Under Teach's persuasion, Marco walked straight toward Whitebeard.
By the time he arrived, Whitebeard had just finished an entire barrel of sake. He let out a loud burp, then looked at Marco and laughed.
"Gurarara! Marco, you're just in time. Go bring me another barrel of sake."
In the past, Marco would have first reminded him about his health before reluctantly going to fetch the alcohol. This time, however, he did not move at all.
He stood there with his head slightly raised, staring directly at Whitebeard.
Whitebeard quickly noticed something was off. His brows furrowed slightly as he instinctively reached up to touch the damaged side of his face.
Ever since his battle with Lloyd, he had grown to hate people staring at him like that. Still, Marco was his most beloved son, so he only spoke in a low voice.
"What is it, Marco? Why are you standing there like that?"
Marco remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"Old Man, Kaido is dead. The Beasts Pirates have been completely wiped out."
Whitebeard already knew this. His gaze remained steady as he replied,
"Marco, have you been worried these past few days that the Navy will come after us next?"
Marco was slightly taken aback, but he nodded.
"Yes, Old Man. I have a feeling that if the Navy truly intends to end the era of the Four Emperors, then we will be their next target. If that happens..."
Whitebeard raised his hand and cut him off.
"No need to go on. Just tell me what you're thinking."
At some point, the noise across the deck had faded. Everyone had turned their attention toward the two of them. Teach stood near the front, his eyes flickering with anticipation.
Whitebeard briefly glanced past Marco at the gathered crew, then lowered his gaze to Marco's distinctive pineapple shaped hair.
Taking a deep breath under that pressure, Marco finally spoke.
"Old Man, with Kaido's death, the balance of power at sea has collapsed. The Navy has become far too strong. I believe we need to form an alliance with the Big Mom Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates. Only by uniting, and even bringing in other powerful pirate crews, can we stand against the Navy. Otherwise, we can only wait for destruction."
After saying everything in one breath, Marco braced himself.
Teach and the others also tensed.
From their perspective, suggesting this to Whitebeard was no different from saying he was no longer strong enough to stand alone.
For a moment, Whitebeard's face fell into shadow.
Then, slowly, he stood up.
The medical tubes attached to his body slipped away one by one as he rose, his towering figure casting a heavy presence over Marco like a mountain.
He said nothing.
The entire deck fell into silence.
Finally, Marco could not hold back.
"Old Man..."
"You are right, Marco."
Marco froze. He looked up in disbelief.
Whitebeard bent slightly and placed a large hand on Marco's head. Then he lifted his gaze toward the rest of his sons.
"My sons, you all think the same, don't you?"
Teach and the others exchanged glances before slowly nodding.
Whitebeard smiled faintly.
"Then why didn't you tell me sooner? Were you afraid I would get angry?"
No one answered.
The deck remained silent, with only the sea breeze passing through.
Whitebeard's eyes swept across every face. As he straightened his body, his usual imposing figure seemed slightly heavier than before.
"My sons, to me, nothing in this world matters more than you."
Tears instantly filled Marco's eyes. Many others lowered their heads, unable to hold back their emotions. Even Teach was briefly affected, though the feeling passed quickly.
Whitebeard gently rubbed Marco's head. In that moment, he was no longer a Yonko, only a father.
"So, Marco, do you understand?"
He did not say it outright, but his meaning was clear. He agreed to the alliance.
Marco wiped the tears from his eyes and nodded firmly.
"I understand, Old Man. I'll set out to find Red Hair right away."
Whitebeard gave a small nod and said nothing more. He turned and walked back toward the cabin, his steps noticeably heavy.
Watching this, Teach quietly let out a breath of relief. Then he raised his hand and called out,
"Marco, I'll prepare a ship for you!"
...
On the Red Force,
Rockstar suddenly pushed open the cabin door and shouted,
"Boss! Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, has arrived!"
Inside, Shanks had been discussing matters with Beckman. Upon hearing this, a meaningful expression appeared on his face. He glanced at Beckman and smiled.
"Beckman, what do you think Marco came here for?"
Beckman replied calmly, "Most likely to seek cooperation."
Shanks chuckled.
"I didn't expect even Whitebeard to feel pressured. I thought Charlotte Linlin would make the first move. I've heard her relationship with Kaido was quite close."
Beckman crossed his arms and lowered his head slightly.
"No matter who comes, you are not planning to agree, are you?"
Shanks did not answer directly. He stood up, his figure noticeably taller than before, now approaching three meters.
This change came from the power of the Mythical Zoan, Model God Dragon, which triggered a second physical growth even at his age.
He casually stretched his arms and said,
"Let's go meet our guest."
Beckman stood and followed him out. Rockstar quickly closed the door and trailed behind.
When Shanks reached the deck, he sat down on a red chair. Only a handful of crew members stood nearby, waiting as Marco's ship approached.
Although Shanks was usually relaxed, he maintained the dignity of a captain in this situation. Even as the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco did not hold the status required for Shanks to personally greet him.
Moreover, Marco was not even the official vice captain.
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