Luffy's sudden attempt to recruit Jinbei caused quite a stir, leaving the Whitebeard Pirates deeply unsettled. Although Jinbei had not yet officially joined their crew, in the eyes of everyone, he was already considered a vital partner and a trusted ally. Jinbei himself stood stunned, his gaze flickering as he struggled to find the right words to respond.
Whitebeard observed the entire exchange with a keen eye before letting out a boisterous laugh. "Ku la la la! Straw Hat boy, you are a Yonko of the sea now, but trying to snatch one of my people right in front of me is a bit too bold, don't you think?"
Luffy remained entirely unfazed. "My crew and I like Jinbei a lot, so we invited him. What is wrong with that?"
While his logic was simple and direct—as is the way of many pirates—the situation was complicated. Jinbei, as a former Warlord of the Sea, had stood by the Whitebeard Pirates through the Summit War. For all intents and purposes, he was already one of them. For Luffy to openly recruit him felt like a direct insult to Whitebeard's authority.
Whitebeard turned his gaze to the fish-man. "Jinbei, what do you say?"
Jinbei hesitated for a brief moment, then lowered his head with a pained expression. "Father, you have shown immense kindness to me and the Fish-Man Island. My life is here to repay that debt. I still wish to remain by your side."
Luffy fell silent, not knowing how to respond. He could not argue against a man's desire to honor his commitments. However, Whitebeard suddenly shook his head. "Jinbei, I have seen through your heart for a long time. You admire the Straw Hat crew, and you want to join them, don't you?"
Jinbei remained silent.
"Jinbei, I know you value loyalty and kindness, but there are many ways to repay a debt," Whitebeard continued gently. "When you were a Warlord, you were not part of my crew, yet you were still my friend. If you call me father, then you are my son. What kind of father would use his kindness to bind his own child to him?"
"Dad..." Jinbei's eyes welled with tears, his voice choking with emotion.
The Straw Hat crew watched Whitebeard with genuine surprise and admiration. In this moment, he did not look like the terrifying, world-renowned pirate captain, but simply a compassionate father.
Whitebeard reached out and patted Jinbei's head. "Pirates are meant to be free. You value kindness, but you cannot let it become your chains. You should boldly pursue the freedom you desire. As your father, I have no reason to object. Besides, I am an old man, and I may not be around forever. You must consider the safety of Fish-Man Island. Under the protection of the Straw Hat crew, your home will be safer. Joining them now is not a betrayal of me, do you understand?"
Jinbei collapsed to his knees, his tears flowing freely. He bowed deeply to Whitebeard, unable to find the words to express his overwhelming gratitude.
Whitebeard then shifted his focus back to Luffy, his expression turning stern. "Straw Hat boy, if my son Jinbei is ever bullied by you, I will come find you and spank you myself. Be careful!"
Luffy crossed his arms and shouted confidently, "With me around, nobody dares to bully Jinbei! You want to spank me, but you aren't even my opponent anymore!"
"Ku la la la! Arrogant brat! You will pay the price for your pride one day!"
"Hmph! Arrogance requires strength, and my crew and I have more than enough to back it up!"
"Well said! Straw Hat boy, I will live a few more years to see just how far you can take this sea!"
Whitebeard was in an unusually good mood, a bright, genuine smile gracing his face. Marco, Vista, and the other division commanders were shocked. They sensed a profound change in their father; he seemed lighter, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Marco and the others stared at Luffy for a long time, trying to understand what had changed, but they could not grasp the full picture. In reality, Whitebeard's relief was entirely tied to the Straw Hat Pirates. Because the bond between Luffy's crew and his own was now inseparable—cemented by Luffy's brotherhood with Ace and Jinbei's new position—Whitebeard knew that even if he passed away, his "children" would be protected.
He was not just letting Jinbei go; he was ensuring a future for his crew. He could not increase the raw strength of Marco or Ace overnight, but he could secure them a powerful ally. Every action he took—from his conversation with Carl yesterday to his push for Jinbei today—was the act of a father planning for his children's future.
Carl watched this play out and sighed internally. Even though Whitebeard was one of the strongest men in history, his heart was currently softened by his love for his family. This was not a weakness, but a different kind of strength. Whitebeard was willing to set aside his pride and status to ensure his crew's safety.
"Right! To celebrate our new partner, let's have a banquet!" Luffy announced.
The Straw Hat crew rolled their eyes in unison. Their captain used any excuse to throw a party, and even Whitebeard twitched, wondering if he had made the right choice in entrusting Jinbei to such an unreliable leader. Looking over at Carl, however, Whitebeard felt at ease. Luffy might be a wild card, but Carl was steady.
To prepare for the celebration, Carl and Marco flew at high speed toward an island in the North Blue to secure a massive supply of wine. The island's inhabitants were terrified by the arrival of such legendary figures, and some even attempted to alert the Marines. Neither man cared; they marched straight to the tavern and bought out the entire stock. The tavern owners, trembling in fear, offered "enthusiastic" discounts, much to Carl's amusement.
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