Up close, the three figures on the beach looked shockingly young.
Voss's face was set in its usual stern mask, his eyes devoid of outward emotion. Pito, distracted, spared only a brief glance before turning back to her dwindling stash of dried fish, her prized treasure, nearly depleted since Teach's absence.
Mobius, however, was the most conspicuous. The lack of a scarf around his neck marked him immediately as a Snake-Neck, a distinction not lost on Whitebeard's men, who had Snake-Neck members among their ranks as well.
The Whitebeard Pirates disembarked, closing the distance. Without hesitation, Mobius bent down, lifted a sake jar from the shore, and hurled it toward Whitebeard with surprising confidence.
"On behalf of Boss Teach, I welcome the Whitebeard Pirates," Mobius said with a smile, his posture unconsciously mimicking Teach's bold style.
Whitebeard caught the jar easily in one massive hand, his grip precise enough not to crush it. For a heartbeat, several crewmen tensed, hands drifting toward their weapons, but Mobius's words eased them.
These weren't enemies, they were Teach's people.
"You've got guts, kid." Whitebeard chuckled, hefting the jar. Even sealed, he caught the faint aroma of its contents. The moment he cracked the lid, a rich fragrance spread like wildfire, curling through the air in seconds. Pirates' noses lifted in unison, their eyes fixed greedily on the jar.
"Gurararara! What an exquisite sake!" Whitebeard's booming laugh shook the beach. "Tell me, boy...what brew is this?"
Mobius exhaled in relief. He'd felt the weight of their gazes, the pressure of standing before legends, but excitement burned through the nerves. He was speaking to Edward Newgate himself.
"Monkey Wine," Mobius replied with a grin. "The finest fruit wine there is. Boss Teach doesn't even drink it himself."
Whitebeard's brows rose, interest clear.
"Be careful, though," Mobius added quickly. "It's strong."
"Gurararara! I am Whitebeard!" Newgate bellowed, dismissing the warning.
He tilted the jar back and drank deep. The liquid scorched like fire yet rolled smooth across the tongue, mellow and rich. It was unlike anything he'd tasted before. By the time he set it down, he'd drained a third. Mobius winced—one jar of Monkey Wine was worth more than any treasure.
Whitebeard burped, alcohol fumes wafting as his mustache bristled with laughter. "Gurararara! Now this is real sake! Everything else I've drunk feels like water compared to this!"
But then his towering frame swayed slightly, his cheeks flushed red. The crew gawked in disbelief.
"Pops… drunk? Off a single drink?" Vista muttered, stunned. Whitebeard, the man who could down barrels without flinching, now looked tipsy after barely a third of a jar.
"Pops, let me try some," Marco said with a grin, reaching out.
To everyone's astonishment, Whitebeard turned away, clutching the jar like a miser. "No."
Laughter erupted around them. "Hahahaha! Marco got rejected!"
"C'mon, Pops, don't hog it!" Jozu called out, eyes locked on the precious sake.
But Whitebeard only tightened his grip, ignoring his sons' protests. His refusal made them even more desperate to taste it. Their gazes shifted toward Mobius, the source of the treasure.
"Hey, kid," Jozu asked, "got any more of that sake?" Dozens of hungry eyes joined his. The Whitebeard Pirates went through barrels of alcohol daily; a brew this fine was irresistible.
Mobius's throat went dry. He knew the truth—only a single jar remained, all that was left of Teach's rare collection. Every sip now was one less that Teach would ever taste.
Before he could stammer out a reply, a voice cut clean through the air.
"Oi, Jozu.. don't push the kids."
Mobius's eyes lit up. Pito's ears twitched. Even Voss turned his head. The crew looked toward the forest as heavy footsteps approached. Whitebeard's smile broadened. Those with sharp Observation Haki had already felt it.
A figure emerged from the trees; tall, draped in a black kimono, long black hair tied at the back. Two Wano-style blades hung at his hip, and across his back rested a massive sword. His gaze was sharp, his aura edged with killing intent honed from days of battle against Wano's strongest swordsmen.
"Teach!" voices rang out at once.
Mobius leapt up. Pito and Voss broke into grins. Even Whitebeard's crew murmured with recognition.
Teach strode forward, stopping beside Mobius. He clapped the boy's shoulder, laughing. "Not bad. You're starting to look like a captain."
Mobius's chest swelled with pride at the praise, though next to Teach's overwhelming presence, his own confidence seemed small.
"Teach! Been three months, huh?" Marco greeted with a smile, punching him lightly on the chest.
Teach grinned and made his rounds, exchanging greetings with the crew before turning to Kozuki Oden, who stood with his wife, Toki, and their children.
"Thank you, Teach," Oden said solemnly. "The news you've uncovered… you are truly a benefactor of Wano."
"Let's talk more in the Flower Capital," Teach replied. He retrieved the last jar of Monkey Wine from his boat and tossed it to Jozu. "Share it. That's all that's left just enough for a sip each."
The crew roared with laughter, jostling as they passed it around.
Meanwhile, Teach walked alongside Whitebeard and Oden, lowering his voice. "This isn't just about Kurozumi Orochi. The entire Kurozumi family is moving behind him."
Oden frowned. "The Kurozumi family?"
"One of the five great families that once served your Kozuki clan," Teach explained. "Their strength was on par with the Shimotsuki. But decades ago, they staged a rebellion, were defeated, and erased from Wano's records. Orochi is their front man now, trying to topple Kozuki rule. The net is already woven. Shimotsuki, Amatsuki, Fugetsu, Uzuki, all the families are ready. They're only waiting for your return, Oden, to end the Kurozumi line once and for all."
He paused, his gaze sharp. "But don't underestimate their hidden strength. Every family in Wano has deep roots. In Hakumai alone, Shimotsuki Yasuie shelters four unknown master swordsmen. The Kurozumi must have secrets of their own."
Oden absorbed the words in silence, jaw tight.
Teach's voice dropped lower still. "And one more thing. Among your retainers is a spy. A man named Kurozumi Kanjuro, an actor with terrifying skill. For years he drained Kuri's coffers, funneling resources to Orochi."
The words hit like thunder. Oden stopped dead in his tracks, sweat breaking across his brow. His retainers froze in shock.
"Kanjuro?"
"He's dead now," Teach said plainly. "Ashura Doji and I killed him. I'd planned to bring him to you for judgment, but Ashura said letting him die early before his treachery fully unraveled would leave Kuri stronger. His body was taken by Ashura. That's all I know."