In the quiet room of Ark Maxim, Roy looked at the Devil Fruit in his hand that had just completed its transformation.
Deep blue spiral patterns extend from the stem to the bottom of the fruit, and the dense crack patterns on the skin resemble miniature, compressed seismic sources.
It gleamed with a cold, eerie light under the dim lamplight.
Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
The power of Edward Newgate, the World's Strongest Man with Whitebeard, lay quietly in his palm.
Roy placed the fruit into the box he had prepared beforehand, and the lid closed with a dull thud.
He looked up and glanced at the Whitebeard body lying within the Telekinesis: Barrier—
Even after the old man died, that signature smile remained on his lips, as if mocking death itself.
A worthy opponent.
Roy muttered something under his breath, then turned and walked out of the quiet room.
On the deck, the core members of Hachinosu were already waiting.
Bullet crossed his arms and was the first to speak when he saw Roy come out.
" Roy, what should we do with Whitebeard's body?"
I'll personally deliver it back.
Roy's gaze swept over the crowd.
"You guys go back to Hachinosu first."
Tesoro, the return voyage is in your hands.
Tesoro nodded, and a golden arc of electricity flickered at his fingertips.
"No problem.
But boss, won't it be... for you to go to Whitebeard's territory alone?"
"I'm going to a funeral, not to fight."
Roy interrupted him.
"Furthermore, Whitebeard Pirates need right now is respect, not wariness."
Hawk Eyes rarely spoke, but he did. "Do you need me to come along?"
"Need not."
Roy shook his head.
" Mihawk, take Kuina back to Hachinosu to continue your training."
The child's swordsmanship has improved greatly, but he still lacks practical combat experience.
Kuina tightened her grip on Ame no Habakiri's hand, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just nodded.
Seeing that no one objected, Roy used his Telekinesis to lift Whitebeard's body, and his figure slowly rose from the deck.
"Go back and wait for orders. There are more important things to do when I return."
As soon as he finished speaking,
His figure disappeared from the sky above the Ark Maxim, transforming into a streak of light and flying towards the Sabaody Archipelago.
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13.
The Moby Dick was anchored outside the harbor awaiting coating; the ship's hull was still damaged, bearing scorch marks from cannon fire and slits from swords.
The pirates sat in twos and threes on the deck, some bandaging their wounds.
Some people silently wiped their knives, while others simply leaned against the ship's railing, lost in thought.
Marco stood at the bow of the ship, blue flames burning quietly on his shoulder.
His gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, his expression calm, but the knuckles of his fingers gripping the gunwale had turned white.
Marco.
Vista approached from behind, twin swords hanging at his waist, his voice hoarse like sandpaper.
" Ace still won't come out?"
Marco shook his head.
Since boarding the ship, Ace has locked himself in his cabin, refusing to eat or drink, and refusing to see anyone.
Luffy is still unconscious, and Ivankov says he will need at least three days to wake up.
Just then, a figure appeared without warning above the Moby Dick.
Marco's Observation Haki reacted first, and the blue flames suddenly surged.
But the next second he saw clearly who the person was, and the tall corpse next to the person being supported by Telekinesis.
" Pops..."
Marco's flames went out instantly.
Roy slowly landed on the deck, his Telekinesis: Barrier enveloping Whitebeard's body, and gently placed it in the center of the deck.
The entire Moby Dick fell silent.
The pirates who were sitting on the ground stood up, their hands stopping wiping their knives and bandaging their wounds.
Everyone stared at the body lying quietly on the deck, at the face that still wore a smile even in death.
The cabin door was suddenly pushed open.
Ace stumbled out.
His eyes were terribly red and swollen, his clothes were wrinkled, and his hair was a mess.
He ran to the Whitebeard body, his legs gave way, and he knelt down on the deck.
" Pops..."
Ace's voice trembled, the two words squeezed out from deep in his throat were so hoarse they were almost inaudible, his hands braced against the deck, his forehead pressed against the cold wooden planks, his whole body shaking like a leaf.
The other pirates on deck also had tears in their eyes.
Some people lowered their heads and silently wiped away their tears, some turned away because they couldn't bear to watch anymore, and some gritted their teeth and tried their best to hold back their tears, but they still fell down.
Marco stood beside Whitebeard's body, without crying.
He simply lowered his head, looking at his Pops's peaceful face, the blue flames burning quietly on his shoulder like an ever-burning lamp keeping vigil.
"Thank you, Captain Roy."
Marco's voice was soft but steady, "Thank you for bringing Pops back."
Roy didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.
Inside the cabin, Rayleigh was sitting by Luffy's bed.
The Pluton was holding a bottle of wine, taking sips here and there, and only raised an eyelid when he saw Roy enter.
"This time, it's caused quite a stir outside."
"Normal."
Roy sat down opposite Rayleigh.
"After all, he's Whitebeard."
Rayleigh was silent for a moment, then put down the wine bottle.
"I'm going to teach Luffy a lesson."
"Teach him to Haki?"
"Hmm. This kid has the talent."
Rayleigh looked at Luffy, who lay unconscious on the bed, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Shanks bet his arm on him; he couldn't let him gamble for nothing.
Roy nodded.
He knew that in the original story, Luffy completed two years of training under Rayleigh's tutelage, laying the foundation for his later becoming one of the Five Emperors.
Although the timeline has changed drastically, Rayleigh's regard for Luffy has never wavered.
" Saint Saturn is dead."
Roy suddenly said something.
Rayleigh paused for a moment, his hand holding the wine bottle still.
He looked at Roy, remained silent for a long time, and then tilted his head back and took a big gulp of wine.
" The Five Elders..."
Not a single one has died in the past eight hundred years.
You were the first to cut off their heads.
Even Rocks couldn't do that back then.
Rayleigh put down the bottle and looked at Roy with a complicated expression.
The world is about to descend into chaos.
The World Government will not let this go.
Are you ready?
What do you think I've been preparing for these past ten years?
Rayleigh paused for a moment, then smiled.
"You're way crazier Roger, kid."
On the deck, an internal meeting of the Whitebeard Pirates was underway.
It was called a meeting, but it was really just a dozen or so division commanders sitting around Whitebeard's body, discussing a problem they never wanted to face—who would succeed them as captain.
I recommend Ace.
Marco was the first to speak, his tone showing no hesitation.
"He was the one my Pops thought the most when he was alive."
"Everyone has seen that Pops has been training Ace for the past few years."
I agree.
Vista nodded.
" Ace is the Second Division Commander; he has the qualifications and ability."
"I agree," Jozu said in a muffled voice.
The other team leaders nodded in agreement.