One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 11: Captains' Meeting! The Birth of a Monster!

Dead silence.

The noise and laughter on the deck seemed to be instantly gripped by an invisible hand, disappearing without a trace.

Everyone froze in their tracks.

They watched as the Fifth Division Captain, "Flower Sword" Vista, was blasted back seven or eight steps by a single punch, his hand still trembling slightly as he gripped his sword.

Then he looked at the newcomer who was standing there, his fist withdrawn, completely unharmed.

The air seemed to freeze.

Bista took a deep breath, shook his numb wrist, and the contempt and mockery that always carried a hint of cynicism on his face had long since vanished.

Instead, there was utter horror and disbelief.

He stared at Chen Ye and said, word by word.

"You little rascal...you're a monster."

I underestimated you!

Although I only used 30% of my power!

But to be able to do it to this extent!

You're great!

This sentence, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly ignited the entire audience.

"I...I didn't see wrong, did I? Captain Vista...was knocked back with a single punch?"

Although Captain Vista poured water!

"But that newcomer... he took Captain Vista's sword with his bare fist?"

"Are you kidding me! That's a world-renowned swordsman!"

Exclamations and gasps of surprise rose and fell.

The way the crew looked at Chen Ye completely changed.

If before it was out of curiosity or to watch the spectacle, now it's just pure awe and a desire to explore.

Chen Ye did not respond to Vista's assessment, but simply bowed slightly to him.

"Thank you for your guidance, Captain Vista."

He remained humble, but from then on no one dared to treat him as an ordinary kid who had gotten lucky on board.

In this battle, he proved his worth in the most direct and impactful way.

"Monster Rookie".

It's unclear who first uttered this title, but it spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the Moby Dick in just one afternoon.

……

Night falls.

A campfire was lit again on the deck, and the crew drank and ate heartily, the atmosphere seemingly no different from usual.

But as many people drank, their eyes would unconsciously drift to the boy sitting alone in the corner, quietly wiping the plates.

There was a hint of awe in their eyes that they themselves were unaware of.

However, the atmosphere in the conference hall below the captain's cabin was completely different from the hustle and bustle outside.

The atmosphere here is terribly oppressive.

Around a round table, the core members of the Whitebeard Pirates, all the squad leaders currently on the ship, were seated.

First Division Captain, "Phoenix" Marco.

Captain of the Third Division, "Diamond" Jozu.

Captain of the Fifth Division, "Flower Sword" Vista.

And several other team leaders.

No one speaks.

Marco's knuckles were unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, making a soft "tap, tap, tap" sound, which was the only sound in the room.

Ultimately, it was Vista, the other protagonist of the daytime events, who broke the silence first.

"Marco, something's off with that kid."

His tone was extremely solemn.

"I've fought him before. The precision of his Observation Haki is so high, it's like he can see my movements in advance. It's incredibly strange."

"And that final punch."

Bishte paused, seemingly recalling the feeling, a lingering fear appearing on his face.

"The strength of Armament Haki... is astonishing. That's a power that a newcomer could never possess."

Sitting opposite him, Joz crossed his thick arms and spoke in a deep, gruff voice.

"Indeed. When I pulled him out of the sea, he was as weak as an ordinary person. How could he have gained such strength in such a short time?"

All the captains' eyes eventually focused on Marco, who was in the main seat.

He was the de facto decision-maker for the ship when his father was away.

Marco stopped tapping his fingers on the table, and his usually half-open, somewhat languid eyes were now clear and sharp.

"We know nothing about his origins."

"He said his entire family was killed by Kaido's subordinates, but this cannot be verified."

"His adoration for his father was almost fanatical, even somewhat... deliberate."

Marco's voice wasn't loud, but every word resonated clearly in everyone's hearts.

"Now, he has displayed terrifying strength that is completely disproportionate to his 'newcomer' status."

"It's all too coincidental, and too sudden."

The air in the conference room seemed to grow even heavier.

Marco looked around at his brothers and slowly stood up.

"We are family, but we cannot accept an unidentified and potentially dangerous individual with ulterior motives around Dad."

"This matter must be clarified."

He pushed back his chair, his expression becoming extremely serious.

"I'll go ask him myself."

Joz and Vista exchanged a glance, then immediately stood up and followed Marco without saying a word.

The invisible aura emanating from the three top captains made the temperature in the entire conference room seem to drop several degrees.

……

Chen Ye had just finished wiping the last plate and was about to get up and return to his temporary bunk.

Suddenly, he felt the light around him dim.

He raised his head.

Three tall figures, like three mountain peaks, blocked his way, casting shadows that completely enveloped him.

The Phoenix, Marco.

Diamond, Joz.

Fencing, Bista.

The crew members who were laughing and joking around all fell silent when they saw the three captains appear at the same time with such serious expressions. They backed away and cast concerned and puzzled glances at them.

Chen Ye's heart sank suddenly.

He knew that what was bound to happen would eventually happen.

He slowly stood up, his face still bearing that harmless, humble smile.

"Captain Marco, Captain Jozu, Captain Vista, good evening. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Marco ignored his polite words.

He simply stared at Chen Ye, his half-open eyes radiating a gaze that seemed to pierce the heart.

Jozu and Vista behind him, one on the left and one on the right, subtly blocked all possible angles from which Chen Ye could retreat.

silence.

A suppressed silence.

After a long silence, Marco finally spoke, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable pressure.

"Tatsuba."

"Who exactly are you?"