A few days later.
A series of world-shocking news swept across like a hurricane, causing the entire sea to boil once more.
[Whitebeard announces retirement from the sea!]
[His Whitebeard Pirates officially disband, with a large number of officers joining the Endgame.]
[Former First Division Captain, Phoenix Marco, has officially become the seventh highest-ranking officer of the Endgame.]
[The Endgame now occupies more than seventy percent of the New World territories!!!]
The World Economic News Agency worked overtime all night, printing several extra editions of newspapers, which were snatched up quickly, unable to meet the demand.
And on the latest issue of the newspaper.
The front-page headline features Whitebeard bidding farewell to Shano on the coast as he departs from Dawn Island.
One cloaked figure bathed in the rising sun.
Another figure, back turned to the coast, fading into the distant shadows.
Below it were two lines of bold large headlines—
[The legendary era retires, a new era, henceforth, ruled by a single king!]
[—King of the Four Seas, Shano!]
In the streets, alleys, taverns, and docks, almost everyone was hotly discussing this legendary transition between old and new eras.
"Hey, no kidding, right? That Whitebeard, actually willing to retire like that!"
Someone exclaimed in disbelief.
"Idiot, that's smart, maintaining some dignity for himself, otherwise what would happen in the future, could the Whitebeard Pirates possibly defeat the Endgame?"
"That's true, that man named Whitebeard, after all, is old now..."
"Speaking of which, besides Marco, several other captains with over ten billion Belly have joined in one go. Just how strong is the Endgame now? Isn't it scarier than the Rocks Pirates of the past?"
"Much more powerful, surely! I think, one Rocks Pirates isn't enough, you probably have to add the Roger Pirates to match the current Endgame!"
"Indeed, the era of the Four Emperors has ended too, now in the New World, there's only one king and two emperors left."
"Those two don't get to enjoy Whitebeard's treatment, though."
Someone chuckled, somewhat gloating, "I wonder when the Endgame will strike against those two Sea Emperors next."
"Maybe, they're already preparing to march!"
"Haha, possibly. The Hundred Beasts Pirates and Red Hair Pirates, used to be colossal entities we had to look up to, now finally there's an existence they have to look up to. Truly, tables turn..."
........
As external opinions continued to ferment.
At this moment, in Wano Country.
Within Skull Castle on Ghost Island.
"It's not looking good, big brother Kaido."
Flame Calamity King set down the intelligence documents in hand, frowning slightly, "According to the situation, those captains under the old man Whitebeard really seem to have been tamed by the Endgame."
"The people from the Sixteenth Division almost immediately gave up their pirate title and followed their captain to join the Endgame that very night."
"And those forty to fifty pirate gangs under Whitebeard, a considerable number are unwilling to be shackled and mostly chose to leave and find their own way, but nearly thirty percent of them have also submitted to the Endgame."
King said in a deep voice, "In this way, the Endgame's sphere of influence has expanded to more than seventy percent of the New World, almost pocketing our territory within."
This predicament couldn't be worse.
It means that from now on, the Hundred Beasts Pirates are completely hemmed in, and no matter which direction we want to expand or advance, we must first break through the Endgame's blockade.
Conversely.
If they set their sights on the Hundred Beasts, they could launch surprise attacks from any direction to swallow up territories beyond Wano Country.
It's hard to guard against.
"Though we've been busy rehearsing for the festival these days, I've felt it too!"
Quinn, sitting opposite, interjected upon hearing this:
"I've asked several subordinates, and on their recent list of troubling matters, those related to the Endgame rank at the top. Many of the little ones below are anxious day and night, fearing an attack from the Endgame!"
It's really troublesome, this Endgame!
Making the atmosphere on Ghost Island more and more tense these days.
Even his esteemed self, Lord Quinn's dancing, attracted only half the usual crowd.
Before knowing the truth, he even thought his popularity within the crew had suddenly plummeted, almost weeping bitter tears over it.
"Hmph, ultimately, it's that old Whitebeard's fault. Even if he can't compete with the Endgame, he could've asked us for help, but he conceded just like that?"
Quinn lit a cigar for himself, grunting in displeasure:
"Really useless, the older he gets, the more he's regressing..."
As Quinn puffed on his cigar, a Wine Gourd suddenly whistled through the air, smashing heavily onto his forehead.
Boom!
He was sent flying, crashing into the wall, seeing stars.
"Ow, that hurts! Big brother Kaido, what now!!"
Quinn shouted out in grievance.
Drunk again, hitting so hard, who entwines the Supreme King on a Wine Gourd just like that!
"What do you think, dummy!"
Kaido, drunkenly, stood up, eyes glaring, fiercely saying:
"Didn't I clearly say before, when fighting over territory with the Whitebeard Pirates, use whatever means necessary, but when mentioning Whitebeard, show some respect! That guy once was my most admired big brother!"