Several days later—
A storm of shocking news swept across the world, setting the entire sea ablaze once more.
Whitebeard Announces His Retirement!
The Whitebeard Pirates Disband; Numerous Commanders Join Curtain Call Adventurers!
Former First Division Commander, "Phoenix" Marco, Confirmed as Curtain Call's Seventh Supreme Executive!
Curtain Call Adventurers Now Control Over 70% of the New World!
The World Economy News Agency worked through the night, printing extra editions again and again—yet every issue sold out instantly.
On the front page of the latest release—
A photograph captured the moment Whitebeard departed Dawn Island, bidding farewell to Shane along the shore.
One stood beneath the rising sun, cloak draped over his shoulders.
The other walked away toward the distant horizon, fading into shadow.
Beneath the image were two bold headlines:
The Legend of the Old Era Steps Down—From This Day Forward, the New Era Has Only One King!
—Shane, King of the Four Seas!
From streets to taverns to bustling docks, the world erupted into discussion.
"You've got to be kidding me—Whitebeard actually retired just like that?!"
"Idiot, that's the smart move. At least he preserved his dignity. What else could he do—fight Curtain Call head-on?"
"Fair point… the man was getting old."
"But seriously—on top of Marco, they've gained multiple commanders worth over a billion! Just how strong is Curtain Call now? Aren't they beyond even the Rocks Pirates?"
"Beyond? Not even close—that comparison's too small! You'd need to add the Roger Pirates to match them now!"
"Yeah… the era of the Four Emperors is over. In the New World, there's only one king left."
"And the other two won't be getting the same courtesy Whitebeard did."
Someone snickered.
"Wonder when Curtain Call's going to make their move on them."
"Maybe they already have."
"Haha… the Beasts Pirates and Red-Hair Pirates used to be untouchable giants. Now there's finally someone they have to look up to. Times really do change."
While the outside world buzzed with speculation—
Deep within Wano Country.
On Onigashima, inside the Skull Dome.
"This isn't good, Kaido."
King set down the intelligence reports, his brow furrowed.
"From what we can tell, Whitebeard's commanders have truly been absorbed by Curtain Call."
"The sixteen main divisions abandoned the pirate name almost overnight and followed their leaders into the organization."
"As for the forty to fifty subordinate crews, many chose to leave and go their own way—but nearly thirty percent still joined Curtain Call."
He spoke in a low voice.
"That puts their control at over seventy percent of the New World. Their territory now forms a pocket around ours."
A worst-case scenario.
It meant the Beasts Pirates were effectively boxed in.
Any attempt to expand would require breaking through Curtain Call's blockade.
Meanwhile—
Curtain Call could strike from any direction, picking off their outer territories at will.
Hard to defend against.
"I've felt it too," Queen cut in from across the room.
"I asked around—every single complaint from the lower ranks has Curtain Call at the top of the list. The grunts are terrified. They're convinced an attack is coming any day now."
What a headache.
Even the atmosphere on Onigashima had grown tense.
Attendance at his performances had dropped by half.
Before he found out why, he'd nearly broken down thinking his popularity had plummeted.
"Hmph. In the end, it's still Whitebeard's fault," Queen muttered, lighting a cigar. "If he couldn't win, he could've come to us for help. Instead he just gave up?"
Pathetic.
But before he could continue—
A sake gourd came hurtling through the air and smashed into his forehead.
Boom!
Queen was sent flying, crashing into the wall in a daze.
"Ow! That hurt! Kaido, what was that for?!"
"You've got some nerve," Kaido growled, rising unsteadily to his feet, eyes blazing despite the alcohol.
"I told you before. Fight them however you want—but when you speak of Whitebeard, show some respect."
"That man was once someone I looked up to."
Back when the Rocks Pirates first disbanded, Kaido had even gone to join Whitebeard, hoping to become his first division commander.
Things had changed since then.
Their ideals no longer aligned, and they eventually parted ways.
"Yeah, yeah, got it…" Queen grumbled.
Once Kaido turned away, he quickly pulled out a mirror and checked his face.
Luckily, the swelling wasn't front and center.
The annual festival was coming up, and as the main host, he couldn't afford to ruin his looks.
