"Gurararara, what an arrogant brat," Whitebeard laughed heartily.
He didn't know how strong the other party was, but even if they could just hold back one Marine Admiral, their chances of rescuing Ace would greatly increase!
At that moment, Whitebeard noticed unusual movement on a distant warship.
A man transformed into sand rushed over at incredible speed, a ferocious grin on his face.
"Crocodile..."
"Long time no see!" Crocodile said with a savage grin as he looked at Whitebeard. "Whitebeard!"
He had been waiting for this day for a very long time!
Thinking of this, an intense killing intent erupted in Crocodile's eyes.
Sensing Crocodile's murderous intent, Whitebeard calmly said, "You really are a forgetful brat."
"Huh?"
Looking at Whitebeard who hadn't even moved a muscle, veins immediately bulged on Crocodile's forehead.
Was this bastard looking down on him?
Thinking this, Crocodile didn't hesitate to attack.
"Clang!"
Crocodile: ???
Looking at Luffy who had kicked his hook, Crocodile immediately frowned.
He didn't understand why the other party was preventing him from killing Whitebeard.
After retreating to avoid Luffy's follow-up attack, Crocodile said, "Straw Hat Boy, why are you protecting Whitebeard?"
"So this uncle really is Whitebeard." Luffy nodded, then said seriously, "Then I won't allow you to attack him!"
"Why?"
"Because Ace really likes this uncle!"
Crocodile: ???
"Crack!"
Veins immediately bulged on Crocodile's forehead. This bastard was stopping him from attacking Whitebeard for such a reason?
Right at that moment, pirates on the deck rushed over and pointed their weapons at Crocodile.
"Keep an eye on this guy, don't let him get near Pops!"
"Hurry, use Haki!"
Crocodile ignored these guys, instead staring intently at Straw Hat Boy.
Damn Straw Hat Boy, always getting in the way! Crocodile thought angrily.
At that moment, he really wanted to directly kill this annoying brat!
But he knew he couldn't do that.
After all... the Blood-Eyed Ninja was Straw Hat Boy's companion!
If he attacked Straw Hat Boy, that Blood-Eyed Ninja would definitely bring seawater to deal with him!
Thinking of this, Crocodile glanced at Meiser who was staring intently at them from afar, his expression turning somewhat ugly.
Right, there's also that guy Ivankov.
Glancing at Ivankov who was looking at him with threatening eyes, Crocodile thought, "This guy still knows my secret. If he uses that to threaten me..."
Thinking of this, Crocodile's expression turned even uglier.
He feared social humiliation more than death itself.
After all... he had his pride to maintain!
At that moment, Whitebeard, who had been watching Luffy's back for a while, spoke up: "Kid, that hat on your back looks a lot like the one Shanks used to wear."
"Old man, do you know Shanks?" Luffy turned around upon hearing this.
"I do."
"I see." Luffy nodded, then touched his hat and said, "Shanks entrusted this to me for safekeeping. I'll return it to him when we meet again."
After reaching the New World, he would become a powerful pirate. By then... he would stand proudly before Shanks and declare he had what it took to become the Pirate King!
Thinking this, Luffy broke into a grin.
Seeing Luffy's smiling face, Whitebeard felt somewhat dazed, as if he were seeing Ace again, proudly showing off that wanted poster.
"Ace's... younger brother, is it?"
After a moment of silence, Whitebeard said, "Kid, you're here to save your brother, right?"
"Exactly!"
"You do know who you're up against, don't you?" Whitebeard's expression darkened. "With your current strength, you'll get yourself killed!"
"Shut up!" Luffy retorted angrily. "That's not for you to decide!"
Whitebeard was visibly taken aback by Luffy's furious outburst, clearly not expecting such vehement words.
"Hey!"
Buggy was utterly stunned seeing Luffy glare furiously at Whitebeard.
Was this kid completely fearless?
That was Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world!
At that moment, Luffy declared: "I know all about you! You want to become the Pirate King too, right?"
"Ace told me!"
"But... the one who'll become Pirate King is definitely ME!!!"
Luffy's roar echoed across the entire battlefield!
"What?!!"
Everyone on the battlefield froze in disbelief at Luffy's resolute declaration, one by one ceasing their actions to stare at him in astonishment.
