CHAPTER 173 — Departures and Intent
The deck of the Moby Dick was still.
Not calm, just quiet in the way that came before violence.
Whitebeard's crew stood frozen where they were, cups half-lowered, smiles gone. The shadow of the flying vehicle stretched across the deck like a moving cloud, dark and slow, cutting through the warm light of the sun.
Several pirates reached for their weapons.
Some pulled swords partway from their sheaths.
Others raised rifles.
A few clenched their fists, muscles tight, eyes sharp.
Instinct.
They had just come out of a war. A real one. Their bodies still remembered Marineford. Their minds still carried the sound of cannons and screams. Anything unknown in the sky felt like a threat.
The engines above hummed softly, steady and controlled. Not aggressive. Not rushed.
But no one relaxed.
Then Diana stepped forward.
She raised one hand, palm open.
"Don't worry," she said clearly. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried. "Everyone, it's fine. They're my companions."
The tension didn't vanish.
Weapons lowered, but not fully.
No blades slid back into place. No fingers moved away from triggers. The crew trusted Diana, but trust did not erase caution. Not after everything they had been through.
Whitebeard watched her closely.
He didn't move at first.
Then he threw his head back and laughed.
"Gurararara!"
The sound rolled across the deck, deep and full, shaking the air itself. It cut through the tension like a wave breaking against stone.
"Put your weapons down, sons," he said, still smiling. "It's our allies."
That was all it took.
Weapons lowered completely.
Blades slid home.
Rifles dropped to resting positions.
The crew relaxed, not because the danger was gone, but because their captain had spoken.
Whitebeard did not lie to his family.
They trusted him more than their own fear.
The flying vehicle continued its descent.
It didn't wobble.
Didn't rush.
It moved as if the air itself supported it.
With a low hum, it touched down on the massive deck of the Moby Dick. The wood creaked under the weight, but held firm. The ship had carried giants before. This was nothing new.
The engines powered down.
A soft hiss followed.
Then the entrance opened.
Naruto jumped out first.
He landed hard, boots thumping against the deck, eyes bright as he looked around.
"Whoa!" he said, grinning. "This ship is huge!"
Mindy followed, stepping out calmly. Her eyes moved over the crew, their weapons, and the signs of battle. She wasn't tense, only alert and curious.
Saeko came after her, quiet and alert, gaze sharp. She felt the strength in the air, the weight of the people standing here. These were not weak men.
Tony hovered out next, repulsors glowing faintly as he floated down, scanning everything at once.
And finally.
Gaius.
The golden-armored figure stepped out last.
The deck went silent again.
Recognition spread fast.
Whispers moved through the crew like wind through sails.
"That's him…"
"The one in gold…"
"He fought an admiral…"
"He even held Kizaru back…"
They remembered.
Just like Diana, this group had stood against Marineford. Against the strongest force in the world. And survived.
Tony glanced around, then flew forward.
The pirates parted without hesitation, stepping aside to clear a path. They didn't block him. Diana was one of theirs. Anyone she trusted earned at least that much respect.
Diana had already started walking toward them.
Whitebeard watched the movement closely.
He understood.
They weren't here to stay.
They were passing through.
"Are you leaving already?" Whitebeard asked.
He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
Even speaking normally, his words reached them easily. The voice of a giant carried weight, both in sound and meaning.
"Won't you join our banquet?"
Tony slowed in the air and stopped in front of Diana.
For a moment, he looked tempted.
Really tempted.
"I really want to," Tony said honestly. "I mean that."
And he did.
A banquet with pirates like these? Music, food, stories, victory? That was exactly his kind of thing.
"But," he continued, his expression turning serious, "we've got something we need to take care of."
After all, they had a Celestial Dragon aboard their ship.
Whitebeard studied him.
Not just his words, but the feeling behind them.
He sensed no lie. No excuse.
Tony wasn't refusing out of disrespect. He simply knew there was something they needed to do.
Whitebeard laughed again, softer this time.
"Then it's a farewell," he said. "You can always come back. When you do, we'll have a banquet for all of you."
His voice held gratitude.
He had expected Marineford to be his end.
He had expected death.
Instead, he stood here alive. Ace was alive. His sons were alive.
