Chapter 77: Meeting the Strongest Man in the World

A/N: Chapters in advance in Patreòn

Checkout My P.A.T.R.E.O.N

Pa treon.com/HolyJoker

(40+ chapters in advance)

______

Chapter 77: Meeting the Strongest Man in the World

***

The Whitebeard Crew, something of an unreachable existence amongst pirates. The man who was Roger's rival, some said that while Roger became the Pirate King, Whitebeard was the strongest amongst the both of them. Of course, those were just rumors, and in a fight, it could usually go both ways. 

Now normally no Marine would dare approach the Legendary Pirate's ship, but today was different as a small Marine ship with a white flag came about.

Marco looked at this with binoculars and saw a brown-haired young man waving at them from far away with a happy smile on his face. "What's with that stupid look?"

Whitebeard sat on his chair in the middle of the ship, with medical tubes attached to his nose and casually leaning back. He was living out his dream of having a family, there wasn't anything more that he wanted now. So he waved at Marco. "Let the fool come here, there isn't exactly a lot he could do anyway."

It might sound arrogant for others to do something like bring a possible enemy on the shil. But it wasn't so at all, he was simply confident, not even Garp or Sengoku would walk out alive if they came to his ship with bad intentions. 

"You sure Pops? This guy is Max, the same guy who was able to beat Ace easily some time back," summarized Marco. "It took him two hits I believe, Ace was very insistent on that for some reason."

"Gurarararara," Whitebeard laughed. "Back then Ace was like a young baby throwing around flames."

A nostalgic look appeared on his face, but he wasn't worried too much. After all, he had taken out Ace with one hit while sleeping. So while he loved his sons, in truth none of them would be able to last two hits against him. That included Juzo and Marco in that category too. 

***

As Max jumped on the ship, he looked around and noticed all the Whitebeard Pirates staring at him. "So… Do I bow or salute you? I am bad at these kinds of first meetings. The first time I met up with Sengoku also didn't go that well."

Everyone chuckled a little at his awkwardness, but strangely it also made them feel at ease. Max wasn't an enemy that they would be cautious of, he just showed them how he too was like an everyday person that got weirded out and became awkward easily. 

"I am not a King, nor one of your superiors, brat." Said Whitebeard with a casual smile on his face. Even he seemed amused by the situation.

"Wow, you are something else, even though you have a white mustache, everyone doesn't dare call you anything else but Whitebeard," that was the first thing Max said while addressing one of the most powerful people in the world. 

"Guararararara!!" Whitebeard's loud laughs shook the ship and created small waves. It made Max stumble a little too. "Brats these days really don't have a filter."

Max laughed along. "Xahahahaha, you are right. By the way, Garp said that you used to have long and girly blonde hair, was that true?"

*cough* Marco coughed suddenly, in an attempt to hide his coming laughs. He had been part of the crew for a long while, so he knew that it was the truth. 

Whitebeard on the other hand didn't seem mad, he even had a smile on his face. Though the power that was gathering at the tip of his finger said otherwise. "You might be dumb, but even then, don't think I will take you insulting me."

A small translucent white bubble shot at Max. Though the attack was fast, he could still dodge it without entering his Zoan Transformation. But he didn't do that and instead decided to take on the attack.

As the bubble sank in his chest, the effect was immediate and Max's organs rattled, a small drop of blood came out of his lips. Even though he had used <Tekkai> and tightened his muscle, it provided no defense against Whitebeard's Fruit. 

'Damn, now that I think about it, Akainu was able to take on two full-powered attacks of this. That guy is a monster too.' Max could appreciate monstrous durability when he saw it, and for Akainu, as a Logia to be so durable meant that the man had become nothing short of a monster.

In the soon-to-come war, he had to be careful, because if he fought against the monster before him, then death would be the only alternative. But if he deserted then Akainu would hunt him down like a dog.

This Marineford War was an event that had been a very good part, maybe Max's favorite in the Manga. But… he didn't want to be in it, that place had been a death trap for both sides. Sure, the Admirals or people like Garp were unlikely to die in there, but for him, a simple Vice Admiral, that place was death just waiting to happen. Hell, even the Admirals had a chance of dying, so he would undoubtedly die.

"Anyway, why are you here brat?" Whitebeard knew that Max hadn't come here to just trade insults with him and get beaten down. 

"Well, how should I say this…" Max scratched the back of his head nervously. "Ace has been captured, and they plan to execute him."

Normally he wouldn't say such things, but Max was confident that Whitebeard's ship didn't have any spies on it. After all, during the Marineford War, he was able to use the coating on his ships and enter the defenses without having his ships shot down.

If the Marines had known that, then one good submarine would have been able to kill off all the Whitebeard main crew, including the old man himself. Popping coating bubbles wasn't that hard, even at that size. So taking all of this into account, Max had made a plan to appear here in person and convince Whitebeard about some things and also put himself in the good graces of these pirates. That way since he was a Marine, he wouldn't be attacked by them, but also since he had created a friendship with these pirates, they wouldn't go for the kill either. 

At least Whitebeard wouldn't, that was the man who worried him the most. As Marco and Juzo, while both strong, Max was confident about surviving their attacks and being able to hold them back during the whole war. Though defeating them was possible, it would depend on the circumstances. He didn't want to anger Whitebeard during the Marineford Battle.

"So, I don't know how you will deal with this or what will happen. The World Government though most likely wants a public execution," Max's words became serious and his body stood straight as a knife. "But as Ace's friend, I hope that you will save him."

Whitebeard looked mad when he had mentioned Ace's capture, but seeing Max's request he looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Are ya dumb or what? Obviously, I will be saving my son. Also, I owe you one for this, and I will always repay my debts."

'Yeah, that is not gonna mean a lot when you are dead, old man. But whatever… you do you…' Max thought, while outwardly he had a greedy look settle over his eyes. "Make me King of the Pirates!"

"Bahahahahah!!" Hearing a Marine say that made the rest of the pirates laugh, their worry about Ace settled down a little. 

Whitebeard though sighed, "Well, I can't exactly do that. But I can help you get to Laugh Tale."

"Wait… really?!" Max was surprised at that. "I was just joking."

The old man smirked. "Yeah, though I can't take you there. But showing you the way is easy," he then frowned. "Plus I can't let this debt go unpaid."

As soon as Max heard the last part, his face settled down into a calm demeanor and he understood something. Whitebeard already knew... there was no way he would get out of Marineford alive.

____

A/N: Though officially Max is a Marine, never mistake that whatever was good for the Marines would be good for him. He looks after himself, and even if the whole Marine organization got destroyed, he would just simply move on without any problems.