The Terror Ghost sailed smoothly without obstruction.
This was because the Whitebeard Remnants' scouts along the route had already received orders to allow passage. Even so, two pirate ships escorted her from a respectful distance.
Though the Terror Ghost did not need escorting, this was the highest level of welcome the current Whitebeard Remnants could offer. All their other ships were tied up guarding the perimeter and could not be spared.
The two escort ships still flew the flag of "Whitebeard"—a proud, smiling old man.
Standing at the bow, Davy Jones looked at that pirate flag. In his mind's eye, he seemed to see Edward Newgate's final "Conqueror's Infusion"—that strike that held nothing back in its murderous intent, nor in its last reserves of strength.
A man like that was worthy of respect.
Swish—swish—swish—
Through the damp sea breeze came the sound of something tearing through the air.
Three figures shot forth like arrows, landing on the battered deck with a whoosh, then half-kneeling before Davy Jones at the bow.
"Captain Davy Jones."
"Mm."
Davy Jones answered calmly.
He didn't need to turn around. With nothing but his Observation Haki's outline, he already knew they were Kuro, Buggy, and Marco.
He told the three of them to rise and speak.
Kuro glanced at Marco, gauging the expression of the "Phoenix," making sure not to say anything inappropriate before explaining:
"Apologies, Captain. We couldn't come greet you sooner. The Whitebeard Pirates had… an incident last night."
"A tragic one," Marco added, his voice heavy. "We lost another honorable brother."
Another?
Davy Jones turned around, puzzled. "What happened?"
Marco's brows knotted as he explained.
"Last night, our 15th division commander, Fossa, set sail to transport medical supplies. He was ambushed by the Blackbeard Pirates."
"All nine of them—including Blackbeard himself—attacked Fossa's ship. They massacred the entire crew. Fossa… fell in battle."
"When we received the news and rushed to support him, the Blackbeard Pirates were already gone. We couldn't catch up at all…"
"Since we're still in wartime, we had little time to gather. So this morning, we held a funeral for Fossa and the brothers who died…"
This was already the third division commander the Whitebeard Remnants had lost to the Blackbeard Pirates.
Every time, the Blackbeard Pirates used the same despicable, shameless ambush tactics—completely impossible to guard against.
Marco's grief and fury were easy to imagine.
Even someone as composed as him was burning with the flames of vengeance, longing to lead the entire Whitebeard force into Blackbeard's territory right now and end it once and for all.
He had boarded Whitebeard's ship as an apprentice more than thirty years ago. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
If Pops were still alive, Blackbeard wouldn't just have to tuck his tail and behave—he would be running for his life in the middle of the night.
But such "ifs" no longer existed. Pops could not protect them forever.
Davy Jones had come from afar, and Marco couldn't keep rambling, so he said,
"I'll guide you. Ace and the others are already waiting at the port."
"Mm."
But as the Terror Ghost sailed a bit farther, a cluster of more than ten ships suddenly rushed out from an angle, speeding toward the black ship.
Buggy, back aboard the Terror Ghost as though returning home, glanced once in that direction and nonchalantly sat on the railing.
He pointed at the ships and asked Marco, "Your ships?"
"No." Marco's expression tightened, eyes narrowing. "They're Weevil's ships."
He had clashed with Weevil several times. He could recognize Weevil's ship from appearance alone.
Kuro adjusted his glasses and added, "Not only that—there are Marine warships mixed in among them…"
Marine warships?!
Buggy raised his eyebrows so high his forehead skull tattoo seemed to lift.
"When did Weevil start hanging around with the Marines?"
"There have been rumors lately that Marine Headquarters wishes to recruit Weevil as one of the new Warlords. Looks like it wasn't baseless after all."
Marco knew about this because Weevil and his mother, Miss Bakkin, weren't the type to keep secrets. The moment Marines contacted them, they told the world.
They seemed to think this would boost their reputation and help the "Pseudo-Whitebeard II Pirates" expand their influence.
"So that's how it is." Buggy rubbed his red nose. "And they're heading toward us?"
"Most likely because they saw our ships escorting the Terror Ghost, and assumed your group was part of ours," Marco explained.
"Just got Marine support, and they're already coming to show off to us?"
"That would be exactly like Weevil and Miss Bakkin."
Marco suddenly found Kuro and Buggy's calm attitudes a bit surprising.
Then he remembered: these people had the guts to clash with the Marines multiple times—
and behind them stood a man who had slain the Marine Admiral Akainu.
How could people like that fear a few Marine warships?
After the war against Big Mom, the crew of the Davy Jones Pirates had undergone a psychological transformation of a completely different magnitude.
Their mindset was now fully that of officers in an Emperor-class pirate crew.
By contrast… the Whitebeard Pirates—Marco couldn't help sighing.
Suddenly, strange beeping noises erupted from the mixed fleet of ships.
Countless beams of light shot out from the warships, firing toward the Terror Ghost and the two escort ships.
"Is Kizaru here?" Buggy's face twisted in shock. The attack looked far too much like Borsalino's Yasakani no Magatama.
"No." Kuro judged instantly—he recognized those unchanging slaughter beams.
"It's the Pacifistas."
The beams shot out at frightening speed, hammering into the two escort ships, turning them into beehives in an instant.
The escort ships splintered apart and sank.
As the lasers streaked toward the Terror Ghost, Kuro and Marco moved at the same time!
They shot up into the air—Kuro using Moonwalk, Marco by flight in phoenix form.
Kuro's Armament-coated claws and Marco's phoenix kicks deflected every laser, sending them crashing harmlessly into the sea in explosive plumes.
Buggy gave them a thumbs-up.
"Nicely done! Saves this great captain from having to take action personally!"
Though he said it with bravado, he felt a bit guilty—he could protect himself now, but tanking lasers head-on wasn't so easy.
Marco watched the escort ships sink.
Fortunately, the pirates aboard had jumped into the sea quickly—casualties should be few. Even so, Marco's face darkened.
Blackbeard… Weevil… they had gone too far.
Did they really think the Whitebeard Pirates wouldn't risk everything to take them down?
Not to mention—now they had an incredibly powerful ally standing behind them: Captain Davy Jones.
Fine then.
If they wanted to come—let them come!
Marco's heart burned with fury he could no longer contain. Even someone normally as gentle and composed as he was could not endure the endless pressure from Blackbeard and Weevil.
The mixed fleet of Weevil's pirate ships and Marine warships, seeing that only the strange black ship had survived the Pacifista blast, now rushed toward it.
The ships even spread into formation, attempting to encircle the Terror Ghost and cut off its escape.
But the Terror Ghost had no intention of running.
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