"Kid, join the Whitebeard Pirates!" Marco declared, his invitation hanging in the air.
At his words, every onlooker on the deck stared, utterly dumbfounded. Marco, the First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, personally inviting this young man to join their ranks? It was almost too incredible to believe!
This, however, was well within Alex's expectations. After all, he was quite familiar with the extent of Whitebeard Newgate's injuries. Not even Marco's healing flames could fully mend them; it was highly probable that only his Senzu Beans stood a chance.
Besides, his Cross-Dimensional Invention System required a multitude of materials, many of which he, a stranger in a strange land, would likely never find on his own. And this world, Alex knew, ran on strength. Right now, he was just an ordinary person. Aside from the incredible items he could create, he had no means of self-defense against those with true power.
The Whitebeard Pirates were, by most accounts, the strongest of the Yonko crews, and Whitebeard Newgate himself held countless territories under his protection. Finding the materials demanded by his system would surely be easier with their backing.
"I have conditions for joining," Alex replied, his expression serious.
"That's perfectly fine, yoi," Marco said after a moment's thought, his own gaze earnest. "But this isn't the place for that discussion. Come with me. If things don't work out, I'll bring you right back. You have my word on that."
The crowd was stunned anew. Someone daring to set conditions for joining the Whitebeard Pirates? And Marco actually agreeing to them? It was unheard of!
Alex, of course, knew Marco was a man of his word. The entire Whitebeard crew, aside from that traitor Blackbeard Teach – a true scumbag – were generally good people.
Seeing Alex nod his agreement, Marco's focus sharpened. With a thought, wings of brilliant blue flame erupted from his back. He swiftly grabbed Alex, and with a powerful leap, they soared into the sky, heading for the distant horizon.
Below, the pirates on deck could only stare, dumbfounded, at the departing duo, marveling at the miraculous medicine Alex possessed and his incredible stroke of luck.
Northern waters of the New World.
Marco, carrying Alex, had been flying for some time. Finally, Alex spotted a dark speck in the distance. As they drew nearer, the speck rapidly grew larger, resolving into the unmistakable form of the Whitebeard Pirates' flagship: the Moby Dick.
Marco landed them smoothly on the deck, a practiced ease to his movements. Immediately, a few crewmen approached, their gazes curious.
"Captain Marco, who's this?" one of them asked, taking the packages Marco had been carrying.
"He's about to become one of us," Marco said with a dismissive wave of his hand, his tone serious. Without further ado, he led Alex towards the ship's cabins.
Upon entering, Alex's eyes were immediately drawn to a colossal man seated upon an equally massive chair. Two iconic, upward-curving white mustaches framed a face etched with power, his body rippling with hard muscle. Yet, an array of IV drips hung above him, countless tubes coiling around his formidable frame. This was the man whose name thundered across the four seas, the World's Strongest Man – Whitebeard Newgate.
Alex felt a jolt of awe. Whitebeard Newgate… he truly lived up to his title. The sheer presence, the aura emanating from him, was unlike anything Alex had ever imagined.
Whitebeard was currently tilting his head back, heartily chugging from a large gourd of strong liquor.
The moment Marco stepped inside, his brow furrowed. He strode forward and decisively snatched the gourd from Whitebeard's hand.
"Pops, what am I supposed to do with you?" Marco sighed, a mix of exasperation and affection in his voice. "I'm barely off the ship, and you're already back to drinking! Don't you know your injuries won't allow you to drink like that?"
Whitebeard let out a booming laugh, clapping Marco on the shoulder. "Gurararara! Brat! What kind of man lets a few aches and pains stop him from enjoying his sake?"
Marco merely rolled his eyes at the pronouncement.
"Alright then," Whitebeard said, his gaze shifting to Alex. "Who's this little fella? You don't usually bring people back so readily, Marco."
"That's what I needed to talk to you about, Pops," Marco said, his expression turning serious. "This young man's medicine… it's something extraordinary. I'd even say it's more effective than my Phoenix Flames!"
Marco's statement sent a ripple of shock through everyone else in the cabin. Every one of them had, at some point, experienced the healing of Marco's flames for injuries big and small. For Marco to claim something was more potent than his own abilities? That was truly astounding.
Marco beckoned Alex forward.
"What's your name, young man?" Whitebeard asked, a hint of surprise in his voice as he noted Alex's calm demeanor. Few people could stand before him with such composure.
"My name is Alex," he replied, deciding on a quick fabrication. "I come from a long line of doctors." His true origins were a secret he couldn't afford to share.
"Hoh?" Whitebeard rumbled. "And what kind of medicine do you possess that could astonish my own ship's doctor so? Would you allow an old man to see it?" He got straight to the point, wasting no words.
Alex, understanding Whitebeard's direct nature, simply opened his cloth bundle, revealing the small, pea-like Senzu Beans within.
Whitebeard leaned forward, peering into the bundle. "Aren't these just… peas?" he asked, scratching his head in curiosity.
"Gahaha! Pops, that's what I thought at first too!" Marco interjected before Alex could speak. "But you have to eat it for it to work!"
Intrigued, Whitebeard picked up a single Senzu Bean, examining it closely in his palm. Then, without warning, he tossed it into his mouth and swallowed.
The surrounding crew members gasped, startled by Whitebeard's rather bold action.
"Pops, aren't you even a little worried it might be poisonous, yoi?" Marco said with a helpless, wry smile.
"Gurarara! I trust your judgment, Marco!" Whitebeard boomed. The words had barely left his lips when his eyes suddenly widened.
Diamond Jozu, Flower Sword Vista, and several other commanders instantly surged forward, surrounding Whitebeard.
"Kid!" Jozu whirled on Alex, his voice a low snarl. "If anything happens to Pops, you're not leaving this ship alive!"
Only Alex and Marco remained relatively calm, their eyes fixed on Whitebeard.
Just then, a vibrant green light erupted from Whitebeard's body. Before their astonished eyes, some of the old scars that crisscrossed his massive frame began to visibly, rapidly, heal.
"What in the world is happening?!" Jozu exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Exactly as you see," Alex stated, a confident smile playing on his lips. "That is the miraculous power of my Senzu Beans!"