At the same time, elsewhere on Grand Line
On the deck of the *Moby Dick*, Whitebeard's ship, Gojo, a bottle of sake in hand, exchanged a amused look with the world's strongest man.
"Gurararara! It's been five years, kid. What brings you here?" thundered Whitebeard, emptying his glass.
"I have something important to tell you, Whitebeard," replied Gojo, a mysterious smile on his lips.
"Gurururu! Well, kid, what do you want to talk about?" the colossus boomed.
"Blackbeard..." answered Gojo, his tone gentle but tinged with unusual seriousness.
A frown creased Whitebeard's brow. "What's wrong with him?"
Gojo looked down at the worn wood of the deck. "I crossed paths with him on an island in the Perilous Route. He's up to something, you can feel it."
A thunderous laugh escaped Whitebeard. "Gurururu! Are you afraid, kid?"
Gojo raised his head, his gaze piercing despite the bandage covering his eyes. "Don't get me wrong, old man. I could crush Blackbeard with a snap of my fingers. But you, you know what I'm talking about."
A long sigh escaped Whitebeard's lips. He turned his eyes towards the horizon, his mind immersed in a painful memory. "Haaa... Since that day, everything gives me a bad feeling."
Gojo nodded. "When I saw him, he was still weak, just like his crew. But be careful, Whitebeard."
A proud smile stretched across the old emperor's lips. "You'll be dead for years before I start worrying, kid. That being said... a little chaos might make this world you find so *fun* even more interesting, don't you think?"
Gojo burst into mischievous laughter. "Ehehehe! Few people understand what a truly entertaining world means."
At the other end of the ship, three commanders watched the scene. Marco, the commander of the 1st division, smiled, one hand on his hip. "There he goes again, talking about his *fun world*. Always so mysterious."
Vista, stroking his long mustache, added, "And no one knows what he means by that."
Jozu, arms crossed, grumbled, "He doesn't seem to like Blackbeard very much."
Marco narrowed his eyes, his tone becoming serious. "Normal. I don't know what Blackbeard is plotting, but he's never been an ordinary man."
Jozu nodded solemnly. "Whatever he wants, it's not going to amuse Gojo."
On the deck, Gojo and Whitebeard faced each other, a complicit smile on their lips. Then Gojo straightened up, his slender figure contrasting with the imposing mass of the emperor. His voice, still calm, tinged with a hint of urgency. "Recall Ace, Whitebeard. He's not yet ready to face Blackbeard."
Whitebeard's face hardened. "Do you think you can give me orders, kid?" he thundered, leaning forward, his overwhelming presence filling the air.
Gojo slightly bent his knees, ready to respond. "I warned you."
"Kid!" roared Whitebeard, leaping up, his massive fist ready to strike.
The two men lunged simultaneously, their fists colliding in a titanic clash. No Armament Haki was used, but Conqueror's Haki erupted, causing the sea to tremble and dispersing the clouds as if they were fleeing the power of the two conquerors. The *Moby Dick* groaned under the pressure, but the two opponents were not seriously hitting each other. It was a mutual warning, an exchange of wills.
Shortly after, Gojo left the ship, returning to his own vessel, the *Stella Alba*. Smaller than the *Moby Dick*, it sported a sail marked with the word *"Infinite"* and a flag adorned with a bandaged skull, a skeletal hand with crossed fingers. Chozo, Gojo's faithful shaman, approached his captain, his serenity contrasting with the latter's overflowing energy.
"Captain, what happened in the end?" he asked.
Gojo smirked. "Whitebeard... His crew will soon be in big trouble."
Chozo sighed, looking at the horizon. "He's too attached to Blackbeard, despite everything he's done. He still sees him as his son."
Gojo nodded, his eyes raised to the sky. "I can understand. Can't you, Chozo?"
The shaman lowered his gaze, a glint of sadness in his eyes. "Yes... But sometimes, a captain must make a decision, even if it means carrying the weight of blood. We are pirates, after all."
Gojo placed a hand on his shoulder. "Exactly. We're not saints. If it's for the crew, we get our hands dirty."
Chozo offered a rare smile. "That's why everyone respects you, Captain. It's what brought us here, among the Emperors of the seas."
"Heee! Let's keep making this world interesting, Chozo!" Gojo exclaimed, patting him on the back enthusiastically.
Chozo nodded, then added in a monotone voice, "By the way... Weren't you supposed to meet General Smoothie this afternoon?"
Gojo blinked, his face comically blank. "Huh? Oh, really?"
Chozo sighed. "How long until we reach the island, Captain?"
"If we hurry, we'll be there in the afternoon," Chozo replied, before seeing Gojo disappear in a flash.