Chapter 165: Whitebeard Arranging His Affairs
The huge bow shaped like a white whale split open the obstructing evil waves with majestic momentum, the grand fleet crushing through the surging waves and charging out from the Storm.
“The Storm is so annoying! I’m soaked through!”
“Quit yapping and get to work!”
“Coming, coming, don’t rush me!”
The pirates on the Deck were chattering noisily, picking up mops and buckets to start cleaning the Deck.
In the Captain’s Room.
“Gurahaha—”
The old man sitting on the Chair laughed heartily, causing the two Captains standing in the Room to show helpless expressions.
“That kid Elus infiltrated Water Wheel Island······ Is this a declaration of war?” The ship’s owner stroked his white Whiskers, “But with only three ships, the numbers are a bit low!”
“Old Man, this isn’t a joke!”
The man with the nickname ‘Phoenix’ spoke up.
“The Black Prince sneaked into our Territory, and of all places, Water Wheel Island, which is also our next stop······ Though there’s no clear evidence yet that the Black Prince has malicious intent, the act itself is already a provocation, we have no choice but to······”
“Ace, what do you think we should do?”
Whitebeard interrupted Marco’s long-winded nonsense and looked toward the young man with freckles on his face.
“Eh? Me? Well, if you ask me······ Instead of guessing blindly here, why not just go ask the Black Prince directly?” The Second Division Commander, the most junior in seniority but whose popularity had already subtly surpassed that of veteran Captains like the ‘Phoenix’, ‘Diamond’, and ‘Rapier’, spoke up with a grin.
Marco, the ‘Phoenix’ beside him, rolled his eyes and sighed silently.
“Marco, how much longer until we reach Water Wheel Island?”
Whitebeard asked.
“Even at full speed, it’ll take about an hour.”
“Old Man, let me go! My Assault Boat can get there in half an hour.” Ace said eagerly, “I was well ‘taken care of’ by the Black Prince at Sabaody Archipelago, and I won’t feel right if I don’t pay him back.”
“Ace, cut it out, you’re still too green! You’re not a match for the Black Prince yet.” Marco unceremoniously scolded this always somewhat hot-headed younger Brother.
They were Brothers.
As Whitebeard’s Sons, their relationship was naturally more than just comrades—it was the closer bond of Brothers.
Marco, as the Second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Big Brother to everyone, including all the Captains, had basically lectured them all at some point.
But—
“Then it’s settled!”
Whitebeard agreed to Ace’s volunteering.
“Old Man?”
Marco widened his eyes.
“Gurahaha! Marco, don’t underestimate Ace, he’s already very strong, and he won’t be going alone—have Jozu go with him, and bring a few more from the Second Division. Your Assault Boat should fit them, right?” Whitebeard averted his gaze from Marco.
“My Assault Boat is modified; without Supplies, it can carry six people including myself.”
Ace’s smile became brilliantly radiant.
“Perfect then, go call Jozu, pick four more from your team, head to Water Wheel Island, and ask that kid Elus what he’s up to.”
“Yeah, Old Man, I got it.”
“Then go! Be careful on the way, and if you end up fighting that kid Elus, remember to stall for time as much as possible.”
“Old Man, leave it to me!”
With the two of them chiming in harmony, the matter was settled in no time, leaving no chance for Marco to interject. Once Ace left the Captain’s Room, Marco sighed deeply and complained to Whitebeard, “Old Man, this is too dangerous. Ace’s potential and talent are impressive, but he’s still too inexperienced compared to that monster Black Prince. If the Black Prince really comes with malicious intent, Ace he······”
“Marco!”
“I’ve grown old.”
“Old Man, what are you saying?” Marco rarely showed a panicked expression.
“It’s a fact—my sleep at night is getting shorter, my appetite is slowly decreasing, and without Medicine, my Body aches······ You know all this!” Whitebeard’s face bore a calm, fearless smile, as if he weren’t talking about himself; there was no trace of Fear toward aging or Death on his face.
