As one of the Four Emperors and a wanted criminal with a bounty of 4 billion berries by the World Government, Shanks' purpose in becoming a pirate was never about plunder or slaughter.
It was about adventure.
Sailing across various seas, Red-Haired Shanks is regarded as the most "free" man on the ocean.
"Gurararara!"
"You're still young, kid. You haven't seen enough of the world!"
Whitebeard let out his signature laugh, his exposed chest shaking with mirth.
As someone who had already made a name for himself during the era of Rocks, he had witnessed countless events over the years.
The amount of alcohol he had consumed was beyond measure.
Hearing Whitebeard words, Shanks narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke slowly.
"Indeed!"
"In front of you, the things I've seen are hardly worth mentioning."
As he spoke, his gaze fell on the IV tubes inserted into Whitebeard body and the stands holding the IV bags.
"It's just a pity that time is merciless!"
"That once-famous, unrivaled pirate of the seas will ultimately succumb to time!"
"Think about how much has happened over the years, how many have aged or disappeared with the passage of time!"
Though he was now in his prime, Shanks couldn't help but lament the ruthlessness of time.
This man, who had never been defeated by anyone, was now about to fall before time itself. In front of Shanks, his reflection shimmered in the enormous wine bowl.
A drop of wine fell from the air, landing in the bowl and creating ripples, much like the turmoil in Whitebeard heart.
"Rocks, Roger, Shiki, Kaido, Garp, Sengoku..."
Familiar names surfaced in Whitebeard memory, each face representing a piece of the past he had experienced.
"Yes, time is cruel!"
"But it is also generous!"
"That little brat from Roger ship, who would have thought that decades later Would become a renowned and formidable figure on the seas!"
Taking a large gulp of wine, Whitebeard spoke.
Back on Roger pirate ship, Whitebeard had already met Shanks.
At that time, Shanks was just a cabin boy with a straw hat, trailing behind Roger like a shadow.
Like Roger, Whitebeard had believed from the first glance that this kid would achieve great things in the future and indeed, looking at it now, that was the case.
'I wonder if Roger would feel gratified seeing that little brat he cared for now standing on equal footing with him!'
Whitebeard thought to himself.
"By the way, what happened to that red-nosed brat who was always with you? I remember you two were quite close?"
On Roger pirate ship, it wasn't just Shanks who had caught Whitebeard's attention, but also the red-nosed cabin boy who was always causing trouble with him.
These two were the juniors both he and Roger had high hopes for.
However, Whitebeard hadn't seen the red-nosed boy in a long time and had no idea how he was doing, so he casually asked.
"Him?"
"After we witnessed our captain execution in Loguetown, we went our separate ways!"
"We haven't seen each other since! But from the rumors, I heard he's still a pirate!"
And so, the two of them continued their conversation, the initially heavy atmosphere gradually easing.
The crew members standing nearby saw the two of them chatting so freely, as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in years.
The weight in their hearts finally lifted.
"However…"
"A man of your caliber, returning from the East Blue missing an arm—anyone would be shocked!"
"Who was it that cut it off? That left arm!"
Whitebeard gaze fell on Shanks' empty left arm, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke in a calm tone.
"This arm?"
"I bet it on the new era!"
Shanks said solemnly, his eyes fixed directly on Whitebeard.
Then, he pointed to the scar on his left eye with his right hand.
"Compared to that arm… The only thing that still aches now is this scar!"
"This wound wasn't from an adventure, nor was it from my duel with Mihawk!"
"The one who injured me was your so-called son, Blackbeard Teach!"
Hearing this, Whitebeard expression darkened, his brows furrowing tightly.
That name brought with it the sting of betrayal from someone he considered family.
"That guy committed the unforgivable crime of killing a fellow crewmate on a pirate ship!"
"He broke the ironclad rule!"
On a certain day, after a battle between the Whitebeard Pirates and an unnamed pirate crew, Blackbeard witnessed the Fourth Division Commander, Thatch, holding the Devil Fruit he desired most—the Yami Yami no Mi.
He then brutally murdered Thatch, took the fruit, and fled the Whitebeard Pirates.
"But he's still out there, isn't he? And what's more, he defeated your Second Division Commander, Ace, and handed him over to the Marines!"
Shanks spoke gravely, the wine in the bowl before him already drained, the edges of the bowl showing faint cracks.
Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky, obscuring the blazing sun.
A cool breeze swept across the sea, and the sky turned gloomy.
"So this is the real reason you've come!" Whitebeard expression grew even darker, his voice laced with hostility.
He already knew what Shanks was about to say.
"Whitebeard! Ace has been handed over to the Marines by Blackbeard and is set for public execution!"
"Do me a favor... Don't go to Marineford!"
As he spoke, Shanks' head slowly lowered, his voice no longer as resolute as before.
He knew how much Whitebeard valued his family and his request was a cruel one for him. But he had decided to come anyway, because he knew that if Whitebeard went countless lives would be lost and countless people would be affected.
So he had to stop Whitebeard actions.
Hearing Shanks' words, Whitebeard laughed heartily.
It was just as he expected.
"Gurararara!"
"Do you know what family means to me?!"
"My son is about to be publicly executed by the Marines, and you're telling me to do nothing?!"
"To forsake justice and loyalty—that's a line I can never cross!"
Whitebeard voice boomed with unparalleled strength, echoing across the pirate ship.
Hearing their captain words, the crew members present were all fired up, eager for action.
"No one will be able to stop it!"
"This is the end of an era!"
As he spoke, Shanks stood up, his eyes closed, and the sword at his waist, Gryphon, was drawn out by more than three inches.
An overwhelming aura radiated from Shanks, spreading out in all directions, and a terrifying pressure descended once again.
"Kid, compared to that man, you're still far from enough!"
"I'm Afraid of no one! I am Whitebeard, after all!"
Whitebeard yanked out the tubes connected to his body and his aura exploded in an instant.
With his right arm, he grabbed his bisento, Murakumogiri.
In the next second.
He swung it directly at Red-Haired Shanks' Gryphon, marking the clash between two of the world top powerhouses.
The confrontation was imminent. Between the two, an invisible wave of domineering energy collided, sending shockwaves that soared into the sky.
BOOM!!
At that moment, the sky, heavy with dark clouds— Split open!
------------------------------
If you like Whitebeard Inventor, i already post marine version of this fic, its called Marine greatest Inventor
Read 40 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator