The pirates felt as though they had been pardoned. They scattered faster than rabbits, though Teach secretly glanced at Mu Chen before leaving, his eyes full of wariness.
Once only the core members remained on deck, Whitebeard spoke. "Marco, Ace, you two stay. He won't fully trust a Marine admiral. With his two most dependable sons beside him, he'll feel more at ease."
Marco nodded, spread his Phoenix wings, and landed on a nearby mast, remaining alert at all times.
Ace stood beside Whitebeard, staring at Mu Chen with a puzzled expression. He truly could not understand what his teacher wanted to discuss with his old man. After all, one was a Marine admiral, while the other was one of the Four Emperors.
Mu Chen walked into an open area at the center of the deck, his back to the setting sun and his shadow stretching long behind him.
He first looked at Whitebeard, then turned toward Ace. A gentle smile curved his lips as he said lightly, "Ace, it's been a long time. How has your Haki improved?"
The way Mu Chen addressed Ace was natural and somewhat affectionate, utterly unlike the way a Marine admiral would speak to a pirate.
Whitebeard and Marco were both stunned. That form of address was far too strange.
Ace was even more bewildered. He could not understand what Mu Chen meant, and instinctively replied, "Teacher Mu Chen, what is this...?"
When Whitebeard heard Ace's reply, his eyes widened sharply, and Murakumogiri nearly slipped from his hand.
"Uh... what did you call him?"
Whitebeard felt as though he had misheard. How could a pirate possibly call a Marine admiral his teacher?
Only then did Ace realize that he had never told his old man about Mu Chen's identity. He scratched his head awkwardly