Time rewound several months, to the very moment Gern landed in the Mokomo Dukedom.
News that the "Curse Doctor" and the "Colossal Battleship" had been imprisoned in Impel Down had also reached the papers...
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick in the New World.
The sea breeze swept across the deck, carrying a salty tang, while the newspaper rustled in Marco's hands.
He stared at the front-page headline: [Marine "Heavenquake" Gern strikes again, single-handedly subduing the "Colossal Battleship" and the "Curse Doctor"!] In the photograph, the young Marine officer's black hair streamed in the wind.
"Hey, hey, isn't this guy improving a little too fast?" Marco gripped the newspaper, his brows knitting together.
"How many years has it been since he made his name by cutting down Golden Lion? And now he's taken out Sanjuan Wolf, the 'Colossal Battleship,' and Samuel, the 'Curse Doctor,' too?
"Those two aren't small-time pirates!"
Whitebeard listened to Marco's exclamations from his enormous personal chair, a bowl of liquor in his hand.
His gaze darkened slightly, but a meaningful smile curled his lips. "Gurararara! That's why you idiots need to work twice as hard!
"Especially you, Marco..." Whitebeard deliberately drew out his words, mischief flickering in his eyes.
"You know, when Gern attacked me back then, he was even younger than you!"
"Pops!!" Marco bristled instantly. "Why are you comparing me to someone else's kid again?!
"Besides..." He jabbed a finger at the newspaper and fired back indignantly.
"Didn't you want to make him your son back then?!"
"Gurararara! If that brat had agreed to come aboard..." Whitebeard laughed and gulped down some liquor, droplets trickling down his mustache.
"He might have taken your place as First Division Commander by now!"
Marco said, "Got it! Pops is getting old, so now he only likes kids with