Whitebeard's Invitation

Hachinosu, Intelligence Room. Autumn, 1473 in the Sea Circle Calendar.

Ginny slammed a letter on Lin Yuan's desk; the envelope was stamped with sealing wax from the World Economy News Paper.

"A letter from Whitebeard. Delivered by Morgans." Ginny, hands on her hips, said, "They've invited you for drinks, are you going?"

Lin Yuan opened the envelope; inside was only one line of text, written in a vigorous and powerful hand:

"Hey kid, the ship's finished? Come grab a drink." --Newgate

"Go." Lin Yuan folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "Perfect timing, the Void should go out for a spin."

Who should I bring?

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. "Kaido, Bullet, King, Moria, and Inazuma. Five people are enough. Kuma and Zephyr will stay behind."

Ginny's finger paused for a moment. "Kuma stays? Isn't he one of the best fighters?"

"That's why it was left behind. Hachinosu can't be left unguarded. Caesar is still conducting experiments down there; if someone tries to steal it, Kuma can slap them away with one paw."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "That idiot Caesar, who would steal him?"

"The World Government," Lin Yuan stood up, "The Five Elders have been eyeing his Artificial Devil Fruit technology for a long time. They won't let it go now that we've taken him."

Ginny wrote a line in the ledger, then looked up and asked, "So when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

Early morning, at the port.

The Void was docked at the pier, its sails already raised, and supplies were mostly loaded. Kaido carried a box of meat onto the ship, Bullet carried two boxes of ammunition, King used his Float-Float Fruit to lift a bucket of fresh water onto the ship, Moria used his shadow to drag a pile of miscellaneous items, Inazuma was inspecting the barrel of the Sea King Cannon.

Kuma stood on the dock, silently watching them.

"Kuma, Hachinosu is yours now." Lin Yuan walked over from the direction of the Castle. "Caesar is in the lab, don't let him escape. As for the experimental subjects, have Ginny arrange for someone to take care of them."

Kuma nodded. "When are you coming back?"

"Five days at the shortest, seven days at the longest." Lin Yuan jumped onto the bow of the ship. "Where is Instructor Zephyr?"

"At the Training Ground," Kuma said. "He said he wouldn't be coming to deliver it."

Lin Yuan's lips curled slightly upward. "Untie the rope."

Kaido released the mooring ropes, and the Void slowly sailed away from the port. The Sea Wind Dial stirred, the sails billowed, and the ship steadily accelerated.

Ginny stood on the dock, holding an account book, and waved to them.

On the sea, the Void cuts through the waves.

Sphinx Island is located on the western side of the New World, about 1,200 nautical miles from Hachinosu. At the Void's cruising speed of 25 knots, it would take two days to reach it.

Nothing much happened on the first day. Kaido ate and drank, Bullet trained, King stood guard, Moria slept, and Inazuma polished his scissors.

By the evening of the following day, Sphinx Island appeared on the horizon.

The island is small, with a small hill in the center and a village at the foot of the hill. Several ships are moored in the harbor, the largest of which has a whale-shaped prow— the Moby Dick.

"We've arrived," Lin Yuan said.

Kaido put down the bone and stood up. "Oh ho ho... Whitebeard, I'm here!"

The Void slowly entered the port. A group of people stood on the dock, led by a tall man—a head taller than Kaido —who held a huge Naginata in his hand. His chin was clean-shaven, without a beard, but his eyes held a composure beyond his years.

Whitebeard, Edward Newgate.

Behind him stood Marco, Jozu, Vista, and others. Marco had a toothpick in his mouth, Jozu had his arms crossed, and Vista had his hand on his sword hilt.

Lin Yuan jumped off the boat, put his hands in his pockets, and walked up to the Whitebeard.

"Newgate, you bought me a drink, so here I am."

The Whitebeard looked down at him, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"Gurala... you actually came. I thought you wouldn't give me face."

"Haha, here I am," Lin Yuan said, "But I don't drink alcohol, I drink water."

Whitebeard paused for a moment. "Not drinking? Then what are you going to drink?"

"Drink your wine. I won't drink; my men will."

