"Still no word?" The sun had already risen over the horizon, yet there was still no news from Marco. Whitebeard's heart tightened.
"Sorry, Pops, it was my failure to..." Jozu lowered his head, wanting to admit fault, but Whitebeard stopped him with a large hand.
"Don't be so dejected. Raise your head. You'll be the new Whitebeard in the future." Whitebeard's words made Jozu look up at him. "And even if you fail, you must hold your head high, straighten your chest, and face it with dignity."
"No matter when, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates must never hang his head in despair!"
His deep voice was like an angry tide gathering strength. "You are the backbone of the entire crew, so your happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy will affect everyone aboard."
"So, Jozu, from now on, you cannot be dejected. You cannot despair. You must always maintain your dignity and strength, so that all the children will feel admiration when they see you and keep their hope and fighting spirit alive."
"Yes." Jozu replied in an equally deep voice.
"Marco has most likely met with disaster. You'll directly take his place as my right-hand man in this battle." Whitebeard continued issuing orders, a trace of grief hidden in his voice.
Clearly, to him, losing Marco was far more than merely losing the captain of his First Division.
"Yes..." Fury burned in Jozu's chest as well, like magma churning and ready to erupt.
Marco had gone to scout the enemy because of him. He...
"Ma ma ma ma~~~~" Big Mom's wild, distinctive laugh rang out over the sea, drawing the attention of every member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
The fleet immediately identified the direction the laughter came from—and even who it belonged to!
"It's BIG MOM!!! They actually dare come