Dead silence.
Lucian Thorn's roar, torn from his throat with every ounce of strength, plunged the already oppressive deck of the Moby Dick into an even deeper stillness.
The wind stopped.
Even the sound of the waves vanished.
Everyone's movements froze.
First Division Commander Marco's half-closed eyes snapped fully open, his scrutinizing gaze laid bare.
Third Division Commander Jozu's diamond-hard face registered a flicker of astonishment for the first time.
Fifth Division Commander "Flower sword" Vista unconsciously tightened his grip on his sword hilt.
They had seen plenty of people rush in to challenge Pops.
They had seen plenty come to gawk.
They had even seen plenty who ran off terrified by Pops' mere presence.
But someone throwing himself prostrate on the deck, crying and begging to become a "son" the moment he showed up—this was a first.
'What's this brat thinking…?'
Lucian slammed his head against the deck, using the pain in his forehead to cling to consciousness.
He could feel dozens of knife-sharp gazes boring into him. The heaviest, most terrifying of all, came from the man directly before him.
The ruler of these seas.
The world's strongest man.
Whitebeard—Edward Newgate.
Lucian didn't dare raise his head.
He had staked his life, the system's activation, and everything else on this one gamble.
A gamble on the legend of this man's obsession with the word "family."
Time crawled by, each second stretching like a century.
Just as Lucian felt his heart about to burst under the invisible pressure, a voice that seemed to shake the sky shattered the silence.
"Gu-ra-ra-ra-ra…"
The laugh started low, then grew louder and louder until it filled the deck with a bold, booming sound.
Laughter brimming with open admiration and amusement.
Lucian jerked his head up, tears perfectly placed on his cheeks, eyes glimmering with humble hope.
He saw the mountain-like man raising his massive bottle of sake to his lips and taking a huge swig.
Sake dripped from his crescent-shaped white mustache.
"Gu-ra-ra-ra-ra!"
Whitebeard lowered the bottle. Those golden eyes looked down at Lucian on his knees, majesty softened by rare warmth.
"Brat."
"You want to be my son?"
Lucian's heart pounded like mad. He nodded furiously, muffled "mm-mm" sounds slipping out, afraid speaking would betray his inner joy.
"Gu-ra-ra-ra-ra!"
Whitebeard laughed again and extended the giant hand that could cover Lucian's whole body, pointing from afar.
"Then come on up!"
"From today, you're my son!"
At his words, the frozen air instantly melted.
"Whooooa!"
"Another new brother!"
"Pops sure loves collecting sons, huh? Hahahaha!"
"Oi, brat, get up! We're family now!"
Crewmen erupted in thunderous cheers and laughter. Marco scratched his pineapple-like head helplessly, and Vista released his sword hilt, a smile breaking across his face.
The oppressive mood vanished.
Even the gloom cast over the ship by Thatch's death and Ace's departure seemed to ease with this sudden turn.
In the midst of the roaring laughter, while Lucian felt giddy enough to faint, that cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind once more—the one he had longed to hear most.
[Ding!]
[Host identity core change detected…]
[Identity confirmed: Whitebeard Pirates Trainee!]
[Space-Time Summoning System activated]
[Initial system energy injection complete…]
[Core Function S-Rank – Divine Analysis… fully activated!]
'It's here!'
Lucian's body trembled with excitement. He clamped down hard on the urge to laugh aloud.
He forced two more tears from his eyes, wiped his face haphazardly with his sleeve, and choked out grateful words as crewmates helped him up.
"Thank you… thank you, Pops…"
"Thank you, everyone…"
His performance was flawless.
No one noticed that behind this teary-eyed, overwhelmed boy, his heart was pounding with exultation.
He'd done it!
He'd won the gamble!
From a nobody who could be tossed overboard to feed the fish at any moment, he'd leapt up to become Whitebeard's son in name!
More importantly—the system had finally activated!
"Brat, what's your name?"
Whitebeard's voice rumbled again.
