Chapter 112 Whitebeard? No, It's Rocks!
"Rocks..."
Bane suddenly heard Sengoku's voice filled with shock.
He turned to look and saw that Fleet Admiral Sengoku's previously calm expression had become somewhat fierce. His eyes held disbelief as he stared at the pirate fleet in the sky above.
The word he was muttering were precisely "Rocks"!
The Rocks Pirates?!
In the Marine residential area, within a certain courtyard, Zephyr sat under the shade of a tree with a cigar in his mouth, his eyes carrying a grave expression as he said: "The Rocks Pirates... have they been revived?"
Below the execution platform, Garp's expression was extremely serious as he muttered quietly: "I thought I wouldn't need to take action this time, just hold down the rear. Now it seems I really underestimated that old bastard Newgate's audacity—he actually swallowed his pride!"
This battle wasn't being fought by the Whitebeard Pirates!
It was Rocks!
High above, on the deck beneath the mast of the whale ship Moby Dick.
That group of figures were undoubtedly all resounding kings of the seas!
Whitebeard Edward Newgate, proclaimed as the world's strongest man!
He held his supreme grade sword Murakumogiri, standing at the very front of the ship's bow.
Beneath the mast sat a man with flowing golden hair. Both his legs had been severed from the knees down, leaving only two famous swords as supports.
Though seated, his imposing aura was in no way inferior to Whitebeard's. Just a glance was enough to feel his arrogance and insolence!
The legendary great pirate, Golden Lion Shiki!
Not only these two—Kaido of the Beasts, who according to Marine intelligence had been clashing with Red-Haired Shanks, was now also leaning against the deck railing with a spiked club on his shoulder. The aura of the strongest creature was equally formidable as his two "pirate predecessors."
"Mamahahaha! What a huge surprise you've given them, Whitebeard," Charlotte Linlin laughed wickedly as she walked to Newgate's side, then said: "Don't forget what you promised me. After this battle, regardless of victory or defeat, all your territories in the New World will fly under my flag!"
Unexpectedly, even Charlotte Linlin, who according to intelligence was confronting Ochoku at Beehive Island, was now aboard this Moby Dick!
Hearing Charlotte Linlin's words, Newgate's expression didn't change at all. His tone was completely flat as he said: "If you want it all, then take it all."
Only then did Charlotte Linlin nod with satisfaction, then turned her gaze toward Kaido. Seeing this, Kaido said with great displeasure: "I came here for this top-tier war, nothing else. But Linlin, if the old man dies here, don't blame me for fighting you over his inheritance later."
"Hmph! You brat, you're getting more and more insolent when talking to me. Have you forgotten my kindness to you?" Charlotte Linlin glared at Kaido.
Kaido's face showed a flash of anger, but he seemed genuinely at fault. After a moment, he snorted coldly and said nothing more.
"Jihahahaha! You're all still as lively as ever," Shiki laughed heartily after exhaling smoke.
Then he looked at Whitebeard: "According to our agreement, if you die in this battle, I'll consider this my farewell gift to you—no need to say more. But if you survive, you must join forces with me to dominate these seas!"
These pirate heroes and kings spoke of their ambitions to each other without any concealment, as if they weren't afraid of the others being their competitors at all.
Newgate didn't respond to Shiki's words, instead looking at the battlefield below with a grave tone: "The outcome of this battle won't just determine the survival of my Whitebeard Pirates. Otherwise, even if I swallowed my pride, you wouldn't have come. So I won't waste words."
It was strange—in the original story, when Ace was bound on the execution platform, Newgate knew he was outmatched but had no intention of seeking help. He resolutely led the Whitebeard Pirates into that hellish battlefield.
But now, with Teach kneeling on the execution platform, Newgate had acted completely out of character, bringing along all the former "old comrades" he could muster. It was truly absurd.
Perhaps it was because Ace carried Roger's bloodline?
Thinking about it carefully, every single ally Newgate had brought had deep grudges against Roger.
If Roger's bloodline were on the execution platform, even if Newgate talked himself hoarse, they wouldn't have come—they might even have applauded!
But Teach was just an unknown small fry with no connection to any of them. And this battle, as Newgate said, would determine not just the fate of the Whitebeard Pirates, but also the future structure of the New World and the entire world.
If the Marines could so easily annihilate the Whitebeard Pirates and then charge into the New World with their hundred thousand elite troops riding the wave of victory, they might not be able to withstand it. Even if they could, they would certainly pay a terrible price.
They didn't know if the Marines would do this, but they had to consider the possibility.
Conversely, if they could help Newgate defeat the Marines here, the situation would change dramatically. They would no longer be confined to the New World—the entire ocean would become their hunting ground, and those lofty Celestial Dragons would become their prey, just like at God Valley years ago!
Of course, coming to assist carried risks, but comparing risks to benefits, these great pirates were all willing to try.
The main reason was that the Whitebeard Pirates would be the absolute main force in this war, while they only needed to participate themselves without committing any troops.
As top-tier pirates of the seas, whether Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, or Shiki—they were all confident that while they might not win this war, if they wanted to leave, with Whitebeard covering their retreat, there was truly no one at Marine Headquarters who could stop them!
So no matter how they looked at it, they wouldn't lose out. Instead, they might gain immeasurable benefits. Therefore, after Newgate contacted them, despite their mutual conflicts and grudges, they came after careful consideration.
At this moment, Newgate looked down at the execution platform from high above, anger and darkness flashing in his eyes.
The main reason he had swallowed his pride, set aside the strongest man's dignity, and sought help from these bastards was simple—he wanted to kill both Bane and Teach!
That's right—Newgate had somehow learned that Teach was the real killer who murdered Thatch!
As for Bane, that was a matter of face. After all, he had made declarations across the seas. Even if Bane had nothing to do with Thatch's incident, he was still connected to Ace's capture. Though Ace had gone to hunt him down, Whitebeard wouldn't bother with reason or logic.
He clearly knew Teach was the real culprit. By the most optimal plan, he could have stayed away entirely and let the Marines handle Thatch's revenge.
But ultimately, he couldn't swallow this humiliation. He wanted to personally drag Teach down from that execution platform and demand to know why he would do such a thing—killing his own brother!
And regardless of what answer Teach gave, Newgate had already made up his mind to personally twist off his head!
He, Newgate, had dominated the four seas for so many years. He could tolerate failure, he could tolerate betrayal, he could give up reputation and face. But the one thing he absolutely could not tolerate was one of his sons killing another of his sons, then treating him like a fool afterward, causing his most favored son to fall into Marine hands as well. Therefore, he must clean house!
"Let's say hello," Shiki rose and floated into the air, looking at the familiar Marine Headquarters below with a savage smile.
The moment his words fell, three floating islands emerged from the clouds like meteors, plummeting straight toward the formation of one hundred thousand Marines in Marineford's plaza.
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