The sea seethed

The news that Satoru Gojo, captain of the Jujutsu Pirates, was going to challenge Whitebeard spread across the entire sea almost overnight.

At first, only the few people in the conference room in Dressrosa had known about it. Gojo and the others had not deliberately publicized it, though they had not deliberately concealed it either.

The news had simply spread after soldiers or other people overheard some of the meeting's participants discussing it afterward.

Once the major newspapers learned of it, they all reported on the matter, sending the entire sea into an uproar.

Everyone reacted differently. Some mocked Gojo, thinking he had no idea how far out of his depth he was and assumed that defeating the Three Admirals meant he could take on the entire Whitebeard Pirates alone.

Others lavished praise on Gojo. In the few short months since he had set sail, he had repeatedly shaken the seas, defeating Shichibukai one after another, crushing a Buster Call, and capturing the Three Admirals alive. Now he was about to forge another legend!

The second half of the Grand Line, the New World, aboard the Moby Dick.

This was the flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates. Seated at its very center, drinking, was Edward Newgate, known as Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors who reigned over the second half of the Grand Line.

"Pops! Pops! There's something interesting in the paper!"

While Whitebeard and his crew drank heartily, Vista the Flower Sword waved the newspaper in his hand and called out to him.

"Gurarararara! What could be so interesting in the paper?"

Whitebeard roared with laughter, clearly in a good mood.

Vista the Flower Sword immediately handed him the newspaper.

Whitebeard took it, focused on it for a moment, and promptly laughed.

"Gurarararara! That kid Satoru Gojo really is something!"

Rather than getting angry that Gojo wanted to challenge him, Whitebeard admired him.

Gojo had stirred up the seas again and again in such a short time. Whitebeard thought highly of him. If only he could make him his son!

"Vista, what's the interesting news? Why's Pops so happy?"

Seeing how pleased Pops was, Marco could not help asking.

"Satoru Gojo, captain of the Jujutsu Pirates, is coming to challenge Pops and claim the title of the World's Strongest Man!"

"Hahahahaha!"

At Vista the Flower Sword's reply, all the Whitebeard Pirates present burst into laughter.

"After all these years, someone's coming to challenge Pops again!"

"Hahaha! The last one to challenge Pops was Ace!"

"Hahaha!"

"Ace was brimming with confidence back then!"

"Satoru Gojo's pretty strong, though!"

"Huh? Are you saying Pops will lose?"

"I mean, how about making him one of our division commanders too?"

"If he turns out to be a decent guy, let's invite him to join after Pops gives him a beating!"

"Ahahahaha!"

The Whitebeard Pirates roared with laughter again. They were not mocking Gojo for daring to challenge Whitebeard, but that did not mean they thought he would win.

In their hearts, Whitebeard was the World's Strongest. No one could defeat him, and they feared no challenger, because they were the world's strongest pirate crew!

An office at Marine Headquarters.

Sengoku looked at the newspaper on his desk. The office was silent.

"Is this information accurate?"

Sengoku was the first to break the silence.

"It should be. According to our intelligence agents, Satoru Gojo has already left Dressrosa. Only a few pirates and the commander of Dressrosa's royal guard went with him!"

Vice Admiral Tsuru answered.

"If that's true, this could be a clash on the level of the Emperors!"

Sengoku was now fully convinced that Gojo possessed the fighting strength of an Emperor.

"If they both suffer heavy losses, we can reap the benefits!"

Akainu proposed.

Vice Admiral Tsuru said, "We mustn't act rashly. Last time, even three Admirals couldn't take down the Jujutsu Pirates!"

"Last time, we were facing the entire Jujutsu Pirates. This time, we'll watch them fight and clean up afterward!"

Akainu still refused to give up. He had sworn to redeem himself after their last defeat!

"I'll ask our superiors for instructions!"

To be safe, Sengoku still intended to consult the Five Elders.

With that, Sengoku picked up the Den Den Mushi on his desk and called the Five Elders.

"Hello! This is Fleet Admiral Sengoku. There's something I need your instructions on..."

Sengoku gave the Five Elders a concise account of the situation. When it came to matters involving the Jujutsu Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates, he could not make decisions lightly.

After he finished explaining, there was no response from the other end of the Den Den Mushi for a long time. Finally, an aged voice spoke.

"Keep them under close surveillance. If an opportunity arises, deliver a fatal blow!"

"Yes!"

At the Five Elders' reply, Sengoku's eyes flickered, and he acknowledged the order.

The clash between Satoru Gojo and the Whitebeard Pirates might be an opportunity to wipe them out. Sengoku wholeheartedly agreed with the Five Elders' decision and said:

"Assemble the Three Admirals and keep a close watch on the Whitebeard Pirates and Satoru Gojo. They're very likely to fight. Once they've battered each other and an opportunity presents itself, wipe them out in one fell swoop!"

"Yes!"

Everyone in the office answered in unison.

The sea was in an uproar, while Satoru Gojo, the man responsible for it, stood by the railing at the very front of the Ark Maxim's deck, gazing into the distance. Beneath the ark lay the surging sea.

Without Enel to pilot the Ark Maxim this time, it naturally could not fly.

However, Gojo had modified the Ark Maxim to run on petroleum. It was extremely fast-arguably the fastest ship on the sea at present.

"Your Majesty, today's newspaper is out!"

Koratt handed Gojo the newspaper he had received from a News Coo.

"Koratt, don't call me Your Majesty right now. Right now, I'm a pirate going to challenge the world's strongest pirate."

"Yes! Your Maj... Lord Gojo!"

Gojo took the newspaper from Koratt and began reading.

"Oh~ News that I'm challenging Whitebeard has already spread!"

"Well, you're in the spotlight right now, and Whitebeard is one of the Four Emperors. The whole world is watching your battle!"

Rebecca, who stood guard on Gojo's right, spoke.

"A lot of people must think I'm marching to my death. After all, I'm challenging the Whitebeard Pirates on my own!"

"How does it feel to come along and die with me?"

Gojo spoke flippantly.

"You, marching to your death? If you're doing this, that means you're completely confident!"

Rebecca had complete faith in Gojo. After spending these past few months with him, she certainly did not consider him someone with courage but no brains.

"What do you think, Koratt?"

"I believe you'll win, Lord Gojo!"

"Hahaha! Of course! Watch with your own eyes as I defeat this legend!"

Gojo's voice brimmed with confidence.