Cifer Departs

"What?!" Sengoku was staring at the latest intelligence report in his hand with frustration, while Garp beside him continued munching on his senbei. The crunching sounds made several veins bulge on Sengoku's forehead.

"Garp, you bastard, can you stop eating already?!" Sengoku snatched the senbei from his hand and stuffed them all into his own mouth, chewing loudly as if in retaliation.

"Hahahahaha~ What happened this time to make you so irritated, Sengoku? Tell me so I can enjoy it." Garp paid no attention to having his senbei stolen, laughing as he picked his nose.

"It's news from the New World. See for yourself." Garp immediately stopped fooling around when he heard that and took the report from Sengoku. After all, the New World was the territory of the Four Emperors. If something major happened there, it would be troublesome.

"Whitebeard, who hasn't personally made a move in years, actually destroyed an uninhabited island in the New World? Why?" Garp scratched his brow.

"These are photographs of the island taken by our agents after they left." Sengoku solemnly handed Garp a photo. "Whitebeard fought someone—and he was serious about it!"

"Hahahahaha, it really is a horrific sight!" Garp burst out laughing again as he looked at the island's ruins. "Looks like the balance of the world is about to change again. Someone incredible seems to have appeared among the Whitebeard Pirates!"

According to the agents' report, only the Whitebeard Pirates had docked at that isolated island from beginning to end. After they departed, the agents found no trace of anyone else when they went ashore. That was enough to show that the person who fought Whitebeard was most likely someone aboard Whitebeard's ship.

"What is Whitebeard planning? At his age, can't he just retire peacefully?!" The veins on Sengoku's forehead throbbed faintly.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere aboard the Moby Dick in the distant New World was completely different.

"Cifer! You're actually this strong! Are you really not going to join the Whitebeard Pirates? Old Man is the man who's going to become the Pirate King!" Ace had been chattering in Cifer's ear for an entire day.

Cifer had even considered using Void Release to tear open space and escape. However, there was no Hollow World in this world. While he could tear open space, the other side seemed limited to places he had been before.

Since arriving in this world, aside from the ship, the only place he had been was that island he and Whitebeard had destroyed. He had no desire to fly on his own to the next inhabited island.

"Gurararara~ Is Cifer planning to set sail and form his own pirate crew?" Having witnessed Cifer's strength, Whitebeard no longer intended to take him in as a son. A man with such strength and courage would never submit to another.

"I have no intention of becoming a pirate, Mr. Whitebeard. I'm simply a free man. I want to travel these seas as I please."

Though not all pirates were evil, pirates like Whitebeard and Luffy, who did not bully ordinary civilians, were ultimately a rare minority. Cifer had no desire to bear undeserved infamy.

That said, he would most likely become a wanted "pirate" someday in the future. After all, these seas had no room for someone as free-spirited as him.

"Then where are you going now, free man?" Ace stopped trying to persuade him after hearing Whitebeard's question and Cifer's answer.

Where to? That was a good question!

Cifer knew the general direction of One Piece's plot quite well, but he could no longer remember many of the finer details. Besides, when he had transmigrated, the series had still been nowhere near its end!

But since he was here, he might as well interfere with the plot he knew! As Cifer considered whether to steal King Luffy's companions, an eerie smile like that of a Shinigami elementary schooler appeared on his face. Beside him, Ace suddenly shuddered with goosebumps.

"Achoo—"

At that moment, Luffy, who was eating in Foosha Village, suddenly sneezed. "That's strange. Why did I suddenly sneeze?"

"East Blue, I suppose. Or maybe I'll wander around the Grand Line," Cifer answered casually.

The moment Ace heard "East Blue," his eyes lit up. He grabbed Cifer's hands. "My little brother is in East Blue! If my calculations are right, he'll be setting sail soon. If you happen to meet him, please give this to him for me!"

Ace pulled a palm-sized piece of paper from his pocket and stuffed it into Cifer's hand. It was naturally his Vivre Card.

"My brother's name is Monkey D. Luffy. He doesn't have much of a reputation yet, but that guy will definitely stir up plenty of trouble before long!"

I know.

No one understood better than Cifer just how much trouble King Luffy could cause. But for the current Cifer, the trouble Luffy could stir up was nothing much.

As for the Vivre Card, if he met Luffy, he would naturally give it to him. However, he would also tear off a small piece and keep it. After all, it was still unknown how much of an effect a little butterfly like him could create.

"East Blue would be a bit troublesome. If we travel from the New World to East Blue, Marine Headquarters won't simply turn a blind eye. It could lead to a major conflict."

Marco stepped forward to analyze the situation. "How about we take you to the first half of the Grand Line instead?"

After thinking it over, Cifer agreed that it would indeed be inconvenient for the Whitebeard Pirates to send him to East Blue. First, it would avoid unnecessary trouble. Second, it would be bad if the Marines mistook him for a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"Then I won't go to East Blue. Please take me to Fish-Man Island instead, everyone. I'll travel the rest of the way on my own!" Cifer decided to change his destination and go see the legendary Poseidon.

"Gurararara~ I didn't expect you to decide on a place to part ways so quickly, Cifer brat. Let's hold banquets every day until then to send Cifer off!"

"Yeah!" The Whitebeard Pirates shouted in agreement, while only Marco's veins bulged.

"Old Man! You absolutely cannot drink any more alcohol! Where are the nurses? Get out here, all of you!" Under Marco's scolding, Whitebeard could only obediently sit still and allow the young nurses to attach a series of medical devices to him.

"What a strict son!" Whitebeard sounded as though he were complaining, but the upward curve of his lips betrayed the joy in his heart. For someone who had longed for family since childhood, nothing was better than the concern of family.

Seeing Whitebeard's smile, Cifer recalled something many people had said in his previous life: Whitebeard had already found his own One Piece.

It was the feeling of having a family!

"Cheers!"

Under Whitebeard's envious gaze, Cifer, Ace, and the others held banquets for several days straight. Over those days, they truly became close friends who could speak from the heart.

By the time Cifer stood on Fish-Man Island, Ace was crying tears and snot. "Cifer, will we meet again someday? When we meet next time, you have to be happy! Don't forget us..."

Many members of the Whitebeard Pirates were moved by Ace's crying and shed tears as well.

After all, the New World was the foundation of the Whitebeard Pirates. This entire crew had already wasted a great deal of time leaving their base to escort him to Fish-Man Island. Though they were reluctant to part, it was time to say goodbye.

Though Marco and the others said nothing, they all looked at Cifer in unison, waiting for his farewell.

"Of course we will. We're good friends, everyone!"

"Gurararara~ Let's go, my sons!" Whitebeard gave the order to depart while looking at Cifer. In the last glimpse of the island within Cifer's sight, he saw Blackbeard crying bitterly behind Ace as well.

What a formidable man! Even if he feared Cifer's existence, he could still pretend to be reluctant to part. As strong as Cifer was, he had long noticed Blackbeard watching him from time to time, along with the vicious gleam in his eyes.

It was not time to deal with him yet. Cifer touched Ace's Vivre Card in his coat pocket. Hopefully, the day he needed to use it would never come.