Seven days had passed since the end of the banquet. Today was the day Lind had promised to deliver the poem to Whitebeard.
At that moment, Lind was still in his room, deep in thought, drafting praises for the upper echelons of the Rocks Pirates and imagining how to make a truly grand appearance. His mind buzzed with possibilities.
"Boss, Whitebeard is here!"
Da Kun suddenly flew over, breaking Lind's concentration.
Though Fullalead Island was just an island, being the base of the Rocks Pirates meant its size was far from modest. It had more than enough space to assign each officer a private villa.
Lind couldn't be bothered to constantly activate Observation Haki to track the area, so he had tasked Da Kun with guarding the property. He had even instructed him earlier to alert him when Whitebeard arrived—after all, as a senior, he deserved a proper welcome.
"Got it, Da Kun. Come with me, let's go greet Whitebeard."
Lind stood up, grateful once again for having such a dependable companion. If only he had tamed Da Kun back when he was stranded on that deserted island, he wouldn't have needed to watch the ocean day and night.
"Gurararara! Brother Lind, I've come to visit!"
Before Whitebeard even appeared, his booming voice rang out across the yard. The moment Lind stepped outside, he heard it loud and clear.
Looking toward the distance, it only took a glance for Lind to spot Whitebeard. At more than six meters tall, he stood out no matter where he went, even on Fullalead Island.
"Hahahaha, didn't mean to keep you waiting, Brother Newgate. Come on in and have a seat!"
Lind strode forward with a welcoming smile.
Soon, the two of them were seated in Lind's villa. Most houses in this world were built tall, so Lind's villa easily accommodated Whitebeard's size.
Before Lind could even speak, Whitebeard pulled a sword from behind his back.
"Brother Lind, from the way you fight, I figured you're a dual-blade swordsman. I don't have much to offer in return, but I brought you a sword."
"This blade is called Ranqiu. It's one of the renowned Grade Blades, crafted by a master swordsmith from the Land of Flowers. I noticed your Kunpeng Sword carries a similar style, so I thought this would suit you well. It's a small token of my appreciation."
Lind gazed at the double-edged longsword Whitebeard presented and was clearly pleased. With this addition, he no longer had to worry about lacking a proper weapon in battle. He could even combine both swords if needed.
"Brother Newgate, thank you so much! This sword is perfect!" Lind's voice was filled with delight as he accepted the blade. Then he handed over the poem he had written.
"Here's the piece I composed for you. Take a look, and if anything feels off, I can revise it."
Whitebeard accepted the notebook with eager hands. As he read, his eyes lit up.
"Gurararara! Brother Lind, this is exactly my style!"
"I'm planning to set sail today and visit Sengoku, see if he can take a joke. Interested in coming along?"
Lind's eyes gleamed at the invitation.
Going to confront Sengoku with style? Just the thought was thrilling—especially with a powerhouse like Whitebeard leading the charge. There was no need to hold back.
"Hahahaha, I'd love to! I've heard that even though Sengoku's still a vice admiral, he already has the strength of an admiral. He's one of the top fighters on the seas!"
"Sengoku the Strategist... I've been dying to test his skills, see if he really lives up to the title!" Lind nodded enthusiastically.
"Gurararara! Then I'll leave it to you to test his strength first. I'll cover you if things go south." Whitebeard clapped his hands, clearly excited to back Lind in a one-on-one.
"Hahahaha, I'll be counting on you then!" Lind cupped his fists in gratitude.
The thought of facing off against Sengoku while having backup thrilled Lind to no end. If Whitebeard weren't present, he would've already jumped up and shouted.
To someone like Lind, a traveler from another world, what was the point of being reborn into the world of pirates if not to clash with the strongest?
In this world, pirates always moved with astonishing speed.
After the discussion, Whitebeard returned to the First Division's quarters and immediately began preparations to set sail.
With his strength, there was no need to worry about weather conditions. All arrangements were completed swiftly, and by noon, they were already out at sea.
"Gurararara! Brother Lind, how does this feel compared to flying on Shiki's battleship? Isn't this ocean voyage much more pirate-like?"
Standing at the bow, Whitebeard laughed heartily as he addressed Lind.
"Hahahaha, absolutely. Giant ships cutting through waves with cannons ready to fire—now this is what real pirate life is about. When I get back, I'll retrofit the Xiaoyao into a proper pirate ship."
Though Lind had been in this world for two and a half years, he had only ever sailed on the amateur-built Xiaoyao or ridden on Shiki's airborne battleship.
This was his first time aboard a true pirate vessel cruising across the ocean—and he had to admit, the feeling of slicing through the waves was intoxicating.
"Gurararara! Don't forget to invite me aboard when it's ready. Then we can go visit Sengoku together!"
Whitebeard slapped Lind on the shoulder with approval.
In the blink of an eye, Lind had already spent a week sailing with Whitebeard.
During that time, the two of them frequently discussed the applications of Haki. Even as a younger man, Whitebeard's understanding of Haki impressed Lind deeply. In just seven days, Lind's strength had increased by another ten percent.
"Brother Newgate, it's been seven days. How much longer until we run into the Navy?" Lind, though pleased with his rapid progress, was growing impatient at not having encountered any Marine ships yet.
"Gurararara! That depends on the Navy's response time. We're headed toward the area Sengoku is supposed to be patrolling. Once he gets wind of us, he'll definitely show up."
Whitebeard chuckled while toying with his iconic crescent-shaped mustache.
Lind nearly lost his composure hearing that.
So we're just waiting around for the Navy to find us?
Wasn't the plan to locate Sengoku's position and head straight there? But this was Whitebeard—such recklessness was exactly his style.
"Gurararara! Don't stress, Brother Lind. It's just a matter of days now. Sengoku's ship should appear soon enough."
Noticing the shift in Lind's expression, Whitebeard quickly laughed again and reassured him.
Just as Whitebeard had predicted, by that afternoon, they finally encountered a Marine warship.
Lind spotted the man standing at the ship's bow with his distinctive crab-shaped hairstyle. There was no mistaking it—this was Sengoku, then a Vice Admiral, and future Fleet Admiral of the Navy.
Whitebeard didn't say anything at first. He simply waited for Sengoku to speak.
"Newgate, what are you doing here instead of staying holed up in your own turf?"
Hearing that, Whitebeard's lips curled into a satisfied smile. Then he burst into laughter.
"Gurararara!"
"Once an ordinary soul, now sailing the pirate's road,
With grand ambition I chase the winds, shaking the heavens bold.
I speak of conquest freely, pointing where the rivals stand,
Through storm and snow, I walk alone, my will the Whitebeard brand.
Across the Grand Line none claim might, no soul dares speak of pride—
Sengoku, I came today to test the Navy's heart inside!"
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Hey everyone! I'll be dropping an extra 1 chapter once we hit 200, 400 power stones! If you're enjoying the story, don't forget to spend some power stones. I'd really appreciate the support. Thanks a bunch!