"Marshall D. Teach..." Whitebeard's eyes narrowed, his thoughts drifting back to the inconspicuous young man who had been on his ship for years. Teach, always fond of eating sakura peach pie alone, had never shown any particular ambition or desire to stand out. The most peculiar thing about him was his apparent lack of need for sleep. Despite this, Whitebeard had always been tolerant of his sons, understanding that it was normal for them to keep some secrets from him.
Years ago, during a drinking session with Roger, Whitebeard had learned the significance of the name "D." Since then, he had kept a closer watch on Teach. Yet, even after many years, Teach remained the same optimistic character, showing no interest in leadership. He was just one of the many sons Whitebeard had gathered under his wing.
Hearing Teach's name from Ace now, Whitebeard couldn't help but recall that conversation with Roger. He also noted the "D" in Ace's name, recognizing Ace's rise to the top of the sea. Whitebeard had to admit that Ace, with his Entei Pirates, was now arguably the strongest man in the world. The Entei Pirates, though not large in number, boasted formidable combat power, surpassing even the Whitebeard Pirates in elite strength.
Ace's crew included powerful figures like Nami, the "Little Thieving Cat," and Rayleigh, who could stand toe-to-toe with the strongest Admirals. There were also Vivi, the "Desert Princess," Laki, the "Firebird," and Kaya, the "fallen doctor," who, despite not having the strongest Devil Fruit ability, had the most potent Haki and physique in the crew. Additionally, the Entei Pirates commanded a giant pirate group from Elbaf, further bolstering their strength.
Ace's recent public execution had demonstrated his crew's overwhelming power, as they cleared the Naval Headquarters before the arrival of the Red Hair Pirates and the Five Elders. Ace's combination of ingenuity, strength, and skill had led to a comprehensive defeat of the Naval Headquarters, something no other pirate group could achieve. Ace's trajectory of growth suggested he would surpass even Roger and Whitebeard in their prime, possibly becoming the strongest person the sea had ever seen.
Whitebeard's thoughts churned as he responded to Ace. "Yes, Teach, he is my son." He nodded, knowing that Ace must have a reason for mentioning Teach. All members of the Whitebeard Pirates were his sons, the most precious treasures he had gathered during his voyages.
"Don't be nervous, I'm just somewhat interested in him," Ace said with a smile, noting Whitebeard's cautious expression. Ace harbored no intention of warning Whitebeard about Teach's future betrayal. He knew that Whitebeard, despite everything, would still show mercy to Teach even after he killed thatch and ignore shanks warning. Ace understood that warning Whitebeard would only push him into opposition.
Whitebeard's greatest treasure—his sons—was also his biggest weakness. Even if there were no Teach or Ace, Whitebeard's fate was sealed by his deep bond with his sons. In a sea where a king's weaknesses were known to all, especially one growing older and weaker, Whitebeard's ending was inevitable.
"Teach, come here."
Whitebeard's voice echoed, calling out to Teach in the distance. Despite Ace's lack of ill intent, Whitebeard felt the need to acknowledge his interest.
"Dad, Captain Marco," Teach responded, his expression unchanged as he approached, his gap-toothed grin beaming with optimism.
"Hey, Teach, Ace mentioned you and is very interested in you. Being noticed by the most Haki man in the world, you're amazing," Marco said, smiling. Despite his internal turmoil, Marco maintained a cheerful demeanor, not wanting to worry his father further.
"Mr. Ace is interested in me? I'm flattered," Teach said, excitement spreading across his face.
"Marshall D. Teach," Ace began, studying the man who would later rise to become a formidable Four Emperors, wielding two Devil Fruits. Ace's lips curled into a slight smile. Without knowledge of the future, even Ace would have struggled to discern Teach's hidden ambitions. To most, Teach appeared as a simple optimist, devoid of desire, wearing ordinary clothes and a face that betrayed no sinister intent.
Ace's advanced Observation Haki, capable of briefly glimpsing the future, detected no duplicity in Teach. This could only mean one thing: another consciousness existed within Teach, separate from the one he displayed. This duality likely explained Teach's unique ability to wield two Devil Fruits and perhaps hinted at his potential to harness a third.
"Teach, I haven't seen you in a long time," Shanks interjected, his tone sharp and wary.
"Shanks, long time no see. We clashed as interns, but now you're one of the Four Emperors while I remain an ordinary crew member," Teach replied, grinning.
"Teach, if you wanted, you could become the captain of the second division, right?" Marco suggested, smiling.
"I don't have that kind of ambition, hahaha," Teach laughed, rubbing the back of his head, his demeanor that of an easygoing optimist.
Shanks, however, wasn't fooled. The sight of Teach triggered a dull pain in the three scars across his eye, a reminder of their past encounter. The brutality Teach had displayed during their fight contrasted sharply with his current carefree attitude. These scars were a significant part of Shanks' identity, even reflected in the Red Hair Pirates' flag.
For Shanks, the most dangerous element aboard the Whitebeard Pirates wasn't Whitebeard himself, but this seemingly harmless man, Marshall D. Teach. Yet, Shanks refrained from voicing his concerns. He knew Whitebeard's character too well; any attempt to warn him about Teach would be met with disbelief and could strain their relationship.
However, Ace's next words began to stir unexpected reactions in Teach, who until now had appeared carefree.
Shanks's mood swings did not escape Whitebeard's Observation Haki, which had been honed to an impressive level. Not only Ace but also the red-haired Shanks seemed deeply concerned about Teach. These two men truly stood at the pinnacle of the sea.
