Chapter 69 – Possible murderer

Boa Hancock: "The Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates is going to face death soon?!"

Ulti: "Hahaha, that's great. I always said the Whitebeard Pirates were nothing compared to the Beast Pirates."

Black Maria: "Arton really has revealed something significant."

Shyarly: "With Ace's death, Whitebeard won't just sit back."

Yamato: "Fake, this can't be true! Damn, I need to leave here, I can't waste any more time!"

Kozuki Hiyori: "How could this happen to the Whitebeard Pirates?! Why? Who could the traitor be?!"

Hiyori was born on the Moby Dick of the Whitebeard Pirates.

She has deep feelings for the Whitebeard Pirates.

Even though she had never met Ace, she didn't want to see Ace die and Whitebeard hurt.

"Alas, even if I wanted to do something now, I can't."

Hiyori looked around at her surroundings, thinking about her situation, and sighed deeply.

Meanwhile, in Totto Land, Whole Cake Island.

"Unexpectedly, we got such explosive news from Arton before the party ended."

"Sister, what do you think?"

Charlotte Cinnamon turned her head to look at one of the Sweet Four Generals, Charlotte Smoothie, and asked.

"Fire Fist Ace is a strong man."

"There aren't many in this sea who can take his life."

"If we limit it to within the Whitebeard Pirates, then even fewer."

"I'm really curious, who will take Ace's life in the future."

Charlotte Smoothie smiled.

"Could it be, one of Phoenix Marco, Diamond Jozu, or Flower Sword Vista killed Ace?"

Charlotte Galette frowned as she spoke.

"How could that be, those three have been with the Whitebeard Pirates for so long."

"How could they possibly kill Ace?"

Charlotte Custard shook her head, speaking up.

As one of the older members of the Big Mom Pirates, Custard naturally had a deeper understanding of their rivals, the Whitebeard Pirates.

She did not believe that Vista, Marco, and Jozu, who had followed Whitebeard for many years, would betray him.

Though reluctant to admit it,

Charlotte Custard knew that the bond between members of the Whitebeard Pirates was even stronger than the bond between crew members of the Big Mom Pirates, who were connected by blood.

"Then who could it be?"

"Within the Whitebeard Pirates, besides Whitebeard himself, only those three have the power to kill Ace."

Galette's eyebrows were tightly furrowed as she asked.

"Could it be a newcomer who will join the Whitebeard Pirates in the future?"

Custard uncertainly stated.

"Fufu, as Arton mentioned, it was a veteran who led to Ace's end."

"So, it couldn't be a newcomer."

"No need to guess further."

"If Arton doesn't say, our guesses will lead nowhere," Charlotte Smoothie shook her head and continued,

"I'm somewhat curious if Ace dies, what actions will Whitebeard take?"

"With his personality, he definitely won't let the traitor off."

Custard nodded, taking over the conversation,

"Indeed, Whitebeard would take such action."

"Besides, Garp wouldn't just stand by either, Arton mentioned that three of the Four Emperors will be replaced in the future."

"I wonder if Whitebeard will be one of those replaced because of Ace's death."

Hearing Custard's words, the Charlotte family members all silently nodded in agreement.

Although Whitebeard is known as the strongest man in the world, if Garp attacks the Whitebeard Pirates out of rage over Ace's death, Whitebeard might indeed lose his seat as one of the Four Emperors. (t/n: not sure about this…)

"I'm becoming increasingly curious about the future."

"If Garp decides to attack Whitebeard, perhaps not only will Whitebeard lose his emperor's throne, but he might also end up dying alongside Garp," Smoothie said with a smile.

Imagining the losses the Marines and the Whitebeard Pirates might face due to the Ace incident excited Smoothie.

At that moment, the long-silent Charlotte Pudding finally spoke up, saying lightly, "I wonder if there are any journal owners within the Whitebeard Pirates."

"If someone has a journal, they'd definitely go back to Arton for a clear explanation."

Galette shook her head and said, "I've never heard of any beautiful pirates in the Whitebeard Pirates."

"If Arton's journal truly was only given to beautiful women, it's unlikely anyone in the Whitebeard Pirates would have one."

After speaking, Galette looked towards Smoothie, wanting to see her opinion.

"The Whitebeard Pirates, huh? If I had to choose someone who might have a journal… that Ice Witch, who has now become one of the captains of the Blackbeard Pirates' ship, Whitey Bay, might possess a journal," Smoothie said, taking a sip of her orange juice made with her Devil Fruit powers.

After a moment, she raised her eyebrows, a sharp light flashing in her eyes,

"This Whitey Bay was once a crew member of the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship."

"Now, she has become one of the big fleet captains."

"If there's someone who could betray Whitebeard and might have the capability to kill him, she would be one," Smoothie mused.

"If that's really the case, and she does possess a journal, Arton revealing this now could really bring about massive changes in the future," Custard remarked.

"The future may not necessarily change, only that Whitey Bay would seek out Arton for power before killing Ace."

"She's not by Whitebeard's side right now, she has the absolute freedom to search for Arton."

"That's something we, unable to leave Totto Land, lack," Smoothie said, feeling a tinge of envy.

Even as one of the Sweet Commanders, she couldn't leave Totto Land on her own, let alone head to the distant East Blue.

If not for that, she would have already set off to find Arton in the East Blue.

She believed that with her abilities, she could definitely get Arton to take many photos of her and record many videos.

This way, she could earn a vast amount of points to strengthen herself.

She even thought, if she could earn points, she might become even stronger than her mother.

Imagining such a future, Charlotte Smoothie couldn't help but lick her lips.

"If I could become stronger than Mother with Arton's help, Whitey Bay could also become stronger than Whitebeard through Arton."

"If she's truly ambitious enough to kill Ace for her goals, she'd surely do anything to gain points and character templates from Arton."

"Even if it means offering herself, serving Arton as showed in his doujinshis, that'd probably be no issue for her," Smoothie thought, growing increasingly envious of Whitey Bay's freedom to sail the seas.

However, while Charlotte Smoothie and the others correctly guessed Whitey Bay owning a journal, they misjudged her as the future murderer of Ace.

***

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