The distance between Totto Land and the Whitebeard Pirates' territory was not far. Moving at full speed, it took less than half an hour before Kaito appeared above Whitebeard's waters.
Holding the life paper Marco had given him, Kaito flashed forward. In the next moment, a massive pirate ship entered his field of vision.
The Whitebeard Pirates' flagship.
The Moby Dick.
Whitebeard raised his gourd, took a deep drink, and laughed thunderously.
"Gurararara! Marco, your friend has arrived. Go up and meet him."
"I know, Pops," Marco replied without hesitation as his body ignited in blue flames and shot into the sky.
The moment Marco rose into the air, Kaito's figure appeared before him.
Marco's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"It's you. Why are you here now? The decisive battle isn't supposed to start yet."
"Normally, yes," Kaito replied calmly. "But the Marines have already moved. I don't intend to get ambushed while fighting your pops."
"First," Kaito added, "let's head down."
"Alright."
As they spoke, the two had already landed on the deck of the Moby Dick.
At a glance, Kaito noticed the towering man covered in scars, standing there with a leaking but overwhelming aura of Haki.
"It's him…"
Several Whitebeard commanders frowned as they watched Kaito and Marco land.
"Let him come," Whitebeard said indifferently.
Kaito nodded and walked forward, then paused with mild curiosity.
"So you expected me?"
"Gurararara," Whitebeard laughed. "Sengoku and I may be enemies, but I know that old fox well."
"He and the others must have already made their move. They want to take advantage of our fight so both sides suffer losses, then send the Marines in to wipe out every threat in the New World and bring it all under their control."
His tone was relaxed, yet filled with certainty.
"You guessed it right," Kaito said frankly. "It's Sengoku, Tsuru, and the others."
"You came to duel ahead of schedule," Whitebeard said, gripping his gourd, his eyes shining.
"That's right," Kaito nodded.
Privately, Kaito admired Whitebeard even more. The man's insight matched his reputation. Strength and wisdom, neither was lacking.
"Let's go," Whitebeard said softly to the commander beside him. "To the Dark Abyss."
"Pops," Marco stepped forward.
"Do as I say," Whitebeard waved his hand calmly. "This fight was inevitable. Earlier or later makes no difference."
"Understood," Marco replied.
Seeing Whitebeard's resolve, no one else tried to dissuade him.
"Gurararara," Whitebeard laughed again, lifting his gourd toward Kaito. "First time on my ship. This drink is for you. Thank you for saving Ace."
"There's no need," Kaito replied evenly. "It was just a favor."
"To you, maybe," Whitebeard said, his voice deepening. "But to me, that favor is no small thing."
"Without you, Ace would probably…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but everyone present understood.
With CP agents secretly deployed all around, if things had gone differently, the Whitebeard Pirates might have been annihilated.
Whitebeard's gratitude toward Kaito was genuine, and he felt no shame in expressing it.
While the two spoke, none of the other crew members interrupted. They stood silently.
It wasn't that they had nothing to say, but that they didn't know how to say it.
After all, this man would soon fight their pops.
And Pops' current condition…
Along the way, Whitebeard and Kaito talked and laughed as they moved, while the others followed in silence. The atmosphere gradually grew heavy.
"Pops! I heard Kaito came. Is that true?"
A familiar voice rang out as Ace ran out from inside the ship.
"It really is you," Ace said, smiling at first, then frowning as realization dawned. "Why are you here looking for Pops?"
"Duel," Kaito answered calmly, with a faint smile.
Ace's expression stiffened, frustration flashing across his face.
"Can't you not fight?"
Then he glanced at Whitebeard and shook his head.
He understood.
With Whitebeard's pride and intelligence, he must know Kaito intended to conquer the Whitebeard Pirates and unify the New World.
And as the strongest man in the world, Whitebeard would never hand over his crew willingly.
The only way forward was defeat.
Or death.
And Whitebeard was likely prepared to choose the latter.
"Then tell me this," Ace said suddenly, changing the subject. "What's your relationship with Sister Makino? Why did you say you only saved me because of her?"
"I have a younger sister in East Blue," Kaito replied calmly. "Makino takes care of her for me."
"Before leaving, she told me she had two troublesome brothers at sea."
"If they ever caused trouble, she asked me to help."
"So," Kaito looked at Ace, "you were in trouble. I came."
"That's it?" Ace stared, then laughed awkwardly. "So I misunderstood everything."
"What else did you think it was?" Kaito replied flatly.
"Hehe," Ace scratched his head. "I just didn't expect something she said casually to actually lead to this."
"Call it fate," Kaito said simply.
…
Two hours later, a forest filled with towering trees and lush grass appeared before them.
Marco's expression sank.
"Is it here?"
Kaito seemed to sense something. He looked toward the forest and smiled.
"I'll wait inside."
As his words fell, his figure blurred and, in a few leaps, vanished into the woods.
Whitebeard tightened his grip on his naginata. His sharp eyes swept across the faces before him, filled with a trace of affection.
"After this battle," Whitebeard said slowly, "no matter the outcome, I want all of you to join the Kaito Pirates."
"Pops!" Marco choked, understanding what Whitebeard meant.
"Marco," Whitebeard said calmly. "You've been with me the longest."
"If I lose, and you don't join Kaito's crew, there's only one outcome."
"I know Kaito well enough," Whitebeard continued. "He treats his people well and is merciless to his enemies."
"You've seen how the former Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates live now."
"He's ambitious, and he's better suited for energetic men like you, not an old man like me."
Whitebeard stood there, naginata in hand, his gaze deep and unwavering.
"But Pops," Marco said, tears welling up. "We want to be with you, not him."
"If it comes to it, we'll fight. We'll fight Kaito to the end."
"That's right," Jozu said firmly. "Win or lose, we accept it."
The others nodded in agreement, unwilling to accept such an outcome quietly.
They were the Whitebeard Pirates.
When had they ever been forced into something so suffocating?
Whitebeard looked at his indignant sons, satisfaction flashing briefly in his eyes. He shook his head and sighed.
"Listen to Pops," he said softly. "I won't harm you."
Then, ignoring their shouts, he stepped forward.
His cloak fluttered as his feet pressed into the soft earth.
Step by step, Whitebeard walked toward the forest, leaving behind his towering, indomitable figure.