper.

Kozuki Oden had returned to Wano Country after the Roger Pirates disbanded. They had not been in contact since, but he had once been one of Whitebeard's crew.

No one knew what had happened to that guy now.

"Pops, are we going?"

A group of pirates gathered around, all looking at Whitebeard with anticipation in their eyes.

Going to Wano Country would definitely mean going to war with Kaido.

Most pirates were combative, and the men aboard Whitebeard's ship were even more so.

Now that Whitebeard's name shook the Grand Line, those guys feared neither heaven nor earth.

After all, no matter what happened, Pops could handle it.

And Whitebeard truly could do that now. At the height of his power, he was a man truly standing at the pinnacle of these seas.

"Moria is that strong?"

Whitebeard did not say whether they would go. His gaze fell on the previous picture.

He knew Kaido, and he knew Kaido's strength. Kaido had only just entered the peak of his own power as well.

Yet he had actually been forced to use his awakened Devil Fruit ability.

"Gecko Moria has a bounty of 300 million, but there's still a huge gap between him and Kaido, isn't there?"

Marco froze for a moment, then spoke in confusion.

Kaido did not yet bear the title of one of the Four Emperors, and his bounty had not reached its eventual peak of 4.611 billion Beli, but it had already surpassed 2 billion Beli.

Although bounties did not absolutely reflect a person's strength on these seas.

Once a bounty reached a certain amount, however, it also represented that person's capabilities.

Even compared to the others currently aboard Whitebeard's ship, Moria's bounty was quite high.

But compared with Kaido's, the difference was far too great. That proved there was definitely a considerable gap in their strength.

"Gurararara, how interesting. But the information is too vague right now. Let's wait for more news."

Whitebeard tossed the newspaper to Marco, raised the bowl of sake before him, and drained it in one gulp.

"Continue toward the New World."

Hearing Whitebeard's order, the other pirates aboard the ship had no objections.

Besides, their ship was still quite far from Wano Country. Even if they went without encountering any trouble, it would take nearly two months.

After so long, whatever had happened would have long since ended.

Besides, they still did not know what the situation was.

Whitebeard was indeed curious about what kind of person could fight Kaido to such an extent.

Whole Cake Island.

Charlotte Linlin had already begun preparing to build her dream nation in the Grand Line, a country with ten thousand races.

Charlotte Linlin had not yet become as obese as she would be in the future due to her obsession with sweets, but age and frequent childbirth had already given her an elderly appearance. She looked like a vicious witch.

Yet her strength had not diminished in the slightest. Or rather, Charlotte had reached this point purely through her innate talent.

"Mamamama, Kaido has run into an opponent."

Charlotte Linlin laughed loudly as she looked at the newspaper in her hand.

A group of people hurriedly laid all kinds of desserts before her.

"Mother, should we go? You and Kaido used to be on the same ship."

Perospero, Charlotte Linlin's eldest son, spoke respectfully with his long tongue hanging out.

"Kaido won't be defeated so easily, but Gecko Moria actually has this kind of power."

Charlotte Linlin's eyes suddenly lit up as she noticed a key detail.

The Gecko Moria Pirates had gone to war with Kaido and caused such a commotion. Moria was no weakling.

Charlotte Linlin wanted to form a pirate crew made entirely of her own children, and the fathers of those children did not matter to her. She discarded them after using them. If Moria was truly this powerful, perhaps he belonged to a special race as well.

At that thought, Charlotte Linlin swallowed.

Perospero, who knew Charlotte Linlin well, naturally understood what his mother was thinking.

"Forget it!"

Charlotte Linlin rubbed her belly.

"I already have babies."

At her words, Perospero was relieved instead.

Not far away, Katakuri listened to the conversation between his eldest brother and mother, his mouth full of fangs concealed beneath his scarf. His expression did not change.

His younger brothers and sisters around him were stuffing themselves with food and drink, but he did not touch anything.

"Keep watching Kaido's disappearance. If he fails, come tell me."

Charlotte Linlin truly had the thought of capturing Moria and having children with him, but she was already carrying two children. She had to give birth to them first.

"Children, let the party begin!"

Without waiting for Perospero's reply, Charlotte Linlin raised her teacup and laughed.

The bizarre-looking creatures born of Charlotte Linlin all cheered together.

Then the teacups, the pastries, and even everything in the banquet hall seemed to come alive, singing in unison.

West Blue.

"Young Master!"

Trebol, who had a runny nose and looked utterly slovenly, took the newspaper from Doflamingo's hand.

"Fuffuffu, how interesting. Moria..."

Doflamingo pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a strange laugh.

"Trebol, make preparations. We're entering the New World again."

"Young Master, what about West Blue?"

Trebol froze, then immediately spoke.

"It's enough. I don't need to rule the entire Underworld."

At Doflamingo's words, Trebol nodded, then seemed to recall something.

"The Marines should still be keeping an eye on you, Young Master..."

At the mention of this, Doflamingo's expression darkened as he thought of the Marine vice admiral who had chased him out of the New World.

Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Marines' chief staff officer.

Her ability was too dangerous.

He had seen people attacked by her Wash-Wash Fruit. Every evil thought in their minds had been washed clean, turning them into saints.

That was something he would never allow to happen to himself.

"Go do it!"

"Yes!"

Seeing the Young Master's expression, Trebol said nothing more. He nodded and turned to leave.

Doflamingo's gaze fell on the newspaper in his hand again, fixed on the image of that mass of thunderclouds.

Gecko Moria had already come this far, challenging Kaido?

While everyone was doubting Gecko Moria, he had long since fled Wano Country's waters, controlling Thriller Bark as he sought to escape farther from the Grand Line.

The battle in Wano Country lasted for seven days before finally drawing to a close.