The party was still going strong. However, the mood had shifted slightly. It was no longer just a farewell banquet for Jinbei; it had transformed into a welcoming party for a new granddaughter. Marie had finally agreed to join Whitebeard after he used a mix of persistent coaxing and stubbornness. You heard that right; the mighty Whitebeard had to resort to begging and acting like a spoiled child to convince her. This behavior completely changed the Straw Hats' perception of the legendary pirate. Even Marco and the others remarked that their father had turned into an old child. The skill of acting like a helpless toddler seemed to come naturally to him, and his sons had no idea how to handle it.
As soon as the banquet resumed, Whitebeard piled the best cuts of meat and the finest juices in front of Marie, treating her exactly like a little princess. When Luffy tried to reach for some of the meat, Whitebeard punched him, leaving everyone in stunned silence. Jinbei did not know how to react. He had agreed to this gathering to celebrate his own departure, but the entire nature of the event had shifted. Whitebeard had seemingly forgotten all about his blue, fish-man son the moment he gained a granddaughter, and Jinbei felt a chill in his heart. Still, Marco and his brothers saw how happy their captain was, so they happily played along, casting aside their usual dignity.
Another night passed, and the Whitebeard Pirates decided it was time to move on. They made final preparations to set sail and invited Luffy to visit their territory as soon as possible. Naturally, Luffy agreed without hesitation, shaking hands with Ace. As for Sabo, he had left shortly after the first night, claiming he had urgent matters to attend to elsewhere. Whitebeard lingered for as long as he could, but eventually, Marie managed to calm him down. She gave him a few photos of herself before finally seeing him off to his ship. It was not until the new Moby Dick sailed out of sight that the Straw Hat crew finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Marie could not help but worry, asking, By the way, will they be safe sailing through the Calm Belt?
Don't worry, Marie, Jinbei replied with a confident smile. Daddy is the strongest man in the world. Those Sea Kings wouldn't dare attack the Whitebeard Pirates!
I am not worried about him! Marie grumbled. She turned away and began eating biscuits in silence. These were special snacks that Marco and the others usually hid for themselves, but Whitebeard had raided their entire stock to give to her. The commanders seemed surprisingly willing to let it slide. Seeing this, Jinbei smiled, feeling even more accepting of Whitebeard's new granddaughter.
The Straw Hats soon held a meeting to reorganize, officially appointing Jinbei as their helmsman. Franky was finally relieved of that part-time duty and returned to being a full-time shipbuilder with peace of mind. During the meeting, Carl noticed that Reiju was sitting beside Law. He felt confused for a moment.
Sanji, is your sister joining the Heart Pirates? Are you going to let her join the Straw Hats? Carl asked.
Reiju made her own decision, Sanji said while lighting a cigarette. She said the Straw Hats don't need two people with curly eyebrows, and Luffy agreed. Since the Heart Pirates needed more people, Reiju decided to join them instead.
Carl was speechless. What kind of logic was that? After thinking about it, however, he realized it was probably for the best. When it came to recruiting crewmates, Sanji was right not to make unilateral decisions. Reiju clearly put more thought into it, likely believing it would be awkward for two siblings to serve on the same ship. Since Luffy did not mind, but Reiju did, she chose the Heart Pirates.
It was just like starting a business. Many executives liked to recruit relatives, but it often led to internal problems. Reiju had been raised by Judge to think critically, so she understood the risks of joining her brother's crew. This was ultimately for Sanji's own good. Sanji likely understood her intentions, which was why he did not push her to change her mind. There was no real difference between joining the Heart Pirates and the Straw Hats, except for the distance from the core of the crew. Furthermore, Law seemed very optimistic about having her, agreeing to the addition without hesitation.
Luo, what do you think? Carl asked curiously.
Reiju is skilled with poison, which I believe will be very useful, Law said without hiding his thoughts. Also, she is the elder sister of Black Leg, so I can trust her.
Law was indeed a man of strategy, and Reiju's mastery of poison was a significant asset. There was no reason for him to refuse. However, this guy Law never seemed to call his crewmates by their names, and nobody knew when his habit of calling them heads of the family had started.
By the way, Luffy, to help us, Cai, Eddie, and Leo launched an attack on Big Mom's territory the day before yesterday, Carl said, taking advantage of the lull in conversation. I thought you should know. You can check the news yourself.
Those guys! Luffy sighed, feeling a headache coming on.
Luffy never intended to amass a fleet of subordinates, but Cai, Eddie, and Leo had declared themselves his underlings without his permission. Now, they were taking initiative to help him without even asking. Luffy did not know how to respond. The rest of the world already viewed the Happo Navy, the Eddie Pirates, and the Don Quixote Pirates as affiliates of the Straw Hats. It was much like the situation with Law; there was no way to explain it away. It felt like they were just acting on their own, perhaps as a way to return the favor for previous help.
Forget it, we will thank them when we meet, Luffy decided. If they ever need help, we will just rush over there.
In the days that followed, the Straw Hat crew focused on recovering from their injuries. Usopp spent most of his time watching the skies for the news coos. Finally, on the fourth day after the war in the North Blue, fresh newspapers arrived. It was strange, as Morgans was usually faster, but he seemed to have been warned by the World Government and the Marines again. The contents were simple, describing the events from the Big Mom Pirates' invitation to the tea party up until the end of the North Blue conflict. It provided a detailed account of the Marines' strength.
For instance, the report mentioned how the new Admiral, Fujitora, had restrained San Juan Wolf with a smile, which terrified Blackbeard and added a new layer to the conflict. The writing was so vivid it felt as if you were witnessing the battle firsthand. When Carl turned to the last page and saw that Morgans had written the piece himself, he gave a nod of approval. Morgans was truly the king of the news. His writing was never inferior to anyone else's, and his articles were always exciting.
The report provided a very clear conclusion: before the Whitebeard Pirates and the Marines arrived on the scene, the Straw Hats had already effectively defeated both Big Mom and Blackbeard!
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