Chapter Text
Shanks spots a speck on the sea while he's on watch duty. He asks his friend Buggy for the spyglass, confirms the presence of a ship, and Buggy recognizes the jolly roger right away.
"Whitebeard sighted !" The two cabin boys shout from the lookout.
Maneuvers to get close don't take long and Roger's crew make themselves ready for the fight when the Captain speaks aloud.
"Whitebeard is a powerful opponent and I don't want any useless blood shed. I will fight him one-on-one."
The crew gapes a little – probably a little disappointed –, except Rayleigh who smirks and Crocus who sighs, shaking his head. Shanks and Buggy are fairly impressed but more than willing to witness such a duel.
When the Moby Dick is close enough, Roger's crew can see Whitebeard's eagerly watching them from the decks but standing their ground as if they had been ordered not to attack.
Whitebeard appears. "Roger !"
The Oro Jackson's Captain hops on the railing, holding onto the cordage of the three-mast. "Newgate ! Still bragging about being the strongest man alive ?"
"Gurararara ! Still boasting about being the next to reach Raftel ?"
"Hahahaha ! Fight me on the next island !"
"Of course !"
Then both captains leave and get back to commanding their respective ships until they reach the next piece of land the Log Pose has to offer them.
They reach it at night, a sad and tiny piece of rock without a living soul on it. Perfect place for a fight but it's getting dark and the crews are tired. The captains agree on duelling tomorrow at sunrise.