Whitebeard glanced at Kaido, who was leaping onto the dock, and burst into laughter. "Gurara... Alright! Let's have a feast!"

The village tavern wasn't big, but it had a lot of alcohol.

Whitebeard sat in the main seat, with Lin Yuan opposite him. Kaido sat beside him and had already started drinking. Bullet, King, Moria, and Inazuma sat at the table next to them. Marco, Jozu, Vista, Thatch, and others also sat down.

The Whitebeard poured two bowls of wine, pushing one towards Lin Yuan.

"Take a sip. Consider it a favor to me."

Lin Yuan picked up the bowl, took a small sip, and then put it down.

"I've finished drinking."

Whitebeard stared at him for three seconds. "You just pursed your lips once."

"That counts as drinking."

The Whitebeard shook his head and downed a large bowl of soup by himself.

"I heard you've been up to a lot of things lately?"

"You're very well-informed."

"That Morgans kid, he's writing about you in the newspapers every day." The Whitebeard downed another bowl. "'Space Demon' Lin Yuan, bounty of two billion. Your manpower has increased quite a bit too."

Kaido leaned closer. "How many have I?"

"1.2 billion," Marco interjected, "Kaido, you're still not as tall as Lin Yuan."

Kaido snorted. "He loves to show off. I don't."

"You don't want to stand out?" Marco laughed. "You defeated twenty-four Sea Kings outside Water 7; the whole world knows."

Kaido pursed his lips and continued drinking.

The Whitebeard looked at Lin Yuan.

"Kid, I saw the Void. 260 meters, five Sea King Cannons, the Treasure Tree Adam's Bone Crystal. Tom's work?"

"Right."

"That old man, "Whitebeard, " back then I asked him to build a ship, and he said, ' Whitebeard? No way. Your ship is too big, my workshop can't hold it.'" He put down his wine bowl. "But he built it for you anyway. He was biased."

Lin Yuan's lips curled up slightly. "Maybe it's because I'm handsome."

"Gurgle... bullshit."

After a few rounds of drinks, the Whitebeard leaned back in his chair.

"Kid, I didn't call you here just to drink."

"I know."

"You've seen the situation in the New World. Rocks has disbanded, Golden Lion is going it alone, Big Mom is doing her own thing. I'll be independent soon too." Whitebeard's voice lowered. "I need allies."

So you came to me?

"You're arrogant enough, powerful enough, and suit my temperament. Besides, your Door-Door Fruit is a strategic-level ability." Whitebeard looked at him. "An alliance. A verbal agreement will suffice; no written contract. We'll help each other and not invade each other's territory."

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. "Okay. But I have conditions."

"Explain."

"Seastone. My Seastone business is none of your concern."

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow. "Your Seastone business? The stuff you stole from the World Government?"

"Right."

"I won't get involved. I'm not interested in that stuff." The Whitebeard took a swig of his drink. "Anything else?"

"If one day I take action against Wano Country, you won't stop me."

Whitebeard paused for a moment. "Wano Country? You want to attack Wano Country?"

"Right."

"Where's Kozuki Oden? Do you have a grudge against him?"

"No grudge." Lin Yuan picked up his water glass and took a sip. "But I want the Seastone of Wano Country. I want Wano Country's geographical location. So I want Wano Country too."

The tavern fell silent for a moment.

Marco's wine glass stopped at his lips. Jozu's hand rested on the table. Vista's fingers landed on the hilt of his sword.

Whitebeard raised his hand to stop them.

He stared at Lin Yuan for a long time.

"Kozuki Oden was a good person."

"I know."

"So you still want to hit him?"

"If he blocks my way, I'll fight him. If he doesn't, I won't." Lin Yuan's voice was calm. "My target isn't the Kozuki Family, it's Wano Country."

Whitebeard was silent for a moment, then took a big gulp of wine.

"You're a fucking greedy man."

"Ha ha"

The Whitebeard put down his wine bowl and wiped his mouth.

"Alright. I won't stop you. But remember one thing— Oden is not someone to be trifled with. You might not be able to defeat him."

That's for later.

Whitebeard stared at him for a few seconds, then burst into laughter.

