"She couldn't possibly not know," El said.
"The Summit War was broadcast all over the world. As one of the Four Emperors, she hears everything there is to hear."
"The chance of her not knowing is zero."
"Charlotte Linlin… she's here just to provoke us!"
Was she deliberately trying to go against El and Whitebeard?
El looked up and spoke to Marco. "My advice? We wait and see."
"When the meeting starts, we'll know exactly what's going on."
As a man of great strength, he had that kind of composure.
Hearing his words, Marco nodded in admiration. "That's pretty much what Pops thinks too."
"Then I won't stay any longer. I'll go back and get ready!"
With that, Marco returned to the Moby Dick.
Crocodile turned to El. "Boss… are we really just going to stand by and do nothing?"
El replied calmly, "Charlotte Linlin alone isn't enough to make waves."
"Even if she allied with the Marines, she's still just someone I've already beaten. Whatever schemes she has, raw strength will crush them all."
Everyone present looked at him with deep respect.
The confidence of the truly strong was that simple and direct.
The Day of the Meeting
This was the day set for the negotiations.
The whole world was waiting for it.
Millions stood before screens, wondering what kind of deal would be struck between the Marines and the pirates.
The Marines were already assembled, fully prepared and stern. Every top officer was waiting on the shore.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the Marine Hero Garp, and the three Admirals — Aokiji, Akainu, and Kizaru.
All five stood motionless like statues. Ordinarily, such a lineup would terrify anyone. It was overwhelming.
But after what happened at the Summit War… this assembly no longer seemed quite so invincible.
Especially since every single one of them bore injuries, wrapped in bandages.
A constant reminder to everyone watching: They were the ones who lost.
Multiple Transponder Snails broadcast the event live from every angle. Crowds filled public squares everywhere, waiting for history to unfold.
Then came the heavy rumble of ships docking.
The Whitebeard Pirates had arrived!
At the front was the legendary pirate, equal in fame to Gol D. Roger — Edward Newgate, Whitebeard himself.
Though bandaged, his presence was immense and commanding, striking fear in all who saw him.
Behind him stood the division commanders:
1st Division Commander, Marco the Phoenix.
2nd Division Commander, Portgas D. Ace.
Ace's very appearance was a slap in the face to the Marines.
Also there were Diamond Jozu, Vista the Flower Sword, and many others. The strongest members of the crew were all present, drawing gasps from the crowd.
"Look! Diamond Jozu — he was incredible during the war!"
"But Marco was the strongest one there!"
"Marco fought against the Admirals head-on, didn't he?"
"And Vista too! He went up against Dracule Mihawk!"
The audience buzzed with excitement.
"That's the Whitebeard Pirates for you… such an amazing lineup!"
They walked forward until they stood directly before the Marines.
In the center stood a large round table, surrounded by chairs. This was where the meeting would take place.
Since the Marine base had been completely destroyed, it was held out in the open.
The Marines had expected Whitebeard to bring this kind of force. Their expressions remained grim.
Only Sengoku exchanged a brief greeting with Newgate.
No one else spoke. The tension was thick, heavy as clouds before a storm.
As the Whitebeard Pirates took their positions, El's ship slowly glided into the harbor.
El stepped onto the shore… alone.
The crowd fell silent, stunned.
"Is that El? He came all by himself to such an important meeting?"
"I guess that's what confidence looks like when you're that strong!"
"Still… it makes him look outmatched, doesn't it?"
"Yeah! Three major powers here, and his side is the smallest by far!"
No sooner had they spoken than a swirl of sand swept across the ground.
Crocodile landed right behind El, standing close at his side.
Then more figures stepped off the ship — and everyone's eyes went wide in disbelief.
Dracule Mihawk, Jinbe the Knight of the Sea, Gecko Moria, and even Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress!
They followed El toward the round table.
Shouts of shock erupted everywhere.
"How is this possible?!"
"Is that his crew? He's got almost all the Warlords working for him now!"
"That's insane… how did he manage that?!"
"This is what the strongest man in the world can do, I guess!"
That Crocodile served under El was already well known; it had been obvious during the war.
But the others… nobody had seen this coming. These were Warlords — powerful rulers, each controlling their own territory.
Now they were all his subordinates.
Everything had changed completely in the short time since the war. It was almost impossible to believe.
As an ally, Whitebeard was clearly delighted by this display of strength.
But the Marines? Their faces darkened like soot.
They had only just officially abolished the Warlord system.
And here was El, openly gathering every single former Warlord under his banner — directly challenging the authority of the World Government and the Marines.
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