"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Bring Binks' sake to our side."
"Like the sea breeze, free as we please, we ride the waves."
"On the far side of the sea, even the sunset is loud…"
On an uninhabited island, members of the Whitebeard Pirates circled a bonfire, drinking and tearing into meat.
The singing was hearty, music playing along, pure joy.
"Satan, cheers."
Marco, tipsy, clinked cups with him.
"Cheers."
Satan laughed, gulping wine and gnawing meat.
What a life—easy and free.
No wonder people in this world love being pirates; the freedom is intoxicating.
Best of all, he could feel the Gluttony value in his mind climbing with every bite and swallow.
Eating and drinking—the Seven Deadly Sins—Gluttony.
A mouthful of strong liquor burned down his throat; boldness surged up and he couldn't help humming.
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho."
"Bring Binks' sake to our side."
"Like the sea breeze, free as we please, we ride the waves."
"On the far side of the sea, even the sunset is loud…"
One chorus of Binks' Sake sang out the largeness of life.
The lively melody stirred the Whitebeard crew till they all joined in.
Satan laughed. "Bottoms up."
"Bottoms up."
They drained their cups, then roared together: "Yo-hohoho, yo-hohoho…"
Drinking and singing, their spirits pierced the sky.
Wine doesn't truly intoxicate, people intoxicate themselves.
After a whole night of revelry, most sank into deep sleep.
"Again."
Only Marco kept pestering Satan.
"You're drunk."
"I'm not drunk. Satan, tell me—how do we resolve the crisis facing the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Before Satan could answer, heavy breathing sounded.
Marco had fallen fast asleep, still worrying over how to save the crew even in his dreams.
"Satan, share a cup with me."
Whitebeard looked over the pirates strewn across the ground and raised his cup to Satan.
"Alright, I'll down it."
Riding his seven-tenths buzz, Satan walked to Whitebeard and emptied his drink.
"Refreshing, refreshing."
Satan laughed aloud.
"I've roamed the seas for decades and never seen someone like you.
Are you happy on my ship? How about being my son?"
Whitebeard tilted his head back and drank, then asked.
"No."
Satan refused.
"Straight to the point, not giving me face at all. Still, you sing well—if the sea ever spits you out, you could make a living singing for coin."
"If I sang for coin, few in this world could afford the price."
Satan smiled.
Their eyes met and the air went quiet again.
After a long moment, Whitebeard broke the silence. "Is there a way to prevent the crew from disbanding?"
Having spoken the words, he felt lighter.
He had always treated Satan as a junior; as an emperor of the sea he couldn't lower his head to ask.
But the crew was his family.
Even if he died, he wanted to shield them.
For that, even if it felt shameful, he asked.
Once he did, he felt strangely at ease.
"There is."
Satan nodded.
"What way?"
Whitebeard brightened.
"Recall Ace. Protect him. That might extend the life of the Whitebeard Pirates," Satan said seriously.
Whitebeard was ultimately old. Without the Ace incident, he might last longer.
If Whitebeard did not die, the Whitebeard Pirates would naturally endure.
"Kurararara.
Mysterious. You seem to know far too much." Whitebeard laughed.
"I'm a man who can foresee what has yet to come. Tell Ace to stand down.
Blackbeard is not simple," Satan warned again.
"What right do I have to hinder the will of a man set on avenging a comrade?
The man's crime was killing a crewmate.
He broke my rule. Where would the dead man's soul drift if justice weren't done?
He must pay the price," Whitebeard said, grief in his eyes but his tone unshakable.
He would not call Ace back.
"The Whitebeard Pirates are strong, but that strength lets the division commanders live under your shelter.
Compared to the bloody trials members of the other emperors face, your commanders lack the ability to stand alone.
If you won't recall Ace, then send the commanders out to temper themselves at sea.
After your death, they might still uphold the prestige of Whitebeard," Satan suggested again.
"Family must be together to be family."
Whitebeard let out a long howl.
He had no heart for a throne, only for being with his family.
At that, Satan no longer knew what to say.
Whitebeard's pursuit clashed with the nature of this sea.
While he lived, the crew lived.
When he died, the crew would die.
— Level too low to reply in the comment section —
Not writing about the Celestial Dragons because they're too overpowered, there'd be nothing left to plot.
The powers of the Seven Sins and the Ten Commandments will be used interchangeably, not fixed to the original Seven Sins.
The protagonist will become a Great Demon God, mastering the Seven Sins and the Ten Commandments, and able to grant them to others.