To enhance the atmosphere of the tavern, Ron approached Yoruichi slowly, cradling her in his arms while gently smoothing her hair—an action that seemed almost second nature, reminiscent of petting a cat. With practiced skill, Ron managed to gradually soothe Yoruichi's irritable mood.
Meanwhile, a new guest sat at the bar, dressed in a white haori, exuding a slender and straight stature. Black-rimmed glasses adorned the bridge of his nose, softening any inherent sharpness, while short brown hair framed a gently smiling face, creating an impression of gentleness and restraint.
Ron, momentarily ignoring the newcomer, extended a welcome to the others, "Sit down." Lucoa chimed in, pointing to the fully stocked bar, "The wine is ready for you." Observing this, Rayleigh, Shendu, and his son promptly bowed ninety degrees, expressing apologies, "We're sorry for any inconvenience. Next time, we can come on our own." With that, they hurried to the bar and took their seats.
This peculiar scene puzzled Whitebeard for a moment. Why was Rayleigh showing such deference to the woman, and why were the two formidable figures behaving similarly? Despite his uncertainty, Whitebeard shifted his focus to Ace, who lay on the ground. During their journey, Ace had slipped back into a coma and was currently under Marco's care. Ignoring his own injuries, Whitebeard's gaze remained fixed on Ace.
Before long, Ace regained consciousness, and the pallor faded from his face. Rather than immediately addressing his injuries, he eagerly implored, "Marco, heal Dad quickly."
"His injury was worse than mine."
"Okay!" Marco nodded, and cyan flames burst out, enveloping Whitebeard's body. However, this treatment could only address surface trauma, providing relief without addressing the underlying issues.
Observing the healing process, Shendu couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy, expressing a longing wish, "If my foolish son were even half as filial, I could smile peacefully i. Alas... I can only contemplate it in my heart." Despite the words, Shendu surreptitiously sprayed the soothing mist, finding comfort in its pleasant aroma.
"Sorry, I didn't anticipate that you would save Ace initially," Whitebeard admitted after the treatment, hesitating to express, "After all..." The challenging phrase "You are so frighteningly long" lingered unspoken.
Taking a sip of wine, Shendu theatrically shed a tear and pitifully remarked, "You all didn't inquire and took drastic measures! I just feel a bit wronged..." The tone, demeanor, and tearful display resembled that of a genuinely aggrieved girl, eliciting wild eyelid jumps from everyone present.
Drago, touched by the soft-hearted spray, hugged his elderly father, shedding tears, "Father, don't worry. With me around, such incidents will never happen again!" Shendu rested on his son's shoulders, the corners of his mouth involuntarily lifting.
In the midst of this emotional scene, Ron placed Lucoa's earlier wine in front of Whitebeard, suggesting, "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, let's have a drink. I've heard you enjoy hard liquor. This one is called Burnt Sword, the same drink Blackbeard once had." At the mention of the name, Whitebeard visibly paused, a hint of gravity in his eyes. "I've recognized so many sons," he murmured.
Blackbeard was the only one he had overlooked.
"Gu la la la... Back then, he knelt in front of me and wanted to join the family. Although he hesitated, I finally agreed because I saw the firmness in his eyes, but... I didn't see the ambition in his heart." Whitebeard frowned, taking a draught from the bottle before him. Gulp... The sip of wine entered his throat, releasing a burst of rich aroma and a pure, round taste that left Whitebeard savoring the moment.
In the next second, however, the wine seemed to transform into a sword. From throat to stomach, a hot sensation prevailed, as if a sword were being wielded in his throat and stomach. Contrary to discomfort, Whitebeard groaned happily, "Gu la la la... Good wine! This is definitely the strongest drink I've ever had!" Pouring more into his mouth, he seemed undeterred.
Concerned, Marco stepped forward and seized the bottle, warning, "Father, your current body can't handle drinking like this!" Meanwhile, Ace, lying on the ground, pleaded almost desperately, "Dad, treasure your body. The Whitebeard Pirates can't survive without you!" Despite the desire to reprimand, Whitebeard refrained. His aging body, combined with the recent serious injury, hinted at a shortened lifespan.
Observing this scene of paternal kindness and filial piety, an old father cast envious eyes after a moment of silence. Whitebeard then looked at the busy Rem and Ram, saying, "Originally, I wanted these two girls to join the Whitebeard Pirates. Now it seems that there's no need for that." Concluding, he asked curiously, "Where is the man who beat up Teach's group? Has he joined other forces?"
"I want to recognize him as my son!" When arriving at Sabaody Archipelago, Whitebeard intended to save Ace and, incidentally, acknowledge him as well. The plan seemed flawless, but witnessing the reverence of Shendu and his son toward Ron, along with the presence of Rem, the tavern's waiter, made him reconsider. His hopes now rested on Ron's intervention to correct his son's flaws.
Ron raised an eyebrow, responding, "Then you'll have to ask Shendu. See if he's interested in calling you dad." Rayleigh, finding amusement in the situation, encouraged Whitebeard, saying, "Hurry up and recognize your son. Let's see how many lives you've promised."
Whitebeard, momentarily stunned, learned of Shendu's misadventures, which left him, Marco, and Ace both amused and sympathetic. Despite the laughter, Whitebeard's plan to recognize his son fell through once again.
After a moment of levity, Whitebeard shifted the topic, inquiring about Teach, asking if he had escaped or been captured by the Marines. Rayleigh, taking a sip of wine, replied calmly, "Killed by me. The body should still be in that amusement park. If you want to collect the corpse, do it soon, or it'll become a Marine spectacle."
Frowning slightly, Whitebeard mused, "We haven't fought for many years, right?" Before he could finish, Rayleigh took swift action. He wrapped an arm around Whitebeard's waist and rushed out of the tavern, leaving Marco bewildered. Ron explained nonchalantly, "Maybe it's to vent. Blackbeard broke the rules, but he called Whitebeard 'Dad' for thirty years. Even if it's just a dog, you'd feel something after it barks by your side for thirty years."