I'm in One Piece, and I'm Luffy's childhood friend.

"Dad, we..."

Jozu asked, but Whitebeard didn't speak; of course, he wouldn't dare to take action himself.

"It seems he's not here to fight. Let's have some time alone."

Whitebeard spoke, and his sons immediately obeyed, retreating to the first deck, leaving only Whitebeard and Shanks on the second floor.

"The wine from the West Sea... doesn't look very good."

Whitebeard gave his opinion before even drinking it.

Shanks smiled.

"I have traveled to all the oceans in the world... and there is no wine that tastes better than this."

"Try the pub in my hometown."

Upon hearing this, Whitebeard tilted his head back and took a sip. "Hmm...not bad."

"Roger...Garp...Sengoku..."

"There are not many people who understand the ocean back then."

Whitebeard suddenly began to feel nostalgic.

Shanks replied.

"22 years have passed... no wonder."

Whitebeard grinned. "You've climbed pretty fast too, haven't you? Back then you were just a trainee under Gol D. Roger..."

“I often clashed with Roger’s ships, and we became familiar with each other over time.”

"Where's that funny red-nosed guy you used to be with? Is he dead?"

When Bucky was mentioned, memories flooded Shanks' mind.

"Bucky..."

"I really miss those days."

"We parted ways in Loguetown on the day the captain was executed, and we haven't heard from each other since..."

"I heard he's still a pirate."

"For me, it's just a matter of a snap of the fingers."

"Many people are continuing to write the legend. The day you fought Hawkeye feels like yesterday to me."

"Everyone was stunned that someone like you could lose an arm in the East China Sea."

"What kind of enemy took your left arm?"

Shanks covered his severed arm with his coat, and images of Luffy and Bai Yun floated into his mind, though Luffy's image appeared more often.

"This..."

"I've staked his future on the 'New Era'!"

Upon hearing this answer, Whitebeard replied while drinking, "As long as you don't regret it."

Shanks smiled in response, and after exchanging pleasantries, they got down to business.

"I have some good news, a junior I know..."

As Shanks spoke, the image of Beckman repeatedly telling him before he boarded the ship flashed through his mind: "You must say he's my apprentice! You must say that Bai Yun, who cut off Blackbeard's left arm, is my apprentice!!"

"He is Ben's apprentice."

Whitebeard was puzzled as to why Shanks would suddenly bring up a junior.

"Ben? That Beckman who wields the gun, right?"

"Yes."

"What happened to his apprentice?"

"His apprentice...cut off Blackbeard's left arm."

Shanks spoke calmly.

Even the usually composed white-bearded man's face showed a slight change.

Shanks noticed this and a smug smile crept onto his lips.

"That kind of joke isn't funny."

"Besides, you don't seem like someone who would joke around."

This is Whitebeard's answer.

"Indeed, we have no evidence, nor did we see it with our own eyes."

"But I believe that child wouldn't lie."

"And... he's Ace's brother."

This was yet another sentence that made the white-bearded man's eyebrows twitch slightly.

"Ace's...brother..."

"...Luffy, White Luck...Sabo?"

Ace had mentioned his three brothers on the ship, and it was unexpected that Whitebeard remembered them.

Shanks nodded. "It's White Fortune."

Just as he was about to continue speaking, a sound came from the first-floor deck.

Chapter 552 Personally Presented

Shanks and Whitebeard were talking about White Fortune, and just as they were about to go into details, a sound came from the first-floor deck.

Beckman came up.

Despite being surrounded, Beckman remained calm and composed.

"Captain, first mate, come aboard! Are we really going to start a war?"

"Margo asked."

Beckman had a cigarette dangling from his mouth, one hand holding a Den Den Mushi (a type of electric scooter), and the other resting on the butt of his gun.

"What a big battle."

"I'm just here to deliver a Den Den Mushi to my apprentice."

"apprentice?"

Marco was puzzled. Why had he never heard of Beckman having any apprentices? After all, Beckman was a top-tier fighter.

“Gurararara, let him come up, Marco.”

"Don't worry about me! Those two brats can't take my life."

Whitebeard's words spread, and he was quite arrogant, but he had the right to back it up.

"Dad, let me go up too."

Although Marco knew that the Red-Haired Pirates were not the type to launch sneak attacks, he always wanted to be on the safe side.

After all, they are two Yonko-level figures.

Beckman's skill level is comparable to Shanks'.

Therefore, despite having the smallest territory and the fewest crew members, the Red-Haired Pirates still secured their position as one of the Four Emperors.

"alright."

Whitebeard believed in his own strength. He was arrogant, but he also knew Marco's personality and that he couldn't argue with him.

........

Beckman and Marco went up to the second-floor deck.

Shanks didn't ask Beckman why he came; he had already heard Beckman say, "I'm here to deliver a Den Den Mushi to my apprentice."

Shanks continued what he was going to say.

"The one who gave me this wound wasn't Hawkeye, nor was it something I did while adventuring."

"This wound was inflicted by your subordinate, Blackbeard Teach!"

"I didn't pay much attention to it at the time."

"You know what I mean, Whitebeard."

"He was waiting for his chance... He neither fought for the captain's position nor increased his fame."

"Instead, they've always been hidden under the banner of Whitebeard!"

"Once he gained the power, he began to act; his ultimate goal was the highest point!"

"By his own will, he will one day take your place!"

Whitebeard remained silent for a moment. Shanks' words were dangerous, and only he knew how much he had actually listened to.

"So what do you want me to do? That's the real purpose of your trip, isn't it?"

Shanks revealed his purpose.

"Recall Ace!"

“He’s young, and he’s the captain of your second team. I know Ace is very strong.”

"But his reputation and your trust in him will make this matter complicated."

"Now is not the time for the two of them to face off."

"Don't mess with Blackbeard Teach, that's all I ask!"

After Shanks finished speaking, Whitebeard burst into laughter.

“Goo la la la!!”

"You little snotty brat, you sure know how to talk!!"

Tensions were about to escalate.