Yet, faced with such a statement, even Kong could not find a single word to disagree with.
Because he knew that what El said was simply the truth.
And Sengoku understood it even more deeply.
Back then, the four of them, facing El alone, had already felt an overwhelming pressure.
And during that entire battle, El had only used a handful of moves!
There was really nothing wrong with that statement at all.
Kong thought for a moment and said to Sengoku: "These two rookies… they seem quite promising."
"If they haven't been scared out of their wits by El, recruit them into the Marines."
Sengoku replied firmly: "Understood!"
---
Several days later.
In the New World, at the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
An enormous ship slowly sailed into the port.
El's pirates watched the approaching vessel warily. But the moment they saw the Jolly Roger flying atop it, they immediately lowered their guard.
It was a black flag. And on the skull, there was a distinctive white mustache.
It belonged to El's old friends — the Whitebeard Pirates!
Whitebeard's massive figure leaped down from the Moby Dick. He landed heavily on the wooden dock with a loud thud.
"Guahahaha!"
Whitebeard laughed heartily as he walked toward El, who had come out to greet him.
"Long time no see, El!"
He slapped El hard on the back. "Why do you look so much younger lately?!"
Truly worthy of a veteran powerhouse — his insight was sharp. He noticed the difference in El immediately.
"It's a long story. Let's go inside and talk."
El led Whitebeard into a tavern.
Whitebeard sat down heavily in a giant chair built just for him and picked up a drinking cup ten times the size of an ordinary man's.
He gulped down a large amount of ale.
"Glug, glug… Ahh!"
He drained the cup dry in one go.
"Refreshing! It's been ages since I felt this good!"
Whitebeard slammed the cup onto the table. "Another round!"
But El did not drink. He simply watched him quietly.
"What's wrong, El?!" Whitebeard asked boldly. "We haven't seen each other in years, why are you being so dull?!"
El smiled faintly. "Edward… it's impossible for you to hide it from me."
"Your illness… it's gotten quite serious, hasn't it?"
As soon as he spoke, Whitebeard's eyes widened in shock as he stared at El.
"You even know about that…? How did you find out?"
"Must be some restless brats running their mouths, huh? Tch, pay no attention to them!"
He spoke loudly, acting as if it were nothing at all.
El shook his head. "Whitebeard, don't lie to me. I can clearly sense your aging through Observation Haki."
"Are you really going to doubt my ability?"
He finished speaking and looked silently at this old friend.
Although Whitebeard tried to cover them up, El had clearly noticed the needle marks on his body — traces left from long-term medical treatment and injections.
Coupled with his heavy, labored breathing…
El knew that Whitebeard was living on borrowed time. He barely had half his life left.
Hearing El's words, Whitebeard gave a bitter smile and set his mug down on the table.
"Sigh… I guess there's no hiding it from you."
"You're right… I'm getting old… It's something you just can't run away from, isn't it?"
For the first time in a long while, this legendary pirate who had dominated the seas showed a look of loneliness and melancholy.
Seeing Whitebeard like this, El couldn't help but feel deep emotion as well.
As the saying goes: flowers may bloom again, but a person never regains their youth.
Aging is a threshold that even the strongest warriors cannot avoid.
Fortunately for El, he had used the Op-Op Fruit to perform the Immortality Operation on himself.
With his power, he would never have to worry about such things.
Perhaps that was the only way in which he was luckier than Whitebeard.
Whitebeard quickly shook off his melancholy.
"Enough about me! Let's talk about you!" He looked at El curiously. "Why do you look even younger than before?!"
"It's downright strange, you know!"
El saw no need to keep it secret.
"The Op-Op Fruit." He said simply.
Whitebeard's eyes widened gradually. "Does that mean… the rumors are true?"
He looked at El in disbelief.
"That's right. I performed the Immortality Operation on myself." El replied calmly.
"From now on… I will never age or die."
He saw a flash of extreme surprise in Whitebeard's eyes. But very quickly, Whitebeard spoke up: "Well… that's great news, El!"
El looked at him and asked: "Do you want it?"
Hearing this, Whitebeard froze completely.
It was impossible for him not to be shocked.
Whitebeard looked at El silently for a moment…
Then he tilted his head back and drank several mouthfuls of ale.
Afterward, he smashed the cup heavily onto the table.
"No! I am not afraid of death!" Whitebeard declared heroically.
"Death is nothing more than just another great adventure!"
Hearing this, El truly admired Whitebeard's extraordinary spirit and character.
"Cheers!"
The two clashed their mugs together and drank them dry.
"By the way… you haven't told me yet why you came to see me." El asked.
Surely he hadn't traveled all this way just to drink some ale.
Whitebeard slapped his forehead. "I almost forgot!"
"I recently took in two new sons. Do you want to meet them?"
He looked at El with anticipation.
El understood.
Whitebeard knew his days were numbered. He knew that after he died, the Whitebeard Pirates would face many storms and difficulties.
He was doing this now so that El would look out for them and protect them a little in the future.
Without hesitation, El smiled and said: "I'd love to!"
Whitebeard laughed happily.
Then he brought two young men forward to stand before El.
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off