How dare he shout such words in the face of the world's strongest man?!
"They're getting crazier by the minute!" Mr.3 exclaimed frantically.
First Meiser wanted to take on the three Marine Admirals single-handedly, now the Straw Hat Boy was yelling at Whitebeard while making a declaration that could shock the world.
This... this is the Straw Hat Pirates?
"I see now..." Hawkeye murmured, studying Luffy's face. "So this is why he could make a ninja his companion?"
To dare shout such words at Whitebeard in the midst of this battlefield... this kid definitely had the qualities of a king!
Is this why you took notice of him, Shanks!
In that moment, Hawkeye wondered: if this kid faced him, would he cut him down?
He was curious.
Just then, Whitebeard raised his massive blade and slammed its hilt hard onto the deck below!
The impact was so powerful it made the nearby ice tremble.
"BOOM!!"
"Is... is Pops angry?"
The pirates gulped nervously, watching Whitebeard stare grimly at the Straw Hat Boy.
"You're quite the arrogant brat," Whitebeard said before falling silent, then grinned. "If you want to do it, then go ahead."
"But... if you dare hold me back, I won't let you off the hook, you damn brat!"
"No need to tell me! I'll save Ace my own way!" Luffy retorted bluntly.
This time, Whitebeard merely nodded without another word.
"Unbelievable," Buggy remarked. "This kid actually dares to talk to Whitebeard like that! Isn't he afraid Whitebeard might kill him in a fit of rage?"
"Shi-ha-ha! What incredible courage!" Ivankov laughed heartily. "Maybe he really can pull it off!"
"Hahahaha!"
Watching Luffy from afar as he informed Whitebeard about the Marines moving up Ace's execution, Meiser suddenly burst into loud laughter.
That's more like it!
How could someone aiming to become the Pirate King possibly fear the Four Emperors?
The thought made Meiser laugh even more joyfully.
"Hey, isn't that the Straw Hat Boy?" The reporters on Sabaody Archipelago snapped out of their daze, staring in shock at Luffy standing beside Whitebeard. "He actually dared to say those things in front of Whitebeard? Does he have a death wish?"
"The key point is, Whitebeard didn't attack him—it almost seems like he approves of him... Could this guy truly have the qualities of a king?"
To gain recognition from the world's strongest man—this guy is definitely no ordinary person!
Does that mean... this man might actually become the Pirate King?!
At this realization, the reporters' eyes lit up with excitement.
"Gehihihihi, the Pirate King?" Moria laughed uproariously. "As expected of you, Straw Hat Boy."
Indeed, if he lacked such boldness, what right would he have to be Meiser's captain?!
After all, this is the ninja who received a 400 million Berry bounty right from his first wanted poster!
Shihihihi!
"Captain?"
"Don't worry," Moria said. "If we ever face off for real, I won't hold back either."
Once he's dealt with that bastard Kaido, it'll be time to compete for the title of Pirate King. That's when he might clash with the Straw Hat Boy.
But to become the Pirate King, he won't show any mercy!
"Good to hear," Absalom sighed in relief.
Then, he grinned and said, "Does that mean I'll get a chance to beat up that Blood-Eyed Ninja too?"
"Gehihihihi, you'll have to work hard for that," Moria laughed. "Otherwise, there's no way you'll defeat that kid."
That ninja, who has mastered all kinds of powerful ninjutsu, is far stronger than Absalom.
"I'll do my best, Captain!" Absalom declared.
"Good. In that case, once we return, you'll intensify your training," Moria said with a devilish smile. "This time, we'll increase the training load tenfold!"
"Huh?"
"HUH?!"
Hearing Moria's words, Absalom was utterly stunned.
Ten times the training?
He'll die!
But thinking back to his own bold declaration earlier, Absalom gritted his teeth and said, "Fine! Ten times it is!"
"Gehihihihi!"
Moria laughed even more delightedly at Absalom's response.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely train you properly!" he said.
Seeing the smile on Moria's face, Absalom's expression turned bitter.
It seemed his days of ease were over.
Oh well, for the captain's sake, he'd give it his all!!
"Hmph, I won't let you have the Pirate King's throne," Law said, staring at the screen showing Luffy.
