A warm atmosphere had returned to the Moby Dick.
Newgate suddenly turned his head, his gaze falling on the towering figure.
"Teach."
His tone was casual, yet carried a hint of deeper meaning.
"Your ability..."
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Perhaps it'll give that brat quite the surprise."
The laughter on deck paused slightly.
Quite a few people instinctively stopped what they were doing and turned their eyes toward him.
Teach slowly raised his head, still wearing that rugged grin, his missing teeth especially conspicuous in the firelight.
"Zehahahaha..."
His laughter was low, rumbling up from deep in his throat.
In that instant, a nearly imperceptible darkness flashed through the depths of his eyes.
"Pops."
"Even if that guy saved my real father back then..."
"But if he wants to hurt my family."
He bared his teeth, his smile widening without a trace of warmth.
"I absolutely won't allow it!"
"Well said!"
Thatch came up from behind and slapped his shoulder, laughing heartily.
"Just what you'd expect from our Second Division Commander."
"Commander Teach sure knows how to take responsibility."
"Hahaha! Even if that guy really dares to come, we're not afraid."
"That's right, let him see what the Whitebeard Pirates are made of!"
The mood was ignited once more, and the deck became lively again.
—The view pulled back.
Deep within the New World lay a country isolated by storms and ocean currents.
Wano Country.
Viewed from high above.
The mountains were like a prison.
Waterfalls flowed in reverse.
The entire land seemed abandoned by the world.
The once-prosperous Flower Capital was now dim and colorless.
The streets had been repaired, and the houses rebuilt.
Yet it had lost its former liveliness.
Most conspicuous was the empty space at the center. The once-towering shogun's castle had vanished.