He would not forget that.
Diana broke into a run.
She dashed toward them, boots pounding the deck, then leapt lightly and stopped beside Tony.
Tony drifted back toward the vehicle.
Gaius watched Diana return.
He had only stepped out in case things went wrong. In case violence broke out. But now that everything was calm, there was no need for him to remain.
He turned back toward the entrance.
Saeko followed him without a word.
Mindy lingered, looking up at Whitebeard with open curiosity and awe. Knowing he was the one behind the earthquake they'd felt at Marineford only made it more impressive.
Naruto waved enthusiastically.
"Bye-bye, Grandpa!" he shouted.
For a heartbeat, the deck froze.
Marco's face darkened instantly.
Whitebeard blinked.
Then
"Gurararara!"
His laughter exploded again, louder than before, shaking the ship.
Naruto grinned, proud of himself.
Tony touched down lightly at the entrance.
Diana stepped in last.
She turned and waved back with both hands.
"Goodbye!"
The pirates answered as one.
"GOODBYE!"
The doors closed.
The engines roared to life.
With a powerful swoosh, the vehicle lifted straight up, then shot forward at high speed.
The sudden burst of wind slammed across the deck.
Hair flew everywhere. Coats snapped. Hats were ripped from heads.
"Damn it!"
"Warn us next time!"
"Watch it!"
Curses filled the air.
Whitebeard only laughed.
High above the sea, the vehicle stabilized.
Inside, Diana finally got a clear look at the unconscious man bound in the corner.
She frowned.
"What's up with that guy?" she asked.
Naruto leaned back. "Oh, that? He's a Celestial Dragon."
He was about to explain more
But Mindy cut in smoothly.
"They're extremely important to the government of this world," she said.
Diana's eyes widened.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Oh," she said. "So you're going to use him to force the World Government's hand."
Mindy smiled and nodded.
"You're right, big sister Diana."
Naruto's shoulders slumped.
His moment was stolen.
Diana crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"So where are we going?" she asked. "We'll need to let the government know where we are if you want an exchange."
Tony answered without hesitation.
"We're heading to a Marine branch," he said. "We'll take it over."
He tapped the display.
"Far enough from Marineford that the admirals can't rush in. We'll use it as a base. Communication point. And we'll gather more information about this world."
Gaius listened quietly.
He had considered another path.
Mary Geoise.
The center of power.
He had learned this back in Sabaody, while strolling through the streets and skimming newspapers and documents at a rapid pace. The articles only mentioned it in passing, buried among miscellaneous news, but the implication had been clear enough.
But he remembered the admiral he fought, Kizaru. His speed was dangerous. Hard to kill without preparation. The other admirals might be slower, but their strength was still real.
And there could be more waiting.
Using the Celestial Dragon was the better choice.
The Emperor stirred within him.
"Your judgment is sound, Gaius," the Emperor said. "This world cannot be taken by force alone."
Gaius's thoughts hardened, sharpening around that truth.
The Emperor continued.
"As I said before, I have sensed this world. Even a primarch would not be able to occupy it through force alone. There is someone on the Red Mountain, his strength exceeds that of a primarch. And he is not alone. This world holds many individuals whose power surpasses them."
(P.S. It should be made clear that their strength surpasses that of a Primarch in the same way a Yonko does. Against someone like Kaido, raw power alone is overwhelming. They surpass Guilliman in physical strength, if he were unprepared and forced into a direct, head-on fight, he would likely lose. After all, Kaido is capable of shattering entire islands through sheer force.)
Inside the helm, Gaius grew serious.
Strength alone would not be enough here.
The Emperor sighed.
"This world is truly magical," he said. "I wish to study it."
Gaius said nothing.
But he understood.
The Emperor desires to study this world. Its technology is not advanced, yet the strength it produces is remarkable. If properly studied, the Imperium could grow stronger, but whether that would be good or bad is uncertain. After all, Chaos exists.
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P.S. We've got a new member joining the story, Tanya von Degurechaff!
I ran a poll on my Patreon to see who you guys wanted next, and after all the votes were in… Tanya came out on top. You all really chose chaos, huh?
Thanks to everyone who voted! I'm excited (and slightly concerned) to finally add her to the group. 😆
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