"Gulp... Interesting! You little rascal, you're even more interesting than I imagined! Here, have another sip!"

Lin Yuan picked up the bowl and took another small sip.

After several rounds of drinks, the Whitebeard put down his wine bowl and suddenly laughed.

"Kid, just drinking isn't fun. How about your men and mine have a go?"

Lin Yuan glanced at him. "How do you want to compete?"

"One-on-one. Stop when you've got it covered." Whitebeard glanced behind him. "Marco, you go."

Marco stood up and stretched his neck. "Pops, who are we hitting?"

The Whitebeard looked towards Lin Yuan. "Send someone over there."

Lin Yuan glanced at Jin. "You go."

Jhin stood up, the flames behind him flickering. "What are you fighting?"

"Fight while flying." Marco laughed. "I can fly too."

The two men walked out of the tavern and stood in an open space outside the village. The others followed them out to see what was going on.

Marco's body began to change—his arms turned into blue flame wings, and his entire body was enveloped in cyan flames. Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Phoenix, Mythical Zoan.

The flames behind Jin suddenly shot up, casting golden light on his face.

The two took off simultaneously.

Marco made the first move. With a flap of his wings, he shot towards Jin like an arrow, his right leg sweeping across with blue flames.

Jhin dodged to the side and threw a backhand punch at Marco's face, his fist covered in black Armament Haki.

Marco used his wings to block, flame against flame, making a "hissing" sound.

The two flew back and forth in the air at a speed that ordinary people on the ground could not see clearly.

"That Lunarian brat isn't bad," Whitebeard said.

"Marco is good too," Lin Yuan said.

They fought for five minutes, neither gaining the upper hand. They both stopped simultaneously and landed back on the ground.

Marco transformed back into human form, dusting himself off. "Your name is Jhin? Let's fight again next time."

Jin didn't speak, he just nodded.

In the second match, Whitebeard sent Jozu, Devil Fruit User, whose entire body could transform into diamond with extremely high hardness.

Bullet stepped forward on Lin Yuan's side.

"Strength against strength." Bullet cracked his knuckles. "I like it."

Jozu crossed his arms, his body gleaming with a diamond-like luster. "Come on."

Bullet punched Jozu in the arm. A small piece of the diamond shattered. Jozu staggered back three steps, his expression changing.

"Your fists... are hard enough."

"Your body is tough enough."

The two started fighting again, fist to fist, neither giving an inch. After more than ten rounds, Jozu had several cuts on his arm, and Bullet's fists were covered in blood.

Whitebeard shouted, "That's enough. If you keep fighting, Jozu's arm will break!"

Jozu and Bullet simultaneously stopped. Jozu looked at the crack in his arm and remained silent for a moment. "You're strong."

Bullet shook the blood off his hands. "You're not bad either."

In the third match, Whitebeard sent Vista, a master of Flower Sword and Two-Sword Style.

Lin Yuan glanced at Kaido. "You come here."

Kaido took the Iron Club off his shoulder and stood up. "Oh ho ho... a swordsman? Interesting."

Vista drew his twin swords, their blades coated in Armament Haki. "Please."

Kaido swung his club down. Vista dodged to the side, then thrust his twin swords at Kaido's waist from both sides.

Kaido didn't dodge. The sword tip pierced his waist with a clang, leaving only two white marks.

Your sword isn't deep enough.

Kaido swung his club backhand, Vista leaped to dodge, slashing three times in mid-air, all of which struck Kaido's shoulder.

Still white marks.

Vista landed and sheathed his sword.

"I'm not fighting anymore. I can't fight them anymore."

Kaido grinned. "Oh ho ho... your swordsmanship is not bad, but your strength is too weak."

Vista gave a wry smile.

The Whitebeard looked at Lin Yuan.

"You still have one person who hasn't come up yet. That shadow puppet guy, is his name Moria?"

Lin Yuan glanced at Moria was huddled in the corner. "Are you going or not?"

Moria shrank back. "I... I think I won't go. These people all look so strong."

"Go," Lin Yuan said. "It's okay if you lose. Just practice."

Moria slowly stood up, holding the scissors in his hand.

Whitebeard glanced at him, then looked behind him. "Thatch, go easy on him."