"Let's get back to the point," King said, rubbing his temples.
"Curtain Call's strength has reached an unimaginable level. While they're still busy consolidating, this might be our only chance to seek outside support."
He looked up.
"What about forming an alliance with the Red-Hair Pirates?"
Kaido frowned.
"Red-Hair?"
"Yes. He's always been obsessed with maintaining balance. Curtain Call's rise clearly doesn't sit well with him."
King narrowed his eyes.
"Half a year ago, during the Whole Cake conflict, he even tried to intercept Shane. Now that the balance is broken, he should be the most anxious of all."
Kaido said nothing.
He tilted his head back and took a long swig of alcohol, then slammed the gourd to the ground.
King sighed.
He already knew the answer.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Kaido roared.
"I'm Kaido of the Beasts! Since when do I need to join forces with that brat?!"
"When that red-haired kid was still an apprentice on Roger's ship, I was already at the top!"
"And now you want me to go begging him for an alliance? Not a chance!"
If Big Mom were still around, that would be different.
Whitebeard too.
But Red-Hair?
Absolutely not.
King waited for Kaido to calm down before speaking again.
"Then what's the plan? We've spent months preparing for war. Our forces and equipment are ready—but we're lacking top-tier fighters."
After all—
Curtain Call now had seven supreme executives.
"Worororo… who says we don't have a solution?"
Kaido grinned.
"Didn't I head out recently to find Whitebeard? He avoided me—but I picked up quite the prize along the way."
King and Queen exchanged puzzled looks.
Who could possibly earn that kind of praise from Kaido?
"Curious now?" Kaido laughed. "Since that card player left, the position of Drought has been vacant."
"Perfect timing. Let's fill it—and introduce him to you two."
BOOM!
The castle doors exploded inward.
Splinters flew as a massive figure stepped into the hall.
The ground trembled.
A towering man with slicked-back blond hair and a black military coat filled the doorway, his presence suffocating.
Cold eyes swept across the room.
"You are…"
King's pupils shrank.
"Douglas Bullet."
The strongest rookie from Roger's ship twenty years ago.
A man who once rampaged across the seas alone, nearly undefeated.
The Marines had required both Sengoku and Garp—along with a Buster Call—to capture him and imprison him in Impel Down Level 6.
Even among the worst criminals of the past century, he ranked near the very top.
"Worororo!" Kaido spread his arms. "Surprised? He broke out during the chaos at Marine Headquarters. Not many know that yet."
"He's spent twenty years honing himself in the depths. He's even stronger now. It took everything I had to tame him."
"Watch your words, Kaido," Bullet said coldly.
"Use 'tamed' again, and we'll have a problem. Our fight wasn't decided."
"I'm not interested in serving under you. Your offer just happened to interest me."
He stepped forward, boots echoing heavily.
His gaze passed over King and Queen.
He paused briefly at King's flaming wings, mildly intrigued.
Then looked at Queen—
and sneered.
"A Lunarian relic… and a fat fool."
"These are your 'Calamities'?"
He dropped into a chair, leaning back casually.
"You want me to take the Drought position and stand alongside this level of trash?"
"On second thought, forget it. Make me vice-captain instead."
"What did you say?!" Queen exploded.
"Watch your mouth! Anyone who looks down on me pays the price!"
King's eyes darkened.
"Don't get carried away."
Bullet smirked, not even bothering to stand.
"Oh? Not happy?"
"Then come at me together."
"Let's see what your so-called Calamities are really worth."
"You asked for it!"
Queen charged first, his massive body moving with surprising speed.
His arm transformed into a gigantic mechanical limb.
"Wind Cannon Fist!"
At the same time, King drew his blade, flames roaring along its edge.
"Imperial Flame Dragon!"
Bullet didn't even blink.
His arm expanded, turning jet black with Armament Haki, sweeping out like a steel claw.
Bang!
Queen's mechanical arm twisted instantly as he was blasted into the wall, coughing blood.
As for King—
Bullet grinned and let the blade strike his head.
Clang!
Sparks flew.
King's pupils shrank in shock.
His blade—
had been stopped by Bullet's bare skin.