Turtle Island, in the Castle's great hall.
As Loa's base, the rebuilt Castle had shed the gloomy, cold stonework of the old Old Castle. Thanks to Ulysses's efforts, it was now bright throughout, every room grand in a boldly open style. A carriage could easily race down its wide corridors, and indigo crystals hung on the white walls. The meeting hall, once the banquet hall Ratchet had used, had been expanded so much that, at a glance, Robin thought she was back in the royal palace of Alabasta.
Ulysses respectfully presented the intelligence he had gathered to Loa. "Shanks and Whitebeard have been in frequent contact. If they form an alliance, I don't think the Marines stand a chance against that kind of pressure!"
"In other words, you think Whitebeard is certain to lose as long as he doesn't bring Shanks in?"
Smiling, Loa pointed out what Ulysses had been trying to keep to himself.
Ulysses showed no embarrassment at being found out. It was the truth. Whitebeard, the World's Strongest, had rarely fought in recent years. On the few occasions he had been seen in action, every witness had come away with the same impression.
Compared with twenty years ago, when he, Roger, and Golden Lion had vied for supremacy on the Grand Line, Whitebeard really had grown old!
Sengoku had aged too, but he still had the Three Admirals, the Marines' greatest fighting force! He had the two monster Vice Admirals who had emerged from this massive recruitment drive! And he had a hundred thousand elite Marines!
Even if Whitebeard were still young, he would be more likely to lose against the Marines' plan to lure him into a trap!
In other words, the Whitebeard Pirates were certain to fall this time!
Without Whitebeard at their center, which