Thatch is the fourth division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. He is a burly man who carries a large sword.

Moria and Thatch stood in the open space.

Thatch struck first. His broadsword slashed down, accompanied by a whooshing sound.

Moria's shadow erupted from beneath his feet, transforming into a black shield. The greatsword struck the shadow shield with a dull thud. The shield cracked, but did not shatter.

"Oh?" Thatch raised an eyebrow. "Interesting."

Moria took a few steps back, his forehead covered in sweat. He waved his hands, and his shadow transformed into several black spears, which pierced towards Thatch.

Thatch dodged three arrows; the fourth grazed his arm and tore his clothes.

"Not bad." Thatch sheathed his greatsword. "Your name is Moria? We'll fight again another time."

Moria breathed a sigh of relief and almost collapsed to the ground.

The Whitebeard looked at Lin Yuan. "You, who plays with shadows, are too cowardly."

"He'll get better with practice," Lin Yuan said. "He used to be alone, but he isn't anymore."

Whitebeard nodded and said nothing more.

Back at the tavern, the wine had gone cold.

Whitebeard poured himself another bowl and took a big gulp.

"You're a good person too." Lin Yuan picked up his water glass. "Is the alliance settled then?"

"It's settled." The Whitebeard put down his wine bowl. "From now on, if anything comes up, contact me via Den Den Mushi. You open the door, I'll fight. I'll fight, you open the door."

"OK."

Lin Yuan stood up.

"They're gone."

"Won't you have a drink before you leave?"

"I've already drunk it."

The Whitebeard burst into laughter. "Gurara... you're such a fucking stingy person."

Lin Yuan ignored him and turned to walk out of the tavern.

Kaido followed behind him, carrying a bottle of wine. "This wine is good; I'll take it back for Ginny to try."

Ginny doesn't drink.

"Then I'll drink it myself."

In the evening, the Void departed Sphinx Island.

The Den Den Mushi rang.

"Lin Yuan, how are you?" Ginny's voice came through the Den Den Mushi.

"An alliance has been formed. A verbal agreement: no aggression, and mutual assistance."

Ginny laughed on the other end of the Den Den Mushi. "Okay. When are you guys coming back?"

Two days later.

"Be careful on the road. Caesar's worked on something new in the lab, and he said he wants to show it to you."

What is that?

"He said it's a 'device that makes your boat run faster'. I saw it, it's quite a big thing, I don't know if it will even work."

"Let him keep going. If he's unusable, I'll throw him into the sea."

Ginny laughed and hung up the phone.

Kaido walked over, drunk.

"Lin Yuan, do you think that Whitebeard man looks like you?"

How is it similar?

"They're not afraid of death. They don't want to be controlled by others. They all care about themselves."

Lin Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"Maybe," he said.

Kaido burped, leaned against the ship's railing, and looked at the moonlight.

Where to next?

"Let's go back to Hachinosu first. Then, Wano Country."

Kaido's eyes lit up; though drunk, he was now alert. "Fight Kurozumi Orochi?"

"Fight. After defeating Kurozumi Orochi, the entire Wano Country will be ours."

Where is Kozuki Oden?

Lin Yuan looked at the sea, the moonlight reflected in his eyes.

"If he's not blocking the way, we won't hit him. If he is blocking the way, we'll hit him."

Kaido paused for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Oh ho ho... Fine! We're all going to fight anyway!"

Two days later, the outline of Hachinosu appeared on the horizon.

Ginny stood on the dock, holding an account book in her hand and an orange in her mouth.

Kuma stood behind her, silent as always.

Zephyr stood on the Training Ground, watching the Void dock.

Caesar poked his head out of the laboratory and called out, "Captain Lin Yuan! My device—"

"We'll talk about it when we get back." Lin Yuan jumped off the boat. "Let's eat first. I'm hungry."

Kaido jumped off the ship, still carrying the bottle of sake he'd stolen. "Ginny, this is Whitebeard's sake, have a taste."

Ginny took the bottle and smelled it. "I don't drink."

"Then give it to me."

"No, I'm keeping it to entertain my guests."

Kaido: "..."

(End of Chapter 72)