Whitebeard furrowed his brows, a trace of confusion showing on his face.
Among the great pirates he knew well, Shanks was considered the most even-tempered. He rarely made the first move, and if someone approached him with goodwill, he would often respond with a banquet rather than hostility.
After a brief silence, Whitebeard looked toward Monkey D. Dragon and asked,
"Dragon, did you have some kind of grudge with Red Hair before?"
At the mention of this, Dragon's expression grew heavier. He answered without hesitation,
"No. I had never even met him before this. And as far as I know, his relationship with my son Monkey D. Luffy is quite good. Luffy's Devil Fruit and straw hat both came from Shanks. I cannot understand why he would show such hostility toward me."
Among the gathered crowd, Marshall D. Teach narrowed his eyes slightly.
According to his original plan, Shanks should have been the easiest ally to secure. This unexpected development disrupted things, but not beyond recovery. The Revolutionary Army joining their side still worked in his favor.
After a short moment of thought, Teach stepped forward.
"Old Man, I have something to say."
Whitebeard looked at him with mild surprise.
"Teach? Speak."
Dragon also turned his attention toward him. Though Teach held a high position within the Whitebeard Pirates, he usually kept a low profile, making him easy to overlook.
Under their gazes, Teach spoke slowly,
"Old Man, since forming an alliance with Red Hair is no longer possible, we should not waste time pursuing it. The Navy could strike at any moment. What we should focus on now is winning over the Big Mom Pirates."
At this, Marco frowned slightly.
"It will not be easy. Even Red Hair refused us. Big Mom's temperament is far more unstable. She is even less likely to agree. If things go wrong, it could turn into a fight."
Teach let out a loud laugh.
"Zehahaha, do not worry, Marco. I already have a plan. Not only can we secure an alliance with the Big Mom Pirates, we can make it even stronger."
A confident smile spread across his face, drawing Whitebeard's interest.
"If you have a plan, say it clearly. Stop keeping us in suspense."
Teach raised his head and declared,
"Marriage. We form a marriage alliance with the Big Mom Pirates."
For a moment, the deck fell into stunned silence before a chorus of shocked reactions broke out.
Thatch quickly stepped forward and nudged Teach, lowering his voice.
"Teach, you are not suggesting the Old Man marry Big Mom..."
Teach's eyes widened, and he hurriedly covered Thatch's mouth, but it was too late.
Whitebeard's expression darkened immediately. Dragon also looked at Teach with an odd gaze.
Anyone familiar with the New World knew Charlotte Linlin had an obsession with having children. The Big Mom Pirates were essentially built from her vast family, with members from countless races, including Longleg Tribe, Longneck Tribe, and even Fish-Men.
Whitebeard, who had once sailed on the same ship as Linlin, understood this better than most. If Teach truly intended to push him into such a marriage, he would not hesitate to beat him half to death.
Seeing Whitebeard's expression worsening, Teach quickly waved his hands.
"Old Man, do not misunderstand. I never meant that. I am suggesting that we, your sons, marry Big Mom's daughters."
Whitebeard's face finally eased.
After thinking it through, he had to admit the idea had merit. Many of his sons were unmarried, and Linlin had no shortage of daughters of suitable age. From a practical standpoint, it was a good match.
More importantly, a marriage alliance would be far stronger than a simple verbal agreement.
The only issue was who would go.
As a father who cared deeply for his crew, Whitebeard did not want to force any of them into an unhappy marriage. There was no emotional foundation between the parties, and no time to build one.
Marco understood this concern as well and voiced it.
The crew fell into silence. They were used to freedom, and the idea of marriage felt restrictive. It was not a decision anyone could make lightly.
Dragon, as an outsider, chose not to interfere, though he silently approved of Teach's proposal.
After a while, Marco stepped forward, determination in his eyes. As the First Division Commander, he felt it was his responsibility to take the lead, especially after the failed negotiation with Shanks.
Just as he was about to speak, Teach beat him to it.
"Old Man, I will do it. I am willing to marry someone from the Big Mom Pirates."
Marco turned to him in surprise.
"Teach, you..."
Teach laughed again.
"Marco, you handled the Red Hair matter before. Let me take this one. For the sake of the Whitebeard Pirates, I am willing to contribute."
He spoke with conviction, but his true thoughts were far more calculating.
If the marriage succeeded, he would gain backing from both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates. Compared to Marco's failed diplomatic effort, this opportunity was far more rewarding.
As for emotions, Teach did not care in the slightest. To him, marriage was merely a transaction. As long as the woman was attractive and strong, that was enough.
In his mind, given his position as a division commander, the most suitable match would be Charlotte Smoothie, one of Big Mom's Sweet Commanders.
If that became reality, he would gain both power and advantage in one move.