CHAPTER 50

As Ayr watched the pirate leave, he began preparing to act.

Now that news had spread of an upcoming auction on Hive Island, he wanted to try his luck and see if he could acquire a Devil Fruit.

Originally, he intended to inform Rocks before leaving. However, the man was currently deep in sleep, so Ayr had no choice but to wait until he woke up.

Stepping onto the middle of the deck, Ayr spotted Golden Lion, Charlotte Linlin, and Whitebeard gathered together.

Whitebeard took notice of Ayr's arrival and casually tossed a bottle of sake his way.

"The spoils from an enemy ship. Here, have a bottle," Whitebeard said.

Ayr raised an eyebrow but made no move to refuse. He caught the bottle with ease.

"Thanks, Edward."

Although Ayr and Whitebeard didn't share the closest bond, there was still a level of understanding between them.

"Gu la la la... It's just a bottle of sake. Haven't you always shared your stash with me?"

While the two weren't necessarily friends, they had a habit of sharing good alcohol whenever they had some on hand. In that sense, they were more like drinking buddies than comrades.

"Oi, Edward! I've been asking you for a bottle this whole time, but you ignored me. Now, the moment Ayr arrives, you give him one without hesitation?" Golden Lion, who was sitting nearby, voiced his displeasure.

Earlier, he had noticed the sake in Whitebeard's possession and had repeatedly asked for a share.

Yet Whitebeard had completely ignored him. Golden Lion had assumed the man was saving it for himself.

But now, seeing how Whitebeard handed it over to Ayr without a second thought, he felt slighted.

"Shiki, do you really have no idea why I didn't give it to you?" Whitebeard shot him an unimpressed glance.

"You never said no outright," Golden Lion shrugged.

Whitebeard's expression darkened.

What kind of logic was that?

If I have something, that doesn't mean I have to share it with you. I know exactly the kind of guy you are—you hoard all the good stuff for yourself!

At that moment, a pirate approached Whitebeard and respectfully handed him a freshly delivered newspaper.

"Captain Edward, today's newspaper has arrived."

Although Whitebeard had been a part of the Rocks Pirates for quite some time, he still wasn't entirely comfortable with the tense atmosphere aboard the ship.

For him, drinking and reading the latest news were some of the few things that helped him unwind.

Whitebeard took the newspaper, unfolding it, and immediately noticed the headline about the Roger Pirates.

"Hmph. Those guys are making quite the ruckus again," Whitebeard muttered as he skimmed through the article.

"I remember Roger's bounty recently jumped to 2.7 billion Berries," Golden Lion remarked, rubbing his chin. "For his bounty to rise so quickly in such a short span of time… that guy is no joke."

"Yeah, their reputation across the seas is second only to our Rocks Pirates now. And as for Roger himself… he's undoubtedly a fearsome man."

Whitebeard lowered the newspaper and stared out at the sea, lost in thought.

"Oh? From the way you're speaking, it almost sounds like you know him personally, Edward," Charlotte Linlin said with interest.

She had been the one, along with Ayr, who had previously attempted to recruit the Roger Pirates.

Yet, she didn't recall Whitebeard having any interactions with Roger.

"I briefly clashed with him in the first half of the Grand Line," Whitebeard admitted, casting a glance at her.

Ayr was mildly surprised. He hadn't expected Whitebeard to have met Roger so early on, let alone fought him.

"Oh? You fought Roger?" Golden Lion's curiosity piqued. "So… how did that battle turn out?"

Whitebeard shot him a glare and scoffed, "Why do you care, Shiki? It has nothing to do with you."

"Jie ha ha ha! That means you lost, doesn't it?" Golden Lion teased, laughing loudly.

Whitebeard's face darkened slightly. He shot Golden Lion an unimpressed look but didn't bother responding.

On this ship, the only one he had some level of understanding with was Ayr. He didn't care enough about Golden Lion to entertain his provocations.

Golden Lion had been trying to extract information from Whitebeard, but seeing that the man refused to engage, he switched targets.

"Speaking of Roger, Ayr, didn't you and Linlin go to recruit him? What do you think of him?"

"What do I think?"

Ayr chuckled. "If I had to sum it up… he's an incredibly strong man."

During their battle, Ayr had used the Kurama Chakra Mode experience card to match Roger's strength.

Even then, it was a close fight.

There was no doubt—Roger's strength was monstrous.

After all, if he weren't strong, he wouldn't become the future Pirate King.

"Oh? Coming from you, that's quite the praise." Golden Lion smirked, lighting a cigar. "That makes me even more interested in him."

"You sound like you're interested in the Roger Pirates, Shiki," Ayr remarked, raising an eyebrow.

In the original timeline, Golden Lion had once led an entire fleet to seek out Roger, hoping to recruit him.

Of course, Roger had refused, and that led to one of the most famous battles in history—the Battle of Edd War.

"Who wouldn't be interested in a man like Roger?" Golden Lion grinned, crossing his arms.

He had already made up his mind. If the opportunity arose, he would attempt to recruit the Roger Pirates.

"I'd advise you to save yourself the trouble, Shiki." Whitebeard scoffed. "That man has no interest in aligning with someone like you."

Whitebeard had only encountered Roger briefly, but even in that short time, he had come to understand the kind of person he was.

Roger was a man who valued freedom above all else.

Golden Lion, on the other hand, was someone who sought control and had grand ambitions of conquest.

The two were fundamentally incompatible.

"You're speaking as if you know for sure, Edward." Golden Lion smirked.

"Do whatever you want." Whitebeard sighed, unwilling to argue further.

And with that, the conversation drifted into silence.

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