53 53. Marco's Confidence

"Rayleigh," Whitebeard muttered, a hint of disdain in his voice as he saw the approaching figure.

Slowly, he sheathed his long sword, causing the intense vibrations and fluctuations to dissipate as if absorbed by the blade.

"Uncle Rayleigh!" Luffy exclaimed in surprise, his body rapidly shrinking as the white light vanished, his hair returning to its original state.

"Do you two remember what happened to Ace? Do you really want to engage in a life-and-death battle here, right before our showdown with the Marines?" Rayleigh's tone held a hint of exasperation.

He had anticipated some of Luffy and Whitebeard's actions beforehand, but only to a certain extent. He understood Whitebeard's stubborn temperament all too well. Despite his attempts to counsel them, it seemed they were determined to clash head-on and gauge each other's strength firsthand, a more pragmatic approach in their eyes.

However, Rayleigh hadn't anticipated their escalation to this extent. After just a few exchanges, they were already on the brink of a serious confrontation. One was prepared to unleash the Shock Fruit's power aboard the ship, while the other was on the verge of activating his fifth gear, both seemingly willing to risk life and limb in the process.

Rayleigh had to intervene swiftly. Allowing the situation to escalate further would lead to a genuine battle, risking casualties before they even reached the Marines to rescue Ace.

Fortunately, his intervention seemed to have had the desired effect.

Despite Whitebeard's stoic expression, Rayleigh could sense his growing respect for Luffy. After all, Whitebeard admired two qualities above all else: courage and strength, both of which Luffy possessed in abundance.

For Luffy, embodying both courage and strength, especially as Ace's younger brother, seemed to earn him several layers of halo in Whitebeard's eyes.

"Thank goodness, that was close," Marco breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Rayleigh intervene.

Dad had clearly been in control just now. If their clash had escalated further, the Moby Dick might have suffered severe damage. While ships weren't scarce for the Whitebeard Pirates, the Moby Dick held special significance—it was their flagship, the vessel they had sailed on since Marco's earliest days with the crew. Plus, they were far from land, so losing the ship here would pose significant challenges, especially for the Devil Fruit users among them.

"Father always acts like this," Marco lamented. "Even when his body clearly needs rest."

"Our captain is the same, always so stubborn," Zoro observed. He had noticed that the Whitebeard Pirates harbored no hostility toward them; their attacks had been more of a test than a genuine threat. In this moment of harmony between the two crews, they couldn't help but empathize with their own captain.

The second-in-commands exchanged sympathetic glances, knowing that their captains' waywardness was the cause of this situation.

"Tell me, Whitebeard," Rayleigh addressed him seriously.

Whitebeard, frowning, took a seat in his massive chair and nodded slightly, silent.

After a while, the deck of the Moby Dick was filled with fruits and meat. Pirates emerged from the cabins, and the expansive deck accommodated hundreds for a banquet.

Unlike the tension of the recent battle, the atmosphere now was harmonious. Members of the Straw Hat Pirates mingled with those of the Whitebeard Pirates, coming together for a celebratory feast.

"Indeed, Roronoa, you're truly formidable," Marco remarked, raising his glass of wine to Zoro. "It's hard to believe that you've only been at sea for a year, and with fewer numbers. In terms of strength alone, you're already on par with the Four Emperors' crews."

"To mutual respect and the strength of the Four Emperors' crews," Zoro replied, acknowledging Marco's praise.

It wasn't just a compliment; Zoro could feel the immense progress he had made. Compared to his past self, he now saw his previous strength as insignificant.

Even here among the Whitebeard Pirates, they couldn't be underestimated. Sanji, Chopper, and he had each faced off against formidable opponents. Zoro realized that without Ace's absence, it would have been difficult for Luffy to confront Whitebeard directly.

To put it plainly, they had managed to hold off the strongest captains from the remaining teams within the Whitebeard Pirates. The other captains recognized Luffy's overwhelming strength, choosing not to engage him one-on-one. Marco alone could have given Luffy a run for his money.

This was the backdrop and strength of the Four Emperors' crews.

"Your swordsmanship is exceptional," Rakuyo complimented Zoro, gracefully stroking his moustache. "Among the swordsmen I've faced, only Hawkeye surpasses you."

"Hawkeye?" Zoro recalled their encounter in the sea restaurant, touching the scar on his chest. The memory of the powerful swordsman who seemed to belong to a different realm resonated within him.

"I will challenge him for the title of the world's greatest swordsman," Zoro declared firmly.

"There will be an opportunity," Foil Sword chimed in with a smile. "With the government's mandatory call for war, Hawkeye will likely appear. With your skill and strength, you'll surely be able to give him a worthy fight."

Zoro's swordsmanship and overall strength were already slightly superior to his own, leaving only a small gap between them and the title of the world's greatest swordsman.

"This is delicious. The seasoning on this sauce and the heat of the steak are just perfect. You're quite the chef," Sanji praised one of the cooks aboard Whitebeard's ship.

However, the chef's expression darkened. "Captain Thatch was the best cook. Unfortunately, Captain Ace went after Blackbeard for Thatch's sake, and we all know how that ended."

The surrounding Whitebeard Pirates fell silent momentarily at the mention of Ace's fate.

The members of the Straw Hat Pirates understood the events leading up to Ace's tragedy but found themselves at a loss for words.

"Don't worry, Ace will be rescued this time. Our fighting force is stronger than ever," Marco reassured, attempting to lighten the mood.

Though his words offered some comfort, the tension lingered.

As the ship's doctor, Marco was acutely aware of his father's deteriorating health. When Ace first joined the crew two years ago, Whitebeard required medical attention. His condition had only worsened since then.

Despite their current strength, Marco couldn't shake his pessimism. His father's illness was like a ticking time bomb, poised to detonate at any moment. If it were to happen during battle, the consequences would be dire. Additionally, facing the full might of the Marines on their own turf significantly lowered their chances of victory.

But things were looking up. The Straw Hat Pirates had effectively doubled their fighting power, with Luffy's addition essentially providing an extra punch from a Four Emperors level combatant. With the support of Red-Haired Shanks, they stood a fighting chance against the Marines.

However, it all depended on the intentions of those at the other end of the deck—Whitebeard, Rayleigh, and Luffy. All eyes turned toward them, awaiting their next move.

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