When Roy woke up, it was already dark. The two of them startled him.
"What are you doing?"
After rubbing his eyes, Roy realized they had already docked. But Whitebeard and Marco both looked sullen.
"What's wrong with you two?"
"We're hungry!" Marco said.
"You didn't cook anything?" Roy asked.
"We don't know how."
"Newgate, you don't know either?"
Whitebeard scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"I tried."
"So, where's the food?"
"It got burnt."
"I see, so you two were just waiting for me to wake up?"
"Mhm." Marco nodded.
Roy got up to cook. As they ate, the three discussed finding an island soon to recruit a chef. Their crew was too small—they needed more members.
However, Whitebeard wasn't looking for crew members. What he wanted was family.
After eating their fill, Roy took the night watch. He had been waiting for midnight.
Sure enough, right at midnight, the voice sounded again:
[Ding! Check-in successful! Congratulations on surviving another day. You have been rewarded with 1 gold coin!]
"So, I do get one gold coin per day for checking in. Can I see the rewards for checking in after ten years?"
Roy tried everything, but the system remained a mystery. For now, he'd have to settle for a daily gold coin—enough to keep him from starving.
Four days after leaving God Valley, they finally reached an island.
They'd passed others along the way, but Whitebeard insisted on going farther—the World Government might still be hunting down remnants of the Rocks Pirates.
On the third day, they saw the news in the papers: the Rocks Pirates had been wiped out.
The world celebrated. Crowds cheered in the streets, rejoicing over the crew's destruction.
Everything related to the Rocks Pirates was being erased from history. Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Garp, who had defeated Rocks, was hailed as the Hero of the Marines.
However, just when everyone thought Garp would be promoted to admiral, he refused. He even had a conflict with Fleet Admiral Kong and was thrown into solitary confinement to cool off.
"Are we going ashore?" Roy asked Whitebeard.
"Yeah. This ship's on its last legs anyway. We'll sell off what we can and get a new one."
"Alright, but most of it is weapons and military supplies. You'll have to sell it on the black market," Roy said.
"You know about the black market?" Whitebeard raised an eyebrow.
"I told you I'm older than you. You still don't believe me?"
"Now I do. But I don't know if this island has one."
Whitebeard took his naginata and got off the ship. This island had a city, and the streets were bustling. His massive figure walking down the street was extremely imposing.
Many people recognized him.
"That's Whitebeard—Edward Newgate! From the Rocks Pirates!"
"No way! The Rocks Pirates were wiped out. How is he not in Marine custody?"
"Are you going to do it?"
"Hell no, no reward's worth it!"
"Let's not mess with him. I heard he could destroy an island with ease."
"He's alone. What's there to be afraid of? His bounty is over a billion Beli. If we take him down, we'll live easy forever."
"Leave me out of it, you do it yourself."
Whitebeard was far too eye-catching, and sure enough, some fools tried to attack him.
The result was obvious—normal people couldn't take even one punch from Whitebeard.
Whitebeard found his target on the street and pushed open the door.
"Welcome to—"
It was a tavern. The bartender looked up and greeted the guest, but stopped halfway through when he saw who it was. His expression changed to serious and solemn.
"There's a warship outside. No anchor, but otherwise 80% new." Whitebeard said.
"We don't take warships," the owner replied, shaking his head.
"It has cannons, ammo, and guns."
"How much?"
"A lot."
"I'll send people tonight to transport it."
"I need a new ship."
"What size?"
"Not too big. Medium will do. I'll leave the food on the warship."
"No problem. I just want the weapons."
The two made a deal, no contracts, no paperwork—just a verbal agreement.
That was the black market's rule. Reputation was everything. With pirates, written deals meant nothing.
Whitebeard turned to leave but suddenly stopped and asked, "Got any kids here?"
"Slaves? We don't deal in that."
"Orphans. Any on this island?"
"Orphans… Maybe? Not my business."
"Give me a barrel of wine."
Whitebeard left, hauling the barrel back to the ship.
"Good. The warship's too big for us anyway."
It was just the three of them now. With no anchor, there was no way they could control a warship. The sea was unpredictable. Fewer hands meant more danger. Even Whitebeard couldn't handle everything alone.
"Where's Marco?"
"He went to buy some books."
"You let him go alone?"
"Relax. He has the Phoenix Fruit—it's like a Logia. He can turn into elements. Unless he runs into someone who can use Haki, he'll be fine," Roy said.
"You seem to know everything," Whitebeard commented.
"I know more than you do. I even know how you die," Roy said.
"…What?"
"What if I told you I'm from the future? That's why I said I'm forty—just stuck in a kid's body now."
"From the future?" Whitebeard's eyes widened.
"You know what's coming?"
"Yeah. Wanna hear?"
"Nope."
"Hahaha! Just like I thought. You're the real deal, Newgate."
Just like Luffy, he chose not to ask.
When Usopp asked Rayleigh about Laugh Tale, Luffy interrupted him with a loud shout.
Whitebeard believed him. But he didn't ask.
Some secrets were better left unknown.
"Tch. Even if you're from the future, then right now, you're still nine." Whitebeard suddenly grinned.
"Technically, yeah. So?"
"Become my son."
"Screw off!"
"Gurarararara!!!"
Whitebeard's laughter boomed across the ship—louder, freer than ever before.
Back in the Rocks Pirates, he not only had to deal with a tyrannical captain, but also with the constant scheming of crewmates.
He had to be on guard every day against sneak attacks from those bastards. It had been a long time since he'd truly smiled.
But with Roy and Marco, he felt no pressure. In fact, he thought it was fun. It felt like family.
"Huh. Marco's taking a while."
Night had fallen completely. The underworld merchant had already sent people to transport the weapons and had delivered a new ship, about the size of the Thosuand Sunny. They'd even modified a room to make it big enough for Whitebeard.
But Marco still hadn't come back. Roy was starting to get worried.
"Newgate, Marco's not back yet."