Unlike Whitebeard in his old age, and Big Mom, who now seemed more focused on having children and hosting tea parties, Shanks was at his peak. Despite losing his dominant left hand, which forced him to wield a sword with his non-dominant right hand, Shanks's Conqueror's Haki had grown even more formidable. His Haki was once said to surpass even Roger's during their time, making him the most Haki man on the sea before Ace's rise. Today, his Conqueror's Haki remained unmatched in its era.
Flame Emperor Ace, however, was even more terrifying. Before Ace's rise, Shanks was known as the youngest of the Four Emperors, but Ace shattered that record. At just eighteen, Ace dominated the sea, his power rivaling that of the legendary Four Emperors. He was the king of his era, a true overlord, standing on par with Roger and Rocks. Only Ace possessed such strength in this era. If these two men collaborated, even the arrogant World Government would be forced to make concessions.
Whitebeard, who had always trusted his sons unconditionally, couldn't help but have wild thoughts as he observed Ace and Shanks's reactions towards Teach. However, he only paid a little more attention to Teach without changing his overall view. For Whitebeard, even if his sons concealed things or made mistakes, he could forgive them.
"Your name has D. I have been out at sea for so long, and you are the first D I have met except for my brother Luffy," Ace remarked casually, as if making small talk.
"Hahaha, my name has been like this since I was born. I just found out that Mr. Ace, your name also has a D. D, is there any secret in this word?" Teach responded, rubbing the back of his head and grinning.
"Do you want to know?" Ace's mouth quirked up slightly.
"No, no, no, I'm not interested in this. I can be my father's son. A happy life on the boat is very satisfying," Teach replied, waving his hands and smiling, showing his usual optimistic demeanor.
"Really? I think your future is worth looking forward to. I have never met a single person with a D in his name. Like my brother, Monkey D. Luffy, his future achievements will definitely surpass yours, Shanks," Ace said, turning to Shanks with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah, I believe it," Shanks replied, his mouth curling up at the mention of Luffy. He believed Luffy would achieve more than him in the future, knowing Luffy was the chosen one by the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, and possibly the Joyboy of this era. This belief was why Shanks had placed his arm on Luffy's shoulders.
"Monkey D. Luffy," Whitebeard murmured. The name of Ace's brother and someone whom Shanks believed would surpass him drew the attention of even this legendary pirate.
"Hahaha, maybe I'm a little different. After all, I don't have any ambition. I will be very satisfied if I can provide for my father in the future," Teach said, scratching his head with an air of innocent optimism.
Ace and Shanks couldn't help but twitch at Teach's words. They knew his future was not about providing for Whitebeard but about Whitebeard's downfall. However, Ace had not called Teach here for idle chatter.
"It's rare to see a person with a 'D' in his name who is a crew member on Whitebeard's ship. I have something for you. Do you want it?" Ace looked at Teach and smiled lightly.
"Something? Give it to me?" Teach looked startled, and Shanks frowned slightly. Ace, what do you want to do? Shanks thought. In terms of wisdom and means, even Beckman considered himself inferior to Ace. Did Ace, like him, discover something special about Teach and want to act on it?
"That's right, I'll give you a Devil Fruit," Ace said, his eyes burning with intensity.
"Devil Fruit?" Teach's pupils shrank.
"Devil Fruit?!" Whitebeard and Shanks echoed, their eyes widening in unison.
The mention of a Devil Fruit, this great secret treasure of the sea, caused a stir. Devil Fruits granted incredible abilities to those who consumed them. Whitebeard, known as the man who could destroy the world, wielded such power due to the Shock Fruit he ate. However, ordinary Devil Fruits meant little to men of Whitebeard's and Shanks's stature. But this man, Flame Emperor Ace, was different.
Ace had taken the power of the Mera-mera Fruit and evolved it in ways previously unknown, pushing it towards the sun itself. His mastery of Devil Fruit abilities was unparalleled, and during the Flame Emperor incident, he had demonstrated control over six different Devil Fruits. His prowess with Devil Fruits was likely the greatest the sea had ever seen. Any Devil Fruit that could catch Ace's interest was bound to be extraordinary.
"My Mera-mera Fruit found me on its own. Shanks, you know this best, right?" Ace said, looking pointedly at Shanks.
"Sure enough, you know about the Devil Fruits," Shanks replied, smiling helplessly. He understood Ace's implication. The fruit that Luffy had eaten was the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. This Devil Fruit had eluded the World Government's grasp for 800 years. After obtaining it, Shanks had ended up in Windmill Village, where Luffy eventually consumed it. Shanks realized that the fruit had chosen Luffy. The will of the top Devil Fruits to select their masters was known to only a few, and it was clear Ace was among them.
"The powerful Devil Fruit ability can find its own master..." Teach murmured, his mood starting to become unstable.
"That's right, and I can speed up or intensify this process. This is how my chef's Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Suzaku, came to be. Are you curious about what kind of Devil Fruit you can attract?" Ace asked, his lips curling into a sly smile.
Dark Fruit. Ace's true goal was the Dark Fruit, reputed to be the most vicious in history. It was speculated to stand in opposition to the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika. Nika granted its user the power of imagination, enabling them to manifest their Creativity. The Dark Fruit, on the other hand, could nullify all other Devil Fruit abilities, swallowing them with its terrifying gravity.
These two fruits represented the extreme ends of the Devil Fruit spectrum. Nika granted limitless creative potential, while Dark stripped away the powers of others. Both had a will of their own. In this era, the Dark Fruit had chosen its bearer: Marshall D. Teach. Ace realized that Teach's pursuit of the Dark Fruit and the ensuing betrayal were likely influenced by the fruit's own will.
"What kind of Devil Fruit can I attract?" Teach's previously desireless and optimistic demeanor began to fluctuate strangely.