The sparring match had devolved into an all-out brawl.
Arms were broken, heads were knocked off, and at one point, Ace was running around holding Marco's head to keep him from regenerating.
Realizing they stood no chance against the Old Man, the commanders had simply turned on each other.
Whitebeard watched the chaos, laughing heartily, a rare and relaxed expression on his face.
It was around then that Ron, snapping out of his own thoughts, found a dejected Jozu at his side.
"Ah... that third ability enchantment is so difficult," Jozu sighed, looking utterly miserable.
"Ron, do you think I still have a chance?"
The sudden question gave Ron a strange sense of déjà vu.
He knew Jozu had been obsessed with getting the Glint-Glint Fruit power.
Before he could offer any comfort, Jozu's dejection quickly turned to desperate excitement.
"Do you know any quick ways to make money? I can't stop thinking about it! The moves I could do..." he was practically vibrating with energy.
"Tremor power plus Glint glint power would create a Light Quake! I could make flashbangs!"
Ron frowned. "Jozu, this is Skypiea. we are in the legendary City of Gold. How can you possibly be short on cash?"
Jozu's face flushed. "Well..." he stammered, looking away.
"I thought the locals here didn't have much, so I told my men to go easy on them..."
Ron instantly understood and had to hold back a laugh.
"...And now you're too proud to go back on your word and ask for the money back."
Jozu just nodded, the picture of embarrassment.
"Relax," Ron said casually. "There are plenty of ways to get money."
Jozu's eyes lit up. "Really?!"
"When have I ever lied to you?" Ron said, gently pushing back the overly enthusiastic commander who was now practically in his face.
"Let me think."
Jozu waited, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Ron, as always, would have a plan.
After a moment, Ron began to list them off. "There's the Happo Navy's glacier treasure, the pure gold inside that giant fish, Gild Tesoro's entertainment city, the Celestial tribute..."
Jozu's eyes widened with each name Ron said.
This was a true pirate boss, a man who knew where all the world's treasures were hidden.
"Bro! You're my real brother from now on! Let's go get that money right now!" Jozu grabbed Ron's hands, his excitement was palpable.
"Hold on, I'm not done yet," Ron chuckled, shaking his head. "Those are hard to find. Tesoro's Gran Tesoro is the easiest to locate, but," he said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, "there's a much faster way to earn money."
"What is it?" Jozu asked, leaning in.
"We wait for the money to come to us."
Jozu stared, completely baffled.
"'Come to us?' Did Berries eat a Devil Fruit or something? How are they gonna find their way up to Sky Island?"
Ron gave him a weary look.
For such a powerhouse, Jozu could be incredibly dumb sometimes.
"I don't mean literally, Jozu. I mean we find someone to bring it to us." He patted the big man's shoulder reassuringly.
"Don't worry. I'll solve the money problem."
Jozu nodded, his faith in Ron was absolute.
As Jozu walked away, feeling a bit more hopeful, Ron's gaze drifted down, his eyes seemingly piercing through the endless sea of clouds below.
Bellamy's covert operation should be a success by now, he thought.
Any day now, Doflamingo will be begging for a meeting.
*****
While Jozu and Ron talked, Enel remained crouched in a corner, his mind racing.
He had been a god.
Now he was nothing.
If these men were the true monsters of this world, then to see that world, he had to join them.
But surrendering himself to them? His pride would never allow it.
He needed a way to save some respect...
His eyes landed on Whitebeard, and a desperate, brilliant idea struck him.
He shot out to his feet in an instant.
"WHITEBEARD!!!"
He roared like a caged beast, his voice cutting through the chaos of the brawl.
The fighting ground to a halt as all eyes turned to the former god immediately.
Jozu stomped over and flicked him hard on the forehead.
"Shut your mouth!" he barked. "You scared the hell out of me!"
Enel staggered but ignored him, his eyes locked on the Emperor.
"Whitebeard!" he shouted again, his voice ringing with resolve.
"I challenge you!"
Whitebeard paused, then let out a booming laugh. "Gurararara! Brat, you couldn't even beat my son. What makes you think you can challenge me?"
"Whoever loses," Enel gritted out, each word clear and deliberate.
"Becomes the other's son!"
Ron's eyes widened.
Damn, that's a clever scheme.
Jozu, however, was furious.
He grabbed Enel by the ear. "How dare you speak to Pops like that!"
Enel endured the pain, his gaze never leaving Whitebeard.
The old man studied him for a long moment, then slammed the butt of his bisento into the ground with a thunderous boom.
"Fine," Whitebeard declared. "I accept your challenge."
"Pops..." Jozu began, but Marco put a hand on his shoulder.
"Jozu, listen to Pops."
Reluctantly, Jozu unlocked Enel Seastone cuffs.
The moment they came off, Enel felt his power surge back.
Arcs of lightning crackled to life around his body instantly.
"Whitebeard," he began, his voice dripping with his old arrogance.
"Don't underestimate the former god of Skypiea! Raigo—"
He never finished the word.
Suddenly, his vision blurred.
An immense hand clamped around his throat, lifting him clean off the ground.
He was face-to-face with Whitebeard, whose cold eyes seemed to pierce his very soul.
"No more playing around," the Emperor's voice rumbled, leaving no room for argument.
"From now on, you call me Pops."
With a thunderous BOOM, Whitebeard slammed him into the ground.
Gasping for air with every bone in his body aching, Enel finally understood the unfathomable gap in their power.
He lowered his proud head.
"I submit... P-Pops."
Jozu just stared at them while dumbfounded.
"That's it? That was way too fast!" He turned to Whitebeard, suspicious.
"Pops, this guy clearly wanted to join the crew from the start. This could be a trap."
Whitebeard just grinned, completely unconcerned.
"Let him try. Against absolute power, all schemes are useless."
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