“The Medicine I take is prescribed by you; you might even know better than me how my Body is deteriorating day by day. I’m already barely clinging to life with drugs······ But sooner or later, I’ll die. Death holds no fear for me, but I’m worried about you all!”
“Old Man!”
Marco was completely panicked.
This tone······ Something’s off!
Why does it feel like he’s settling his affairs?
“Let me finish.”
Whitebeard waved his hand, “If I’m lucky, I might live another five or six years; if not, one or two, two or three years might be my limit. Hell, I might go to sleep tonight and not wake up tomorrow. Birth, old age, sickness, death······ That’s an unavoidable outcome.”
“So lately—no, a few years ago, I’ve been thinking: if I die, what will you foolish kids do? The best outcome is if one of you steps up to take my place. But before Ace came, I hadn’t found anyone suitable.”
At this point, he paused to catch his breath.
Looking at the panicked Marco, he couldn’t help but laugh, “Gurahaha! Marco, luckily Jozu, Vista, Sachi, and the others aren’t here right now, or they’d pop their eyes out seeing you like this.”
Marco, as the Second-in-command of the Whitebeard Pirates and the only one from the earliest batch following Whitebeard still alive, always presented a calm image in front of the other Crew Members—like a Mister ‘Phoenix’ who hadn’t slept but had everything under control. Such a flustered state was truly rare!
After being laughed at by Whitebeard, Marco temporarily relaxed a bit.
Good, good!
The Old Man was indeed settling affairs, but it didn’t seem like he was about to lie down and kick the bucket after his last words······ The greatest Fear in his heart was temporarily suppressed, and his reason, offline from panic, resumed functioning.
“Old Man, are you saying Ace should succeed you?”
“That’s right. What do you think?”
“Ace······ I think he’s good.” Though Marco was reluctant to imagine a future without the Old Man, as the Ship Doctor, he knew the Old Man’s words weren’t a joke. Dodging the topic now would truly disappoint him.
“You! Marco······ Your ambition is too small!”
Whitebeard smiled and sighed.
“If your ambition were a bit bigger, Ace wouldn’t have to shoulder this responsibility.”
Yes,
Responsibility.
To Whitebeard, the position of Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates meant not just power, but above all responsibility—the duty to protect family. Everyone in the Pirate Crew was family, and the Captain was the head of the household. Protecting family was a natural, unavoidable duty.
Especially since the Whitebeard Pirates were a big target.
Whitebeard could suppress all dissent, but for his successor, it would be an immensely heavy responsibility.
“Old Man, Ace will definitely outshine me in the future. This is already great for me! Plus, compared to fighting and killing, I prefer researching herbs now.” Marco also smiled, though his heart was still heavy; in front of the Old Man, he tried his best to show a natural smile.
“You know Ace will outshine you in the future, so to make that future come sooner, we need to train him!”
“······”
Marco was at a loss for words.
Good grief, after all that circling, it was just an excuse to get Ace moving early?
“Don’t think I’m making excuses for this incident—these matters······ I’ve been looking for a chance to tell you lately, and today it just happened, so I said it! Those words weren’t lies.”
After Whitebeard finished, a hint of fatigue appeared on his face.
His Body was in such a state that prolonged thinking and talking drained his energy.
Seeing Whitebeard’s weary expression, all stray thoughts vanished from Marco’s Mind, leaving only an indescribable heaviness and sorrow······ The Old Man’s Body was truly deteriorating; he’d adjusted the prescriptions several times, managing only to alleviate some pain, unable to fundamentally reverse the march toward Death.
“Marco, have the Fleet go at full speed. I don’t think that kid Elus is here to cause me trouble, but Water Wheel Island······ is my Territory. Causing trouble on my turf without giving an explanation won’t do!”
Whitebeard leaned back in the Chair, eyes closed, his voice and breathing both faint and weak.
