"Huh?!! You… want to have kids?! Yourself?!"
Edward Newgate's voice thundered across Sphinx Island, loud enough to send birds flapping into the sky and leaves rustling in protest. He gawked at Argus like the younger man had just sprouted an extra head.
That suggestion… it wasn't just unexpected—it was heretical.
To any pirate worth their salt, the dream was simple: sail the seas, gather a crew, carve out a legend. That was how it was done.
And Newgate? He had already started walking that path. A few young men had already pledged themselves to his side—men who looked at him not just as a captain, but something more.
His "sons."
Like Hiroshi, the sharp-eyed scout who had been with him since his first ship. Or Doma, still hot-headed but unshakably loyal, already calling him "Oyaji."
He hadn't built an empire, not yet—but the dream was underway.
Still… Argus's words, calm and deliberate, hit like hammers to the ribs.
Arms crossed, Argus sighed, fixing his older brother with a patient stare.
"Knew it. You've never really thought this through, have you, brother?"
Newgate blinked, caught off guard.
Argus didn't stop.
"You've got a couple good men, no doubt. I'm not saying throw them overboard. Keep them—some will be loyal to the grave. But you're betting your legacy on loyalty alone. On strangers. That's a gamble."
He paused, letting the words sink in.
"Tell me—what's stronger than loyalty?"
Newgate didn't answer.
"Blood," Argus said, flatly. "Sons. Daughters. Your own legacy. Blood doesn't forget. Blood doesn't switch sides because the Navy offers them a deal. Blood will fight to the end… because it is the end."
Newgate looked like he wanted to argue. But something in Argus's tone—the weight behind it—kept him quiet.
In truth, Argus wasn't just guessing. He knew what the future held.
Blackbeard—loyal on the surface, lurking like a cancer beneath.
Squard—deceived by a few whispered lies.
Even among Whitebeard's future division commanders, many had cracked or fled under pressure.
And yet, despite it all, Whitebeard still believed in bonds.
Argus softened his voice.
"I'm not saying ditch your sons. Some of them… they'll be family for real. But don't stop there. Build your bloodline alongside them. Then, when the storms come—when the knives come out—you'll have something no betrayal can break."
Newgate rubbed his chin, thoughtful.
"I mean… there's nothing wrong with what you're saying..." he muttered.
Then he grimaced.
"But dammit—Yours Truly's never had a thing for women! What's so great about 'em anyway?!"
Argus blinked. Then slowly nodded.
"Ah. I see. So my legendary brother… just doesn't swing that way, huh?"
It explained a lot, actually. No female crewmates. No affairs. Just the sea, the crew, and the cause.
"Not a problem," Argus said casually. "You bring in the treasure, I chase the women. I'll handle the baby-making. Division of labor."
Whitebeard slapped his knee and roared with laughter.
"Gurararara! That works for me!"
He clapped Argus on the back with enough force to rattle a sea king.
"You handle the children, I handle the gold! The Edward legacy starts now! Real blood! Real family!"
Argus smiled.
It worked.
---
[System Activation: "Many Children Bring Prosperity"]
His golden finger. The cheat. The transmigrator's advantage.
Wives, children, strength—repeat. That was the formula. The more descendants he had, the more power he gained.
But the system had been dead until now. He had no strength. No name. No leverage.
Now? He had Whitebeard.
Suddenly, everything changed.
---
Whitebeard leaned back and scratched his chin.
"Still… Hiroshi, Doma… those kids are good. Loyal."
"They might stay that way," Argus admitted. "I'm not saying abandon them. I'm saying don't stop there. Build both kinds of family."
Newgate grinned.
"You've got a sharp damn head, little brother. Fine—we build both. Strays and blood. Loyalty and legacy."
He stood, taller than a tower, and pointed toward the sea.
"Gurararara! We set sail now! First stop: riches! Second stop: find you two wives! And if they don't work out—we trade up!"
He said it with the casual ruthlessness of a man who crushed skulls for a living.
Argus blinked. "You're really going all in, huh?"
"You bet your ass I am!"
Newgate stomped forward, dragging Argus toward the harbor with the excitement of a kid on Christmas.
"And so begins the legacy of the Edward family…" Argus muttered, half-laughing.
---
(CHAPTER -2 END)