Curiel stepped forward, his expression grim. "Seven days ago, the Wang Zhi Pirates attacked Shihblan Island and Qiming Island. Jozu and his crew fought, but in the end, they were defeated."
Marco's face darkened, though the news was not entirely unexpected. He clenched his fists, muttering in annoyance, "So that guy finally made his move. When Pops was alive, he never dared cross the line. Now that Pops is gone, he thinks he can act freely. This just gives us a reason to deal with him properly."
"Definitely, we'll have to eliminate him," another crew member added. "Beehive Island has always been within the heart of our Phoenix Pirates' territory. Pops gave him face before, but now he's asking for his own death."
"Exactly. Let's settle this. It will also make up for the territories we sold to Big Mom," a third pirate chimed in.
Before Marco defeated Big Mom, their focus had been purely defensive, protecting the lands left by Pops. But now, witnessing Marco's strength—the power to topple an Emperor—every crew member felt a renewed confidence. The Phoenix Pirates could not only safeguard Pops' legacy but also aim higher, striving to surpass even the Whitebeard Pirates.
Marco chuckled softly, a familiar system AI voice suddenly echoing in his mind:
New mission released…
Kill Wang Zhi: The Wang Zhi Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates have coexisted peacefully for decades. Now, with Whitebeard gone, they've betrayed and seized Whitebeard's legacy. Eliminate Wang Zhi and earn 2,000 attribute points.
Marco's lips curved into a smile. A mission or not, he had intended to deal with Wang Zhi. Having a reward was just an added bonus.
He turned to his crew, voice calm but commanding. "We'll handle the Wang Zhi Pirates later. What about Nanku Island?"
The room fell silent, tension rising. Curiel's face was grave. "Nanku Island fell yesterday."
Marco's eyes widened. "Lost? How? Couldn't Vista handle Jack? Or have King and Queen arrived too?"
Curiel shook his head. "No, they haven't. The Beasts Pirates have a large number of fighters and many Devil Fruit users, but our high-level combatants outmatch them. Vista has defeated Jack twice before. The first time, he fought the Beasts Pirates for a day and night, seriously injuring Jack and forcing them to retreat. The second time, they returned stronger but were still repelled after two days and nights of battle."
Curiel's expression darkened. "But the Beasts Pirates are despicable. The third time, they didn't confront us directly. They used poison gas bombs. A huge number of bombs fell on Nanku Island, spreading across the island and causing massive casualties among our forces."
Marco's face tightened, concern evident. "What about Vista and the others? Are they alright?"
Curiel continued, voice laced with anger. "Vista and his crew had no choice but to evacuate. The residents couldn't escape in time. During our retreat, five pirate ships were sunk, and many comrades were killed by the Beasts Pirates' shelling. Even if they had taken Nanku Island, the entire land is now poisoned. What was the point of their conquest?"
Marco's expression hardened. "Then we go to Nanku Island. They probably don't know we defeated Big Mom, but it doesn't matter. We'll teach them what happens when someone offends the Phoenix Pirates."
Ace raised a hand sheepishly. "Um, Marco… since you were unconscious, I had the ship head toward Nanku Island in advance."
Marco nodded, unbothered.
He turned to Jinbe, who had remained quietly in the crowd, and a small smile formed on his lips. "Jinbe, from now on, you are the Fourth Division Commander of the Phoenix Pirates."
Jinbe froze, as did the other crew members. He hadn't expected such a promotion after only half a month with the crew. "Wait, Marco… I just joined. How can I be a Commander?"
The captains quickly accepted the decision, though initially surprised. Fossa clapped Jinbe on the shoulder, laughing. "Jinbe, we all know your character. Even though you've been away these past years, we've always considered you our comrade."
Ace nodded in agreement. "Exactly! You're a former Shichibukai, and you're one of us now. As a Commander, no one will object."
Jinbe hesitated, worry evident. Though he had known the crew for years, he had only officially joined half a month ago, and his seniority was minimal.
Marco placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Strength is secondary. What matters most is that I trust you. You'll do just fine, so don't refuse."