Chapter 24: Ten Years Apart, Four Years Left

Words : 1241 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

"Dear, you're just too low-key, even your son looks down on you." Holding her husband around the neck, Whitey Bay rubbed her chin against his hair as she spoke. "It's fine. The little guy will understand one day," Roy replied casually. "He seems to really like Pop's side. Why don't we send him over there?" "You want him to keep Newgate company?" "Pops doesn't like seeing you, but he adores the boy. And Pops is getting older... It might be good for him to stay there." "Then let's do it. Then I'll take you traveling," Roy said. "Really?" Whitey Bay said excitedly. "Yeah. Let's go out and see the world. Things are only going to get more chaotic in the next few years." "Deal." And just like that, they set sail, departing from their base, heading toward the Whitebeard Pirates. In the New World, it's not easy to find someone, but there's a thing called a Vivre Card. Each captain and vice-captain had one. Following the direction of the card's movement, they reached the Whitebeard Pirates four days later. "Pops, there's a ship approaching!" "Who is it?" Whitebeard sat on his massive throne, an IV drip attached to his arm. His iconic captain's hat had been replaced with a headband, his hair had thinned with age, and he'd decided the bandana looked better. His lips curled slightly in displeasure. At sixty-eight years old, he was undeniably an old man now. One of his men looked through the telescope and said joyfully, "It's Sister Whitey Bay's icebreaker ship!" "Whitey Bay's ship?" Whitebeard's hand, which had been reaching for his sake, paused midair. "Pops, Big Bro is here! I saw him on the ship!" Marco said excitedly. "It's been ages since we saw Big Bro!" Jozu clapped his hands. "Yeah, it really has," Thatch and the others nodded. "What are they here for?!" Whitebeard squinted, clearly not thrilled. "Pops, it's been ten years since you and Big Bro last met, hasn't it?" Marco reminded him. "Mm." Doing the math, it really had been ten years. They had split up twelve years ago, and while they saw each other in the first two years, Roy stopped coming after that, only Whitey Bay would bring their son to visit. Before the ship had even fully docked, a figure leapt across and landed on the Moby Dick. "Grandpa Whitebeard, I'm here!" With hair just like Roy's, little Loxus appeared in front of Whitebeard. "Gurararara! Little Loxus, you finally came!" Whitebeard pulled him into a hug. "Heehee! Grandpa Whitebeard, I missed you!" the boy said, hugging his arm without a shred of fear, despite facing one of the most feared men on the seas. "If you missed me, you should've visited sooner! Gurararara!" Whitebeard laughed happily. "I'm telling you, I fought some grown-ups and won! One punch each time! I'm way stronger than Dad now!" Loxus waved his arms excitedly. "You? Compare yourself to your dad? Gurararara! You have no idea what your father's really like." Whitebeard laughed, then turned to see Roy walking over, a barrel of sake in hand. "Big Bro!" "Big Bro!!" Marco and the others came up, thrilled to greet him. It had indeed been a while since Roy saw them—each one now in their prime. "Long time no see, everyone," Roy greeted with a smile. "Ten years, Big Bro! I missed you so much!" Marco said as he hugged him. "I came to check in, and also, I have a favor to ask," Roy replied. "I knew you came with something in mind," Whitebeard said, staring at Roy. "I brought you sake," Roy said, placing the jug in front of him. Loxus looked between his father and Whitebeard, totally confused about their relationship. Everyone else showed immense respect to Whitebeard, but his own dad didn't seem to. "So? What is it?" Whitebeard opened the jug and took a whiff. Yep—strong liquor. Roy had made a fortune brewing and selling liquor. Of all the dozens of allied pirate crews, Whitey Bay's was the richest. They sent money and wine every year, and Whitebeard knew Roy was behind it. "Whitey Bay and I are going on a trip. Loxus loves being here, so we want him to stay here and let him learn from you." Roy said. Before Whitebeard could reply, Loxus was already overjoyed. "Dad! Mom! Really?! I can really stay with Grandpa Whitebeard?!" "You really like it here, don't you? Then stay for a while. This kid's getting harder to handle anyway. Pops, sorry to trouble you—please help us watch over him," Whitey Bay said. "What are you two up to?" Whitebeard asked. "Traveling. We've been held up in the New World for years, figured it's time to explore the world," Roy answered. "Fine then. With your current strength, there's nowhere in the world you can't go," Whitebeard said, giving Roy a long look. After ten years, he found it even harder to read. Even without using Haki, he could sense the immense power within Roy. That instinct wasn't just his; someone hiding in the crowd felt it too. 'What terrifying Haki... What's going on? Isn't Roy supposed to be the weakest in the crew? Why does he have such an overwhelming presence?' "There are still places I dare not tread. In that case, Newgate, I leave the child to you. We'll see you again in four years," Roy said. "Four years, huh..." Whitebeard said deeply. "Yes. Four more years." "...That's enough. Thank you, Roy." "We made a promise, didn't we?" The two exchanged cryptic words that no one else understood. Afterward, Marco and the others caught up with Roy, all of them high-ranking officers now. Loxus, however, was utterly confused. To him, everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates was a towering powerhouse, especially his Grandpa Whitebeard, the Strongest Man in the World. Why , then, did his seemingly weak father have such close bonds with them, and why did they respect him so much? "Uncle Thatch, why are you all so nice to my dad? Was he really strong in the past?" Loxus asked, watching Thatch cook. "Hahaha! Nah, your dad was the weakest guy on the crew back then!" Thatch laughed. "Then why are you all so close to him? Why does everyone respect him so much—Uncle Marco even cried!" "Before I joined the Whitebeard Pirates, your dad was already a member. He was Pops' very first crewmate. Marco told me once, his life was saved by your dad, and even the Mythical Zoan Phoenix Fruit was given to him by your old man. All of us were helped by your dad back in the day. Power or not, he's always been our big brother. We respect him because of that." "Whoa! My dad was Grandpa Whitebeard's first companion?!" Loxus exclaimed. "Yup! So don't underestimate your dad. He's an amazing person. Though..." Thatch scratched his head. "We just don't know what kind of deal he made with Pops back then. After that, he kept a lower and lower profile. Most of the newcomers have no idea he even exists—only us old-timers remember Big Bro." "What kind of deal did the two of them make?"

Chapter 24: Ten Years Apart, Four Years Left

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