Kozuki Oden's hometown!
Whitebeard took the newspaper, his gaze sweeping over the images of thunderclouds and shattered earth before settling on the photograph of the destroyed Flower Capital.
"The Flower Capital... Oden mentioned that place, didn't he?"
Whitebeard said in a deep voice.
"Dad, the Flower Capital is his family's home."
Kozuki Oden had left Wano Country by boarding Whitebeard's ship. Later, Roger had taken him aboard and headed for Laugh Tale.
That was why many people on Whitebeard's ship knew Kozuki Oden.
After hearing the pineapple-headed Marco's words, Whitebeard frowned 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 been a member of Whitebeard's crew, after all.
There was no telling what had happened to him now.
"Dad, are we going?"
A group of pirates gathered around, all looking at Whitebeard with anticipation in their eyes.
If they went to Wano Country, they would definitely have to fight Kaido.
Most pirates were belligerent, and the men on Whitebeard's ship were even more so.
Now that Whitebeard's name resounded throughout the Grand Line, they feared neither heaven nor earth.
No matter what happened, Dad could handle it.
And Whitebeard truly could do that now. At the height of his power, he was a man who stood at the very pinnacle of the seas.
"Moria's that strong?"
Whitebeard did not say whether they would go. His gaze fell on the previous image.
He knew Kaido, and he knew Kaido's strength. Kaido had only recently entered his own prime as well.
Yet Moria had actually forced Kaido to use his awakened Devil Fruit power.
"Gecko Moria has a bounty of 300 million Beli, but there's still a huge gap between him and Kaido, isn't there?"
Marco was stunned for a moment before asking 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 two billion Beli.
Although bounties did not absolutely represent strength on these seas.
Once a bounty reached a certain amount, however, it also reflected a person's capabilities.
Moria's bounty was considerably higher than those of the others currently aboard Whitebeard's ship.
But compared with Kaido's, the gap was enormous. That proved there was certainly a significant difference in their strength.
"Gurararara, how interesting. But the information is too vague right now. Let's wait for further news."
Whitebeard tossed the newspaper to Marco, raised the bowl of sake before him, and drained it in one gulp.
"Continue onward to the New World."
None of the other pirates aboard the ship had any objection to Whitebeard's order.
Besides, their ship was still quite far from Wano Country. Even if they went and encountered no trouble along the way, it would take nearly two months.
By then, whatever had happened would have long since ended.
And they still did not know what the situation was.
In truth, Whitebeard was indeed curious about what kind of person could fight Kaido to such a state.
Whole Cake Island.
Charlotte Linlin was already preparing to build, on the Grand Line, the nation of her dreams—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. However, age and frequent childbirth had already given her an aged appearance, making her look like a cruel-hearted witch.
Yet her strength had not weakened in the slightest. Or rather, Charlotte Linlin had reached this point through her innate talent alone.
"Mamamama, Kaido has run into a worthy opponent."
Charlotte Linlin looked at the newspaper in her hand and burst into laughter.
A group of people hurriedly laid out all kinds of desserts before her.
"Mother, should we go? You and Kaido used to be on the same ship."
Charlotte Linlin's eldest son, Perospero, respectfully asked with his long tongue hanging out.
"Kaido won't lose so easily. Still, I never expected Gecko Moria to possess such strength."
Charlotte Linlin's eyes suddenly lit up as she noticed the key point.
The Moonlight 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 were unimportant to her—she discarded them once she was done with 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 in me."
When she said that, Perospero actually breathed a sigh of relief.
Not far away, Katakuri listened to the conversation between his older 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, but he did not move at all.
"Keep watching Kaido's whereabouts. If he loses, report it to me."
Charlotte Linlin had indeed considered capturing Moria and having children with him, but she was already carrying two children and had to give birth to them first.
"Children, let's have a party!"
Without even waiting for Perospero's reply, Charlotte Linlin raised her teacup and laughed.
A group of strange-looking creatures born from Charlotte Linlin cheered together.
Then the teacups, the cakes, and even everything in the banquet hall seemed to come alive and began singing in unison.
West Blue.
"Young Master!"
Trebol, who looked shabby with snot running from his nose, took the newspaper from Donquixote Doflamingo's hand.
"Fuffuffu, how interesting. Moria..."
Donquixote 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 before immediately speaking up.
"It's enough. I don't need to rule the entire underworld."
At Doflamingo's words, Trebol nodded, then seemed to remember something.
"The Navy should still be watching you, Young Master..."
At the mention of that, Doflamingo's expression darkened as he recalled the Navy vice admiral who had chased him out of the New World.
Vice Admiral Tsuru, the Navy's chief staff officer.
Her ability was too dangerous.
He had seen people struck by her Wash-Wash Fruit. Every evil thought in their minds had been washed away, 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 no more. After nodding, he turned and left.
Doflamingo's gaze fell upon the newspaper in his hands again, fixed on the image of that mass of thunderclouds.
Gecko Moria had already come this far, standing against Kaido?
The Gecko Moria everyone was doubting had already fled Wano Country's waters long ago. He controlled Thriller Bark and sought to get farther away from the Grand Line.
Meanwhile, the battle in Wano Country continued for seven days before finally nearing its end.
Before you continue