Whitebeard and Ace's Encounter

In Yaen's view, Ace's greatest value for now ultimately lay only in the blood flowing through his veins.

As the son of Pirate King Roger, once Ace's identity was exposed, the Navy would do anything to erase him in order to uphold justice and prove that executing Pirate King Roger back then—at the cost of ushering in the Great Pirate Era—had been the right decision.

In other words, Ace was a true powder keg, one that could trigger a war capable of changing the era at any moment.

On top of that, Whitebeard's abnormal behavior made Yaen understand Ace's value even more clearly.

"A powder keg that could blow up the sea at any moment. If used properly..."

Just as Yaen was secretly pondering this, the Den Den Mushi inside Xiao Jin rang, making Yaen's eyes light up. He hurriedly answered it.

"Lord Yaen, the Pure Gold Lanternfish is showing signs that it's about to surface." Enel's voice came through, filled with excitement.

"Location and time," Yaen asked.

However, when Yaen compared the location Enel reported with the chart, his expression darkened.

That location was right along the route the Whitebeard Pirates were traveling.

If the Whitebeard Pirates did not change course, then when the Pure Gold Lanternfish surfaced, there was a very high chance it would encounter the Whitebeard Pirates.

If Yaen made a move against the Pure Gold Lanternfish during that time, everything would undoubtedly be exposed to the Whitebeard Pirates.

However, Yaen had already been waiting for the Pure Gold Lanternfish to appear for more than a year. Fisher Tiger's Sun Pirates and Enel had also spent nearly a year continuously tracking and monitoring it as it drew closer.

If he missed this opportunity, setting aside how long he would have to wait for the next one...