Time-Space Summon System! Target: Peak Whitebeard!

Dead silence.

Chen Ye's shout, poured out with every ounce of strength he had and nearly tearing his throat apart, plunged the already stifling area at the bow of the Moby Dick into an even deeper silence.

The wind stopped.

Even the sound of the waves seemed to vanish.

Everyone's movements seemed to freeze.

Marco, captain of the First Division, fully opened his half-lidded eyes, his scrutiny utterly undisguised.

Jozu, captain of the Third Division, showed a trace of astonishment on his diamond-hard face for the first time.

Vista of the Fifth Division, "Flower Sword," instinctively tightened his fingers around his sword hilt.

They had seen plenty of people challenge Pops the moment they came aboard. They had seen plenty more come just to watch the spectacle. They had also seen plenty of people scared shitless by Pops.

But this was the first time they had seen someone throw himself flat on the ground and cry out that he wanted to be a "son."

What the hell was this brat thinking?

Chen Ye pressed his head firmly against the deck, using the pain in his forehead to preserve the last shred of his consciousness.

He could feel dozens of blade-sharp gazes fixed on him. The heaviest and most terrifying of them came from the man directly in front of him.

That was the King who ruled these seas, the World's Strongest Man, Whitebeard Edward Newgate.

Chen Ye did not dare raise his head.

He had wagered his life, the system's activation, and everything he had on this gamble.

He was betting on this man's legendary obsession with the word "family."

Time passed second by second.

Every second felt as long as a century.

Just as Chen Ye felt his heart was about to be crushed by the invisible pressure, a booming voice that seemed capable of shaking the sky shattered the dead silence.

"Gurarararara..."

The laughter began low, then grew louder and louder until it became a hearty roar that swept across the entire deck.

It was filled with undisguised appreciation and amusement.

Chen Ye Suddenly Looked Up. Tear tracks, squeezed out at just the right moment, still hung on his face, and a humble hint of anticipation filled his eyes.

He saw the mountain-like man raise the enormous wine jug in his hand to his mouth and take a huge swig.

Liquor dripped down his crescent-shaped white mustache.

"Gurarararara!"

Whitebeard lowered the wine jug. His Golden Eyes looked down upon the kneeling Chen Ye, carrying a rare trace of gentleness beneath their majesty.

"Brat."

"Do you want to be my son?"

Chen Ye's heart pounded wildly. He nodded with all his might, making "mm-hmm" sounds through his tightly shut mouth, terrified that opening it would reveal the ecstasy in his heart.

"Gurarararara!"

Whitebeard laughed again. He extended his enormous hand, large enough to cover Chen Ye's entire body, and pointed from afar.

"Then come aboard!"

"From today onward, you're my son!"

The instant those words fell, the frozen air around them instantly thawed.

"Ohhhhh!"

"We've got another new brother!"

"Pops really does love taking in sons! Hahahaha!"

"Hey! Brat, get up! We're family from now on!"

The crew erupted into earthshaking cheers and laughter. Marco helplessly scratched his Pineapple Head, while Vista released his sword hilt and smiled as well.

The oppressive atmosphere was swept away.

Even the gloom hanging over the ship because of Thatch's death and Ace's departure seemed to fade somewhat in the face of this sudden interlude.

Amid the hearty laughter, just as Chen Ye felt happiness was about to sweep him off his feet, that cold Mechanical Voice rang through his mind once more—the sound he had longed to hear most.

[Ding!]

[Detected a core change in the host's identity...]

[Identity established: Rookie Crew Member of the Whitebeard Pirates!]

[Time-Space Summon System activated.]

[Initial system energy infusion complete...]

[Core function S-rank · God's Analysis... fully activated!]

It was here!

Chen Ye's body trembled faintly with excitement. He forcefully suppressed the exhilaration in his heart to keep himself from laughing out loud.

He squeezed out two more tears and wiped his face carelessly with his sleeve. Making choked, grateful sounds, he staggered to his feet with the help of the other crew members.

"Thank you... Thank you, Pops..."

"Thank you, big brothers..."

His act was flawless.

No one noticed that this boy, who looked overwhelmed with gratitude and tears of joy, was wildly excited inside.

He had succeeded!

His gamble had paid off!

From a menial servant who could be thrown overboard to feed the fish at any moment, he had Ascended to Heaven and become Whitebeard's son in name!

More importantly, the system... had finally activated!

"Brat, what's your name?"

Whitebeard's voice came again.

Chen Ye jolted and quickly bowed. "Pops! My name is Chen Ye!"