Lucian started, quickly bowing. "Pops! My name is Lucian Thorn!"
"Lucian, huh?" Whitebeard nodded. "Gu-ra-ra-ra, not a bad name. Marco!"
"Yes, Pops." Marco stepped forward.
"Take this brat under your wing. He'll start as a trainee."
"Understood."
With everything arranged, Whitebeard leaned back into his chair, closing his eyes as if it had been a trivial matter.
But for Lucian, this was a world-shaking change.
He resisted the urge to examine the system right away, though his eyes drifted to Whitebeard's massive form.
'Divine Analysis?'
'How do I use this?'
[Divine Analysis: By physical contact, target legendary individuals may be data-analyzed.]
[Upon completion, a corresponding SSR-grade Summon Card Pool will be established.]
Physical contact?
Lucian's pupils dilated.
His gaze fixed on Whitebeard's huge hand resting on the armrest, riddled with needle marks and scars.
The chance was right there.
But how to do it without arousing suspicion?
A brand-new "son" immediately touching the world's strongest man? Suspicious to the core.
Lucian's mind raced.
Got it!
His face lit with a supremely "filial" smile. He moved carefully behind Whitebeard.
"Um… Pops."
His voice was small, tinged with timidity and flattery.
Whitebeard didn't open his eyes, only gave a questioning "Hm?" through his nose.
The crew watched curiously, wondering what the new kid was up to now.
Lucian took a deep breath and spoke in the most sincere, reverent tone he could muster.
"You look… tired, Pops."
"I… I used to give my elders shoulder massages and back rubs at home. I'm pretty good at it."
"How about… letting your son give you a back rub, to show some filial piety?"
The deck fell silent again.
Even Marco's expression turned odd.
Give Pops a back rub?
'This kid really knows how to work it…'
But to everyone's surprise, Whitebeard's lips curled faintly.
"Gu-ra-ra-ra… interesting son."
He didn't refuse.
That was permission!
Lucian's heart soared. He wasted no time, tiptoeing closer and lightly placing his trembling hand on Whitebeard's ridge-like shoulder.
The instant his palm touched Whitebeard's skin—
[Ding!]
[Legendary Target Detected: Edward Newgate!]
[Status: Elderly, severely ill.]
[Power: One-tenth remaining.]
[Conditions met. S-Rank Divine Analysis, begin!]
[Constructing target's Peak Era Data Model…]
[SSR Character Card Pool establishing…]
[Card Pool: "The World's Strongest Man" — Edward Newgate (Peak)!]
[Current Analysis Progress: 0.01%…]
Information flooded Lucian's mind like a waterfall.
He kept hammering Whitebeard's back with his small fists, pretending to massage while inwardly absorbing the revelation.
It worked!
It really worked!
And the analysis target wasn't this tube-covered, ailing old man, but his peak self!
"Gu-ra-ra-ra… a bit harder, brat. Haven't you eaten?"
"Yes, Pops!"
Lucian obeyed instantly, pressing harder as the progress bar in his mind crept steadily upward.
0.02%…
0.03%…
Then the system delivered its final, most crucial message:
[Divine Summoning Explanation: When any SSR Character Card Pool reaches 100% analysis, the Host will gain one opportunity to enter that character's "Peak Space-Time."]
[In the "Peak Space-Time," the Host must, within the time limit, convince the target at their peak state by any means to agree to become the Host's "Summoned Person."]
[Once the contract is formed, the Host can summon that legendary figure's peak form into this world at will for combat!]
Boom!
Lucian's mind was struck as if by thunder.
He froze mid-massage.
Summon… Peak Whitebeard?
His gaze pierced the back of the man before him, as though he could see another time and space—the Whitebeard free of illness and betrayal, wielding the supreme naginata Murakumo Giri, shattering islands and heaving seas with his might… the true Emperor of the Sea.
'So this… this is the system's real use!'
"Hm?"
Sensing something off behind him, Whitebeard gave a questioning grunt.
"What's wrong, brat?"