Akira blinked at Marco. The two had had a tacit understanding for many years. So, after Marco saw Akira's action, he immediately shut up and didn't speak.
Akira continued, "Because of Pops's death, I believe many people will have ulterior motives. So, I hope you will return to your respective territories, stabilize your territories, and then gather strength, preparing to deal with the changes that will happen next. Two months. Two months later, we will meet on Sphinx Island."
"Any questions?" Akira asked.
Although the 20 or so pirate captains all had some doubts in their hearts about Akira's decision, they all nodded at this time, and said, "No problem. We will definitely go to Sphinx Island to meet in two months."
Actually, Akira's words had indeed spoken to the thoughts of most people. Although they all depended on the Whitebeard Pirates, they all had their own territories. Now that Whitebeard had died in battle, it also had a big impact on them. After all, without Whitebeard, it was inevitable that some people would have crooked thoughts. So, they also wanted to go back and take a look. So, after Akira said this, they all agreed.
With the departure of these 20 or so pirate crews, only the Whitebeard Pirates were left on the island.
Akira and the 16 division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered together to discuss. Marco was the first to couldn't help but ask, "Akira, what exactly are you planning? Why did you want them to leave immediately? Is there something you can't say to them?"
Akira smiled slightly, and said, "As expected, you're the one who understands me the most, Marco. That's right. It's not that I'm judging others by my own standards, but there are really some words that are inconvenient to say directly."
"Akira, what do you mean by that?"
Thatch asked with a somewhat heavy expression, because Akira saying these words would inevitably give people the impression that he didn't trust those pirate crews. This was really somewhat uncomfortable for the Whitebeard Pirates, who valued loyalty.
Akira said, "Don't overthink it. Listen to me finish first. You also know me. Compared to Pops, I'm considered a person who is more suspicious. Among the entire Whitebeard Pirates Alliance, the only ones I can trust are our main pirate crew."
Hearing these words, the moods of these division commanders finally improved a lot. However, they could also understand Akira's words. 20 years ago, when Blackbeard had joined the pirate crew, Akira had made a fuss about it. Many people still remembered it vividly. Now, Blackbeard had indeed betrayed them. So, they couldn't help but seriously consider Akira's words.
Marco reacted, and asked, "Akira, are you trying to test them?"
Akira said, "That's right. I can't say that it's a test, because the current situation is indeed very dangerous. Pops was the mainstay of the pirate crew. What will happen when the mainstay falls? You should be very clear about what will happen."
Marco and the others' expressions all became somewhat ugly. Although they didn't want to admit it, they had to admit that with Whitebeard's death, the Whitebeard Pirates' position would become very awkward. The former Yonko pirate crew would definitely receive the attention of many parties, standing on the cusp of the storm.
Akira said, "If they can stabilize their own territories, and are willing to continue depending on us, that would be for the best. If they're not willing to follow us anymore, there's no need to force it, because what we need now is to bide our time. We have no way to suppress all the territories anymore. So, we must learn to give up."
"But those are the territories that Pops worked so hard to build. Are we really going to give them up so easily?"
The young and vigorous Ace asked with reluctance. Actually, he wasn't really concerned about the territories. It was just that these had been left behind by Whitebeard. So, he didn't want to give them up so easily.
For Ace, Akira was still very optimistic. After all, among the Whitebeard Pirates' dozen or so division commanders, the others had basically already been set in their ways. Only Ace still had a lot of room for growth, and would definitely be able to become the most important combat power of the pirate crew in the future.
"Ace, what do you think is more important to Pops? Those territories, or our lives?"
Ace was stunned for a moment. Then, he said, "To Pops, of course our lives are more important."
Akira said, "That's right. If we want to protect Pops's territories, we must separate to protect those territories. The strength of our pirate crew was already greatly reduced now. If we separate again, what do you think will happen?"
Without waiting for Ace to answer, Akira continued, "We will be caught by the opportunity, and defeated one by one. It won't be so easy to unite again then."
