This white-haired old man was none other than Wang Zhi, once a great pirate who had stood at the pinnacle of the seas.
When the news reached him, panic finally crept into his heart.
At seventy-one years old, Wang Zhi had long since lost the ambition that once drove him to challenge the world. All he wanted now was to retire in peace on Beehive Island and live out the rest of his days undisturbed.
The reason he had moved against the Phoenix Pirates' territory earlier was simple—and cruelly pragmatic.
At the time, he was certain that the Phoenix Pirates would be crushed under the combined pressure of the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates. Once they fell, their territory would inevitably be carved up by the victors and various opportunistic forces.
If he didn't act early, Wang Zhi reasoned, he wouldn't even get a taste of the spoils.
Urged on by his subordinates, he weighed the pros and cons again and again before finally making his move.
What he never expected—what he hadn't even considered among countless possible outcomes—was that Marco would defeat Big Mom.
That result shattered all of his calculations.
Big Mom was younger than him. Stronger than him. A monster of the old era.
If even she couldn't defeat Marco, then Wang Zhi knew all too well that he stood no chance.
The moment he learned of Marco's victory, Wang Zhi immediately chose to retreat. He ordered his men to withdraw from Shihblan Island, returning the territory they had seized.
He even sent word to Jozu, shamelessly claiming,
"I saw that you were surrounded by the Big Mom Pirates and the Beasts Pirates. I was worried you couldn't hold out, so I sent troops out of goodwill—to help."
Jozu hadn't believed a single word of it.
Still, Wang Zhi comforted himself. He had already lowered his stance. At worst, when Marco came to question him, he could simply offer compensation—turn a major issue into a minor one, and a minor one into nothing.
That had always been his way.
Yet what Wang Zhi never expected was that Marco would show no mercy at all.
The moment he recovered, Marco declared war.
That decision threw Wang Zhi completely off balance.
"Captain," his first mate Doran asked anxiously, "what should we do now?"
Doran had followed Wang Zhi for decades and was nearly seventy himself. Back when the Rocks Pirates still ruled the seas, Doran had been one of Wang Zhi's subordinates.
After the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Whitebeard, Kaido, Big Mom, Captain John, and Silver Axe all went their separate ways. Only Wang Zhi and Golden Lion had truly competed for the remnants of Rocks' legacy.
Though Wang Zhi ultimately lost to Golden Lion, he still managed to secure part of that inheritance.
Even now, nearly all of the Wang Zhi Pirates' core officers were former members of the Rocks Pirates.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Zhi forced himself to calm down.
He had survived decades on the seas—panic wouldn't save him.
"Tell the brothers to prepare," he said evenly. "I'll contact Marco later and try to talk things through. If possible, we'll turn hostility into friendship."
Doran nodded. Given their age, avoiding open conflict was the most sensible option.
After a brief pause, Wang Zhi added in a low voice,
"Still… Marco isn't Whitebeard."
His eyes darkened.
"We must prepare for the worst."
Before long, Wang Zhi activated the transponder snail he had once used to contact Whitebeard. Just as he expected, the call connected almost immediately.
"Hello, this is the Phoenix Pirates…"
A rough, vigilant voice echoed from the snail.
Wang Zhi spoke coldly, without preamble.
"This is Wang Zhi. Connect me to Marco. I have something to say to him."
Aboard the Moby Dick, Marco was in the middle of a lively banquet, rum in hand, when zack hurried over.
"Captain," Zack said, "Wang Zhi is calling."
Marco paused, then a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"I knew he wouldn't be able to sit still."
"He's definitely calling to beg for mercy, right?"
"Of course! Even Big Mom couldn't beat Captain Marco—what chance does Wang Zhi have?"
"If it weren't for his old ties with Pops, he'd have been wiped out long ago."
"And yet Pops hasn't even been gone a few months, and he dared to stab us in the back while Captain Marco was away!"
"That's right! Captain Marco, you absolutely can't spare him. If you do, he'll attack us again the moment we turn our backs!"
The crew spoke over one another, voices brimming with excitement and indignation.
Marco chuckled softly and raised a hand.
"Alright. Let's hear what he has to say first."
He leaned back slightly, eyes gleaming with interest.
"Bring the transponder snail over."
Moments later, Marco took the call.
"This is Marco."
On the other end, Wang Zhi spoke stiffly.
"Congratulations, Marco. On becoming the New World's newest Yonko."
Marco snorted.
"And? Get to the point. What do you want—are you calling to beg for mercy?"
Wang Zhi's expression darkened instantly.
If this were decades ago, such words would have sent him into a rage. But age had dulled his temper. He knew better than anyone that confronting Marco head-on—whether in personal strength or fleet power—was a losing proposition.
Suppressing his emotions, Wang Zhi said calmly, "Times truly change. The waves behind push the waves ahead. After Newgate's death, you rose quickly and claimed the position of Yonko."
"I'm calling to negotiate peace," he continued. "For decades, the Wang Zhi Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates kept to their own territories. What happened recently was the unauthorized action of my subordinates. I will punish them severely and ensure nothing like this ever happens again."
