Wangchuan walked toward the bow.
He climbed the steps along the ship's side, one, two, three.
Thud, thud, thud...
Whitebeard still stood at the bow, his gaze directed toward the battlefield ahead.
His attention was entirely focused on Marineford as he assessed the Navy's next deployment.
But he was, after all, known as the World's Strongest Man.
When Wangchuan stepped onto the third step from the top, Whitebeard's ears twitched slightly.
He had heard him.
Whitebeard slowly turned his head.
His gaze fell on the figure at the end of the steps.
A young man.
Wearing a strangely styled black coat, he was walking up at an unhurried pace with both hands in his pockets.
His expression was relaxed, and there was even a faint hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth, as though he had come to tour a pleasure boat.
Whitebeard's body paused slightly.
He slowly turned his head, drawing his gaze away from the battlefield to the figure that had abruptly appeared behind him.
Whitebeard's brow furrowed.
"Hmm?"
"When did this brat... climb aboard?"
With his Observation Haki, even without deliberately activating it.
No movement within hundreds of meters could escape his perception.
Yet this person's approach had offered no warning whatsoever before he noticed him.
It was as though something had obscured his senses.
Wangchuan reached the top of the steps and tilted his head slightly toward Whitebeard.
"Yo."
Wangchuan raised a hand and gave a casual wave by way of greeting.
Whitebeard watched him, his brow still furrowed.
He had lived for so many years and met all sorts of people.
Anyone who could remain perfectly composed on a battlefield like this was either a fool or possessed the strength to match.
Yet he could sense no hint of danger from this