Vista said, "Akira is right. In this very period, I also think it's more important for everyone to gather together. Only when we're all together are we a real pirate crew, a pirate crew that others wouldn't dare to look down on casually. So, I agree with Akira's approach. As for those pirate crews, I also think it's time for them to properly consider whether to share weal and woe with us, or go their separate ways. Let them choose for themselves."
As a swordsman, Vista's thoughts were quite similar to Akira's.
"Two months is enough for anyone to make a choice. Our situation is different from before now. What we need are friends who can share weal and woe with us, and are of one mind, not those allies who might change their faces at any time. Although the words are unpleasant, for everyone's sake, I have to make this decision."
Akira said slowly. In his opinion, the strength of a pirate crew didn't depend on the number of people, but on combat power. It could be completely seen through the Summit War that a top-tier combat power was often more important than thousands of ordinary pirates. Moreover, those fence-sitters-like pirates couldn't be considered combat power at all, and would instead hold them back.
Jozu asked, "We'll leave the matters of the other pirate crews aside for now, and do as Akira says, looking at the results again in two months. But what should we do during these two months? We can't just do nothing, right?"
Hearing Jozu's words, everyone's gazes immediately turned to Akira. What exactly should they do? It was up to Akira, this captain, to make the final decision.
Akira didn't answer immediately, but instead pondered for a moment before speaking, "Don't rush first. I already have a plan in my heart. But now, what we need to do is to heal our injuries first. In the Summit War, many of us were seriously injured. And my body hasn't recovered yet. So, we need a certain amount of time to prepare."
"However, we can't just do nothing either. Marco, have someone spread the word, saying that I have taken Pops's position. If anyone is not convinced, they can come find me. As long as they can defeat me, they can become the new Yonko."
"Hiss."
As soon as these words came out, even the division commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates sucked in a breath of cold air. Akira was going to do things to the extreme. If things went on like this, there would probably be countless people who would regard Akira as a thorn in their side. After all, Akira's fame was really too far off from Whitebeard's. Probably not many people would be convinced.
"Akira, isn't this a bit too much?" Marco asked with some worry.
Akira shook his head, and said, "No, this is the best choice. Do you want to let someone else have Pops's position? Although these words will make many people regard me as a thorn in their side, so what if they do? If I don't even have this bit of courage, then what qualifications do I have to be Pops's heir?"
"Hahaha..."
Marco and the others suddenly laughed loudly. This was the first time they had laughed since Whitebeard's death. Marco laughed, "This is the arrogant Akira. Unruly, never putting others in his eyes."
Indeed, Akira had been this kind of person before. The difference was that he had been young in the past, making it sound a bit like children speak without thinking. But now that he said it, it revealed his strong confidence.
Akira said, "I'm not very worried about the others. Our biggest enemy from beginning to end is only one, which is that bastard Blackbeard."
As soon as Blackbeard was mentioned, the people of the Whitebeard Pirates all revealed looks of anger.
"That bastard Teach actually dared to kill Pops. We must not let him go."
"That's right. We must avenge Pops."
"All of this was that guy's conspiracy. Capturing Ace, and handing him over to the Navy, causing the Summit War, and also killing Pops. This is an irreconcilable hatred."
"..."
Curses rang out non-stop. Blackbeard was now the person that the Whitebeard Pirates hated the most.
Marco said, "That guy Teach obtained Pops's ability. He will definitely cause trouble in the next period of time. There's no need to think to know what his purpose is. It's definitely Pops's position."
"So, he's our biggest enemy."
Akira said, "Although there are many powerful forces in the New World, there aren't too many who can jump out and compete with us at this time. Among them, Blackbeard is the strongest. Having obtained Pops's Gura Gura no Mi ability, his strength has undoubtedly reached a very terrifying level. Probably being about the same as the other three pirate emperors. His goal is the Pirate King. Before that, he definitely wants to become a Yonko."
"We must not let him succeed. He's the one who killed Pops. If we let him obtain Pops's position again, then even if we die, we won't have the face to go down and see Pops."
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