[Pirate 1: What is Squard talking about? Is the Summit War actually a conspiracy between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines? Did they make a secret agreement?]
[Pirate 2: That can't be right. This is Whitebeard we're talking about, the strongest man in the world. Why would he cooperate with the Marines?]
[Pirate 3: My head itches... feels like my brain is growing. What exactly is going on with this war?]
[Big News Morgans: Hahahaha, I never expected that a simple war between Marines and pirates would produce so many major news stories. It's incredible! I must record all the details and strive to write a unique news report.]
〖When Squard declared,
"This is a conspiracy; we've all been tricked," those present showed expressions of disbelief.
"Squard, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"Have you been deceived?"
"You're too impulsive! How could you just attack Pops like that? Couldn't you have stopped to think and verify the truth first?"
"Hah, the truth?"
Squard laughed mockingly.
"The truth is that Ace is actually the son of the Pirate King Roger. When you took me in, you should have known that all the companions I considered family were killed by Roger.
You must understand how much I hate Roger. Yet you never told me that Ace is Roger's son.
And you even wanted him to become the next Pirate King. At that moment, I had already been betrayed by you.
You took advantage of my ignorance, watching as Ace and I became good friends. You played me for a fool!
And now, Ace the most important person to you has been captured. To save him, you're willing to sacrifice the lives of us forty-three pirate captains in exchange for Ace's survival.
Haven't you already colluded with Sengoku? Your subordinate pirate crews will be completely annihilated, but only the Whitebeard Pirates and Ace will survive. Isn't that right?"
Squard revealed all the "inside information" he knew, causing an uproar.〗
[Pirate 1: This can't be true, right? Whitebeard actually conspired with the Marine Fleet Admiral just to save the son of the Pirate King?]
[Pirate 2: That would be too much. To sacrifice all his subordinate crews for the sake of one person, Ace—how is that any different from sending them to their deaths directly?]
[Marco the Phoenix: Pops would absolutely never do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding.]
[Gecko Moria: What misunderstanding? Isn't Whitebeard's own son already exposing the truth? That's a ready-made witness right there.]
[Coby: I don't know about Whitebeard, but Fleet Admiral Sengoku would definitely not do such a thing. This must be slander. And would the Marines go to such great lengths just to eliminate forty-three pirate crews under the Whitebeard Pirates? That sounds ridiculous.]
[Octopus Fishman Karlma: Right. Although I don't really want to agree with the Marines, I have to admit that Marine makes a good point.]
[Decalvan Brothers: That's right, Squard. Think about it carefully. The Marines wouldn't need to put in so much effort just to deal with us. They must have deceived you.]
[Thatch: Moreover, although the Sky Screen video hasn't finished playing, it's clear up to now that the Whitebeard Pirates are fighting hard. They aren't holding back; they're battling the Marines earnestly. The idea that only the Whitebeard Pirates would be saved is laughable.]
[The Ice Witch: So, who exactly did you hear this so-called "inside information" from, Squard?]
[Squard: I... I don't know either.]
[Marco the Phoenix: It seems that person hasn't approached Squard yet. But it's fine; the answer we want will surely be revealed in the upcoming video.]
〖After Squard finished sharing what he believed to be the inside story, he coldly laughed upon seeing that no one present believed him.
"You don't think I'm joking, do you? But this is the truth. We came here, giving our all for Ace, for Whitebeard. But what have we gained? The Marines are aiming their firepower at us we are their target! Now, we have nowhere to retreat."
Squard then adopted an indifferent expression.
"I never thought I could actually wound Whitebeard. This is already an unexpected result. Now, go ahead and strike. I am prepared to die."
As he spoke, he closed his eyes, presenting the image of a hero calmly facing death.
But Marco looked at him and truly thought he was an idiot. "You fool! You've definitely been deceived. Why won't you believe Pops, you bastard?"
Unfortunately, no matter what Marco said, Squard refused to believe him.
"As the commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' first division, how could you not know anything? Stop playing dumb, Marco. I already know everything."
Seeing Squard's stubborn refusal to listen, Marco closed his eyes in despair, not wanting to speak to him anymore.
The scene fell silent, and then Whitebeard finally spoke.
"It's true that Ace is Roger's son. I apologize for not telling you. But I truly never expected that they would manipulate the man most likely to waver because of this matter. It seems the Marines' strategy is superior after all."
Whitebeard then looked at Squard and raised his left hand.
"You should understand what you just did. To actually believe the Marines' words and choose to raise your weapon against your father... You truly are a hopelessly foolish son."
As he spoke, his left hand fell not to attack Squard, but to pull him into an embrace.
"But even though you're so foolish, you are still my son. I will always love you."
Whitebeard's gaze was extremely gentle, and his tone was very soft. Squard felt this, and his heart couldn't help but begin to waver.
"You're joking... Stop this. You clearly sold us out..."
Squard couldn't finish his sentence.
He had already realized that he was truly wrong, that he had indeed been deceived.
Then Whitebeard spoke again: "Now, you can tell me. Who was it that guided your loyal, straightforward heart into darkness?"
His tone was very calm, but upon careful listening, one could detect the hidden fury within.
Squard detected it and slowly said: "It was... the Marines'..." 〗