"Kid, you just said you wanted to surpass your teacher."
Ace froze, not expecting him to bring up Mu Chen. Then he craned his neck defiantly and shouted, "That's right! My teacher can beat you, and so can I!"
The moment he said that, the Moby Dick erupted with laughter.
"Hahahaha! Has this kid lost his mind? He actually thinks he can beat Pops!"
"Who's his teacher, anyway? Talking that big-probably some no-name pirate!"
Whitebeard raised a hand to silence the laughter. A golden glint flashed in his cloudy eyes as he said mildly, "Oh? So your teacher is quite formidable?"
"Who is he?"
Whitebeard wanted to find out whether Ace was telling the truth.
But Ace was no fool. A Marine teaching a pirate-if he dared reveal that, it would deal a considerable blow to Mu Chen's reputation.
"Hmph! You think I'd tell you? One day, I'll-!"
Ace's stubborn streak flared up again, and he struggled to stand.
"You'll what?"
"End up dragged to the execution platform by the Marines, just like Pirate King Roger?"
Ace had no idea why Whitebeard had suddenly brought up Roger, and the question left him speechless.
Whitebeard rose to his feet, his enormous frame casting a shadow that almost completely engulfed Ace.
He reached out, not to fight, but to pat the boy gently on the head, his movements as awkward as an attempt at a caress.
"Kid, do you know why Roger lost?"
"Because he was too lonely. He had companions aboard his ship, but no family."
"I, Edward Newgate, don't need the title of the strongest, and I don't need the Pirate King's treasure. All I want is for my family to live on this sea with smiles on their faces."
Whitebeard's voice echoed across the deck, every word carrying immense