A Father's Love Is as Mighty as a Mountain... Crumbling and Splitting the Earth

Sea Circle Calendar 1494, on an unnamed island somewhere in the New World.

The whale-shaped Moby Dick was moored off the coast, and a golden full moon cast shimmering light across the sea.

The crew were all still youngsters. After replenishing their fresh water, they held a bonfire party on the spot, singing and dancing until they were dead drunk. They lay sprawled on the beach like lumps of mud, mumbling nonsense.

No one worried about an enemy attack. In his prime, Whitebeard Edward Newgate was still a human natural disaster through and through. Even the strongest Marine forces would have to be prepared for total annihilation if they faced him.

"Zehahahaha..."

Marshall D. Teach, wearing a beret, sat alone beside a bonfire with his knees hugged to his chest.

The flames rose and danced, and the firewood crackled and popped.

Teach was twelve years old, with an honest-looking face that even made him seem a little slow-witted.

He had joined the Whitebeard Pirates of his own accord and currently served as an apprentice. Tonight, he had volunteered to stand watch.

Gazing at the calm sea, Teach picked up the rum beside him and took a swig. A flash of greed passed through his eyes.

Those lost in pleasant dreams and those pursuing their dreams were destined to walk different paths.

Whoosh-

A sudden gust of wind swept in from nowhere, making Teach narrow his eyes.

Then everything went dark. Something covered his vision, and a foul, fishy stench filled his nostrils.

"Enemy attack..."

Teach sprang to his feet and tore the thing off his face. He was about to shout a warning when he looked around and found everything quiet, without an enemy in sight.

"What the heck came flying at me like that?"

Teach rubbed the thing in his hands. It was a huge piece of black silk, trimmed with lace.

He had to spread his arms wide to unfold it, revealing its true triangular shape-

A gigantic pair of women's panties!

A chill of disgust ran through Teach, and he dropped them into the bonfire.

The silk caught fire at once, and flames more than two meters high shot up.

Teach glanced warily around. Not only did his unease fail to fade, but an even more ominous feeling came over him.

It was as if some terrifying presence had set its sights on him, and as if he had lost something, too.

"Zehahahaha... I must be imagining things, right?"

Cold sweat beaded on Teach's forehead. "If her panties are this big, just how huge is that fat woman?"

At the moment, only the Whitebeard Pirates were on this deserted island.

As for anyone on the ship that size...

Diamond Jozu? His briefs were diamond-studded. Teach had seen him naked in the communal baths.

Kozuki Oden? That stinky fish egg wore a baggy loincloth that pulled his legs into a split.

The few young giants? Those berserkers hated restrictions and went commando.

Especially the warriors who wore battle skirts. When they stepped over his head, their sturdy bells swung back and forth. They were utterly shameless!

They were so damn tall, yet they had no idea whether they should cover the front or the bottom!

So that left only Whitebeard Newgate...

Teach thought of how Whitebeard roamed the seas with a bunch of children and had earned the title of "strongest man," though he himself dismissed it.

As if struck by lightning, Teach had a bizarre thought flash through his mind.

"Could it be that Pops actually... wants to be a mom?"

Does this ever end?! How can the Martin Family, with only one street to its name, have so many sweeping sagas?!

With huge dark circles under his eyes, Homing raged inwardly.

"Brutality: the Martin Family of Cook Street"

"Tyranny: the Martin Family of Cook Street"

"Bloodshed: the Martin Family of Cook Street"

A full day and two nights had passed. Sunlight streamed through the window for the second time, and Homing had finally reached "Revenge: the Martin Family of Cook Street."

The story had reached the third generation of the Martin Family. The coldhearted eldest daughter, the queen of the underworld, had reclaimed Cook Street for the Martin Family.

A queen who rules one street? The underworld really isn't much to speak of!

Even the good-tempered Homing couldn't help wanting to send Cipher Pol to investigate the Martin Family. They smuggled weapons, murdered people, and set fires. They ought to be thrown into Impel Down sooner rather than later to reflect on their actions!

During that time, Homing had also tried to get Sullivan to read in his place, but every attempt had invariably set Lu Ye screaming.

He was such a tiny little thing, yet his voice was shrill enough to split Homing's head open!

It was so piercing that even covering his ears couldn't spare him the damage.

Are all children like this? Or is it just my Longinus?

Homing badly wanted to ask Sullivan, but he was afraid of hurting Lu Ye's pride.

What was wrong with a child not wanting to sleep?

No, it wasn't that he didn't want to sleep. When Liana came by yesterday, the child had been yawning nonstop.

Having read underworld novels all night, Homing had thought victory was in sight. Overwhelmed by fatherly love and with tears in his eyes, he had ushered Liana out and told her to go back and rest.

As soon as Liana left, the little fellow had perked right back up.

