Chapter 36: Whitebeard's Dilemma
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After leaving the tavern, Whitebeard returned to his fleet with the two newspapers Shiki had given him.
At the port, eight colossal and uniquely styled pirate ships surrounded the Xebec, forming a protective circle.
These vessels belonged to the eight captains under Rocks' command:
Shiki, Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Wang Zhi, Silver Axe, Captain John, Gloriosa, and the Kurozumi siblings.
Every one of them had a bounty starting at a billion berries—each a fearsome name across the New World.
Among them, Gloriosa was especially enigmatic. No one knew her real name—only that she hailed from the legendary Amazon Lily. She was widely regarded as one of the most beautiful women on the sea, her allure rivaling that of Charlotte Linlin. Together, they were known as the Twin Beauties of the Rocks Pirates, and the object of countless pirates' dreams.
As for the Kurozumi siblings, they too had a mysterious background tied to the isolationist land of Wano Country.
Beneath these eight captains' flagships were scores of smaller vessels—cannon fodder pirates from around the New World, drawn by ambition or desperation.
Back aboard his own ship, the Goldenbeard, Whitebeard ignored his crewmates' greetings and headed straight for his captain's quarters, eager to read the two newspapers in peace.
In the New World, newspapers—like bounty posters—could only be obtained from nearby islands, either by purchase or force. And even then, they were heavily censored by the World Government and Navy.
To read a real newspaper, you had to venture back to the first half of the Grand Line—no easy feat. Unless one flew or used coating in Sabaody, the only other option was to risk crossing the Calm Belt directly.
His relationship with Shiki was… complicated. They were rivals, yes, but on some things, they had a kind of unspoken agreement. Buying papers was one such request that Shiki begrudgingly honored.
Unfolding the paper, Whitebeard began reading intently.
Back at the tavern, he'd only skimmed it. But now, he truly wanted to understand the man named Ross—perhaps even as part of a future exit strategy, should he ever choose to leave the Rocks Pirates.
Shiki's mocking of his "family games" wasn't entirely baseless. Over the years, Whitebeard had adopted many orphans.
He'd placed them in his hometown, sending generous amounts of money each year to ensure they lived well. It was one of the few "kind" things he did as a pirate.
Compared to the traditional ruthless image of a pirate, his lifestyle did seem like playing house.
"Traveling across the Four Blues… sounds like the dream. Being with your family every day…"
"Married… living in a happy family… this guy's really blessed."
"A floating island? Unbelievable. Maybe I'll sneak over there someday…"
"Huh? That famous swordsman Moxxi, the rising star of the Grand Line, is his brother-in-law and student? He's even an educator?!"
As he read, Whitebeard murmured to himself, eyes gleaming with longing. His expression gradually softened with a wistful look.
He longed for that kind of life too—a life spent sailing the vast ocean, free, together with his family.
How wonderful that must be.
And now, a living example of it stood before him—Ross.
Yet his sense of duty wouldn't allow him to betray Rocks. Otherwise, he might've set sail right then and there, gathered his adopted children, and roamed the seas as a true family.
This newspaper was an exclusive interview with Ross, published by the World Government's own press.
At the end of the article, two of Ross's quotes were highlighted in bold—words that struck Whitebeard like a lightning bolt:
> "I don't claim to be a good man. I can't save every orphan—only care for the ones by my side. To them, I'm not a hero, just someone who tries to be kind."
> "Children will grow up. No one on this sea can raise them forever, and they won't have someone to rely on for life—whether they're orphans or come from loving families. The least we can do is teach them to protect themselves."
Those words landed like a critical hit—straight to Whitebeard's heart.
In his mind, he was the father of those children. The one they could always rely on.
But…
Was that really sustainable, as Ross had said?
Leaving those orphans in his hometown to grow up freely—without guidance, without direction—was that truly kindness?
Sure, they might be forever grateful to him… but what of their future? They'd grow up one day.
Would they become pirates like him? Not everyone was cut out for that life.
The conflict in Whitebeard's heart deepened. Maybe… it wasn't about waiting for the right time. Maybe it was about taking action when he finally had the freedom.
Perhaps, just perhaps, when all this was over…
He'd go find Ross himself.
He wasn't a good man.
A pirate was a pirate.
But maybe… just maybe… he could try to be a kind one.
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The night dragged on, long and sleepless.
Not that it mattered to Whitebeard—he could easily stay awake for three days and nights without it affecting him.
But when the first rays of dawn spilled into the room, his face looked unusually weary.
Knock knock.
A soft knock echoed through the door.
A tall, blonde beauty walked in, carrying a carefully arranged breakfast in her hands. Even at a glance, it was obvious that a lot of effort had gone into its preparation.
"Ah! Whitebeard—you look… what happened?"
Bakkin was taken aback by his haggard appearance. But her strong heart steadied her quickly, and she stepped closer, puzzled.
"It's just you, Bakkin. I'm fine. And really, you don't need to bring me breakfast every single day," Whitebeard replied, lifting his gaze.
She didn't even come up to half his height—barely two meters tall. The breakfast in her hands was barely enough to fill the gap between his teeth.
Still, it was a heartfelt gesture.
And for someone like him, sincerity went further than any lavish feast ever could.
So even if Bakkin had ulterior motives, he didn't particularly mind.
Bakkin ignored his grumbling, as she usually did, and sat down right on his thigh. One hand rested on his broad chest while the other balanced the breakfast tray.
Her eyes flicked toward the corner of the room—two newspapers lay on the counter.
So that's what made him look like this.
How rare.
Even losing a duel to Shiki wouldn't leave Whitebeard looking this disheveled.
"If you want to read them, go ahead. It's nothing important," Whitebeard said casually. His Observation Haki had already picked up her curiosity.
Picking up the tray, he delicately pinched the breakfast between two fingers. It was almost dainty—like a snack. Still, it tasted pretty good. Better than roasted meat, at least.
Too bad he had no interest in women.
Otherwise, he might've granted Bakkin her long-standing wish. Even if her intentions weren't pure, as long as she meant no harm to his family, he could accept it.
Bakkin took one of the papers and skimmed it briefly before tossing it aside.
As expected—family was the only thing that ever mattered to this man.
She had no interest in this kind of "playing house." What she wanted was Whitebeard's genes. In any form, by any means necessary.
She had been working on him for three whole years now—meticulously building goodwill, day after day.
And yet, even now, she probably didn't rank as high in his heart as those pitiful orphans he had adopted.
Sigh…
Unbelievable.
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(Bakkin = Buckingham Stussy)