The Challenger to the Strongest Man

"Pops, you said you were letting me keep it for you, not giving it to me?"

Marco studied the gold coin Pops had tossed to him; it was a currency he had never seen before.

"How could I give it to you?! This was a gift from a new friend I met today; I can't just hand it over that easily."

"Fine..." Marco smiled faintly.

Pops was still as stingy as ever.

As long as it was treasure that belonged to him, no one could ever hope to take it away.

He never treated his sons to drinks when they docked at an island, and as for a meal, don't even think about it.

He could wear the same shirt and pants for years, right up until they fell apart.

Marco could only feel helpless regarding his father's stinginess.

Because Pops sent all his money back to his own hometown, using it to help the people there improve their lives.

"Gold coins from another world, huh?" Marco muttered to himself.

"Alright, don't just stand there. That kid is about to start again," Whitebeard told Marco.

"Oh, he's coming again? I understand."

Marco raised his arms, his blue flame wings flapping as he took to the sky.

"Sorry for the interruption by my son; he really is a very filial boy, isn't he?! Gurarara!!" Edward Newgate turned his head to speak to Lu Bian and Shi Tianwu on the other end of the video chat.

"Pops, who did you say was about to start?"

"Are you having trouble over there?" Lu Bian asked.

"Oh, it's just an interesting kid."

As he spoke, a flash of crimson light streaked past, attacking from behind Whitebeard.

"That's him."

With an inexplicable smile on his face, Edward Newgate rose with lightning speed, clenching his fist to strike at the flames ambushing him.

Lu Bian and Shi Tianwu could both easily tell that Whitebeard wasn't taking it seriously; he even managed to steady his IV stand with his free hand.

The flames were sent flying by Whitebeard's punch, and through the video feed, Lu Bian and Shi Tianwu clearly saw a man shrouded in fire.

"Fire Fist!!"

With his fist burning, the man charged at Whitebeard once more.

He threw his punch.

The flames flew out in the shape of a fist, instantly expanding until they were even larger than Whitebeard himself.

"Hmph."

Whitebeard threw a punch of his own, colliding with the imposing Fire Fist.

It dissipated.

The scorching giant fist of fire was scattered by Whitebeard's strike, and the sparks that fell onto the deck extinguished one by one.

"I see that young man's body transforming into flames," Shi Tianwu noted.

"That's a special ability from their world."

"There is a strange kind of fruit; if you eat it, you gain all sorts of bizarre powers. Legend says it grants the power of a devil, so they are called Devil Fruits," Lu Bian explained to Shi Tianwu.

"Devil Fruits are divided into three categories: Logia, Paramecia, and Zoan."

"The guy causing trouble for Whitebeard is someone who ate the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit."

"The Flame-Flame Fruit—it turns you into fire?"

"Exactly."

While Lu Bian and Shi Tianwu were talking, Whitebeard got slightly more serious and knocked Portgas D. Ace unconscious.

Marco the Phoenix appeared right on cue, dragging the unconscious Ace away.

"The entertainment for today is over," Whitebeard said.

He sat back down, resting his chin on his palm with his elbow on the armrest, and continued his IV drip, his smile unchanged.

"Pops, how will you handle him?" Shi Tianwu asked.

"Him? Ace?"

"Whatever."

"Let's see how long he can keep this up," Edward Newgate replied to Shi Tianwu.

"This is his eleventh ambush on me, hehe!"

"In my world, the consequences of failing to challenge a strong opponent are quite severe," Shi Tianwu said.

"Oh? How severe?" Whitebeard asked.

"In most cases, death."

"A small portion of people end up crippled."

"A very few are brutally humiliated, their bodies twisted and altered."

"And the most miserable ones can no longer even be considered human."

"Those associated with the challenger may even suffer severe punishment."

Shi Tianwu did not describe it in too much detail; he did not want to dwell on the wretched state of those fellows either.

"Hmm, I understand."

"I only give those who challenge me a few chances, but if it were challenging other powerhouses on the sea, then it would be just as you said," Old Man Whitebeard said.

"In any world, I feel that as long as people exist, it is a cruel world."

"Where there are kind people, there are detestable ones."

"Gurararara~!!"

As he spoke, Edward Newgate laughed out loud once again.

Why had he started lecturing a young man from another world on boring, grand principles?

He really was getting old.

Once a man reached a certain age, he subconsciously began to spout the life lessons he had accumulated over the years.

"..."

The other party was not his "son." Once Old Man Whitebeard realized this, he reined in his exuberant desire to express himself.

Because the other party had absolutely no connection to his own world, Whitebeard felt he could say anything to him. But if he told a friend from another world everything, wouldn't it make them feel "pressured"?

It was better not to say too much.

Edward Newgate distracted himself by studying the functions of the chat group.

What is this? Click.

What is this? Click.

"What is 'Shared Resources'?"

"What does 'Downloading' mean?"

Old Man Whitebeard watched as a download progress bar appeared in the sub-menu of the chat box. When the bar reached 100%, a piece of knowledge, whose meaning and profound implications he could fully grasp, was branded into his mind.

"I downloaded something called Ultimate Boundless Qigong."

"Is it a martial art? Kung fu?"

"Old Man Whitebeard, you downloaded Ultimate Boundless Qigong?"

Lu Bian was delighted.

It was too lonely being the only one learning this Ultimate Boundless Qigong!

It would be much more interesting to have a classmate to study with~!

In truth, Lu Bian could sense that Shi Tianwu was somewhat disappointed in his ability to grasp the teachings.

However, Shi Tianwu was very patient, teaching him and explaining the essentials of cultivation over and over again, which made Lu Bian feel a bit guilty. Shi Tianwu was just like those excellent, highly responsible teachers Lu Bian had encountered back in school.

"My IV drip is finished."

"I think I'll give this Ultimate Boundless Qigong a try."

Old Man Whitebeard pulled out the needle, rose from his exclusive seat, and began to practice the fist techniques of the Ultimate Boundless Qigong somewhat clumsily right there on the spacious deck of the Moby Dick.