Ace led Davy Jones across a stretch of grassland and through a dazzling flower field before finally arriving at Whitebeard's grave.
The gravestone was enormous, covered in wreaths. Draped over it was the white cloak Whitebeard had loved wearing in life. Beside it lay his treasured blade — Murakumogiri.
There was no way Davy Jones could come here and not pay his respects. Anything less would be unbearably arrogant and rude.
Ace and the others were glad to see the respect Davy Jones showed Whitebeard.
Not far from Whitebeard's grave stood the gravestones of three fallen division commanders and many more captains.
It was as though they were still alive, standing guard around their father's grave, never leaving his side.
The severed heads of Weevil and Miss Bakkin had been placed nearby, to console the spirits of the brothers who died at their hands.
Once the memorial was complete, Ace and the others were escorting Davy Jones back toward the Whitebeard remnants' base when they heard angry quarrels erupting among the pirates along the way.
What was going on?
Everyone exchanged confused looks.
Buggy laughed and joked, "They're not having second thoughts about joining our crew, are they?"
"No, Mr. Buggy," Ace replied respectfully, as he always did. "There must be some misunderstanding. Captain Davy Jones, please wait here. I'll go ask."
Davy Jones and the others remained where they stood.
Ace went to inquire and let out a sigh of relief.
The quarrel had nothing to do with merging into the Davy Jones Pirates.
But when he returned, his expression was extremely dark.
"What happened?"
As he waited, Davy Jones casually took out his pipe, bit down on it, and observed everyone's shifting expressions with interest.
Clearly, the Whitebeard remnants had run into trouble again.
Sure enough, Ace said grimly, "We just received a scout report. The Blackbeard Pirates attacked our territory again… and seized another island."
Marco, Jozu, and Vista's expressions changed at once.
No doubt, the casualties had been severe—bad enough to drive the brothers into such outrage.
Within minutes, more captains and pirates gathered, furious and seething.
"Blackbeard is unforgivable! Again and again he shrinks our territory, slaughters our brothers — we can't stand this anymore!"
"Exactly! Last night they killed Captain Fossa, and before that, Captain Blamenco and Captain Blenheim! At this rate, all of us will die at their hands!"
"Ace, Blackbeard is monstrously vicious—slowly eating away at our forces. And to think he was once our brother… tch! That kind of traitor — if we don't settle the score, then—!"
The captains and crewmates of the Whitebeard Pirates spoke over one another, necks bulging red with rage, hatred burning in their eyes as they turned toward Ace and Marco.
Who could swallow such humiliation?
Ace and Marco exchanged a look, unable to hide their own anger.
The death of their father, and the fall of the Whitebeard Pirates — Blackbeard had played a massive role in both. This was a hatred that would never fade.
Previously, Weevil's existence had forced an awkward three-way balance, preventing the Whitebeard Pirates from finding a chance to clash decisively with the Blackbeard Pirates.
But now Weevil was dead.
The balance had been shattered.
They no longer needed to fear Weevil stabbing them in the back during a war with Blackbeard.
Perhaps now was the time for the decisive battle.
But could they truly win such a battle? That was another question entirely.
Of the Whitebeard Pirates' original 43 subordinate captains, every single one had died. Not one survived.
And only 12 division commanders remained:
Ace, Marco, Jozu, Vista, Rakuyou, Namur, Curiel, Kingdew, Haruta, Atmos, Speed Jiru, and Izo.
Their fleet and manpower were pitiful compared to the crew's former glory — perhaps even weaker than Donquixote Doflamingo's forces.
Could a force like this defeat the mighty Blackbeard Pirates?
Worse still, Blackbeard seemed to possess a method for stealing Devil Fruit abilities, allowing his people to gain more and more powers.
Their ghost-like ambushes were due to one man — "Soundless" Van Augur.
With Blackbeard's help, Van Augur had obtained the Warp-Warp Fruit.
He could teleport himself — and an entire Blackbeard squad.
That was why they could strike anywhere and always escape unscathed.
The Whitebeard Pirates had never been able to deal with Van Augur.
So what about now?
Ace didn't know.
But he knew where to seek help.
He turned his head toward Captain Davy Jones.
The other commanders followed his gaze, all eyes gathering on Davy Jones.
The crowd slowly quieted, their eyes bright with hope.
"Captain Davy Jones."
After a long moment, Ace dropped to one knee. The captains hesitated briefly, then knelt as well. The pirates behind them all followed.
"Please lead us… in taking revenge on Blackbeard!"
Though the Fire-Fire Fruit user's body wasn't aflame, his eyes burned — blazing with the desire to consume Blackbeard.
He may have been chosen as the new leader of the Whitebeard Pirates, but he had never forgotten one truth:
He lost to Blackbeard.
He was captured by Blackbeard and delivered to Marineford, triggering the Paramount War.
Though his brothers never blamed him — and Whitebeard fought to his last breath to save him — Ace had always felt responsible, believing himself to be the spark that ignited everything.
Under his leadership, the crew had grown steadily weaker, attacked from all sides without the strength to fight back.
That guilt had only deepened.
Now, Ace finally saw hope.
If it were Captain Davy Jones — he could win this war.
Ace didn't need advanced Observation Haki to sense it:
He could already envision a glorious, overwhelming counterattack.
This would be their decisive war against the Blackbeard Pirates.
Davy Jones exhaled a smoke ring and smiled at them.
"Since that's what you want… I'll grant your wish."
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