"He's set out."
On Candy Island, Morgans looked in the direction where the fleet had disappeared and spoke.
Stussy stood off to the side, gazing after the ships with a calm expression.
"The result is already predictable. There won't be any surprises unless the World Government intervenes," Stussy said.
"Then will they intervene?"
Hearing that, Morgans suddenly turned his head toward Stussy.
"They may pay attention, but they won't interfere."
Stussy shook her head.
Of course, this was not her own guess. It was Vegapunk's.
When she had secretly contacted Vegapunk, Vegapunk had predicted that the entire world was currently in a period of stalemate.
The Hunter Guild founded by Cyrus was not yet stable, but before the World Government found a confirmed method to deal with Cyrus, they would act carefully no matter what they did.
The clash between Whitebeard and Cyrus would not change that situation.
"Things really have changed."
Morgans raised a wing and rubbed his chin, then turned around.
"I should leave too. After this battle, there probably won't be any major news from the New World for a while."
"That may not be true."
Seeing Morgans about to leave, Stussy thought of the cooperation between his newspaper and the Hunter Guild, then spoke.
"According to CP's information, there has been an uprising in Wano. Kaido went mad and destroyed Wano himself. That was his own base."
Stussy's words made Morgans whip his head around so quickly his neck made a crack.
"What?"
Morgans's eyes widened.
"Isn't Wano under Kaido's control? Why would he do that?"
The bird-man truly could not understand it.
No matter how vicious a pirate was, they would not attack their own territory for no reason, right?
"Who knows?"
Stussy smiled.
"But according to the information CP sent back, something seems wrong with Kaido. However, after the people hiding in Wano reported that information, contact was lost.
"They may be dead."
Stussy walked to Morgans's side with her small handbag in hand.
"That is major news, and it certainly isn't free."
"It really is rare information."
Morgans did not deny that.
"Cyrus should be very interested in this news," Morgans said after thinking for a moment.
"Well, you can tell him later. I should leave too."
Stussy smiled as she spoke, then lifted her foot and walked away.
Vegapunk had already told her about Dragon running into Kizaru and Shamrock.
She needed to return and make preparations on her side as well, to see whether there was still a chance to bring Vegapunk out.
Morgans watched Stussy leave, standing in place while thinking over the information she had just given him.
Then he quickly returned to his temporary office and contacted the newspaper, ordering News Coos to be sent to Wano to investigate.
For something this big, had the News Coos near Wano really not discovered anything?
Morgans had his doubts.
Maybe something had happened.
…
On the Rose Hunter.
There were still only four people aboard the large ship as it sailed toward the direction from which the Moby Dick was approaching.
Robin rested a hand on the railing. Her gaze moved away from the fleet following behind them and landed on Cyrus, who was standing at the bow.
"They may not be sincere," Robin said.
"Did you notice something?"
Cyrus paused, then turned to look at her, his tone calm.
"Those people haven't truly submitted to you. At least most of them haven't."
Robin thought for a moment, recalling most of the Charlotte Family members, then spoke.
"I understand that. But Katakuri knows what he's doing. For the safety of his family, he will restrain their actions.
"As for those people themselves, I honestly don't value them that much."
Cyrus turned back around and sat cross-legged on the rose ornament at the bow.
"Most pirates are unruly by nature. I also don't expect every pirate to change in such a short time. But on the other hand, if enough time passes, some of them can be selected out."
"Qualified members of the Hunter Guild?" Robin asked curiously when she saw his expression.
"Not exactly. After all, they used to be pirates. I really don't think many of them can be called qualified Guild members."
Cyrus shook his head.
Issho and Baby 5 stood nearby, listening to the two of them talk without any intention of interrupting.
"But this world is vast, and there are plenty of powerful people. According to Crocodile, many strong individuals have already joined the Guild.
"Those people definitely won't be content to remain trainee Hunters and the like. Your Hunter Exam won't be able to include everyone," Robin reminded him.
"There's still time. If one year isn't enough, then two. If two isn't enough, then three…"
Cyrus shook his head slightly.
"The World Government won't just sit there and watch," Robin said again.
"I know. That's why I'll settle the New World's matters within these few months, then put my attention into the Hunter Exam."
"Handling the New World's affairs within a few months is impossible," Issho suddenly said with a frown.
Even someone as powerful as Cyrus could not completely resolve all the various matters in the New World in such a short time.
Forget a few months—even several years might not be enough.
"That's exactly where these people come in. What I need to do now is defeat the powerful pirate forces in the New World one by one."
Cyrus raised a hand and pointed behind the ship, toward the fleet following the Rose Hunter.
"As long as something is being done, that is progress."
"All right."
Robin nodded, her expression somewhat helpless.
She had already realized that she could no longer keep up with Cyrus's way of thinking.
Although she had learned a great deal about history, she had never been involved in matters that could influence the entire world.
Even if she understood some parts of it, her grasp of the overall situation was still lacking.
"If you do this, it will only be a temporary measure. Things will need to be reorganized later," Issho said with a nod.
"That's for later. For now, let's focus on what's right in front of us."
As Cyrus spoke, he propped his cheek up with one hand, his gaze sweeping over the three people on the ship.
"After I take down Whitebeard this time, I'll set out for Wano in a short period of time. After defeating Kaido, I'll look for Red-Hair, then clean up the other relatively powerful pirates in the New World."
The three people aboard the ship all nodded lightly at Cyrus's words.
Since Cyrus said it that way, it meant he had already made his decision.
The ship continued forward.
...
The Moby Dick was also drawing closer.
"Pops, according to the information we have, that man is on Candy Island, the island near what used to be Whole Cake Island. Are we heading straight there?"
Marco asked Whitebeard about their route.
"No need. We may not necessarily be able to get inside."
Whitebeard shook his head.
"Next, we'll see how that Cyrus brat responds."
Hearing Whitebeard say that, Marco nodded lightly, his expression somewhat complicated.
The others on the ship had also become quiet during this period.
Everyone knew that what happened next would affect the entire Whitebeard Pirates.
If Pops truly lost, then the Whitebeard Pirates might fall apart.
But this was Pops's decision.
All the people aboard the ship could do now was support him with everything they had.
As the Moby Dick approached Wheat Island on the outer edge of Totto Land, the pirate ships on the distant sea finally came into view.
They belonged to the Big Mom Pirates.
The ships of the Big Mom Pirates were extremely distinctive. Almost all of them were shaped like different desserts and could be recognized at a glance.
"Slow down."
Whitebeard suddenly spoke, then abruptly stood. With one swing of his arm, he tore away the needles attached to it.
Marco's heart tightened.
"Pops, half a day at most."
That was Marco's estimate of Whitebeard's condition.
The internal injuries in Whitebeard's body were extremely difficult to suppress.
This was already the limit. If Whitebeard fought at full strength for that long, then once the medicine's suppression wore off, his body would rapidly weaken.
"That's enough."
Whitebeard nodded.
Cyrus's battle with Charlotte Linlin had already proven that his own fight with Cyrus would not last too long either.
Perhaps it would not even take half a day.
"The battle between me and that man is not something you can interfere in. You should all understand that."
Whitebeard quietly reminded the sons around him.
"Don't worry, Pops. We won't let anyone disturb your fight with that guy."
The commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates spoke one after another.
Blackbeard Teach stood at the back of the crowd.
His expression did not change much, and he still wore that wide grin.
But in his heart, he had already begun calculating how he would escape if the battle turned unfavorable.