"Chen Ye?" Whitebeard nodded. "Gurararara, not a bad name. Marco!"

"Yes, Pops." Marco stepped forward in response.

"This brat will follow you from now on. Let him start as a Rookie Crew Member."

"Understood."

After arranging everything, Whitebeard seemed somewhat tired. He leaned back against his chair once more and Closed His Eyes, as if he had merely done something insignificant.

But for Chen Ye, it was a world-shaking change.

He restrained the urge to immediately study the system, but his gaze still uncontrollably fell upon Whitebeard's massive body.

God's Analysis?

How was he supposed to use this function?

[God's Analysis: Through Physical Contact, data analysis may be performed on target individuals possessing legendary status.]

[Upon completion of analysis, a corresponding SSR Summon Pool will be established.]

Physical Contact?

Chen Ye's pupils widened slightly.

His gaze fell upon Whitebeard's enormous hand resting on the armrest, covered in needle marks and scars.

The opportunity seemed to be right in front of him.

But... how could he do it without arousing suspicion?

A newly acknowledged "son" was already eager to touch the World's Strongest Man? The very act was full of suspicious implications.

Chen Ye's mind raced.

He had it!

A look of incomparably "filial" devotion immediately appeared on his face. He took a few steps and carefully circled behind Whitebeard.

"Um... Pops."

His voice was quiet, carrying a trace of timidity and eagerness to please.

Whitebeard did not open his eyes, merely making an "Hm?" sound through his nasal cavity.

The surrounding crew members all watched him curiously, wondering what trick this new little brother was about to pull.

Chen Ye took a Deep Breath and spoke in the most sincere, affectionate tone he could muster.

"You... seem very tired."

"I... Back home, I often massaged the backs and shoulders of my elders. I'm pretty good at it."

"How about... letting your son massage your back and show some filial piety?"

The entire deck fell silent again.

Even Marco wore a strange expression.

Massage Pops's back?

This kid really knew how to make himself useful.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, the corner of Whitebeard's mouth curled upward slightly as he rested with his eyes closed.

"Gurarara... What an interesting son."

He did not refuse.

That was consent!

Chen Ye rejoiced inwardly. He no longer hesitated, stepping forward at once and rising onto his toes. His still slightly trembling hand gently and tentatively landed on Whitebeard's broad shoulder, as wide as a mountain ridge.

The instant his palm came into contact with Whitebeard's skin.

[Ding!]

[Legendary target individual detected: Edward Newgate!]

[Individual status: Elderly · Gravely ill.]

[Strength: Less than one-tenth of peak.]

[Analysis requirements met. S-rank · God's Analysis initiated!]

[Beginning analysis of target individual's Peak Period Data Model...]

[Establishing SSR Character Card Pool...]

[Card Pool Character: "World's Strongest Man" — Edward Newgate (Peak)!]

[Current analysis progress: 0.01%...]

A torrent of information streamed through Chen Ye's mind like a waterfall.

While vigorously swinging his little fists and pretending to massage Whitebeard's back, he absorbed the shocking information in his heart.

It could be analyzed!

It really could!

And the target of the analysis was not the old man before him, covered in tubes and ravaged by illness, but his Peak Form!

"Gurarara... Put some more strength into it, brat. Didn't you eat?"

Whitebeard's contented voice came from ahead.

"Yes, Pops!"

Chen Ye quickly answered and put more force into his hands. The progress bar in his mind also climbed slowly but steadily.

0.02%...

0.03%...

At that moment, the system's final and most crucial message finally appeared.

[God-Tier Summoning Instructions: Once the analysis rate of any SSR Character Card Pool reaches 100%, the host will gain one opportunity to enter that character's "Peak Timeline."]

[Within the "Peak Timeline," the host must, within a limited time, use any means to persuade the target individual in their peak state to agree to become the host's "Summoned Person."]

[Once the contract is formed, the host may summon that legendary individual's Peak Form to descend and fight at any time in This Timeline!]

Boom!

Chen Ye's mind felt as though it had been struck by a bolt of lightning.

He stopped massaging Whitebeard's back, his entire body freezing in place.

Summon... Peak Whitebeard?

His gaze seemed to pierce through the man's back before him, as though he could see another time and space—one where there was no illness, no injury, no betrayal; where that man wielded the Supreme Grade Sword Murakumogiri and could shatter islands and overturn seas through his own power alone... the true Emperor of the seas!

So... this was the system's true purpose!

"Hm?"

Perhaps sensing something unusual behind him, Whitebeard let out a questioning sound through his nasal cavity.

"What's wrong, brat?"