World narrowed his eyes at Beyo Jack, who clutched an IV stand in both hands and looked so frail he might collapse at any moment, and spoke coolly.
Yet despite his calm tone, both Beyo Jack and Barn could hear that World was deliberately trying to hide something. There was even a hint of a threat toward Beyo Jack...
"Cough, cough..."
Beyo Jack understood what World meant, of course, but he still stepped forward, leaning on the stand. Standing right in front of Barn, he addressed World in a weak but unyielding voice.
"This wasn't what we wanted back then. Cough, cough..."
"It was nothing like this!"
The last trace of a smile vanished from World's face, and his formerly calm tone turned almost icy.
"Huh?"
World now looked at Beyo Jack as though he were a stranger, with even a trace of hostility in his eyes.
Barn could naturally sense the change in World's tone, and so could Beyo Jack. Beyo Jack had always earned his place in the World Pirates through his intelligence. Despite his frail health, he had won the respect of the vast pirate crew not merely because he was Captain World's older brother, but because of his mind.
Yet even he, normally so composed, broke into a cold sweat. After all, this was the first time he had openly opposed World...
"World..."
Beyo Jack's voice trembled, but his eyes remained exceptionally resolute as he spoke to World.
"Do you remember what we wanted most at the very beginning?"
World continued to stare coldly at Beyo Jack, as though warning him not to say another word. But Beyo Jack ignored him and turned his back to World, continuing with a nostalgic expression. A faint smile even appeared on his face...
"What we wanted..."
It had been