Homing was on the verge of breaking down.

"Did you sleep well last night?"

Liana knocked on the door and smiled at the father and son reading on the bed.

The woman had a serene air about her. In her white dress, she looked like a daisy swaying in the breeze.

Lu Ye opened his mouth in a yawn and nestled in Homing's arms, then glanced at his blond dad with his blue eyes.

What are you waiting for? Can't you see I'm sleepy? Show her out!

Don't let Mother disturb our harmonious father-son time.

"I told you Longinus liked his father. It looks like he doesn't want to be apart from you at all."

Liana waved at Lu Ye, her eyes smiling. "Do you need me to keep giving you two some time alone?"

"No! Please... please wait."

Homing pulled Liana inside and entrusted Lu Ye to Sullivan for the moment. Seeing that Lu Ye wasn't crying or screaming, he let out a long breath and shut the door tightly.

The older blond man's hair was disheveled, and his face was haggard. His eyes were dark and bloodshot, with tears welling up in them.

With no one else around, Homing buried his head in Liana's embrace and cried, feeling aggrieved.

Jinbao floated beside Lu Ye and muttered, "Why aren't you crying anymore?"

Lu Ye took a sip of milk and said calmly, "The education is done. It's time to see how effective it was."

His super Pallet Town human physique allowed Lu Ye to hear the conversation behind the door, though only faintly.

"Liana, I can barely take it anymore!"

"Homing, children are all like this when they're little."

"No, you might not understand. This child can make a piercing noise, waaah, waaah! It's like someone shoved a drill into my brain!"

"Doesn't that just show how healthy and strong our Longinus is?"

"He grabs my mustache and yanks it down as hard as he can. I'm already thinking about shaving it off because it hurts so much!"

Jinbao remarked, "Little Lu Ye, I get it now. In Blondie Dad's eyes, you're a flashbang and a razor rolled into one."

Lu Ye took a sip of milk and nodded silently.

Behind the door, Liana continued to comfort him. "He doesn't know any better now. He'll be fine when he grows up."

"No," Homing protested, breaking down. "Doffy and Rosy weren't like this when they were little!"

Liana smiled faintly. "Sullivan looked after Doffy and Rosy when they were little. You should be happy Longinus likes you so much."

"That's not it! I think he just wants to torment me."

Homing wiped away his tears, his voice full of bitterness:

"He seems like he doesn't need sleep. Every time he sees me about to doze off, he screams in my ear, but as soon as you come, he pretends to yawn."

Jinbao covered his mouth and snickered. "Blondie Dad finally found out the truth."

Behind the door, Liana said sympathetically, "How about I look after Longinus? You get some rest first."

Homing sighed. "What worries me now is whether the two of us can take proper care of this child after we leave the Holy Land, without the family butler to help us."

"Homing," Liana said, frowning, "you aren't planning to leave this child behind in Mary Geoise by himself, are you?"

Lu Ye's eyes lit up at that. Sure, that works!

"Absolutely not! The Donquixote Family will never abandon family."

Homing shook his head firmly, as if making a declaration to join the party. "We've planned this for so long. The whole family must leave together."

"Looks like I really do need to up the dosage!"

Lu Ye clenched his little fists, his eyes full of killing intent.

Blondie Dad and Lady Daisy came out.

"Longinus, how about staying with Mommy today?"

Liana gently stroked Lu Ye's forehead.

"Waaah! Waaah!"

Lu Ye screamed at the top of his lungs without shedding a single tear, his cries piercing their ears like a demonic sound.

"Then would you like to go rest at the nursery with Butler Sullivan?"

"Waaah! Waaah!"

"How about the nurse looking after you?"

"Waaah! Waaah!"

"Then... how about going to see your big brothers Doffy and Rosy?"

"Waaah! Waaah!"

With every question Liana asked, Homing's heart sank a little further. Now, all hope was gone.

Homing turned away, rubbed the spot between his brows, and asked quietly:

"Um... does Longinus still want to stay with Daddy?"

Lu Ye fell silent at once. He bit open another bottle of milk, spat the nipple onto the floor, and slowly nodded as he looked at Blondie Dad provocatively.

Liana gave Homing a look that said she couldn't help him.

"Liana, he's got it in for me!"

Homing wanted to cry, but had no tears left. "Just like the Dark Queen Martin Jenny had it in for her enemy, Crocodile Paul!"

Liana couldn't help laughing. She had never imagined hearing those words from Homing's mouth. Patting him lightly on the back, she said:

"Don't talk nonsense. What bad intentions could a little child have?"

Jinbao gave a strange giggle. "He's got plenty of bad intentions. Half a pound of rotten heart and eight ounces of wicked thoughts."

Lu Ye rolled his eyes at him, spread his arms, and threw himself into Homing's embrace.