"Kurararara, Michael, this new underling of yours isn't exactly the brightest, is he?"
"Pops, aren't you being a little too polite to Michael here?" Marco twitched at the corner of his mouth. "This isn't just 'not too bright.' This guy's got no brain at all!"
"Hey, don't say it out loud after seeing through it, you brat!" Whitebeard shot Marco a glance. "No matter what, he's someone hand-picked by the Navy's Chief Inspector. Even if he's not smart, he must have some other exceptional talent."
Michael looked at the father and son echoing each other and barely managed to hold back his laughter.
He then pointed to the figure who had finally adjusted his take-off angle and force.
"Hey, old man Whitebeard, what if I told you… this is the son I mentioned to you?"
"Huh?"
Whitebeard suddenly froze.
Son?
This big oaf?
Whitebeard turned his gaze to Whitebeard II — Weevil's face. Aside from that crescent-shaped mustache that vaguely resembled his own, where the hell did they look alike?
"Hey, Michael, don't mess with me!" Whitebeard frowned suspiciously at Michael. "Be honest with me. Did you hide my son somewhere?"
"Why would I hide your son? I'm a Marine! I'm not a damn human trafficker! I already went out of my way to bring him here—how much more benevolent can I be?" Michael furrowed his brows at Whitebeard. "You're pirates. I'm Navy, you know! Getting this far is already pure generosity!"
Of course, Whitebeard didn't believe Michael's nonsense.
But if Michael was vague about his motives… he would never lie to him about the facts.
After years of cooperation, Whitebeard had more or less figured out the temperament of this Vice Admiral and Chief Inspector.
Michael might trip you up here and there, but he'd also openly admit it.
So this big dumb kid… might really be, as Michael said, "his son."
Whitebeard let out a long sigh, his gaze complicated—but mostly filled with affection and emotion.
"Michael, you said over the Den Den Mushi… that this is my biological son?" Whitebeard looked at Howard Weevil, who had run to stand behind Michael, curiously observing everyone. "What exactly is going on here… tell me in detail."
"Well…" Michael rubbed his chin, then turned to look at Whitebeard II. "This kid's mother is called Miss Bakkin…"
"Miss Bakkin?" Whitebeard frowned. "Never heard of her."
"No, no, you definitely know her. But what you know is another name… Buckingham Stussy."
"Stussy!? That annoying woman!?" Whitebeard abruptly stood up, his massive and towering body making Whitebeard II look small in comparison. "I might not remember a lot of things clearly, but when it comes to Stussy, I'm a hundred percent sure I never had anything with her."
"Calm down, old man Whitebeard!" Michael laughed at the sight of Whitebeard heating up.
"Hahaha, I never said this kid was born because you and she did the deed! Why are you getting so worked up?"
"Then why didn't you say it straight from the start!?" Whitebeard glared, and threads of Conqueror's Haki leaked out through his eyes. "If you know there was no… relationship between us, then why are you so sure we have a child?"
Truthfully, by now, Whitebeard had already decided to take this big dumb kid as his new son.He was only asking because he was curious.
After all, anyone would be curious if a so-called "biological son" suddenly showed up out of nowhere.
"This goes back to after the Rocks Pirates disbanded. Stussy's next stop was MADS," Michael sighed, looking at Whitebeard II with a hint of pity. "That organization studied all kinds of forbidden sciences. And their leader… was none other than the world's top scientist, Vegapunk."
"And then?" Marco continued the thread. "We definitely know about Vegapunk. But what does this have to do with him?"
"Marco, your bald head might be shiny, but your instincts are sharp! Is it because there's no hair to block the signal?" Michael grinned wickedly. "And yes, it does have something to do with Vegapunk! He was researching bloodline factors and Devil Fruits. After Stussy was captured in MADS, she escaped with some bloodline factor equipment and technology."
"Devil Fruits? Bloodline factors? Those things can be broken down and studied by humans?" Whitebeard listened intently, catching something unusual in Michael's words. "Then doesn't that mean… artificial Devil Fruits and clones could appear?"
"Aiyaa, as expected of the strongest man in the world! People only see your power and forget your brains!" Michael genuinely looked surprised this time. Whitebeard's analytical ability wasn't bad at all—at least much clearer than Big Mom's. "You're spot on. Artificial Devil Fruits will appear in the future. And clones… already exist."
He reached out and patted Whitebeard II's thick leg.
"This guy is a clone Stussy created using your genes and hers. He has part of your bloodline factor. So calling him your son isn't wrong at all."
Whitebeard stared at Michael. Now it made sense why Michael suddenly dragged Vegapunk into this.
This big dumb kid… was really his son!?
"So he's the result of Pops' and that woman Stussy's bloodline factors being combined?"
"Exactly, and the way you put it is very accurate, Marco." Michael nodded. "Don't you think it's basically the same thing as having a kid? Hahahaha!"
Whitebeard II looked at Michael, who couldn't stop laughing, and slowly crouched down. He poked Michael's side with one thick finger.
"Mi… Michael, why are you laughing so happily?"
"Ahem, Weevil, that's because I helped you find your dad! I just did another huge good deed. Shouldn't I laugh?"
"He's… my father?"
Whitebeard II blinked blankly and walked forward.
Then he nodded at Marco.
"Father… you look so short."
"Will I be bald like you too in the future?"
The entire place fell silent in an instant.
Only Michael burst out laughing.
"You big dumb kid! I'm your father!"
Whitebeard's roar echoed across the entire sea.
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