Hancock's expression changed drastically the moment she heard Whitebeard's name.
Despite her own formidable reputation, even she could not help but feel a sense of dread in the presence of a man like him.
But she quickly shook off her shock and regained the proud, regal bearing of the Pirate Empress.
"Prepare for battle — all hands!"
Meanwhile, off the southeast coast of New Amazon Lily, a massive ship shaped like a whale's head was slowly approaching.
Mannoroth, who had been idling and bored near the shore, suddenly perked up.
"Master! Is that the ship of the Whitebeard Pirates you described before? Should I attack? Shall I charge at them?!"
Mannoroth was practically trembling with excitement. At last, he was going to fight against one of the strongest forces in the world!
"Stand down, you fool!"
Grimm, who was sitting on the shore, looked up at him.
"If you so much as try to attack, I will personally make sure nothing is left of you but bone dust. You don't want to die just yet, do you?"
Aboard the Moby Dick, a crew member peered through a telescope and spotted Grimm sitting by the water's edge.
He quickly lowered the scope and called out to Whitebeard on the deck.
"Father! I found Grimm!"
Gulp, gulp, gulp…
Whitebeard drank deeply from a large jug of sake, his Adam's apple bobbing with every swallow. He then tossed the empty bottle into the sea and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"Sail closer!"
Marco stood with his hands on his hips, staring at Mannoroth — whose head alone was already unimaginably huge, even though most of its body remained submerged. A wide grin spread across his face.
"So that is Grimm's new vessel… the one they call the Phantom Warship, Mannoroth? It really is monstrously large."
As the Moby Dick drew nearer, the flags of Grimm and the Kuja Pirates planted along the coast came clearly into view for everyone aboard.
At the same time, from the forest behind Grimm, a large group of female warriors emerged, led by Hancock herself. They stood ready, their eyes fixed sharply on Whitebeard and his crew.
"Ah — so those are the Kuja Pirates under Grimm's command?"
"And that's the legendary Pirate Empress? She's even more beautiful than the stories say!"
"Man, if only we could've recruited them into our crew earlier… Father might have had dozens of grandkids by now!"
Since the Whitebeard Pirates were almost entirely men, the sight of so many stunning women gathered together made them chatter and joke eagerly — some even drooling openly.
"Enough, you idiots! Shut your mouths!" Marco snapped, frowning.
They had not come here to fight. But if the crew kept behaving this way, they would surely provoke the other side, and then battle would be unavoidable.
The Moby Dick pulled right up to the shore. Whitebeard descended from his throne and stood at the very tip of the whale‑shaped bow.
Behind him, his crew lined up in perfect formation, facing Grimm and the Kuja Pirates on the shore below — both sides locked in a tense standoff.
Although the Kuja were renowned as one of the strongest crews in the Paradise half of the Grand Line, they were still outmatched by the battle‑hardened veterans of Whitebeard's crew.
Many of the younger women began to break out in cold sweat, intimidated by their overwhelming aura.
"The scrawny kid from back then… has finally made something of himself, hasn't he?!" Whitebeard boomed, his voice like thunder.
"And the blond uncle from back then… is now completely white‑haired, isn't he?" Grimm replied with a calm smile.
His presence and pressure were equal to Whitebeard's — so much so that Sachi, Jozu, and others behind the Emperor glared at him in anger.
Mannoroth occasionally popped his head out of the water beside the Moby Dick.
Hancock and her warriors remained stationed on the shore, while Grimm had already leaped aboard the Moby Dick's deck, standing face‑to‑face with Whitebeard.
Some of Whitebeard's men had foolishly tried to step onto the island, only to be driven back by a hail of arrows from the women.
The big, rough pirates could only mutter things like "These women shoot better than any man!" as they retreated.
"When Neptune and Otohime wanted to move their people to the surface, I offered to give them an island as a gift. But they refused," Whitebeard said, narrowing his eyes as he studied Grimm.
"What method did you use to make them agree?"
He paused for a moment, then added:
"Or did you make some kind of deal… one that left them with no choice?"
Otohime and Neptune were not fools. They knew that accepting help or gifts from a pirate would make them enemies of the World Government.
That was why they had turned down even Whitebeard's kind offer.
That was exactly why Whitebeard was so surprised.
They had refused his friendship and goodwill, yet accepted the terms of Grimm — a dangerous man radiating pure killing intent. It made no sense to him.
Furthermore, during his last visit to Fish‑Man Island, Neptune had acted nervous and evasive, which only strengthened Whitebeard's suspicions.
He had chosen not to pressure Neptune then, and instead turned his full attention to Grimm.
Grimm pulled out a glass of beer from nowhere and took a sip. He had no intention of answering.
The truth about Poseidon would come out eventually — but not while Shirahoshi was still a child. It would happen only when she had grown into the true Sea King.
"I have no obligation to answer you," Grimm said simply.
Whitebeard was not surprised by the reply. He lifted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. His gaze dropped to meet Grimm's, his tone unreadable.
"Neptune is my dearest friend. If he is in trouble… I will not stand idly by."
"Dearest friend?" Grimm almost laughed out loud. "If you are so desperate to know… why don't you try finding out the pirate way?"
He tossed his beer glass into his system storage, put his hands behind his head, and looked completely unbothered.
"Well said! Then let me show you what a true pirate is!"
Whitebeard drew his massive bisento from behind his back, took a sudden step forward, and swung the heavy blade straight at Grimm.
"FATHER!"
The surrounding crew members cried out in shock.
"Fight just like that, as soon as words fail us? Now that is a real pirate for you!" Grimm called out approvingly.
He summoned Ashbringer into his hand and clashed it directly against Whitebeard's giant weapon.
BOOM!
The shockwave was so powerful it became a physical storm, tearing at the ship's railing and blasting everything around it.
It even left several deep scratches on Mannoroth's massive skull nearby — but instead of being afraid, the giant beast looked absolutely thrilled.
"Stop wasting time talking! If you want to know something, if you want to prove something… use your blade to speak for it! Aren't you calling yourself a Great Pirate… Whitebeard?!" Grimm shouted over the wind.
BOOM!
When the first wave of energy faded, everyone aboard the Moby Dick and on the shoreline — both Whitebeard's men and the Kuja warriors — found themselves covered in small cuts and scrapes from the swirling storm winds.
Hancock's expression turned dark and furious.
"What is that old fool Whitebeard doing to Lord Grimm?!" She roared, ready to leap into the fight.
Elder Nyon quickly grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Wait! Grimm is not the kind of man to lose easily! Forget about them for a moment… look behind you, Empress!"
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off