The plaza fell silent in an instant.
Almost everyone froze, staring in shock at the towering old man.
Even Brook—who had been trying to coax information out of Nami—was so stunned that his eyes bulged and his jaw dropped to the ground.
Though, of course… he had neither eyes nor a jaw.
"D-Dad?!"
Jozu accidentally knocked over the table in front of him. Wine spilled everywhere, but he didn't spare it a glance as he shouted, "Why? Retire? You've got to be joking!"
"Yeah, Pops!"
"Gurararara! Since when would I joke about something like this, you bunch of idiots?"
Whitebeard threw his head back and laughed. "All these years, dragging you brats across the seas, fighting and killing… these old bones of mine are long past their prime! Now's the perfect time—while I can still move—to find a quiet little island. Spend my days basking in the sun, drinking, fishing… doesn't that sound nice?"
"As for you lot…"
He bared his teeth in a grin.
"You're still young. The road ahead is long. Even I can't protect you forever. If you want to keep sailing and make something of yourselves in the future, you've got to learn to live without me."
"Pops!"
Izo couldn't hold back anymore. "We don't care about that! We just want to follow you!"
"Yeah!"
"We don't want to disband!"
The other division commanders rose to their feet, voices filled with emotion.
"Enough nonsense!"
Whitebeard slammed his hand onto the table. The entire plaza trembled.
His gaze swept across every one of his sons as he snorted.
"Don't be so naïve, you idiots. Do you think I'm asking for your opinion?"
"This is an order."
"My final order… as your captain."
The words carried an undeniable weight.
Every commander's eyes reddened.
They knew—once he used that word, there was no turning back.
"Alright, that's enough! Don't act like you're sending me off to my funeral! I'm still in good shape—not dead yet! You'll have plenty of time in the coming years to visit me. Plenty of chances to reunite, right?"
He raised his voice suddenly.
"As for now—hey! All of you, open your eyes wide and take a good look!"
He pointed at Shane seated across from him.
"This man sitting before me… is the kind who'll be written into history itself. Even thousands of years from now, his name will still shine!"
"As for his character? No need to say more. He's someone you can trust."
"Follow him—and your future will be wide open."
"So starting today, you'll all join the Curtain Call Adventurers!"
"Take this man as your captain. Stand behind him—and go create a brand new era!"
This… was what Whitebeard truly cared about.
He worried—deeply—for his foolish sons.
He feared they would lose their way in the shifting tides of the future.
Feared what might happen to them without his protection.
And he knew…
He didn't have many years left.
So he had to find them someone strong enough to rely on—
Someone he could entrust them to without hesitation.
And Shane—this man destined to suppress an era, and to usher in a new one—
Was the perfect choice.
"Shane!"
Whitebeard lifted his cup, grinning.
"I said I'd repay you, but now I'm dumping a whole pile of trouble on you instead. Feels a bit shameless. Still—my sons… I'll be leaving them in your care."
"Newgate…"
Shane looked at the bold old man before him and sighed softly.
He understood perfectly.
The intention behind these words—
And the weight of the trust being placed upon him.
All those earlier mentions—territories, trade routes, assets…
They had merely been prelude to this moment.
"You really know how to give someone a headache."
Shane stood and clinked his cup against Whitebeard's.
"But since you've said it, I won't refuse."
"From this day forward, all members of the Whitebeard Pirates are part of the Enders!"
"I, Shane, swear—I will not betray Newgate's trust. Nor will I mistreat any of you."
"As long as you follow the rules, from this moment on—no distinction between old or new. Everyone will be treated equally."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily, slapping Shane on the shoulder.
"You heard him! What are you waiting for, brats? Go greet your new captain!"
"Pops…"
Jozu and the others' eyes were red, but in the end, they wiped away their tears and answered in unison:
"…Yes. We understand."
"Captain!"
"Lord Shane!"
Led by Marco, the commanders raised their cups high, pledging their loyalty.
Even Jozu—stubborn as he was—after struggling for a long moment, finally followed suit, tears still streaming down his face.
Because they understood.
This was their father's final wish.
And the best future he could arrange for them.
