Two months later.
Shin walked out of the Moby Dick and spotted Ace, his face bruised and swollen yet again. With a grin, he called out, "Yo, Ace, got another beating from Captain Whitebeard, huh?"
Ace only grunted, too frustrated to respond. Shin shrugged, then opened his mouth and swallowed him. Moments later, a fully healed Ace reappeared, looking exactly as he had before the fight.
But this time, Ace's reaction was different. Instead of returning to training with renewed determination to challenge Whitebeard, he seemed lost, confusion clouding his gaze.
Over the past few months, Whitebeard had shown Ace nothing but kindness, and the rest of Moby Dick's crew treated him like family. This unconditional warmth hit hard for Ace, who had yearned for acceptance and fatherly affection. Unlike Luffy, whose dream was to become Pirate King, Ace's motivations were less steadfast; he mainly wanted to make his mark and prove himself, especially against the weight of his father's legacy. The genuine camaraderie on the Moby Dick was hard to ignore, leaving him torn inwardly. He likely would've already joined Whitebeard's crew if it weren't for his pride.
Shin didn't interfere with Ace's struggle. He figured it was only a matter of time before Ace fully embraced Whitebeard's crew, just as Shanks had inspired Luffy. Their personalities made such bonds inevitable.
But Shin himself was feeling a bit frustrated. Despite spending two months aboard, and even with the Spade Pirates dispersed among Whitebeard's divisions, no one had asked if he wanted to join the Whitebeard Pirates. Whitebeard had even invited Yamato to be his daughter, but since Yamato insisted on staying with Ace, she hadn't agreed. Yet, somehow, Shin remained unnoticed.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard was nursing a drink in the cabin and inspecting his singed right hand with a wry smile.
"Pops, is this… did Ace do this?" Marco asked, surprise evident in his eyes.
"Gu la la la la! Not bad, huh? The kid has some potential!" Whitebeard chuckled, unbothered by his injury.
Marco, familiar with Whitebeard's ways, knew better than to try and dissuade him from facing Ace's attacks. In truth, he was growing fond of Ace. Marco could easily recognize Ace's conflicted loyalty and could tell he was already wavering in his quest for retribution. With Ace's straightforward personality, he would never betray them once he decided to join.
Still, Marco had something else on his mind. "Pops, Shin's been healing not only the Spade Pirates but also many of our own. Don't you think we should…"
"Humph!" Whitebeard huffed, slamming his cup on the table. "I'm not about to ask someone to join us because of that."
Marco smiled knowingly. Whitebeard's pride was at play. In any other situation, he would have claimed Shin as an adopted son by now.
Whitebeard's health issues were no secret to Marco. The long-term effects of using the Tremor-Tremor Fruit had left the old pirate with internal injuries. While the Tremor-Tremor Fruit made Whitebeard capable of shattering defenses with shockwaves, the effects worked both ways. Every tremor inflicted damage not only on his enemies but also on his own body. Whitebeard could easily suppress these minor injuries in his youth, but his self-healing ability weakened as he aged, and the accumulated damage was now catching up to him.
Shin's medical expertise was uniquely suited for treating such injuries. His combined medical knowledge and the powers of his fruit allowed him to heal even internal damage, which would be nearly impossible for a regular doctor. However, Whitebeard's stubborn pride stopped him from inviting Shin onto the crew just for treatment. To Whitebeard, adopting someone meant family, not a matter of convenience.
Nevertheless, Marco wasn't too concerned. As long as Shin stayed on the Moby Dick, he knew it was only a matter of time. Once Ace officially joined as Whitebeard's adopted son, Shin wouldn't be far behind, eventually helping to treat Whitebeard.
On the deck, Shin was talking to one of Whitebeard's commanders, his impatience evident.
"Captain Thatch, could you take me with you next time you head out? I'm getting bored staying here."
The Moby Dick, as Whitebeard's flagship, usually stayed close to the island unless a significant threat required the entire crew's presence. For newcomers like the Spade Pirates, meeting at the Moby Dick at all was rare unless they had a specific reason. More minor skirmishes or encounters with lesser challengers were handled by Whitebeard's commanders, only escalating to Whitebeard himself if they failed.
In reality, Shin felt trapped and bored on the Moby Dick. Although he was technically a prisoner, he wasn't treated any differently from the crew. His crew had already integrated into the Whitebeard Pirates, leaving him the only Spade Pirates member somewhat isolated.
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Mass Release: [3/5]
For each power stones milestone—50, 100, 150, and beyond—I will release a bonus chapter.
I will also release a bonus chapter for every two reviews until it reaches ten reviews.
Review status: [9/10]