Storm told the Navy Fleet Admiral, "I am Edward Teach." The Fleet Admiral didn't believe him.
Storm told his own crew, "Edward Teach is me." His own crew didn't believe him either.
After this, he swore never to play any "truth-telling games" with anyone again.
Whoever took the initiative would end up passive.
Believe it or not—whatever!
"This is Edward Teach, and this is Lion."
Storm pointed at Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II, succinctly wrapping up the discussion about the two.
"They're with us, but they won't be joining the main group. They have other matters to handle."
As for what exactly Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II needed to deal with…
Storm himself had no idea.
But that didn't stop Kuma, Robin, and the others from speculating.
In their eyes,
Whitebeard Jr. was a terrifying man with a 2-billion-berry bounty.
Though Golden Lion II's reputation wasn't widely known, the fact that he stood alongside Whitebeard Jr.…
Meant his strength was likely no less formidable.
Two great pirates with such staggering bounties, both bearing the "Second Generation" titles of legendary pirates—it was perfectly understandable that they had important missions requiring their separate attention.
Storm took in the dawning comprehension on everyone's faces and felt even more exasperated.
Tell the truth, and no one believed him.
Tell a lie, and they all accepted it without question!
Absolutely ridiculous!
With that, the topic of the two "Great Pirate Second Generations" was dropped.
Storm waved his hand, turning Whitebeard Jr. and Golden Lion II back into clay.
Noticing the lingering tension and awkwardness in the air, he stood up and issued a command.
"Everyone! Let's prepare a feast!"
In the world of pirates,
There was no problem that couldn't be solved with a feast.
And if one wasn't enough, then two would do the trick!
The Sky Garden was still undeveloped, with no stockpile of ingredients or alcohol.
But that was no issue—the Germa Kingdom was below them, and so was the sea.
Storm, Kuma, and a few others busied themselves.
First, a simple and unassuming Clay Castle was constructed.
Then, large quantities of food and alcohol were transported up from below.
At Nami's request, Storm even transplanted several heavily fruited orange trees from her family's orchard to the Sky Garden.
And so, a unique feast began!
Everyone gathered inside the Clay Castle, indulging in food and drink as the lively atmosphere grew.
The initial unfamiliarity between them gradually melted away amid the aromas of delicious food and fine alcohol.
Bonney, holding a massive slice of pizza like a cape, ran around the crowd, mimicking scenes from the comics she'd recently read.
"Hero Sora! Charge! Perish, evil Germa 66!"
Storm couldn't begin to guess how Vinsmoke Judge would feel if he saw this scene.
But for now, everyone enthusiastically applauded Bonney's performance.
The festive mood only grew more vibrant.
Even Nami and Ace, the latest additions, fully immersed themselves in the camaraderie.
Stirred by alcohol, Ace raised his drink toward Kid and Killer.
"Kid, Killer, I'm really sorry!"
Ace raised his barrel of ale, apologizing to his two young companions from the South Blue.
"I've caused you both too much trouble because of my situation."
"Huh?"
Kid and Killer had been about to clink glasses with Ace when his words made them freeze.
"Ace, what are you talking about? Isn't this our first time meeting?"
"Even though it's our first meeting, I..."
Ace struggled to find the words.
"Because of me, the South Blue suffered great damage, didn't it?"
"What the hell are you going on about?"
Kid's brow furrowed tightly, his mood for drinking completely ruined.
"Aren't you from the East Blue?"
"No, I was born in the South Blue. I'm..."
Ace looked around at his generous companions and Storm's teasing, amused expression. Gritting his teeth, he stomped his foot and revealed his secret lineage.
"My father... is Roger."
The name "Roger" seemed to carry a strange magic.
The moment Ace spoke it—
Robin and Nami, who'd been chatting amiably between girls; Kuma, who'd been watching his daughter's every move—all involuntarily turned their attention toward them.
As for Kid and Killer who were already talking with Ace? Their reactions were even more pronounced.
"Roger?"
Kid held his cup, frowning in thought.
"That name sounds familiar... Gold Roger!"
"It's Gol D. Roger!"
Ace declared loudly.
"My father is the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
Another confession scene!
Storm watched with relish as Ace "dropped his bombshell."
Truth be told, he really enjoyed spectating drama.
"Roger..."
Kid stared blankly at his cup for a moment.
