The World Government also received the news.
When they heard about it, they also instinctively thought Makoto was going to kill Whitebeard.
Their first reaction was also delight… after all, if Whitebeard died, it would definitely be a good thing for them.
But they also adopted a 'wait-and-see' attitude. After all, Makoto's behavior was too unpredictable. If they acted rashly and accidentally angered him, he would come after them.
The most nervous, of course, was the Whitebeard Pirates.
After hearing the news, the more than forty allied crews of the Whitebeard Pirates gathered around Whitebeard, surrounding the Moby Dick in the center like an iron wall.
Ice Witch Whitey Bay, who had once been on the Moby Dick but later started her own crew, and Squard of the Spiders, also returned to Whitebeard's side, swearing to protect their father with their lives.
In contrast—
Looking at the many allied crews surrounding the Moby Dick, Whitebeard himself was very calm, his attitude completely opposite to that of his 'adopted sons'.
Whitebeard took a sip of sake and said calmly, "Don't make such a big scene. If he truly wants to take my life, no amount of people will make a difference."
At these words, some of the younger 'adopted sons' who had never fought or even seen Makoto in person were stunned.
They couldn't believe that their father, who was like a god in their hearts, would say such a thing.
'Could the gap in strength really be that great?'
Suddenly, someone at the front shouted, "They're here!"
Then everyone turned to look.
There, sailing toward them, was a ship comparable in size to the Moby Dick, its silhouette shaped like an orange-red chainsaw dog.
It was Makoto's Otherworlder-Go.
Seeing that ship at the horizon's edge after so many years, Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, lost in memories of the past.
It was over thirty years ago.
He was still on the Rocks Pirates then, still a young man without the title of [Whitebeard].
That was when Makoto first appeared before them, smiling as he cut off Shiki's leg, saying, "No need to be merciful with scum like these."
Back then, he thought this man was insane.
He still thought so now.
"Clear the way."
Whitebeard put down his sake bowl and said in a deep voice.
"Pops?!"
Marco's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to speak.
"But—"
"I said clear the way."
Whitebeard's tone brooked no argument.
Marco was silent for a moment, then turned and waved at the ships blocking the Moby Dick.
"Clear the way!"
Though filled with doubts, the Whitebeard Pirates' captains obeyed the order.
One by one, the pirate ships drifted aside, opening a wide waterway through the dense formation of vessels.
On Otherworlder-Go, seeing the way actively cleared by the previously packed fleet ahead, Saeko, who had been prepared to forcefully open a path with Conqueror's Haki, withdrew and relaxed her hand from her sword hilt.
Yu sneered, "Whitebeard is quite perceptive."
Nami and Carina stood at the ship's railing, looking ahead at the enormous Moby Dick, swallowing nervously.
Regardless, the man they were about to meet was called the [World's Strongest Man].
Yes, during the twenty years Makoto had been away, Whitebeard had still earned that title.
Incidentally, Carina was no longer kept locked in a cage.
As Makoto had expected, after Nami's anger had mostly subsided, she eventually released her.
However, Carina still wore rings in various places and still had a dog collar around her neck.
Makoto found it quite amusing.
As Otherworlder-Go approached the Moby Dick, both sides could clearly see each other's faces.
The crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates stood on the deck, their gazes fixed intently on that uniquely shaped ship.
"So many beautiful women," Vista of the Flower Sword muttered under his breath. "So the news about the King of the World's romantic affairs isn't false."
"Shut up!" Jozu growled. "Do you want to die? Nishikawa Makoto's women are not to be looked at."
Vista shrunk his neck and said no more.
Before Makoto could speak, Kokoro jumped onto the chainsaw dog's head of Otherworlder-Go and waved repeatedly at Whitebeard.
"Hey! Uncle Newgate!"
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes, looking at the graceful young woman, and vaguely recalled the figure of a tiny little girl.
'She had only been a few years old back then.'
"That little brat from back then has grown up too," Whitebeard couldn't help but snort.
The two ships drew alongside each other.
Whitebeard was about to stand, but Makoto flickered and appeared before him out of thin air.
Marco, Thatch, Jozu, and the others turned their heads sharply, their expressions drastically changed.
Too fast.
They hadn't seen Makoto move at all.
"You're about to die, so don't push yourself," Makoto said calmly, looking at the IV bags and tubes attached to Whitebeard.
Whitebeard's face darkened, his temper flaring.
He ripped the IV bags and tubes from his body, the needles drawing tiny beads of blood, medicine dripping from the lines onto the deck.
"I'm not old yet!"
Though he knew he was no match for Makoto, he would never allow anyone to underestimate him.
With that, Whitebeard pulled out his Supreme Grade Blade, Murakumogiri, from beside his throne and swung it fiercely at Makoto.
Dark red Conqueror's lightning coiled around the blade, tearing through the air with a sharp shriek.
Makoto smiled slightly at the sight, pulled a Flying Thunder God kunai from his pocket, and met the attack head-on.
Boom—!
The blade and kunai collided, producing a deafening roar.
The shockwave shot into the sky, splitting the clouds apart and revealing the blue sky beyond.
Giant waves rolled on the sea, and the two massive ships were pushed dozens of meters apart by the blast wave, the crew members grabbing onto rails to steady themselves.
Seeing Whitebeard launch an attack on Makoto, Nami was terrified.
"He... how dare he?!!"
She widened her eyes, unable to believe that the old man the size of a small mountain was swinging his Supreme Grade Blade at Makoto.
'This was the King of the World! Was Whitebeard tired of living?'
Kokoro beside her was very calm, saying with a smile, "This is just how they greet each other."
Nami: "..."
'Greet?'
'So this is how the big shots like to play?'
After the violent impact subsided, Whitebeard, whose body was like a small mountain and who wielded the Murakumogiri, was pushed back two steps. The deck beneath his feet cracked into a spiderweb pattern, and the base of his thumbs throbbed faintly.
Meanwhile, Makoto, holding nothing but an ordinary little kunai, stood motionless in place.
Which was stronger and which was weaker was now clearly evident.
This scene was clearly observed by Marshall D. Teach, who stood among the crowd.
A flicker of disappointment passed through his eyes.
Once upon a time, Whitebeard had been like a god in his heart as well.
That man who always stood at the bow, holding Murakumogiri… the idol he had worshipped for decades had now grown old.
Teach lowered his head, and no one saw his expression.