Chapter 43: Whitebeard

“Would 120 million be fine?
From what I saw, she was at least worth over 300 million…”

“It can’t be helped.
She’s not technically an enemy.

Giving her an excessively high bounty would be difficult, and for a conservative bounty office, just starting in the hundred-millions is already considered generous.”

Kong responded to Sengoku’s remark, and Sengoku nodded in agreement.

After all, when it came to bounties, the standard procedure was to start conservatively and gradually increase over time.

In that sense, giving her a nine-figure bounty from the start was as generous as it got.

Still, Amazon Lily would need to be satisfied with this…

Since he couldn’t predict their reaction, he sighed deeply and decided to focus on the task at hand.

It’ll work out somehow.

***

“One hundred twenty million, huh?
Is that supposed to be good?”

I muttered as I looked over the wanted poster that Nyuska handed me.

If this were real life, becoming a wanted criminal with a bounty of 120 million at the age of eleven would’ve made me tremble in fear.

But in this world, a bounty was a badge of pride.

Starting in the hundred-millions—especially at eleven—was definitely something to boast about.

Well, not that it matched my actual abilities.

Honestly, even ten times that wouldn’t be enough.

I mean, I can use Conqueror’s Haki.

After defeating the trio of Devil Fruit users, countless small fry had come after me.

Of course, I was able to crush them all without breaking a sweat.

“Now the bounty hunters will start coming too, huh?”

I clicked my tongue, crumpled up the poster, and continued on my way.

My target was the New World.

A place swarming with Devil Fruit users, overflowing with power.

That was where I needed to go.

If I got there, I could practically scoop up Devil Fruits like picking flowers in a field.

With that thought, I pressed forward toward the New World.

Naturally, I made sure to stop by islands now and then for supplies.

***

“So this is the New World…!”

My goal was obvious.

Whitebeard.

His Tremor-Tremor Fruit was simply too tempting to ignore.

And beyond that, I needed the physique of his crewmate—Blackbeard, Teach.

A body capable of wielding two Devil Fruits.

If I could copy that, I could finally bring out two fruits at once from the data stored within me.

Just imagine how incredible that would be.

To this day, no one knew the true power of the Copy-Copy Fruit.

Even while I was aboard Zephyr’s ship, I only showed them my mastery of Haki and Rokushiki.

I never once revealed the fruit’s abilities.

That was because I had gone there to learn Haki and Rokushiki.

There was no need to copy anything.

Besides, I didn’t want to risk giving information to people who might become enemies someday.

‘Right now, no one knows the power of the Copy-Copy Fruit.
If I can copy Teach’s physique…’

Then I could pretend to have eaten a different Devil Fruit altogether.

No one would ever think I had more than one.

And someday, that would be my trump card.

‘…First things first, I need to get on Whitebeard’s ship.’

To gain all of this, I had to find the Moby d*ck.

The ship sailing through the New World, carrying Whitebeard himself.

With that in mind, I continued my journey, ignoring all the small fry who dared to challenge me.

***

“Father! Father, look at this!
This tiny brat has a bounty of 120 million!”

“Gurararara! Amazon Lily, huh… If it’s there, it makes sense!”

“You know about Amazon Lily?!”

“I went there once in my younger days.
A rough island full of fierce women.
It’s the only place I’ve seen where every single resident could use Haki.”

“Every single one?!”

Marco shouted in disbelief, and Whitebeard nodded as if it were obvious.

Haki was no easy feat.

Just entering the New World usually meant you had some mastery over it.

Sure, everyone had the potential within them, but awakening it was something only the chosen few could do.

In other words, just having awakened Haki meant you were strong enough to be a crewmate in the New World.

But a whole island of such people?

Any pirate who dared to invade would find themselves in a living hell.

Marco shook his head, trying to brush off the image.

“Yoiyoi… If it’s an island like that…
Then it makes sense for an eleven-year-old to have a 120 million bounty.”

“Exactly.

On an island like that, it’s not strange for monsters to appear at any moment.

Kukuku… This is getting interesting.
Ever since Roger died, the new generation has been stepping into the light…
I don’t like this so-called Great Pirate Era, but…
I have to admit, my heart’s pounding a little.
Surely, among them, someone’s aiming for my throne.”

“That’ll never happen, yoiyoi!
Anyone who wants to reach you would have to defeat all of us first!!”

Whitebeard frowned at his son’s declaration.

“Marco… I just want to have some fun too!”

“Absolutely not, yoiyoi!!

You’re supposed to be resting, Father!

I won’t let anyone make you work again!!
That would be unfilial!”

Faced with Marco’s firm tone, Whitebeard could only sigh.

Even though he wasn’t bedridden or sick…

Well, he couldn’t help but smile.

The sight of a son worrying about his father was a beautiful expression of love.

That alone was enough to make him feel content.

But his concern was completely unnecessary.

A monster who had crossed through countless worlds was now heading straight for his ship.

As he wished, he wouldn’t have the luxury of boredom for much longer.

***

“I found it…
The Moby d*ck.”

After following rumours and making a beeline through every obstacle, I had finally arrived.

It took me three whole months to get here.

Others might say, “That was fast,” but I had spent those three months crushing nothing but small fry.

I was honestly getting bored out of my mind.

Still, seeing the Moby d*ck in front of me, I didn’t hesitate.

I unleashed my Conqueror’s Haki at full power.

KRRRRRRRRRUMMM!!!

(TL NOTE: The Moby d*ck is Whitebeard’s flagship in One Piece)