"Your father is Roger?"
Ace clenched his jaw. "Yes!"
"You bastard!"
Kid instantly threw down his cup.
He grabbed Ace's collar with his right hand and headbutted him hard—their foreheads colliding with a loud crack.
"Are you trying to show off by saying this now?
"Don't get cocky! Even if your father was the Pirate King, that doesn't mean you'll become one!"
"..."
Ace was stunned by Kid's words, momentarily forgetting the throbbing pain in his forehead.
"My father is Roger!"
"So what?"
Kid released Ace's collar and shoved him away, his face full of impatience.
"Do you know who my father is? I don't even know!"
Kid's words were like a super-powered cannon blast, indiscriminately striking nearly everyone present.
Storm's peripheral gaze swept over his subordinates one by one.
Kid, Killer, Kuma, Bonney, Robin, Nami, Ace...
Among these seven people—
Only two knew who their biological fathers were.
Only one had ever met his biological father.
That's right.
That person was—Kuma!
Fun fact.
Kuma became a slave to the Celestial Dragons at age four—the kind where his entire family was enslaved together...
As for Bonney.
She was Kuma's daughter in name only, with no actual blood relation between them.
The others were even worse off.
Kid, Killer, Robin, Nami.
These four, without exception, had barely any concept of "family" to speak of.
Kid and Killer had roamed the streets since childhood.
Robin hadn't seen her mother since she was two years old, and their reunion was a final farewell.
Nami once had a happy family as a child, but she was an orphan by birth, and her adoptive mother was later killed by Arlong...
Ace wasn't a fool without perception—at least in this regard, he was far more aware than his younger brother Luffy.
The moment Kid spoke those words, Ace immediately sensed the shift in the atmosphere.
"Sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to boast or hurt anyone..."
Ace quickly stood up, explaining himself repeatedly to the group.
"It's just... my father is the Pirate King. If the World Government finds out about this, all of you—"
"The World Government?"
Kid and Killer sneered simultaneously, spitting in unison.
"Pah!"
"Ace."
Kuma gently patted Bonney's head. He didn't explain his past to the group, but he offered a few words.
"I, too, am an enemy of the World Government."
The Buccaneer Race—any member of this lineage would be arrested immediately upon discovery by the World Government.
"Ace."
Robin tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, offering Ace a gentle smile.
"I'm the 'Child of the Devil,' wanted by the World Government. Their fear of 'history' is no less than their fear of your father."
Nami stood among the group like a little orange kitten that had accidentally wandered into a den of tigers.
She had no deep-seated grudge against the World Government.
Hearing Ace, Robin, and Kuma "expose" themselves one after another, Nami's legs nearly gave way.
She had never been a bold girl.
Back when she was threatened by the Arlong Pirates, Nami had no choice but to put on a strong front.
But in truth, Nami's courage wasn't much greater than that of a reindeer...
"Everyone..."
Ace's gaze moved from Kid and Killer, slowly sweeping over Kuma and Bonney, then finally resting on Robin and Nami.
"I never thought you all would..."
Since childhood, Ace had lived under the shadow of his father, even questioning his own existence.
If not for the support of his "dream,"
Ace had always harbored a certain self-destructive tendency.
This hadn't changed much, even after setting sail...
What Ace hadn't expected was this.
He had thought he was the only exception in the entire sea.
Never did he imagine he would one day meet so many "kindred spirits."
What did it matter if he was the son of the Pirate King?
Compared to a member of the Buccaneer Race?
Anyone from this lineage was defined as an enemy of the World Government just by being alive!
Compared to the Child of the Devil from Ohara?
An archaeologist inheriting the Knowledge of Ohara was undoubtedly another target the World Government had to eliminate!
At this moment,
Ace truly felt what it was like to belong to a group.
This sense of complete spiritual resonance was something even Dadan's family and Luffy's family had never been able to give him.
Ace's eyes passed over each of his companions, finally settling on Storm.
What kind of person would be the "captain" gathering such a crew?
"Don't look at me like that. I'm different from them," Storm waved his hand and said seriously.
"Actually, Robin knows about this too. I'm a marine."
A marine?
Ace was shocked.
Like the old man?
"Nope."
Robin smiled slyly at this moment.
"According to the Five Elders, our captain is 'the greatest stain in marine history'!"
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!