The Final Road Poneglyph and the Identity of the Red-Haired Man / The Bigger the Waves, the More Valuable the Fish.

But he did not dare underestimate Kaido in the slightest.

That man was in his prime, while Whitebeard was growing old. Lately, he could feel his condition getting worse and worse.

In a few more years, no one would need to challenge him. He would fall from his place as the World's Strongest on his own.

He had sensed that coming. What he had not expected was for that Silver Hair brat to become the World's Strongest before even reaching adulthood.

Even at his peak, Whitebeard could never have killed Kaido!

"Oh, right, Pops." Marco interrupted Whitebeard's thoughts.

"What is it?"

Whitebeard looked up at Marco, a hint of puzzlement crossing his face.

"Shanks has been making a lot of moves lately. Do you think he's plotting something?"

"Shanks?"

Whitebeard thought for a moment, then waved a hand dismissively. "Relax. Whatever that brat is up to, it won't reach us. Don't forget, your Pops is Whitebeard!"

Marco could not help smiling at Whitebeard's confidence.

Whitebeard was not just the captain of their pirate crew. He was the father they all shared. As long as Whitebeard stood, their crew—their family—would never fall.

But when Marco thought of Whitebeard's steadily declining health, worry stirred deep in his eyes.

As the ship's doctor, he knew Whitebeard's condition better than anyone.

And because Whitebeard was both their captain and the head of their family, Marco worried all the more about what would become of the crew after he fell.

Shaking his head, Marco turned toward Ace, who was fooling around with his companions on deck. Hope flickered in his eyes.

Whitebeard had high hopes for Ace, and so did Marco.

Ace's potential was extraordinary. He might not match that Silver Hair brat, but what he had achieved at his age still made him a