Chapter 31

Halfway through his sleep, he suddenly raised his head.

This sudden movement startled the people around, causing them to let out a cry of surprise.

However, he, as if nothing happened, continued eating his unfinished lunch.

On the other side, Carnes and the others were still waiting.

In his leisure time, Carnes asked Demiurge about something.

"How are the supplies for the ship coming along?"

"We're more than halfway through the progress. It should be completed by tonight," replied Demiurge.

Carnes nodded.

"Then let's set sail tomorrow morning."

Shortly after, the waiter brought the food.

It was when Carnes and the others were halfway through their meal that a man with bare arms and an orange cowboy hat passed by Carnes and headed towards the restaurant's exit.

Carnes, who was eating, immediately noticed the tattoo on the man's back.

This made him pause his eating motion.

Looking at the large white mustache.

How could Carnes forget such a distinctive pattern?

It was undoubtedly the symbol of the Whitebeard Pirates.

And among the Whitebeard Pirates, Carnes only knew one person who had this pattern tattooed on his back.

The second division captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace!

"He's here?" Carnes squinted his eyes slightly as he watched Ace leave the restaurant.

"Is there something wrong with that person, Captain?" Inouk asked curiously.

Carnes turned his head and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"The son of an old acquaintance."

Carnes paused for a moment, then added.

"No, I should say the sons of two old acquaintances."

Lydia, who was eating beside them, was filled with question marks upon hearing this.

"Captain, do you know his parents?"

Carnes nodded and calmly continued eating.

"I've never met his mother, but I've had dealings with his two fathers."

"Two fathers???" Carnes' words instantly caused Lydia's brain to glitch, and she had a face full of question marks.

However, Carnes didn't explain further.

He just turned his head to Demiurge and said lightly, "Keep an eye on him."

"I understand. I'll send Shadow Demon," replied Demiurge in a deep voice.

"Two fathers, huh? He's certainly got quite the interesting lineage," Demiurge chuckled inwardly.

---

It's unclear how much time has passed.

In a street alley near the coast.

"Come back, Ace! Don't go after Teach!"

"He committed such an act of killing his comrades, bringing shame to our father! And as the captain of the second division, should I just let it go? Teach used to be under my command, and now it's my responsibility to deal with him!"

Ace looked at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, his voice resolute.

"Don't worry, Marco! I will definitely catch Teach!"

As he spoke, Ace turned his head towards the sea not far away.

"I heard you mention Marco earlier, so... you must be having a conversation with the Whitebeard Pirates," a sudden voice came from beside Ace.

Ace quickly turned his head in the direction of the voice.

To his surprise, there was a man with a silver-white longsword hanging at his waist standing next to him.

And that man was Carnes!

Ace's eyes trembled slightly with uncertainty as he looked at Carnes's friendly smile.

"When did this guy... arrive?! How did I not notice at all?"

At that moment, Marco's voice came through the Den Den Mushi again.

"Ace?"

Ace was about to reply.

But when he turned his head to look at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, he only saw a flash, and the Den Den Mushi disappeared instantly.

"So fast!" Ace was greatly astonished and immediately distanced himself from Carnes.

However, to his surprise, Carnes didn't launch an attack against him. Instead, he smiled and spoke to the Den Den Mushi.

"So, you're here... Newgate?"

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi.

On the Moby Dick of the Whitebeard Pirates.

Upon hearing the unfamiliar voice from the Den Den Mushi, Marco's expression changed slightly, and he said in a deep voice, "Who... who are you?! Where's Ace?"

Listening to Marco's questioning, Carnes's smile remained on his face. "You must be Marco, right? As for who I am, I don't think it's important. Just know that... I used to be... well, let's call it a friend of Newgate!"

"And as for Portgas D. Ace, he's right beside me!"

Used to be?

Considered a friend???

Marco's eyes slightly narrowed, and his eyes involuntarily glanced in the direction of Whitebeard.

At this moment, Whitebeard seemed to have heard the voice from the Den Den Mushi and was walking towards Marco.

"Gurarara..."

"A friend of mine in the past???"

As soon as Carnes heard that laughter, he knew that Whitebeard was by Marco's side.

Meanwhile, on the Moby Dick.

Upon hearing Whitebeard's response, Marco and the others wore surprised expressions.

"Pops?!"

Whitebeard didn't respond.

He had a relaxed smile on his face as he looked at Marco.

At that moment, Carnes's voice came through the Den Den Mushi again.

"How nostalgic! It's been so many years. Have you been doing well?"

"Are you trying to get close to me?" Whitebeard's face still wore a smile as he spoke calmly.

However, Carnes didn't answer. He continued speaking to himself.

"These years have been quite difficult for me!"

"The scars from the past make me live in pain every day."

"Even now, whenever I think of you all, those healed wounds seem to ache faintly."

As Carnes spoke of his grievances to himself.

The members of the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World burst into laughter.

"What is this guy talking about?"

"Haha, am I hearing this correctly? Is he complaining to Pops?"

"Hey hey, give the Den Den Mushi back to Ace. We're not interested in listening to your complaints, and we're not interested in your experiences."

The members of the Whitebeard Pirates paid no attention to Carnes's complaints.

Similarly, Carnes didn't care about their teasing. He continued speaking with a smile on his face.

"Do you know?"

"These years, I have almost fantasized every day about appearing before you in my prime, and instantly killing all of you!"

As soon as those words were spoken.

Both sides fell into silence.

A silence so deep that you could hear a pin drop!

The faces of the members of the Whitebeard Pirates changed at once!

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