Chapter 193

However......

"Sonic and soul-level attacks—even I don't really have many ways to defend against them. What a fearsome technique, worthy of a senior." Lei Li remarked with a sigh.

Brook had set out to sea far earlier than the Luo Jie Pirates, so calling him a "senior" was not at all unwarranted.

"Yo ho ho ho—it's all thanks to the vice-captain's fine teaching." Brook said humbly.

Without the Soul Fire and the Tide-Rising Melody of the Sea, and with Fairy Law as the inspiration, he could have torn himself apart and still not achieved that effect just now.

"Alright, that's all your own talent." Sima Di cut in. "Let's go, someone's waiting for us."

The commotion here was no small matter and had already drawn the attention of Fish-Man Island.

Within his Observation Haki,

The Whitebeard Pirates had also dispatched people, who were waiting at the port of Fish-Man Island.

This time the Going Merry didn't need to make a forced landing—she sailed straight in through the port.

Looking around,

A great many pirate ships were moored by the port, every single one flying the flag of the Whitebeard Pirates.

They were the subordinate crews of the "Whitebeard Four Emperors Grand Fleet."

No wonder that fish-man from the New Fish-Man Pirates just now had deliberately cast a few glances at the pirate flag.

The moment they docked,

The First Division Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, "Marco," who had been waiting here for a long time, immediately stepped forward to greet them.

"Lord Sima, Father asked me to come meet you all." Marco said politely. "Just dock the ship here—someone will be assigned to check on the bubble membrane."

Lei Li nodded, aloof and silent—this was the Pluto in his normal state.

Marco didn't mind, his gaze shifting appraisingly to Luffy.

"You must be Ace's little brother Luffy, the one he always talks about? Since you're Ace's brother, that makes you my brother too. We're all family, no need to be so formal." Marco said warmly.

"Oh? Ace talks about me a lot?" Luffy said happily.

"He does. He said he had a brother who, though a bit dim, was full of drive—and might become a real headache for Father on his way to becoming Pirate King." Marco said with a smile.

Which made Luffy burst into laughter!

"Hahaha—I told you, I'm definitely going to become the man who becomes Pirate King!" Luffy said confidently.

But to Sima Di's ears, that carried a certain ambiguity......

If you're going to be Pirate King, then be Pirate King—why say you're going to be the man who becomes Pirate King?

Does that mean you are the Pirate King?

Or does it mean you are the Pirate King's......

He shook his head, tossing the strange thoughts out of his mind.

This caught Marco's attention.

"Demon Bane Sima Di—I heard your Devil Fruit abilities are very well-rounded, and that you can even heal injuries?"

No need to ask,

It was definitely on behalf of Whitebeard's old wounds.

Wasn't this just like a pillow being delivered the moment you feel sleepy?

He immediately admitted: "I do have a few healing methods, but you, as a Mythical Zoan—

"I do have a certain healing ability, but it's limited to new wounds. For old, long-standing injuries, I don't have much I can do—perhaps after my fruit awakens." Marco said helplessly. "Then I wonder if I could ask you to come take a look at my father for me? If his old wounds could be healed before the battle, saving Ace would definitely be no problem!"

Although Sima Di did indeed have this thought, only......

Was Marco being a little too sure of himself?

The Pirate King's ship doctor was right beside them, yet Marco acted as if he didn't see him.

This......

A desperate patient seeking treatment from any doctor at hand?

But judging by his bright gaze, he was clearly being extremely rational at this moment.

Then there was only one explanation......

"Our battle record at Sabaody Archipelago reached Fish-Man Island already?" Sima Di asked, puzzled.

That doesn't make sense!

News like this—slapping the Marines in the face, slapping the World Government in the face—would at least be suppressed, or at the very least "polished up" a bit.

Marco was a little surprised!

Sima Di had actually been able to guess the reason just from his attitude alone?

That intellect was a little terrifying!

"As one of the Four Emperors' crews, we naturally have to have some intelligence channels of our own." Marco explained. "Being able to drive back the most troublesome Admiral Huang Yuan, your healing ability must certainly be extraordinary as well."

Oh!

So there's a mole planted in the Marines.

Talking with smart people is just so easy—no need for extra words, and the conversation is pleasant to boot.

"I'll still have to take a look to know for sure." Sima Di said modestly.

"Then I'll trouble you."

The two of them had reached an agreement here, but the Straw Hat Pirates crew members beside them were listening completely lost.

A conversation between smart people is certainly simple, but to bystanders it sounds abrupt and disjointed—their leaping train of thought simply can't keep up with the topic.

But seeing that neither Sima Di nor Marco showed any sign of explaining, they exchanged glances and held back from asking.

Otherwise wouldn't that just make them look stupid?

Not even being able to follow a conversation......

"Kemi, you don't need to follow for the rest of the way—go back first." Sima Di looked at Kemi: "As for what I gave you... remember, don't give it to anyone but yourself."

"Mm! I'll remember!" Kemi nodded seriously.

Marco waved and called someone over, having them escort Kemi away.

They, on the other hand, took a lobster carriage unique to Fish-Man Island and headed straight for Dragon Palace.

The Whitebeard Pirates and all the pirate crews under them were temporarily resting and reorganizing here.

Pirates actually being able to use a kingdom's palace—ridiculous, right?

Quite the opposite,

this was probably Fish-Man Island's own volition.

You have to know,

it was precisely because Whitebeard declared Fish-Man Island under his banner back in the day that both the Marines and pirates no longer dared to violate the fish-men and mermaids on the island.

They could only catch the ones who snuck out of the island on their own to sell.

Therefore,

as a human, Whitebeard's status and prestige on Fish-Man Island was even far higher than their king, Neptune's.

They had only just stepped into the great hall when they heard a burst of clamoring.

"Old man, you can't drink anymore!"

"Gurarara—you lot don't stop me. I finally got Marco out of the way, let me drink a few mouthfuls in peace!"

Hearing this exchange,

Marco's face changed and he hurriedly quickened his pace, rushing into the great hall.

The funny thing was,

the moment Whitebeard saw Marco return, his first reaction was to lift his wine jug and gulp down several mouthfuls, only stopping with great reluctance when Marco forcibly snatched it back.

"Old man! With your body's condition, if you keep drinking, you'll really die!" Marco said helplessly.

"Gurarara—then I'll die happy!" Whitebeard was very carefree.

This left Marco and all his "sons" quite helpless.

"Hahahaha—Edward, I didn't expect that at your old age, you'd actually be managed by a little brat." Rayleigh laughed loudly.

Whitebeard, upon hearing this, instead revealed a gratified smile.

"They're all a bunch of filial children, wanting me to live a bit longer too." Whitebeard's tone shifted: "But Rayleigh, you still haven't had a child with Xia Qi? Roger at least left behind a seed."

Rayleigh was choked up for a moment, and for a time didn't know how to respond.

This made Sima Di smell the scent of gossip!

Could it be...

Rayleigh really is impotent?