Slacking Off

Chapter 201: Slacking Off

After Luffy rushes into the battlefield, the once brutal and terrifying scene turns into a bit of a spectacle. Whitebeard seemed to appreciate this young man and instructed Marco and the others to look after him.

Despite the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates, the Marines continued to pose a significant challenge to Luffy. After realizing that firearms were ineffective against him, they sent Marines skilled in swordsmanship to confront him. Rubber wasn't immune to sword attacks, and Luffy sustained several injuries.

Rodney opened his eyes and said, "His body is holding on, but not for much longer."

"What? How can that be?" Ace shouted loudly. "Luffy!! Leave this place! This isn't a situation you should be in! It has nothing to do with you! There's no need to come here and risk your life!!!"

"How can it have nothing to do with me!!!" 

Luffy ran towards them, shouting, "I'm your—brother!!!"

Hearing this, Ace shed tears, wondering when he needed his little brother to protect him. He felt utterly useless.

If only, if only...

If only he had listened to Rodney from the beginning. Then Dad, Luffy, and everyone wouldn't have come, and Oars would not have suffered such massive damage.

He lowered his head and said softly, "Rodney, you knew from the beginning, didn't you?"

"Yeah, everything," Rodney stood up, patted his butt, and said, "From the beginning, I was prepared to avoid this situation. But unfortunately, I underestimated the convergence of the world lines, also known as destiny. This is your fate. I am just an observer."

"Ace." 

He turned his head and locked eyes with Ace. Ace seemed lost for a moment, but Rodney noticed. However, he didn't say anything. Rodney continued, "Even if Whitebeard's crew isn't wiped out today, they will suffer significant damage. The Emperor's fleet has lost its former glory."

"No, Dad won't fail!! He's supposed to become the Pirate King!" Ace exclaimed.

"That's what you think!" Rodney retorted. 

"As a son, you don't even know what your father really wants. Whitebeard never aimed to become the Pirate King. Otherwise, with his strength, he could have achieved it after Roger's death. What he values has always been his family, all of you. But you thought he wanted to become the Pirate King. Think with your own brain. You've been on that ship for so long, did he ever say such things?"

Whitebeard only valued his family, and whether he became the Pirate King or not was irrelevant to him. As long as he lived, he would protect his family.

Ace was speechless, realizing that his father had never actually said he wanted to be Pirate King. It had all been his own assumption.

Thinking about it, he felt even more inadequate as a son, not even measuring up to someone like Rodney, an outsider.

"There's no need... for all of you... to come here for me!" 

Ace cried, tormented inside. Rodney said, "The Fleet Admiral only acted because he was sure that Whitebeard values his family above all else. He set up this trap to lure you in, Ace. From the moment you decided to pursue Blackbeard, this war became inevitable."

Rodney took a deep look at Hawkins. He hadn't expected this young man to understand Whitebeard so well. Had he already seen through their plan? Nevertheless, their plan wasn't just this small part. To keep Whitebeard in Marineford, they had prepared for a long time.

"Or maybe you are smart, Rodney. Ace, did you see? This is understanding the bigger picture. You're just headstrong," Garp said, then turned serious. 

"Ace, this war has started, and it can't be stopped. Your fate lies in this war."

Ace's fate depended on this war. As long as Sakazuki didn't make the first move and waited for the war's outcome, Ace's life or death would be decided in the end.

No matter who wins, Garp didn't want to see it. If the Marines won, his grandson would die, and if Whitebeard's crew won, the Marines would suffer heavy losses, weakening their control over the New World and the Grand Line.

"Katsuyu, how's your Chakra consumption?" Rodney asked.

"It's almost depleted, Lord Rodney. My split bodies are about to give out," Katsuyu cooperatively replied. Her split bodies disappeared one by one.

The Marines who were receiving treatment were confused. They didn't understand why the creatures that were healing them suddenly vanished.

"What's going on, Rodney?" Sengoku asked.

"Her energy is running low. Such extensive healing can't be done casually. Katsuyu's healing energy needs to be stored, and she used it all to save the Marines, so there's nothing more I can do."

"Never mind, you helped a lot just now," Sengoku said. Because of Katsuyu's power, many Marines on the brink of death had been saved. It had given the already dominant Marines an even greater advantage.

"Whitebeard's condition is deteriorating rapidly. He won't last much longer. Shouldn't we just go after him with everything we have just like what you did to Golden Lion Shiki?" Rodney pondered, stroking his chin.

"You don't understand, kid. Whitebeard's destructive power is much scarier than that bastard Shiki. Trying to take him down would cost us dearly," Garp replied, arms folded. 

As old rivals, they knew how terrifying Whitebeard was. He was capable of causing even more destruction than when Shiki attacked Marineford, and the collateral damage would be unimaginable.

So they had chosen this plan. Furthermore, their goal was Ace. As long as they prevented him from reaching the execution platform, there was a chance for the Marines to win this battle.

They were well aware of this and had prepared a plan accordingly, which was already in motion.

Rodney observed as the Marines in the bay directed the pirates, continuously luring them into the bay. Then, a figure appeared in front of Whitebeard, seemingly the captain of a ship from the Whitebeard Pirates. He struck Whitebeard in the belly with a single blow.

Unfortunately, the world's strongest man, without any defense, was stabbed by his own crew member!

"Squardo!!!" 

Marco descended from the sky and pinned down Squardo, the captain of the Big Spiders Pirates, beneath Whitebeard's feet. He was indignant that Whitebeard had been attacked by one of his own crew members.

"What a fool!" Rodney laughed. 

"Clearly, he was spun around and deceived. I remember this guy had all his crew members killed by Roger's crew before joining Whitebeard's. It's probably due to his hatred for the Roger Pirates, coupled with his limited intelligence, right? Hehehe, couldn't he use his brain a bit more?"

Squardo had been fooled by Admiral Akainu into thinking that Whitebeard had made a deal with the Marines, trading all 43 pirate crews' lives for Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates' retreat. Deceived and unable to see through the ruse, Squardo attacked Whitebeard, believing he was acting in the best interest of his captain. Now, realizing the truth, he was overwhelmed with regret, his tears streaming down. Although Whitebeard forgave him, he couldn't take back what he had done.

Knowing that he didn't have much time left, Whitebeard decided to take action personally. He had to save his son as quickly as possible.