"Old Man, my Little Brother is none of your concern." Sig Flash of Lightning and appeared in front of Weevil, blocking the Whitebeard's outstretched hand.
Jack then jogged over and caught Weevil, who was about to fall.
Weevil's performance was already quite good, considering he withstood three attacks head-on...
In the original work, Akainu was injured when Whitebeard punched him hard during the Marineford War, let alone now that Whitebeard is in much better physical condition than he was three years later.
If it were Admiral engaging in a head-on collision without dodging or avoiding, he would still get injured... at most, slightly less so than Weevil.
Before Whitebeard could speak again, Sig added, "However, if the Old Man is already considering an heir, I think my Little Brother is a good candidate!"
Whitebeard immediately lost all interest...
Normally, given Whitebeard's personality, no one could stop him from wanting to be a father, not even if he refused. However, Sig's "reminder" struck a nerve with Whitebeard.
Indeed, Whitebeard has recently been considering the issue of succession; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to rest easy with such a large family!
Weevil is undoubtedly the most "similar" to Whitebeard, not in personality, but in appearance... You could even say they are related by blood, but Whitebeard was somewhat wronged in this relationship, as he was "stolen".
Whitebeard initially had reservations about Weevil because of this, but seeing how he withstood three blows changed his mind. However, to say that he would directly choose Weevil as his successor...
Whitebeard must be worried!
If you want to adopt him as your son, this "blood relationship" alone becomes the biggest advantage for the "heir." If you don't want to choose him as your heir, it's best not to adopt him at all.
Of course, Whitebeard wouldn't admit anything on the surface. Instead, he angrily bared his teeth and claws, saying, "You brat! Who are you thinking about getting old? An heir? Don't be ridiculous, how could pirates need something like that!"
"Indeed, if you're already thinking about successors, then you're really getting old, and you can't really be considered a pirate anymore." Sig smiled as he looked at Whitebeard.
Whitebeard felt that the brat had seen through his thoughts, so he angrily told him to take his Little Brother and get lost.
"Don't be so heartless! Our Captain is also on his way to the Whole Cake Island, and I can't meet up with him. For the next two months or so, I'll just follow the Old Man around like a servant..." Sig himself to say.
Indeed, this was something that had been agreed upon with Shanks and Beckman beforehand.
Afterwards, the three groups each sent their own messages, making it difficult to arrange a meeting point in the short term.
Then it would be better to wait until next March to meet up in Hakunnos —and by the way, Beckman and Sig could also become familiar faces in the Whitebeard Pirates and the Beasts Pirates, making things easier to talk to then.
Of course, Beckman didn't think Sig could do such a thing, and even suggested that Sig run away after delivering the letter, but Sig refused such a self-deprecating act!
"I don't need it, get lost," the Whitebeard said ruthlessly.
"Don't say that... I'm quite knowledgeable about all kinds of age-related illnesses," Sig said charmingly.
Whitebeard ignored him, but... he didn't forcefully refuse Sig. After all, Sig was representing Shanks to invite the other three emperors to a meeting in Hakunnos in March. If he forcibly drove Sig away and forbade him to come, wouldn't people think he was afraid and dared not attend?
Moreover, even if Sig wasn't allowed on the Moby Dick, he could have gone on the Sea Bass, or even the Spade Ship —seeing their Captain being picked up by the Whitebeard Pirates, Ace ordered the other crew members to retreat before fighting desperately, but no one listened; instead, they silently followed behind.
Although they couldn't get Ace back, it's clear that the other members of the Spade Pirates haven't given up yet.
According to the original storyline, Ace eventually joined the Whitebeard Pirates with his entire crew...
"What are you doing up here?" Jozu asked, looking at Sig with displeasure.
"The Old Man hired me as a temporary advisor..." Sig said, making up a story with a straight face.
"I didn't!" the Whitebeard retorted, cursing.
The nurse in black stockings, who was standing nearby, was already soothingly pressing down on the Whitebeard's arm, about to give him an injection...
At this point, Whitebeard, although he no longer needed to be on an oxygen tube, was already experiencing some health problems.
Unfortunately, Whitebeard was far too sensitive to Observation Haki. Even Sig dared not easily probe his body, otherwise Whitebeard would definitely have been shocked.
Whitebeard made no attempt to hide his "illness" from outsiders.
Indeed, his body is no longer at its peak...
It's even heading towards collapse!
Although it hasn't reached the near-collapse state depicted in the original work three and a half years later, during the Paramount War, it has already begun to weaken.
"How is the Old Man's health?" Sig asked, eager to get closer to the nurse who had just given the Whitebeard an injection.
"Eh? Hehehe, then you should know." The blonde nurse with black stockings didn't answer directly, her tone implying, "You'll know once you get a beating."
Of course, it's impossible to reveal Whitebeard's situation to outsiders!
It would be strange if Sig just asked it so casually...
"Hey, why are you asking these questions?" Marco walked over and asked with dead fish eyes.
"I'm an expert in geriatric diseases... If you don't need it, then forget it." Sig shrugged.
Before long, the Whitebeard Pirates also learned why Sig was there, and they were all holding their breath at Shanks —shouldn't the Whitebeard Pirates organizing this "gathering" for the Four Emperors? This "newcomer" is really arrogant!
Given Sig's existing popularity within the Whitebeard Pirates, for the first two days almost no one on the ship paid him any attention, but starting from the third day...
Marco discovers that Nurse Nois has started flirting with Sig, and the other two nurses also seem to be being "recruited."
While the other crew members ignored Sig during drinking and banquets, Sig became very friendly with the Medical Team...
As the team leader and Ship Doctor, Marco was outraged by Sig's behavior, and in order to prevent this shameless man from continuing to seduce the ship's nurses, he had no choice but to... drink with Jozu every day and invite Sig along.
On the fifth day, things finally started to improve because... Whitey Bay arrived!
"Grandpa!" As soon as little William arrived on the Moby Dick, he ran to Whitebeard.
Then he leaped and landed on Whitebeard's knee.
"Hahaha, little William has grown taller again, just as expected... a man grows up through adventure!" Whitebeard defined little William's previous runaway as an "adventure."
"Of course! I'm amazing, back then...wait, Old Man? You're here too?" Little William only then noticed Sig.
Sig had nothing to complain about; William was naturally closer to Whitebeard.
Just then, Whitebeard sensed something and put little William down from his lap. "Go play with your father first."
Just as young William had taken a couple of steps toward Sig, he felt a heat behind him and saw Whitebeard engulfed in flames...
This is the fourth time in the past few days!
Ace kept trying to slide tackle Whitebeard.
Because there were children around, Ace, who was hiding in the shadows, waited a little while before making William Whitebeard, and then... he was also sent flying by a slap for the fourth time.