With the appearance of a group of Tyrant Kumas, the situation on the battlefield in the Sky Screen video began to change.
The Marines began a collective retreat, as if making way for the Whitebeard Pirates.
Just then, the video shifted back to Whitebeard.
〖"Pops."
Whitebeard was stationed on the main ship when Squard suddenly approached him.
"Squard, it's you. I haven't been able to reach you since earlier. How's the situation on your end?" Whitebeard asked with concern upon seeing him.
Squard shook his head, replying with worry: "Not good. My pirate crew has suffered heavy casualties. I took a shortcut to get here."
"Is that so? Then we must exert even more effort from now on. After all, Sengoku definitely won't show mercy."
Hearing Squard's reply, Whitebeard's expression turned grave.
But a glint flashed in Squard's eyes as he asked, seemingly curious, "Has Pops figured out why the Marines are retreating? Do they have some tactic?"
"Pretty much." Whitebeard laughed heartily. "After all, Sengoku and I are old rivals. He's probably attempting to surround us from the rear, but this idea suits me perfectly. In that case, let's charge straight in!"
After Whitebeard finished speaking, Squard strode forward and drew his sword, as if ready to go through fire and water for him.
"Like the other pirate crew members, I have received great kindness from Pops. If it's for you, Pops, or for the Whitebeard Pirates, I would not hesitate to sacrifice my life.
Because this is a battle to protect family. Whitebeard would never abandon family. That's why everyone followed you, Pops, to this battlefield to rescue Ace. But..."
As he spoke, Squard raised his large sword and stabbed it directly through Whitebeard's chest.
"If only we were included in this family."〗
[Pirate 1: Did this really happen? Whitebeard was actually successfully assassinated? That's the man known as the strongest in the world!]
[Pirate 2: Is this Squard guy part of the Whitebeard Pirates? To be betrayed by your own man...]
[Kaido: Urororororo, seems having many sons isn't always a good thing. To be struck by your own son. Whitebeard, you've truly grown old.]
[Big Mom Charlotte Linlin: That's not necessarily true! My sons and daughters are all good children, mamamama.]
[Captain John: Is it because Whitebeard's children are all adopted? Serves him right for randomly collecting kids, hahahaha.]
[Marshall D. Teach: Zehahahaha, Squard, you're even more hardcore than me. I only dared to target crew members, but you actually went for the captain himself. I salute you as a real man.]
[Jack the Drought: But being betrayed by your own subordinate must be heartbreaking for Whitebeard, hahahaha.]
[Golden Lion Shiki: Gehahahaha, can't be helped. Pirates are just creatures easily prone to betrayal.]
[Buggy: So, Whitebeard probably won't die that easily, right? But even if he doesn't, now that he's seriously injured, the upcoming battle will be even harder to fight.]
Whitebeard Pirates
Seeing the scene on the Sky Screen, Marco was incredulous. "Pops! Squard, what are you doing?"
Diamond Jozu gritted his teeth. "You bastard, have you lost your mind?"
Thatch directly shouted, "Damn it, Squard! Don't tell me you took favors from the Marines to do this on purpose. If that's the case, just wait until I teach you a lesson!"
"You actually attacked Pops? Why would you do that?" The Ice Witch was equally shocked.
Vista thought for a moment before speaking hesitantly, "Could it be... because of Ace's background?"
The members of the Whitebeard Pirates were initially puzzled by Squard's assassination attempt on Whitebeard.
Hearing Vista's speculation, they all looked at the person involved Squard.
Squard was currently crouching on the ground, holding his head, with an expression of utter confusion.
"I... I don't know. I really attacked Pops? How could I do such a thing?"
As Squard fell into self-doubt, the surrounding pirates looked at each other, unsure how to comfort him.
After all, they were still furious about Squard stabbing Whitebeard.
Then Whitebeard laughed heartily, walked to Squard's side, helped him up, and embraced him.
"It's alright, Squard. That's just future imagery it hasn't happened yet. You still have a chance to make things right. And the you now is different from the you in the Sky Screen. Don't you already know Ace's true identity now? And yet you still chose to come with us to save Ace. Doesn't that prove your choice? So Pops believes you won't do such a thing again."
"Pops!" Squard hugged Whitebeard back, moved. "I'm sorry."
"It's fine, son. I don't blame you. And I believe that Whitebeard on the screen wouldn't blame the Squard who stabbed him either because that's also his son."
As Whitebeard spoke, the subsequent events played out on the Sky Screen, indeed confirming his thoughts.
〖After seeing Squard's actions, Marco charged over angrily.
He pinned Squard to the ground and questioned him furiously: "Why did you do this? Answer me, you bastard!"
Looking at the enraged Marco, Squard spoke guiltily: "This... this is what you forced me to do! I didn't do anything wrong, and I don't need to give you a reason."
"What do you mean? Are you still unrepentant at this point?" Upon hearing Squard's words, Marco couldn't help but want to strike him.
Just then, Whitebeard, who had been run through by Squard's sword, could no longer hold on and collapsed.
Marco quickly turned to support him. "Pops, don't push yourself anymore. If this continues, your body really won't be able to take it."
Before Whitebeard could respond, Squard spoke up: "Let this farce end quickly, Whitebeard. I don't want to play along anymore.
Didn't you already make a deal with the Marines? No matter the outcome of this war, you Whitebeard Pirates and Ace will definitely be saved.
As for us, we can only rely on luck. Hey, did you all hear that? We've been tricked!"〗