Chapter 33

As Carnes listened to Whitebeard's threatening words, a faint smile reappeared on his face.

Looking at the Den Den Mushi in his hand, he spoke in a calm tone.

"Surprising, you can also resort to threats?"

"I remember, you never used to utter such meaningless words. What's the point of talking when things can be settled with action?"

"Or are you afraid?"

Upon hearing Carnes' words, Ace couldn't help but react.

He could tolerate many things, but he couldn't tolerate anyone insulting Whitebeard!

"Don't overestimate yourself. Who do you think you are? Do you think Pops would be afraid of someone like you?" Ace stared coldly at Carnes and spoke in a deep voice.

Carnes glanced at Ace but didn't respond to his words.

On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, on the Moby Dick.

All the members of the Whitebeard Pirates shared a common alignment with Ace's thoughts.

Just when they thought Whitebeard would fiercely retaliate against Carnes...

Whitebeard fell silent.

After a while, he repeated the words he had said before.

"Come to the New World!! I'll be waiting here. Don't keep me waiting for too long!"

With that, Whitebeard hung up the Den Den Mushi without saying anything more.

Carnes, on the other end, looked at the Den Den Mushi and didn't say much either.

He casually threw the Den Den Mushi back to Ace and then turned and left.

After chatting with an old friend after a long time and finally pouring out the accumulated bitterness from his heart, Carnes felt much lighter.

Even his mood became more cheerful.

"It's time to go back..." Carnes muttered softly and left with big strides.

Ace didn't stop him.

He just stared intently at Carnes' retreating figure, silently watching him leave.

Although he had many grievances towards Carnes, he also understood that someone who could make Pops show such an attitude was no ordinary person.

And from their conversation, Ace could tell that Carnes was an opponent recognized by his Pops.

In such matters, Pops wouldn't want him to get involved.

"Carnes..." Ace whispered softly and shifted his gaze away from Carnes, looking back at the Den Den Mushi.

Soon, he left the place where he had been standing and once again contacted Marco.

"Ace?" Marco's voice came tentatively.

"It's me. How is Pops?" Ace replied with a question.

Before Marco could respond...

Whitebeard's voice was the first to come through.

"I'm fine. Did that guy lay a hand on you?"

Upon hearing Whitebeard's voice, Ace hesitated for a moment before responding, "No, he left after ending the call, Pops..."

As the words were on the tip of his tongue, Ace suddenly had a thought of whether he should say it or not.

And in that moment of hesitation, Whitebeard on the other end of the Den Den Mushi had already guessed what Ace wanted to say.

Sure enough, the next second, just as Whitebeard had anticipated, Ace asked that question.

"Pops, who is that guy exactly? When did you two meet?" Ace expressed his confusion.

Because for all these years, he and Whitebeard had been together on the same ship.

But he never knew about this person named Carnes.

It wasn't just him who held this doubt. The other members of the Whitebeard Pirates shared the same confusion. They were also unaware of the existence of someone named Carnes.

Almost instinctively, the members of the Whitebeard Pirates all turned to look at Whitebeard.

"Ah~" Whitebeard let out a soft sigh and chose not to hide anything, speaking the truth.

"I knew him a long time ago."

"At that time, I hadn't formed the Whitebeard Pirates yet, and I was just an ordinary crew member."

"And Carnes, I met him on that ship during those days."

"There were notorious and ruthless pirates gathered there, driven by treasure and ambition."

"On that ship, trust between crew members was nonexistent. Everything was measured by strength and fists."

"And Carnes... he was my former vice-captain!"

As Whitebeard spoke, shockwaves reverberated through the crowd!

The members of the Whitebeard Pirates present, including Marco and the other division commanders, couldn't help but shrink their eyes and inhale sharply upon hearing these words.

"The... former... Vice Captain?!"

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