The next day, Sphinx Island.
After a banquet that lasted through the night, Zack had already overseen the creation of the Phoenix Pirates' flag.
The design was simple yet striking—a classic pirate skull and crossbones, crowned with a pair of blue phoenix wings. It was unmistakable at a glance.
Each allied pirate crew was presented with a Phoenix Pirates flag before departing. They purchased small vessels on the island and hurriedly set sail.
They had no time to waste.
With Whitebeard's death, news had already spread—multiple islands once protected by his name were under attack. Those captains needed to return immediately to repel invaders, secure their territories, and begin constructing new ships.
As for Marco, he returned aboard the Moby Dick.
He chose not to rename the ship.
This vessel had been his home since childhood. Though the original Moby Dick had been destroyed at Marineford, this secondary ship was more than sufficient for now. Once the current crisis passed, they could consider building something new.
"Captain Marco! This should do it, right?" Zack called out from the mast, where the Phoenix Pirates' flag had already been secured.
Notably, theflag of the Whitebeard Pirates still flew alongside it.
That flag had dominated the Grand Line for decades—a symbol of the strongest man and the mightiest pirate crew. Even with Whitebeard gone, it still carried immense weight. There was no need to tear it down in haste.
Marco nodded.
"Yes. Leave it as it is."
No one objected.
After all, they had lived under that banner's protection for most of their lives. The flag remained—only the man behind it was gone.
At that moment, the familiar mechanical voice echoed in Marco's mind:
"Mission complete.
The Whitebeard Pirates have been successfully renamed the Phoenix Pirates.
New flag raised.
Reward granted: 500 attribute points."
Marco glanced at the total—1,500 attribute points.
After a brief pause, he spent all of them, allocating everything into spirit.
If he intended to further cultivate Conqueror's Haki, strengthening his mental reserves was the correct choice.
With the increase, his Spirit rose from 6,800 to 8,300.
"Captain Marco," a beautiful blonde woman in a pink nurse's uniform asked gently. "What are our next orders?"
Marco closed the system panel and looked at her—and at the dozen or so nurses standing behind her.
"Ann," he said, "you'll continue as before."
"Focus on caring for our injured crewmates."
He added after a moment,
"I'll also find some medical books for you. Study them when you can."
These nurses had all once belonged to the Whitebeard Pirates' medical unit, tasked with caring for Whitebeard himself. Before the march to Marineford, Whitebeard had deliberately sent them away for their safety.
Now, with the old man gone, they had nowhere else to return to.
And Marco had no intention of abandoning them.
"Yes," Ann nodded quietly.
After dismissing Ann and the others, Marco turned his attention to the assembled captains. Though he couldn't fully read their thoughts, he understood the unease lingering beneath the surface.
"Although I am the Captain now," Marco said evenly, "the other three Yonko won't acknowledge me so easily."
His gaze drifted toward the flags fluttering above.
"When I truly become one of the Four Yonkos… that's when I'll take down Pops' flag."
No one argued.
Vista broke the silence.
"Marco, what's our next move?"
"We'll take things one step at a time," Marco replied calmly. "Panic is the worst thing we can show right now. If we lose our composure, others will see weakness—just like before."
His eyes sharpened.
"Didn't Pops always handle things this way? When our territories were attacked, he sent the allied crews first. If they couldn't resolve it, then we—the division commanders—stepped in."
He nodded slowly.
"It's no different now."
"Honestly, the only real threats to us are the other three Yonkos. The Wang Zhi Pirates and the Seven Warlords are, at best, half a threat."
A faint smile touched his lips.
"If any of them dare to make a move on our territory, I'll handle it personally."
Hearing the certainty in Marco's voice, the Phoenix Pirates felt their anxiety ease.
"Captain Marco," a First Division member called out, stepping forward with a box in his arms. "This is what you asked for."
He set it gently on the table.
Jozu eyed the box curiously.
"What's that?"
Marco's lips curved into a playful smile.
"This," he said, "is Pops' inheritance."
The reaction was immediate.
"What?!"
"He left us something?!"
"Treasure?!"
"Idiot—Pops never cared about money!"
Marco raised a hand.
"Enough. What's inside is basically useless to most of you, it is for me and Ace."
That only deepened their confusion.
"Only useful to you and Ace?" someone asked.
Marco didn't keep them waiting. He opened the box.
Inside lay a single notebook.
Lifting it carefully, Marco explained, "It's a manual on training Conqueror's Haki."
The excitement deflated instantly.
"Conqueror's Haki?"
"Tch… pointless for us."
Marco continued, his tone softer.
"Before heading to Marineford, Pops knew he might not come back. He gave this to me in advance—said it was meant for Ace, once we rescued him."
Ace froze.
Marco handed him the notebook.
Ace opened it slightly. Every page was filled—Whitebeard's understanding of Conqueror's Haki, his insights, written in painstaking detail.
Ace's vision blurred.
In that moment, he could feel it clearly—Pops' love. Even at the end, Whitebeard had been thinking of him, leaving behind a guide to help him grow stronger.
Though Ace had always hated this power—because it reminded him of Roger—he couldn't deny what it meant now.
His nose stung as tears welled up.
"…Thank you, Pops."
Marco chuckled lightly, breaking the heavy mood.
"Hey, hey—now that I've awakened Conqueror's Haki too, you're not planning to hog that thing all to yourself, are you?"
Ace wiped his eyes and laughed.
"Alright. Then let's train together, Marco."
------------------
AN: Check out my P@treon For +40 extra chapters.
Thank You For your Support!!
[email protected]/noviceauthor777