Notably, Wang Zhi made no mention of helping the Phoenix Pirates guard their territory.
Even he knew such an excuse wouldn't fool a child.
Marco's voice turned icy.
"Keeping to yourselves?" he said flatly. "That was only because Pops valued loyalty."
"He carved out territory for you and sheltered you under his banner. Without him, you'd have been buried long ago—grass ten feet high over your grave."
The words struck like knives.
Wang Zhi's restraint finally cracked.
He had already swallowed his pride and bowed his head, yet Marco showed no intention of letting him off. Even he had a breaking point.
At that moment, Wang Zhi understood—there was nothing left to negotiate.
Marco had just defeated Big Mom. His momentum was unstoppable. Why would he ever sit down and talk with an old relic like him?
Wang Zhi's voice hardened.
"Marco, don't push me too far! Do you really think I fear you?"
His tone rose, carrying a hint of fury.
"Let me tell you this—over the past few years, to guard against Whitebeard, I've turned Beehive Island into an iron fortress!"
"We've built over two hundred bunkers and artillery towers, dug countless underground tunnels, and stockpiled enough food and ammunition to last three years!"
A cold laugh followed.
"If you think you're capable—then come and attack."
With that final declaration, Wang Zhi cut the connection.
He already understood—Marco would never let him off the hook.
Fortunately, Wang Zhi had been preparing for this day for many years.
Beehive Island, an isolated stronghold completely surrounded by what had once been Whitebeard's territory, had long been a source of anxiety for him. Decades ago, the sheer gap in strength between himself and Whitebeard had kept him awake at night. He feared that one day, the Whitebeard Pirates might turn their gaze upon Beehive Island.
Because of that fear, more than twenty years ago, Wang Zhi began constructing extensive defensive fortifications across the island—specifically designed to resist an invasion by the Whitebeard Pirates.
What he never expected was that Whitebeard would do the opposite.
Not only did Whitebeard never attack him, he even allowed Wang Zhi to retain Beehive Island and live in relative peace. In hindsight, Wang Zhi realized he had judged Whitebeard through a narrow, small-minded lens.
Still, even though Whitebeard never made a move until the day he died, those defenses remained—and now, they would face the Phoenix Pirates instead.
Standing nearby, Doran spoke with lingering unease.
"Captain… if they truly launch a full-scale assault, surface defenses alone may not be enough. In the end, we may have to rely on the underground tunnel network."
He hesitated before adding,
"And the Phoenix Pirates have more than a dozen division commanders. None of them are easy opponents."
Most of the Wang Zhi Pirates' cadres were already past fifty. Their ambition had long since faded. They were remnants of the old era—men who had been crushed by Golden Lion, Roger, and Whitebeard. Their fighting spirit had been worn away by defeat and time.
They followed Wang Zhi now not to conquer the seas, but to quietly support one another and spend their remaining years in peace on Beehive Island.
None of them had expected things to spiral into such a disaster.
Wang Zhi let out a cold snort, his tone steady and assured.
"Relax. When I built these defenses, I never believed they could truly stop Whitebeard. Their purpose was never absolute defense—only to buy time."
"As long as we can hold out underground for a few months, they'll be forced to withdraw on their own."
In Wang Zhi's mind, the logic was simple. If the Phoenix Pirates failed to conquer Beehive Island quickly, he could reach out to the Big Mom Pirates or the Beasts Pirates to strike at their rear. At that point, Marco would have no choice but to retreat.
He continued confidently,
"These fortifications were designed to withstand even earthquakes. Marco is a Zoan-type Devil Fruit user—not someone experienced in siege warfare."
A grim smile appeared on his face.
"It won't be easy for him to take a fortress I personally oversaw."
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick, Marco's expression had grown noticeably serious.
Vista, standing beside him, spoke cautiously.
"Marco… if what Wang Zhi said is true, then Beehive Island won't fall easily."
At that moment, Marco realized something unsettling.
He knew surprisingly little about the Wang Zhi Pirates—or Beehive Island itself. And yet, he had declared war without fully understanding his enemy.
'I may have gotten a bit carried away,' Marco admitted inwardly.
Reaching Strong Yonko level had boosted his confidence—but perhaps too much.
Beehive Island had been isolated for many years, much like Wano Country, rarely allowing outsiders to come or go. That alone should have been a warning.
Yet geographically, it lacked Wano's natural defenses—and that had led Marco to underestimate it.
He clenched his jaw and spoke firmly, "Easy or not, we fight."
"The words are already out. If we back down now, how would the Phoenix Pirates ever show their faces again?"
Then he added calmly,
"Besides, the Wang Zhi pirates only have a little over three thousand men, right?"
"Our forces outnumber them eight to one. What is there to fear?"
His confidence spread quickly.
"That's right!"
"They only have three thousand men—we could drown them with spit alone!"
"They dared to move against the Phoenix Pirates—then they deserve to be wiped out!"
"Exactly. Eliminate them!"
Voices rose one after another, resolve hardening as the Phoenix Pirates prepared themselves for war.
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