While killing Doflamingo was his long-cherished wish, becoming the Pirate King was also his dream!
So... he would never simply hand that position over to anyone!
"Captain, we'll help you together!"
"Yeah!"
Hearing Bepo and the others' words, Law's lips curved into a slight smile.
Having such companions was truly a blessing in life.
"Pirate King?"
Drake glanced at Law's celebrating crew before turning his gaze back to Luffy on the screen, muttering: "No... that's not right."
Forget about becoming Pirate King - whether this kid could even survive a war of this scale was questionable.
After all... they had Marine Admirals!
And the Marine Headquarters had three such monsters!
If any one of them got serious, they could definitely take down the Straw Hat Boy.
As for that Blood-Eyed Ninja?
Just a rookie who likes to talk big - he'd learn his lesson after getting beaten up by a Marine Admiral.
"Captain?"
Drake's crew members glanced at their captain, wondering why his expression had suddenly changed like that.
"Nothing," Drake shook his head. "Let's keep watching the broadcast."
Although these crew members had been with him for quite some time... ultimately, they were just tools he had gathered, so there was no need to tell them too much.
"Okay!"
"Daring to say such things in front of Whitebeard without getting beaten up... this kid might really be the only one who could pull that off."
"Hahahaha!"
Watching Rayleigh laugh heartily, Shakky also wore a smile.
"It seems Little Straw Hat truly possesses the qualities of a king," Shakky said.
As she spoke, the woman lit a cigarette for herself, her expression gradually becoming more relaxed.
"The qualities of a king, huh."
Recalling what Shanks had once told him, Rayleigh nodded with a smile. "You're right."
If he didn't even have the qualities of a king, he wouldn't have been able to become Meiser's captain, would he!
'Captain, perhaps they really are the ones we've been waiting for,' Rayleigh thought to himself.
Thinking this, Rayleigh's mood became exceptionally cheerful.
"Shakky, bring me some wine!"
Hearing this, Shakky's eyes immediately lit up.
The woman happily took out the wine flask from her bosom and handed it to Rayleigh, saying: "Here, this flask should be about enough."
Rayleigh: ???
Taking the flask, Rayleigh was clearly taken aback. What did she mean by "about enough"?
Shakky offered no explanation, only smiling more broadly.
"I see," Whitebeard nodded. "Alright, I understand. Thank you for the information."
If the Marines really planned to execute Ace ahead of schedule, then they would indeed need to take action.
"You came here to save Ace too, so no need to stand on ceremony with me," Luffy said.
After saying this, the man leaped from Whitebeard's ship without hesitation and charged rapidly toward the execution platform.
"Ace, I'm coming to save you now!"
"Stop Straw Hat Boy!" a group of Marines rushed over, shouting loudly: "Take him down!"
"Ooh!!"
Seeing the Marines charging toward him, Luffy launched his attack without hesitation.
"Gomu-Gomu Rocket!"
"Boom!!"
"Ah!!"
With a single strike, he sent all the Marines blocking his way flying, screaming as they crashed to the ground.
"Everyone, get out of my way! Don't block the path!"
"We can't lose to Ace's little brother!" Jozu grinned widely and shouted: "Third Division, follow me and charge forward!"
"Ooh!!"
The pirates roared, howling as they surged ahead.
"Let's go, it's time for us to make our move too," Meiser said.
Glancing at the water pit they had just fallen into, Meiser curled his lips into a slight smile before leaping off the warship without hesitation. "Follow Ninja Boy and Straw Hat Boy, let's fight our way through!" Ivankov yelled.
"Ooh!!"
The Okama roared in unison, then followed Ivankov as they jumped off the warship and charged toward the execution platform.
"Hey, Meiser," Jimbei glanced at Meiser and asked, "Why haven't we seen any trace of Bon Clay?"
"Him?" Meiser chuckled. "He's off doing what he needs to do."
Jimbei: ???
What does that mean... doing what he needs to do?
Seeing Jimbei's confused expression, Meiser didn't explain further and simply said, "Alright, he's safe now and won't run into any trouble. Let's focus on what we need to do."
"Understood, old man knows."
Jimbei nodded, then launched an attack on the Marines ahead.
"Fish-Man Karate, Three Thousand Tile True Fist!"
"Boom!!"