Oda confirmed it in recent SBS, so we can finally stop the debate whether Zoro is the Vice Captain or not.
![](https://www.opfanpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/yk69p1um1j271-792x1024.jpg)
SBS Volume 102:
Question: Hello Odacchi, judging from the color spread of chapter 1031, Bepo is the No.2 of Heart Pirates?! I was surprised since I thought him, Penguin, and Shachi are all No.2s. So is Bepo (Sulong form?) the strongest out of them?
![](https://www.opfanpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/One-Piece-Chapter-1031-Scientific-Warrior-1024x745.jpg)
Oda: Talking about that color spread huh. Same goes for Zoro, not everyone on there holds the position of Vice Captain. They are just the No.2s that I picked out. Penguin and Shachi are more reliable in normal circumstances, but those two have seen Bepo’s Sulong transformation, so they acknowledge that “combat wise Bepo is superior”!
![](https://www.opfanpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/maxresdefault-1-1024x576.jpg)
These are just 2nd strongest in the crew, so Oda finally confirms that Zoro is 2nd strongest, which was kinda obvious.
![](https://www.opfanpage.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/az-1024x535.jpg)