Seven days had passed since the banquet ended, and today was the agreed-upon deadline for Lind to hand over the commissioned piece to Whitebeard.
At that moment, Lind was still in his room, refining the praises he had written for the high-ranking members of the Rocks Pirates, contemplating how to make a grand and dignified entrance. Various scenarios played out in his mind when—
"Boss, Whitebeard is here!"
Da Kun suddenly flew up to Lind, interrupting his thoughts. (The seagull)
Though Hachinosu was just an island, its vast size, capable of housing the headquarters of the Rocks Pirates, meant it was more than spacious enough. Providing each officer with their own villa was no challenge at all.
Since Lind didn't want to constantly use his Observation Haki to monitor his surroundings, he had assigned Da Kun to keep watch. Today, he had specifically instructed Da Kun to notify him when Whitebeard arrived. After all, Whitebeard was a senior figure, and it was only proper to welcome him personally.
"Got it, Da Kun. Come with me to greet Whitebeard."
Lind responded, feeling glad to have a guardian pet. 'If only I had tamed Da Kun back when I was stranded on that deserted island—would've saved me the trouble of keeping an eye on the sea all the time.'
"Gurararara! Lind, my brother! I've come to see you!"
Before Lind even stepped out of his courtyard, he heard Whitebeard's hearty laughter echoing through the air.
Looking into the distance, Lind spotted him immediately. With his towering height of over six meters, Whitebeard stood out even among the crowd on Hachinosu.
"Hahaha! I've kept you waiting, Brother Newgate! Come inside and have a seat."
Lind walked up quickly and spoke with a smile.
Soon, the two entered Lind's villa. Most houses in this world were built tall, and Lind's villa was no exception—it comfortably accommodated Whitebeard's stature.
As soon as they sat down, before Lind could even speak, Whitebeard reached behind him and pulled out a sword.
"Lind, my brother, from what I've seen of your fighting style, you're a dual-sword wielder. I don't have much to offer as thanks, so I brought you a sword."
"This sword is called Fujin, ranked among the Ryo Wazamono. It was forged by a master swordsmith from the Land of Wano. Since your Haitaka also seems to have the Land of Wano' craftsmanship, I figured this would suit you well. Consider it a token of my appreciation."
Lind took the samurai sword from Whitebeard and was extremely satisfied. 'Now I won't have to worry about not having a backup weapon in battle. And in critical moments, I can even use both swords together.'
"Brother Newgate, this is too generous! I love it!"
Lind accepted the sword with excitement and then handed Whitebeard the written praises he had prepared.
"This is what I wrote for you. See if it meets your expectations. If not, I can revise it."
Whitebeard took the booklet from Lind, reading it with bright eyes.
"Gurararara! Lind, my brother, this is absolutely perfect! Right up my alley!"
"I'm planning to set sail today to find Sengoku and test his temperament. Are you interested? Want to come along?"
Hearing Whitebeard's proposal, Lind's eyes lit up.
Challenging Sengoku while showing off—it sounded thrilling, exhilarating. And the best part? With a powerhouse leading the charge, there was nothing to fear!
"Hahaha! Interested? I'm very interested! I've heard that although Sengoku is still a Vice Admiral, he already possesses Admiral-level strength—one of the top fighters on the seas."
"'Sengoku the Strategist'… I've long wanted to see if his reputation is truly deserved!"
Lind nodded enthusiastically.
"Gurararara! Then you can go ahead and test Sengoku's strength first—I'll back you up!"
Whitebeard clapped his massive hands together, fully supporting Lind in a duel against Sengoku.
"Hahaha! Much appreciated, Lind!"
Lind cupped his fists in gratitude.
Fighting Sengoku with a powerful ally watching his back—Lind was beyond excited. If not for Whitebeard standing beside him, he might've shouted in exhilaration.
For a traveler like Lind, what was the point of arriving in the world of One Piece if he couldn't challenge its greatest warriors?
Pirates always acted quickly.
After discussing the plan with Lind, Whitebeard returned to his First Division's stronghold and immediately began preparing for departure.
With Whitebeard's strength, there was no need to worry about weather conditions. Everything was arranged swiftly, and before noon, the ship was ready to set sail!
"Gurararara! Lind, how does this feel compared to Golden Lion's flying warships? Doesn't sailing the high seas like this feel more like a true pirate's adventure?"
Standing at the ship's prow, Whitebeard let out his signature laugh.
"Hahaha! Absolutely! A massive warship slicing through the waves—this is a man's romance! When we get back, I'll upgrade Free and turn it into a real pirate ship!"
Lind had been in this world for over two and a half years. But he had only ever sailed on the makeshift ship he built himself and Golden Lion's flying battleships.
This was his first time aboard a proper pirate ship, navigating the vast ocean. He had to admit—the feeling of cutting through the waves, embracing the sea breeze—was intoxicating.
"Gurararara! When the time comes, don't forget to invite me aboard for a ride! Then we'll go find Sengoku!"
Whitebeard gave Lind a hearty slap on the shoulder.
Just like that, Lind sailed with Whitebeard for a week.
During their journey, Lind and Whitebeard frequently exchanged insights on Haki techniques. Even at his young age, Whitebeard's understanding of Haki was profound, and Lind gained a great deal from their discussions. In just seven days, his strength improved by another ten percent.
"Brother Newgate, it's been seven days already. How much longer until we encounter the Marines?"
While his power had increased significantly, Lind was growing impatient. They had yet to encounter a single Marine warship.
"Gurararara! That depends on the Marines' efficiency! We're heading toward the area Sengoku is responsible for patrolling—he'll receive the news and come to us."
Whitebeard stroked his mustache, laughing heartily.
Lind almost couldn't keep a straight face. 'So, we're just waiting for the Marines to come to us? Shouldn't we be tracking Sengoku's position and heading straight for him?'
'Then again… this is Whitebeard we're talking about. This is exactly how a pirate would handle things.'
"Gurararara! No need to worry, Lind! Just a few more days—we should run into Sengoku's fleet soon!"
Whitebeard noticed the change in Lind's expression and reassured him with a booming laugh.
Sure enough, later that afternoon, they spotted a Marine warship.
At the bow of the ship stood a man with a crab-shaped hairstyle. Lind recognized him instantly—Vice Admiral Sengoku, the future Fleet Admiral.
Whitebeard didn't speak immediately. He waited for Sengoku to make the first move.
"White, why aren't you staying in your lair? What are you doing here?"
Hearing Sengoku's words, Whitebeard grinned in satisfaction before bursting into laughter.
"Gurararara!"
"Once an ordinary man, now a pirate on the seas,
With grand ambitions, I chase the windsand waved my hand to change the world..
"Speaking boldly of conquest, facing battles with a smile,
Through storms and tempests, I remain, the will of Whitebeard unshaken."
"Across the Grand Line, who dares call themselves invincible?
Who dares claim to be undefeated?"
(Sad translator noises)
"Sengoku, I'm here today to test the resolve of the Marines!"