"I'm not interested in the Marines," Lin Mo said calmly. "I'm not interested in pirates or the Revolutionary Army, either. I just want to be a traveler with no ties. That's all."
Whitebeard kept his eyes on Lin Mo and grinned. "So you promised him you wouldn't join the pirates or the Revolutionary Army, and that's why he gave up, right?"
"Even without a promise, I wouldn't join," Lin Mo said casually.
"You want freedom, no rules holding you down. How does being a pirate get in the way of that? Pirates are the freest people on these seas. If you're worried the Marines will come after you, they won't dare touch you while I'm around."
Lin Mo raised his head and met Whitebeard's eyes without fear. "I know what I'm doing. I'm not afraid of anyone becoming my enemy, either. Being a traveler is my choice. Having no one hold me back and being able to do what I want whenever I want—that's real freedom."
Whitebeard's expression darkened slightly. "So no matter what, you won't become my son?"
Lin Mo remained utterly unruffled. "You're not the kind of person who forces others to do something they don't want to do."
"Hmph! Brat, don't think you can read my mind!"
"I'm not." Lin Mo picked up his Wine Gourd and said easily, "I'm just stating the facts. Drink today, worry tomorrow. Come on, let's keep drinking."
With that, Lin Mo did something rare and raised his Wine Gourd first.
Whitebeard stared at him in silence. A few seconds later, he picked up his own jug and burst out laughing. "Gurararara! Drink today, worry tomorrow. I like that! Gurararara! You really are a kid after my own heart. Fine. If you don't want to be my son, I won't force you.