170. A Helping Hand

"How long have you been in Whitebeard's crew?"

Leo sipped a glass of beer and asked.

Marco chugged on his own beer and said, "More than thirty years."

"And you never thought of leaving?"

Marco smiled, "We are a family. Would you leave your family?"

Leo had no words for that. He suddenly said, "Did that thing I gave Whitebeard help him?"

Marco nodded, "Yes, it did. It's been a long time since he slept so soundly. Thanks for that."

Leo waved his hand, "Don't mind it. I only gave it to him because of who he is."

"Hm? A Yonko?"

Leo shook his head, "No. I can sense a person's character by just seeing them. Whitebeard is proud and arrogant but he is at the same time a good man. If I can help a person like that, why not."

Marco went silent for a while and said, "Pops was right, you are a true king."

Huh?

Leo looked at him confused.

Marco smiled and explained, "I told him not to drink that drug you left behind in fear that it might be drugged, you know what he said? That you are a King, a King who doesn't need such trickery."

Leo was surprised. He laughed slightly and downed the whole glass.

"You know, what I gave you before only had a small healing effect, it's major function is to numb the pain. If you want I can get you a specialised drug focusing on recuperation."

Marco raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Really?"

Leo nodded, "Yeah. That was something I had on me by chance. I can get you a better drug, my wife is a great doctor and an even better researcher. It's not that hard for her to create a drug like that."

Marco expressed his gratitude and said, "Thank you. Whatever you want in return just ask. As long as it's not something that goes against our bottom line we don't mind."

Leo noticed the 'we' instead of 'I'. He was surprised by the unity of Whitebeard's crew.

"No need. I am glad to help a person like Whitebeard. Though we stand on different ends, I can respect a man like Whitebeard."

Marco firmly shook his head, "No can do. Last time father accepted what you gave as a first time meeting gift, but if you still give out stuff for free he won't accept it. And if he knew I took something in his place, he will beat the shit out of me."

Leo was taken by Marco's words and thought about what he want and said, "There really isn't anything I want, but if I do come up with something I will ask you, how about that?"

Marco was ok with that. They raised their glasses and downed another mouthful.

Suddenly Leo thought of something, "Hey, now that I think about it, Whitebeard had me drink an excellent bottle of wine. Do you have more of that?"

Marco was surprised for a moment and showed a wry smile, "We do have more of it. But all of it belongs to pops. A good drink is his only hobby, and what he gave you last time was something from his collection."

Leo smiled brightly and said, "Then I want a few bottles."

Marco nearly spurted what he drank, "A few bottles? Some of us were beaten black and blue when he caught us stealing a single bottle and you want a few bottles?"

Leo shrugged, "Hey, you are the one who insisted on giving something back."

Marco rubbed his forehead for some time and finally clenched his fist, "Whitebeard pirates always keeps our word! I will get you a few bottles!"

Leo smiled brightly and raised his glass. Marco followed and both of them downed their glass.

After talking for some time Marco was preparing to head back when Leo said.

"You know, if you can arrange a time I can bring my wife to do a check up on Whitebeard."

Marco asked back, "Is it appropriate?"

Leo asked, "Why would it be inappropriate?"

"Because you are a marine and we are pirates."

Leo smiled to his words and said, "A man is judged for his actions, not his title. I believe in my sight, being a marine won't stop me or my wife from helping a person like him."

Marco looked deeply at Leo for a moment and bowed.

"Thank you."

Leo waved his hand and said, "Don't thank me, thank my wife, she is the one doing all the work."

Marco laughed, "Yeah. You didn't do anything, I should definitely thank your wife."

"Hey! I was just being polite."

Hahaha.

They had a good laugh and Marco left.

Leo also headed back to his ship. Shinobu was already on the deck waiting for him.

"You seem to be in a good mood."

She said.

Leo held her arms and said, "I just got me some great wine."

Shinobu shook her head in resignation, "Why do men like wine so much?"

"Why do woman like to dress up so much?"

Leo shot back a question at her.

Suddenly Shinobu smiled brightly, "So you think I dress up so much?"

Leo pinched her lovely cheeks, "Of course my Shinobu doesn't need to dress up, she is so beautiful like a fairy. I am talking about other women."

Though she knew it was flattery it still felt good to hear it from her husband.

Mace was sensitive enough to not disturb them and ordered the men to set sail.

...

Moby Dick.

Marco returned to the ship and secretly gathered the Commanders.

"What's wrong Marco? Why did you ask all of us gather so secretly?"

"Is there a problem? Did anyone mess in our turf?"

Hearing several of them grumble Marco gestured for them to be quite and said.

"I saw that marine who helped father before."

Whitebeard's second division Commander Jozu said, "That guy? He is not bad for a marine. But how does he fit in you calling as of us here so secretly?"

Marco explained, "He said he can get a specialised drug to help father recuperate from his old injuries. Though not completely I presume that this drug could heal atleast 20 percent of father's injuries."

"Really!?"

The Commanders were stunned and excited.

"When can he give it to us?"

Jozu asked.

Marco said, "He can give a stronger drug than last time but if we want better results he needs to examine father's body."

"So what? Let's arrange a time for him."

The Commanders saw Whitebeard as their father, to them nothing more important than their father and their crew.

Marco has a wry smile on his face, "The problem is that, I told him we won't take something for free and he asked for a few bottles of wine from father's collection."

The Commanders went silent for a while before one of them asked.

"So, how do we convince father to give up a few bottles?"