If they missed him, they could always visit.
But if they resisted now—clinging like children unwilling to grow up—
They would only make him worry.
"Alright! Enough standing around!"
Seeing this, Whitebeard finally felt at ease. With a grin, he waved his hand.
"Tonight isn't just a victory banquet—it's also our final farewell feast! So perk up, all of you—and drink your fill!"
"That's right!"
Marco burst into laughter. "Drink till you drop!"
The atmosphere surged back to life.
Cups clinked, laughter rang out, voices filled the night.
Many of the guests watched with complicated emotions.
Whitebeard's retirement—
Within days, it would shake the entire world.
The fall of a legend marked the end of an era.
And the tides of the new age…
Would only grow more turbulent.
After all—
Following the battle between the two Emperors, many had speculated whether the Whitebeard Pirates and Curtain Call would inevitably clash.
There couldn't be two suns in the sky.
If the New World was to unify, there could only be one ruler.
But no one had expected this.
Whitebeard… would step down in this way.
And entrust everything to Shane.
"What an unexpected ending…"
Brook sat on the ground, hugging his knees, smiling.
"But it's a good one. At least they've got somewhere to belong."
Half a year ago, when he was still obscure, he had once performed aboard Whitebeard's ship to make a living.
They weren't like other pirates.
They treated him kindly, paid him well, even shared drinks with him.
He liked them.
And honestly—
Following someone like Shane was far better than drifting alone like himself.
Wuuuu…
The grand banquet lasted until well past midnight.
By the time the final guest had collapsed on the table, snoring loudly—
The two men who had been toasted the most—
Should have been long drunk.
And yet—
Almost at the same moment, they appeared on the southern shore of the island.
The sea breeze brushed quietly across the sand.
Whitebeard stood beneath the moonlight, hands behind his back, gazing at the stars—his eyes clear, the drunkenness gone.
He heard footsteps behind him.
Heh… so you thought the same.
Grinning, he turned.
"Hey, Shane. Since you're here—how about we trade a few blows?"
Shane stood with hands in his pockets, black hair lifting slightly in the night wind.
"I was thinking the same," he said with a faint smile. "But let's change locations. Otherwise, people might get the wrong idea—seeing you pick a fight right after announcing your retirement."
"Gurararara!"
Whitebeard laughed loudly.
"All the more reason to fight! I don't want to lie on my deathbed someday and realize I never crossed fists with the strongest man of this era!"
"That'd be a regret too great to bear!"
"…We're still changing locations," Shane replied flatly. "I don't want you destroying my island."
"…Fair point."
Ten minutes later—above a cluster of uninhabited islands.
"This will do."
Shane descended from the air, landing on the largest island.
Behind him, Whitebeard dropped down as well.
The battlefield was set.
"Gurararara! Good choice!"
Whitebeard planted his naginata into the sand, rolling his shoulders.
"First time we've fought, isn't it?"
"…And the last," Shane replied.
Whitebeard's gaze flickered briefly with emotion—
Then ignited with blazing battle intent.
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Come, Shane! Let me see just how strong you've become!"
Before his words even finished—
He struck.
CRACK—
The air shattered like glass.
A devastating shockwave surged forward.
Shane grinned.
"Starting off this seriously?"
Black-red lightning coiled around his fist as he punched forward.
"Galaxy… Impact!"
BOOM!
The collision split the heavens.
The battle raged through the night—
Blow after blow, strike after strike—
Until dawn broke.
When the sun rose again—
The islands were gone.
Only scattered reefs remained.
Whitebeard knelt on one, breathing heavily, blood at the corner of his lips—
But smiling.
"Still… quite a gap."
"Not bad at all," Shane said. "There's no one else on this sea who could fight me all night."
"Gurararara! Save the consolation!"
Whitebeard laughed, standing tall again.
"But still…"
He looked toward the rising sun.
"To fight a man like you at the end of my life…"
"I've got no regrets left."
None at all.
The sea breeze blew softly.
Sunlight bathed the two figures—
An old man and a young one—
Both outlined in gold.
A passing of legends.
An ending—
And a beginning.