Marco stood in the Room for a moment.
Seeing Whitebeard fall asleep just like that, he moved silently out of the Room, closing the door without a sound—the whole process as quiet as a Ghost in motion.
······
Marco emerged from the Cabin.
Standing on the already cleaned Deck, his gaze flew to Ship #2 following on the left side of the Moby Dick—that was the Second Division’s ship. Ace stood on the Deck, waving his arms and saying something to the gathered Second Division Crew Members.
“Picking people, huh?” Watching the enthusiastic Second Division Crew Members raising their hands, Marco muttered to himself.
The preparations were going smoothly.
Under Ace’s command, the Second Division, once badly shaken by the loss of their former Captain, was now the most vibrant team in the Whitebeard Pirates. At the mention of a Mission, nearly everyone was scrambling for it, yet without losing harmony.
「Ace is a natural Leader after all!」
Marco felt not the slightest bit of loss in his heart.
Compared to the power and responsibility of Captain, he cared more about being the Old Man’s Son. His Wish from beginning to end was to follow the Old Man until the end of life······ If, if that day really comes, with Ace there, the Old Man could depart without worry······
He shook his head, casting out that suffocating future.
Spreading Wings blazing with blue flames, Marco flew to Ship #2 and landed in front of Ace and Jozu, “All set?”
“Yeah, all prepared. We can head out right away.”
Ace nodded.
The Third Division Commander, the man nicknamed ‘Diamond’, stood beside Ace. His massive, imposing frame was like an immovable mountain in Wind and Rain, giving a reassuring sense of reliability. With Jozu, the Pirate Crew’s top Defense expert, acting alongside Ace, it wasn’t enough to go toe-to-toe with the Black Prince, but it made things a bit more reassuring.
“Jozu, keep an eye on Ace! Don’t let him charge ahead recklessly.”
Marco patted Jozu’s arm.
“Leave it to me! I’ll watch Ace.” Jozu promised seriously.
“Hey, don’t treat me like a kid! Marco.” Ace called the much older Marco by name directly.
“Want me to stop treating you like a kid? Tell me that when you’re not so hot-headed anymore.” Marco unceremoniously raised his hand and knocked Ace on the head, “Remember this: once you’re at Water Wheel Island, stay calm. Don’t attack the Black Prince on sight—first try to figure out his purpose. Fighting is the absolute last resort, got it?”
“Eh!!!!”
Ace agreed listlessly, his mischievous look making Marco’s hands itch. If the timing were right······ he’d definitely give this brat a proper lesson later!
“Captain Ace, aren’t we heading out yet?”
A call from below interrupted their exchange.
They were at the Ship’s Side; leaning over, they saw the Assault Boat already lowered to the sea, with four Second Division Crew Members in position. The one calling out was Second Division’s Teach, a guy with a weird temper and solid Strength, infamous in the Pirate Crew for frequently breaking dishes in the cafeteria.
“Marco, we’re off!”
Ace grinned and bid Marco farewell.
He and Jozu vaulted over the side together, landing steadily on the Assault Boat. Jozu squeezed in with the four Second Division Crew Members, leaving the driver’s seat for Ace. This Assault Boat, specially modified by the Whitebeard Pirates’ skilled craftsmen, was custom-made for Ace.
Powered by Ace’s Flare-Flare Fruit for Propulsion, a dedicated ride.
No one but Ace could pilot this Assault Boat, and when Ace stood at the helm, the little vessel could speed forward at over twice the Moby Dick’s Speed.
Ace waved his hand.
Then,
Flames jetted from the Assault Boat’s tail.
The Assault Boat shot forward with a “whoosh,” and even though they’d been warned to brace themselves, Jozu’s Body swayed, and the Second Division Crew Members nearly got flung off—but they just barely held on, no one falling overboard. The Assault Boat sped off into the distance.
Heading toward Water Wheel Island.
