Chapter 26: Only Akainu Fights Hard!

Pirate King Roger: "I have a question—who is this Whitebeard Jr.? Judging by the name, he seems related to Whitebeard!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hmm~ Just from the name, it sounds like he's Whitebeard's son."

Whitebeard: "Don't talk nonsense. My sons are all in the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Fire Fist Ace: "The name doesn't mean anything. There are plenty of pirates who try to ride on the fame of their predecessors. I've heard of Tea Beard, Red Beard, No Beard… There are more than a dozen of them."

Pirate King Roger: "Is that really a thing?"

Whitebeard: "Yes, and not just me. Kaido has the title of the Beast, so there are pirates calling themselves Red Beasts, Fierce Beasts, Demon Beasts, and War Beasts roaming the seas. Lingling is known as Big Mom, and now you have pirates nicknamed Stepmom, Foster Mom, and even Biological Mom. The year Red-Haired Shanks became one of the Four Emperors, suddenly, a bunch of black-haired, purple-haired, and blue-haired pirates showed up…"

Pirate King Roger: "Young people these days really know how to have fun!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "What did I say? Pirates nowadays are just a bunch of fanboys drifting aimlessly at sea, doing shameless things like using famous nicknames for clout. And it's all your fault, Roger!"

Pirate King Roger: "Hey, I'm already dead!"

Golden Lion Shiki: "Doesn't change the fact that you polluted the pirate world! Even if you died ten thousand times, you couldn't atone for it."

Lucas: "@Whitebeard, you really don't know Whitebeard Jr.? I thought he had some connection to you."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Yoho~ Look at his expression! He's starting to realize something's off."

Whitebeard: "Lucas, what are you implying?"

Lucas: "Whitebeard Jr. looks a lot like you—same burly build, same white beard [in Japan they refer moustache as beard], and terrifying strength comparable to your younger days. Even his weapon, the naginata, is nearly identical."

Whitebeard: "That doesn't prove anything. Maybe it's just a coincidence."

Pirate King Roger: "How many coincidences can there be? Whitebeard, a man should take responsibility! If he looks just like you and wields the same weapon, how can you still deny it?"

Whitebeard: "Pah! Just because someone has a white beard doesn't mean they're my child! Ace is your biological son, yet he doesn't have disgusting nose hair like you! If you didn't know better, you'd mistake it for a beard!"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

I am offended!

Golden Lion Shiki: "Damn, Whitebeard, you really went for a personal attack! Shameless!"

Golden Lion Shiki spoke in righteous indignation, which almost moved Roger.

Golden Lion Shiki: "It's fine if you attack him personally, but at least make sense! How is Roger supposed to keep his dignity now?"

Pirate King Roger: "…"

Unbelievable.

I should have known better than to expect reason from Golden Lion Shiki!

Lucas: "Whitebeard Jr. isn't just some random imitator. Aside from his resemblance to you, he's also accompanied by a woman."

Pirate King Roger: "A woman? Is she important?"

Lucas: "Of course! She claims to be Whitebeard Jr.'s mother—the woman Whitebeard once loved deeply."

Pirate King Roger: "Yoho~ Exciting! @Whitebeard, you never told us you had such a romantic past! Come on, don't be shy. We won't judge."

Whitebeard: "No!"

Lucas: "Her name is Buckingham Stussy. It's said she was once a close companion of Whitebeard."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Stussy? I remember her! She was in the Rocks Pirates. Whitebeard, I never expected you to hook up with her."

Whitebeard: "Nonsense! True pirates don't do love, and I have no feelings for Stussy."

Golden Lion Shiki: "Hehe! Just because you didn't have feelings for her doesn't mean she didn't have feelings for you! I remember she was a ship's doctor. Maybe, when she was treating you, she slipped you something… and, well, did something unspeakable to you…"

Shiki grinned mischievously, enjoying Whitebeard's growing irritation.

Whitebeard: "@Golden Lion Shiki, you know what? The one thing I regret most is not capturing you and sinking you into the sea when you came looking for me."

Fire Fist Ace: "I can vouch that Dad has nothing to do with Whitebeard Jr. or Stussy. Otherwise, why didn't they seek him out before?"

Pirate King Roger: "That's a good point. If Whitebeard Jr. had shown up during Marineford to help the Whitebeard Pirates, would the war have ended differently?"

Lucas: "You're overthinking things. The Marine is the true overlord of the sea. No single Four Emperors crew can contend with them. It would take all Four Emperors joining forces to stand a chance. Whitebeard Jr. alone wouldn't have changed the outcome."

Fire Fist Ace: "It would take all Four Emperors to challenge the Marine? Is the Marine really that strong?"

Lucas: "What do you think? During Marineford, most of the Marine wasn't even going all out. If it weren't for Garp's intervention, Straw Hat Luffy would've been dead long ago. Do you think he was truly qualified to be there?"

Fire Fist Ace: "…"

Ace found that difficult to accept.

Fire Fist Ace: "Dad, is what he's saying true?"

Whitebeard laughed. "Gurarara! Yes, it's true. Don't underestimate the Marine. Any one of their admirals is strong enough to match a Yonko. During Marineford, only Akainu was truly fighting seriously."

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