Konoha's Mission Master

Yakumo sat beside the white-bearded man, sipping low-alcohol rum and quietly swallowing the grilled meat in front of him, seemingly out of place amidst the surrounding noise.

The Moby Dick, in the captain's cabin.

Whitebeard lay on the wide, soft down bed, his body wrapped in bandages, while Yakumo sat cross-legged on the soft cushions opposite him.

Neither of them spoke.

The atmosphere around them was somewhat silent.

"Gurala la la..."

Whitebeard first burst into hearty laughter, and in that laughter... there was a hint of relief, as if he had finally made some kind of decision.

Yakumo couldn't understand the reason for the white-bearded man's laughter.

They could only wait quietly for Whitebeard to speak first.

Yakumo is here because... after the party, Whitebeard asked him to have a private talk.

How much time do I have left?

"Less than eight months."

Yakumo answered truthfully.

"This is too short..."

Whitebeard shook his head vigorously.

"Ten years ago... my ship's doctor said I wouldn't live more than five years, but now I can still eat meat and drink alcohol to my heart's content."

“You need to understand… I’m different from those quack doctors.”

Yakumo spoke with certainty and without any politeness.

Whitebeard was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, but he did not refute it.

This is not arrogance.

Given the medical skills possessed by this young man... he certainly deserves to be called a quack doctor by all other doctors in the world.

"Can't it last any longer?"

Whitebeard pressed for details, explaining that he wasn't afraid of death... but rather wanted to make arrangements for his affairs. Once Marco and Ace's Devil Fruit abilities were fully awakened, the two Admiral-level fighters would be enough to support the Whitebeard Pirates.

"No... I am just a human being, not a god."

Yakumo shook his head and refused.

"Hey."

Whitebeard sighed heavily, a deep sense of resentment flashing in his eyes, before quickly regaining his composure.

"If I were to exchange a secret for the two years after my death, would that be acceptable?"

Yakumo was somewhat surprised. If his guess was correct, the deal had already been prepared when Whitebeard asked about the remaining time.

Whitebeard had promised not to tell anyone this secret.

After many days of struggle…

Whitebeard decided to use this secret as a condition to exchange for Yakumo's protection of the Whitebeard Pirates.

"I'm not interested."

Yakumo shook his head and said... He would try to complete mission three and leave the pirate world in at most twenty days.

After all… he couldn’t become stronger in the dungeon world through any means, and he couldn’t afford to waste a whole year just to keep his promise.

"This secret concerns the ultimate truth of the sea, and the final destination of the legendary island... Laugh Tale!"

Whitebeard spoke again, he didn't believe that anyone in this world would be uninterested in the legendary island of Laugh Tale, just like he had back then... unable to resist the temptation.

When that secret...is within easy reach.

No one can resist its allure.

"I refuse."

Yakumo shook his head again, his voice containing a firmness that moved Whitebeard.

Isn't he interested in the legendary island?

"Are you sure?"

"Of course..."

Yakumo said casually that although the secret was tempting, it was of little significance to him, since he could not gain any improvement from the dungeon world.

"You... gula la la la!"

"That's really interesting."

Whitebeard chuckled, sat up straight, and stared intently at Yakumo with wide, bright eyes.

"It's not funny. For some reason, after killing Big Mom, I will remain silent for about two years... When I return, I will do my best to avenge the Whitebeard Pirates."

Yakumo answered truthfully.

Whitebeard instantly recalled the two years Yakumo had been missing and believed Yakumo's words completely.

"I see…"

The white-bearded man sighed.

"If you quit drinking, the time can be extended..."

"How long will it be extended?"

"About two months."

Yakumo stood up, gestured, and then turned to leave.

He and Whitebeard failed to reach an agreement.

"Those banned drugs that enhance one's abilities... are they still available?"

"That's a good idea..."

.........

Outside, Yakumo met Marco, and a strong smell of alcohol hit him.

But there was no sign of intoxication in his eyes.

"I want to talk to you..."

"it is good."

Yakumo replied.

These two, father and son... really have great chemistry. The first one had just finished talking with Yakumo, and the second one came knocking on his door.

The Moby Dick, top of the mast.

Yakumo and Marco enjoyed the sea breeze.

“I guess…you and Dad couldn’t reach an agreement.”

"That's right, but what brings you here?"

The two talked for two hours.

Marco's idea was to cooperate and thwart the pursuing Marines as much as possible within twenty days, giving the Whitebeard Pirates a chance to catch their breath.

Yakumo suggested to Marco that they go to Fishman Island.

The next day, the Moby Dick set off for Fishman Island.

The Whitebeard Pirates' temporary stop to rest and recuperate was also a way of avoiding battle.

If the Navy intended to annihilate the Whitebeard Pirates on Fishman Island, Whitebeard only needed a powerful underwater earthquake to take the Navy's top forces down with him. The sea is always a taboo for Devil Fruits.

Fishman Island is located at a depth of 10000 meters in the deep sea.

The arrival of the Whitebeard Pirates was warmly received by King Neptune of the Fish-Man. After several days of barbecue feasts, the Whitebeard Pirates returned to the Moby Dick to rest and recuperate.

During this time, Yakumo met Princess Shirahoshi.

The size of the white star far exceeded Yakumo's imagination.

Yakumo's height... is roughly the size of a palm.

Similarly... Shirahoshi was filled with curiosity about Yakumo.

During his twenty-odd days on Fishman Island, Yakumo experienced unprecedented ease, except that every morning when he woke up... he missed the endless daily quests.

On the deck of the Moby Dick, many pirates lay sprawled about, the losers of last night's wild party.

Most of these people prefer rum with a slightly charred taste.

But Whitebeard's sons preferred strong liquor.

Yakumo once tried Whitebeard's strong liquor, which felt like swallowing a sharp blade forged from ice. It was extremely pungent, and in the end, it turned into rising flames in his stomach. Every breath he exhaled was filled with the smell of alcohol, and his face would turn rosy.

He still prefers low-alcohol rum.

That rich, creamy caramel flavor is incredibly delicious.

On a distant platform, Ace and Marco had already begun their day of hand-to-hand combat.

In the world of One Piece... whether it's using Devil Fruits or Haki, it essentially requires physical strength, which leads to... the physiques of the strongest individuals in the One Piece world being almost monstrous.

Marco and Ace understood the responsibilities on their shoulders. Two years of accumulation not only brought Marco's Devil Fruit power close to awakening, but also made Ace's mastery of Haki increasingly powerful.

That afternoon, Yakumo began administering electroshock therapy to the two, something Marco had asked him to do—to enhance their physical strength through golden arcs of electricity.

Although the worlds are different, some things are the same.

Two days later, the Holy Light tempering and cooling process was complete.

Meanwhile, news of the aunties' tea party spread.

Charlene, the thirty-fifth daughter of the Charlotte family.

Sanji, the third son of the Vinsmoke family.

They are getting married soon.