Chapter 143

Ten Days Later

Somewhere on the vast ocean...

The Moby Dick, flagship of the Whitebeard Pirates, sailed calmly across the sea.

But today, the air aboard the ship felt noticeably different.

"Dad, he's here," Marco said, turning to Whitebeard.

His gaze shifted to the left side of the ship, where another vessel was slowly approaching.

Normally, a single ship drifting toward them wouldn't raise alarm.

The Whitebeard Pirates, despite being a fearsome crew, often helped others who came in peace or needed aid.

Sometimes, of course, they asked for compensation—after all, even heroes needed to eat.

Whitebeard himself often wanted to help freely, but he couldn't afford to.

If word got out that he was offering charity across the seas, he'd be swarmed with people looking for handouts.

So, at the urging of his sons, he started accepting small rewards from those he helped.

That was only one part of life in the Whitebeard Pirates.

There were also the frequent challenges from pirate crews eager to make a name for themselves by defeating the legendary Edward Newgate, better known as Whitebeard.

For such troublemakers, Whitebeard had two choices:

Kill them—or, if he found them worthy, invite them to become one of his sons.

Fire Fist Ace, for example, had once come to challenge Whitebeard, and ended up joining the crew.

But not everyone was so lucky.

Many were infamous criminals, and for them, the Whitebeard Pirates showed no mercy—killing them and seizing their loot.

Aside from plunder, the crew's income also came from the territories they protected.

In exchange, those nations paid a sort of "protection fee," similar to the Heavenly Tribute demanded by the Celestial Dragons.

Only difference? Whitebeard's protection was far cheaper—and far more reliable.

No smart pirate would ever dare mess with a place guarded by the Whitebeard Pirates.

But today's ship was no ordinary visitor.

A few days ago, they'd seen it during a global live broadcast via Den Den Mushi.

The ship belonged to Kairos Flint—the man now known worldwide as the Bounty King.

The same Kairos Flint who had recently taken on the World Government, suppressed the Navy's hero Garp, and emerged victorious.

Now, that very man was approaching them.

To say there was no pressure would be a lie.

"Gu la la la la!"

Whitebeard burst into hearty laughter when Marco informed him of Kairos's arrival.

He had long been curious to meet the rising star who'd shaken the seas.

"If possible…" Whitebeard grinned, "I'd like to make him one of my sons."

"Dad! Please, not that again!" Thatch interjected, visibly alarmed.

Several division captains nodded in agreement with Thatch.

They knew their father's habit of offering people the title of "son" too quickly—and feared this time, it might seriously backfire.

Powerful people had their pride.

If a strong man like Kairos Flint was spoken to too casually, he could take it as an insult.

That could trigger a fight—one they didn't want.

"Gu la la la!" Whitebeard waved them off. "I know, I know. Relax!"

The captains exchanged glances and finally eased up.

That at least sounded like a promise from their father to behave.

As Whitebeard's crew looked on, Kairos Flint's ship finally drew alongside the Moby Dick.

Kairos and his crew leapt aboard in a flash, landing smoothly on the Whitebeard Pirates' deck.

Their arrival turned heads instantly.

The team of striking men and beautiful women was already a spectacle—but all eyes quickly focused on one person.

Kairos Flint.

The King of Bounties.

The man of the hour.

A living legend.

Whether out of admiration or curiosity, every crewmember present stared at him with wide eyes.

For many, this was the closest they'd ever get to a man who had reached such status.

Even those who didn't idolize him found themselves drawn in.

It's not every day you meet someone whose story is rewriting history.

"Whitebeard."

Kairos walked confidently toward the towering man at the center of the deck.

"This is our first meeting," he said boldly, his voice firm.

He wasn't like Red-Haired Shanks, who showed off his Conqueror's Haki just to make an impression.

Kairos didn't need theatrics.

"Gu la la la la!"

Whitebeard grinned broadly.

"Kairos, your name echoes through the sea like a storm these days—I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious!"

Titles like God-Slayer, Bounty King, and more trailed behind Kairos like banners.

And lately, thanks to Morgans and his World Economic News, Kairos's name had reached near-mythic proportions.

Among pirates, his fame was equal to—or even greater than—that of the Four Emperors.

Whitebeard's own reputation had, for the moment, been overshadowed.

But Kairos only smiled politely.

He wasn't naive. He knew Whitebeard's words were nothing more than courtesy.

If he actually took them at face value, he'd be the fool.