From the distance of the clearing where the banquet was being held, a considerable amount of shouting could be heard.
When Luo Chen heard it, he realized they all wanted to see him.
A look of confusion appeared in his eyes.
What was going on?
A fan meeting?
Whitebeard glanced at those people and waved his hand with a headache. "Let them come over."
At the periphery of the banquet, the pirates under Whitebeard's command made way.
More than twenty simply dressed elderly people walked over quickly.
They looked at Whitebeard, then at Luo Chen, and immediately knelt on the ground, crying and shouting.
"Lord Luo Chen, please raise your hand high in mercy and let us go!"
"We do not want to leave Lord Newgate's protection."
"If we defect to you, the World Government will definitely show us no mercy."
"..."
More than twenty old people were crying with tears and mucus running down their faces, their shouts miserable.
Luo Chen was speechless.
However, he understood what had happened.
It turned out these people were worried about being destroyed by the World Government and implicated, so they were unwilling to submit.
Luo Chen also understood the reason for Whitebeard's apology earlier.
He said helplessly, "Forget it, you guys continue to stay under Whitebeard's command."
Luo Chen didn't care whether these people submitted or not.
He just wanted a piece of territory to settle Amazon Lily and his subordinate forces.
Seeing Luo Chen agree, Whitebeard's expression relaxed slightly.
If they had parted on bad terms because of this, he would have truly felt guilty.
"Alright, alright, you all go down first." Whitebeard dismissed the old men and women.
He smiled bitterly. "You saw the situation. The Five Elders personally taking action has made these villagers very worried, and they dare not join your command."
"To express my apology, ninety percent of the Whitebeard Pirates' treasure is gifted to you."
Whitebeard pointed to the treasure chests all over the ground and sighed, "There isn't much left, nine billion Berries."
"Most of the wealth this old man has accumulated over the years has been used to help the civilians in the territory."
"The weather in the New World is harsh and the environment is changeable. Tsunamis, heavy rains, and droughts occur frequently."
"Providing relief to victims is a huge expense."
He explained patiently, fearing that Luo Chen would think the Whitebeard Pirates were insincere.
Ninety percent of the wealth was only nine billion Berries.
Even Whitebeard himself felt it was a bit little.
Luo Chen smiled. "It's enough. With nine billion Berries, let's forget about the territory matter."
Whitebeard failing to cede the territory was unexpected.
Luo Chen had a second choice.
Charlotte Linlin's Totto Land.
That woman had once sent people to rob him of several billion in gold in the first half of the Grand Line.
Perhaps Charlotte Linlin didn't know that was his gold.
But robbery was robbery.
Luo Chen prepared to go to her door to demand an explanation.
If Charlotte Linlin had a good attitude in admitting her mistake and was willing to pay a hundred times the compensation to settle the matter, then let it be.
If her attitude was arrogant, Luo Chen would not show mercy.
With the territory issue resolved, Whitebeard and his Division Commanders relaxed again.
The atmosphere of the banquet remained pleasant.
Luo Chen and the others ate a meal and drank some wine here, then bid farewell and left.
In the sky, there were still tens of thousands of people from Amazon Lily who hadn't found a home.
He prepared to head to Big Mom's Totto Land waters immediately.
Before parting, Whitebeard handed Luo Chen two items.
One was a Log Pose for the Totto Land waters.
The second was a Den Den Mushi.
Whitebeard smiled. "This Den Den Mushi can contact me at any time."
"The World Government is now determined to kill you. If you need help, just ask."
"This old man will lead the entire crew to arrive immediately."
Whitebeard had not forgotten Luo Chen's life-saving grace at Marineford.
If not for Luo Chen, he and his sons would likely have all stayed there.
A flash of worry passed through Marco's eyes.
Pops' health was deteriorating, and the Summit War had aggravated his condition.
Helping Luo Chen fight the World Government again... he wouldn't last many days.
Marco wanted to let Pops enjoy his old age and stay away from war.
But he also understood that Luo Chen's kindness could not go unrequited.
In the end, he did not speak up to stop it.
Luo Chen took the Den Den Mushi and smiled. "Many thanks."
Whitebeard's willingness to help represented a considerable combat force.
"This old man has one more request." Whitebeard pondered for a moment and said:
"Linlin and I were acquaintances when we were young."
"If there is no life-or-death feud, please spare her life."
He didn't know why Luo Chen was going to Totto Land.
Presumably, it wasn't to become in-laws with Linlin.
Once a conflict broke out between the two sides, Luo Chen would undoubtedly win.
Newgate hoped he could spare Linlin's life.
Luo Chen heard this, thought for a moment, and said, "Alright, I have no deep hatred for her."
This trip to Totto Land was mainly to ask Charlotte Linlin for compensation.
And incidentally, ask for some territory.
Of course, based on Luo Chen's knowledge, there was a high probability Charlotte Linlin would not agree.
A fight was definitely inevitable.
Originally, he wanted to kill her and then revive her with Impure World Reincarnation.
Since Whitebeard pleaded for her, sparing Charlotte Linlin's life was not impossible.
The premise was that Charlotte Linlin didn't provoke him repeatedly.
If she angered Luo Chen, he wouldn't care about Whitebeard's face.
The dark green dragon roared and rose, rushing toward the distant horizon.
Whitebeard watched silently and let out a long sigh.
"Pops, you..." Marco could see that Pops was a bit lonely.
"I've gotten old." Whitebeard raised his wine cup and drank deeply.
He looked at his sons and smiled. "If one day I die, you go and defect to Luo Chen."
"The World Government won't let you go, and my enemies won't let you go either."
"Defect to Luo Chen and seek protection."
"Before I die, I will use the last of my life to earn some favor from Luo Chen for you."
"He should agree to take in you good-for-nothing brats."
Marco, Ace, and the others' expressions changed, and they tried to persuade him one after another.
"Pops, what nonsense are you talking about?"
"Rest and recuperate your body. We're still waiting to travel the world with you."
"..."
Whitebeard smiled with gratification.
He knew his body best.
Without using force, he could live another two or three years.
Fighting against strong enemies, maybe one fierce battle would exhaust his oil and lamp.
"It won't work if we don't fight now..." Whitebeard sighed lightly in his heart.
Luo Chen was the safe haven he had found for his sons.
The risk was not small, but the most suitable candidate in this world was Luo Chen.
Whitebeard was clear on this point.
Kaido and Linlin had some friendship with him, but they were too weak.
They couldn't even beat this old man, let alone protect his sons from the World Government.
Only Luo Chen was strong enough.
His character was also excellent, much better than those two bastards, Kaido and Linlin.
"My journey ends just about here."
Whitebeard looked around the peaceful village, gazed at the sparkling sea in the distance, and the whale-shaped Moby Dick on the shore.
"Dying in my hometown is better than dying in a strange place like Marineford."
"Thanks to that kid Luo Chen, I can still come back. Really, many thanks..."
Whitebeard chuckled lightly in his heart. He had a premonition that it was time to part with his sons.
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]