"Jozu!"

"Vista!"

Just as Jozu and Vista landed before Mihawk, Whitebeard—who had remained silent until now—spoke up to stop them, his voice calm.

"Since the Marines are fully taking over Fish-Man Island, the Whitebeard Pirates' protection is naturally no longer needed. From this moment on, the Whitebeard Pirates will no longer involve themselves in any matters concerning Fish-Man Island!"

"Pops!"

Jozu looked up at Whitebeard, his voice gruff.

"Fish-Man Island isn't important! What matters is that the name Whitebeard must not be disgraced."

"Stand down!"

Whitebeard's voice suddenly rose sharply, his gaze instantly turning sharp and domineering.

Those two simple words carried the force of thunder, making Jozu and Vista feel as if an invisible mountain were crushing down on them.

Immediately, the two stepped aside to clear a path for Mihawk.

Seeing this, Whitebeard's expression softened slightly as he addressed Mihawk, who hadn't turned back.

"Hawk-Eyes brat, go back and tell your Fleet Admiral: whenever he returns to the New World, I'll be waiting for him atop the throne of the strongest."

"I will convey your message faithfully!"

Mihawk gave a slight nod, then strode to the ship's bow.

Along with Perona, Robin, and the others, he soared into the air and returned to the warship.

As Jinbei—the last to follow—landed on the deck, the warship immediately set sail.

Passing by the Moby Dick, it gradually accelerated toward Fish-Man Island and soon vanished beyond the horizon.

After watching the warship disappear from view, Shanks also prepared to leave.

Turning to Whitebeard, he spoke with gentlemanly courtesy.

"Whitebeard, since you've made your choice, there's no need for us to continue our discussion. I take my leave!"

"Shanks, did you truly believe you could come and go from my territory as you please?"

Before Shanks could turn away, Whitebeard sharply tilted his head and declared in a deep voice.

"Until this matter is properly settled, you... are not going anywhere!"

"This matter isn't properly settled?"

Shanks blinked, then placed one hand on his sword and the other on his hip, stepping forward defiantly against the invisible pressure Whitebeard suddenly released.

He retorted coldly.

"Whitebeard, since you've chosen to avoid confrontation and remain in your corner, you should peacefully await the Marines' arrival in your territory. What I have to say no longer concerns you."

Whitebeard ignored what Shanks was saying and spoke directly.

"After returning from the East Blue back then, the Red Hair Pirates under your leadership suddenly began conquering all around, eventually dominating the New World and turning its situation into the Yonko standing in rivalry. I never thought much about it before, but now it occurs to me that your sudden trip to the East Blue back then, especially your long stay in Windmill Village, must have had another purpose!"

"Could it be that the Sun God Nika you mentioned earlier was in Windmill Village?"

Hearing this, Shanks shook his head and smiled, "Whitebeard, I never expected you to be so suspicious. Back then, I went to Windmill Village simply to repay a life-saving favor."

"A life-saving favor?"

A flicker of confusion passed through Whitebeard's eyes.

Shanks nodded, "The God Valley incident thirty-two years ago wasn't just something you participated in—I was there too!"

"However, I was just an infant in swaddling clothes at the time, so I have no memory of what happened. The only reason I know I was at God Valley is because I coincidentally learned that a seventeen-year-old marine had saved me back then."

"That seventeen-year-old marine was Monkey D. Dragon, who's now the leader of the Revolutionary Army."

"Of course, his identity isn't important."

"What matters is that after learning about this, I went to Windmill Village—not to thank Dragon in person, but simply to visit my savior's hometown and do whatever I could for them while I was there."

Whitebeard's gaze remained sharp, "So you left an arm there? For a child you'd just met?"

"Couldn't be helped~"

Shanks shrugged slightly, "That kid kept shouting about becoming a pirate and said he would surpass us to become the Pirate King. Seeing his grand ambitions, I decided to take a gamble and see how far he could grow in the future!"

"Shanks, you're full of nonsense!"

Whitebeard sneered coldly at Shanks' serious-faced rambling.

"Don't think I don't know anything! Back then, you snatched a Devil Fruit from CP0 agents who were secretly escorting it, then rushed straight to the East Blue without stopping. If I'm not mistaken, the person who ate that Devil Fruit was the child you saved in Windmill Village!"

"And this child must be the Sun God Nika you mentioned earlier!"

"What an elaborate scheme you've woven Shanks! What exactly are you plotting? If I remember correctly, you never reached Laugh Tale with Roger back then, so do you want to find the One Piece yourself and become the Pirate King?"

...

...

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

Fleet Admiral's office.

The incident at Impel Down hadn't caused much ripple across the Grand Line—not because it was insignificant, but because ever since Orion seized power through a military coup to become the Fleet Admiral, the Grand Line had been experiencing one major event after another, gradually making those who followed these events grow accustomed from initial shock to taking them as normal.

Shiryu of the rain, the only one injured at Impel Down, stood respectfully before the desk.

Though he usually kept a cigar in his mouth, he had surprisingly put it away for once.

Because the one sitting before him now was not Impel Down's warden Magellan, but the iron-blooded Fleet Admiral Orion, who had united the Marines unprecedentedly and was respected by all.

"I'll give you a rear admiral position."

Orion took out a document and tossed it in front of Shiryu, smiling warmly at him as he said.

"Don't feel wronged. The vice admiral slots at Headquarters are all filled now. Not just you, freshly transferred from Impel Down—even some rear admirals at Headquarters are waiting in line!"

"Additionally, after becoming a Headquarters rear admiral, your primary task will be capturing pirates. Whether those pirates live or die, I don't care. But there's one point you must remember: you cannot torture and kill any loyal Marine soldier around you! If you torture and kill innocent soldiers, even if you performed well during the Impel Down incident, I will not hesitate to execute you!"

Shiryu straightened his posture, his expression serious as he said.

"Fleet Admiral, rest assured. The reason I used to torture and kill those criminals and occasionally harmed colleagues was because of the resentment built up from years of serving in Impel Down!"

"Now that you've transferred me from Impel Down to Headquarters, I will definitely not let you down. Like the other colleagues at Headquarters, I will offer you my complete loyalty!"

Orion smiled and nodded, "Next, your direct superior will be Admiral Gion. Go report to her now—she will arrange everything for you!"

"Yes!"

Shiryu saluted, then turned and left without hesitation.

Before Shiryu could reach the door, the tightly shut office door was suddenly pushed open.

Immediately, Garp, wearing his dog hat, rushed into the office in a few quick steps.

Completely ignoring Shiryu's presence, he hurried up to Orion and said excitedly.

"Orion, you called for me? What is it? Do you have a mission for me? Quick, quick, give me a mission! As long as it's not making me some rookie instructor, any mission will do!"

"Any mission will do?" Orion slightly raised his head, smiling amiably and innocently.

"Yes, any mission will do!" Garp nodded vigorously.

"There is indeed something I need you to do!" Orion took out a box of senbei from his drawer and handed it to Garp, then continued.

"I recall you have a grandson whom you've been training militarily since childhood, hoping he would grow up to become a marine and inherit your legacy."

"But this grandson of yours is disobedient, always shouting about becoming the Pirate King!"

"Since you can't control him, bring him to Headquarters!"

"I'll give you a list!"

As he spoke, Orion opened the drawer again, took out a document, and placed it in front of Garp.

"Take this list and go to the East Blue. Bring everyone on the list, including your grandson Luffy back to Headquarters!"

"I will personally train them!"