Chapter 223

"Why are you all flattering me?"

"Isn't it easier to just let Luffy, this hot-headed kid, charge into the fray?"

He said casually, "Probably because I planned the Summit War, so the Marines hold a grudge against me."

At this point,

everyone couldn't help but nod in agreement.

The reason this Summit War went so smoothly, and the Straw Hat Pirates could penetrate deep into enemy lines without triggering the damage-share aura more than a few times, was all because Lord Sima's layout was simply too brilliant!

He had the Whitebeard Grand Fleet deliberately surface to draw attention, then used dark clouds as cover to approach from the sky, launching a surprise attack to catch the Marines off-guard while also buffing Nami; when Whitebeard drew away the combat power of three Admirals, he used Hearthstone to rally at light speed, flanking from behind to rescue Ace.

The gathering of the Luo Jie Pirates was also crucial, making even the "defection" of the Red-Haired Pirates unable to change the outcome.

Everything was calculated to perfection by Lord Sima!

"Good thing the Straw Hat Pirates have Di here; if it were left to Luffy to make a plan, he'd definitely lead the charge straight through the front." Nami sighed.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"What's wrong with charging straight in?" Luffy said unhappily. "As long as you're strong enough, you can just blast right through!"

Tch!

If it weren't for Whitebeard's massive combat power, even the current Straw Hat Pirates, facing a battle of the Summit War's caliber alone, would have to rely on Lord Sima going all-out.

Not much needed,

just fighting the three Admirals plus Sengoku, that's all.

Lord Sima felt exhausted just thinking about it......

Isn't it nicer to just use his brain in the rear, comfortably checking in on iconic scenes?

"Yo, everyone's here."

Ace appeared by the ship's railing, smiling brightly at everyone.

Lord Sima looked left, then right, completely unable to spot any trace of Luo Jie in him.

However......

Lord Sima looked at Luffy, who was smiling just as brightly.

He still suspected Garp had pulled a "swap the Crown Prince" trick!

After all, up to now, only four people have possessed the "Voice of All Things" talent: Luo Jie, Luffy, Kozuki Oden, and Kozuki Momonosuke.

Kozuki Oden and Kozuki Momonosuke are father and son.

Then Luo Jie and Luffy......

"It's just the age thing that's a bit...... but Kozuki Momonosuke could travel twenty years from the past, a three-year gap is nothing, so why couldn't it be possible?"

Watching Ace thank everyone one by one, Lord Sima had a certain guess in his heart.

"You seem to be thinking about something strange." Lei Li's voice suddenly rang out.

Lord Sima glanced at Lei Li, who had appeared at some unknown point.

After a slight hesitation,

he probed, "Do you think...... Luffy looks a lot like a young Luo Jie?"

Lei Li raised an eyebrow at this and carefully sized up Luffy.

Though his eyes widened in surprise!

He then shook his head.

"When I met Luo Jie, he was already quite mature; I don't know what he looked like when he was young...... why would you ask that?" Lei Li countered.

"Oh, it's just this Voice of All Things ability; so far I only know Luo Jie has it." Lord Sima said casually.

Lei Li subtly let out a breath of relief.

"What are you talking about? The Voice of All Things ability, Kozuki Oden had it too. He was the former second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, later borrowed by Luo Jie, and also went to Laugh Tale with him."

Lord Sima just smiled at Lei Li. Do I look like someone easy to fool?

Your performance just now has already said a lot!

"Ahem!" Lei Li quickly changed the subject: "Are you all preparing to set off again? I can coat your ship......"

"No need." Lord Sima snapped his fingers.

【Bubble Coat!】

All the ships docked at the port were coated with bubble film—by Lei Li's shipwright standards, they were all top-grade bubble coats.

Enough for the ships to skip Fish-Man Island and head directly to the New World through the undersea passage.

"It really is......"

"Say that evaluation one more time, want me to tell Ace and the others my guess?" Lord Sima raised an eyebrow.

Lei Li smacked his lips, staring at Lord Sima with some helplessness.

"You kid, sometimes you need to learn to play dumb." Lei Li reminded him.

"I have no interest in who the true son of the Pirate King is, and Luffy's identity has nothing to do with me. In my eyes, he's just a captain who eats way too much." Lord Sima shrugged.

This attitude made Lei Li nod, just as he was about to say more.

On the Moby Dick nearby, Whitebeard appeared with Ma Er and others.

"Gurararara—this bubble coat must be your doing, kid Di?"

"Do you like it?" Lord Sima smiled.

"Very good! Since that's the case, we should be heading back too." Whitebeard laughed. "Straw Hat Pirates, we'll be waiting for you in the New World. Let's see who gets unlucky first between Big Mom and Kaidou! Gurararara—"

This Whitebeard is truly decisive.

The bubble coat had just been applied, and he was already ready to take off.

Ace had no choice but to wave goodbye to Luffy, then turned to look at Lord Sima.

"Di, I'm leaving Luffy in your care."

"Hey hey hey, I'm not a kid anymore—I can take care of myself!" Luffy protested irritably.

But it's precisely this attitude that makes him seem even more childish!

"Don't worry—he's my captain. I won't abandon him to die," Sima Di chuckled.

If he's not dead...

Then don't blame him for turning a blind eye.

"That's best—only through more experiences can you grow stronger!" Ace sighed.

It was his overconfidence that got him captured by Teach, leading to the War at Marineford.

"What? I'm the man who's going to become Pirate King! I don't need anyone to take care of me!" Luffy grumbled.

Ace and Sima Di exchanged a glance—Ace looked exasperated, Sima Di unfazed.

"Pity you won't acknowledge me as your old man. If you did, I'd gladly take all of you as sons—then I could keep an eye on Luffy," Ace feigned regret.

But this was likely his real purpose for coming—to act as a messenger for Bai Hu Zi.

"Gurahahaha—what do you say? Think it over again?" Bai Hu Zi boomed: "Becoming my child isn't shameful!"

Obviously!

Who wouldn't want a Four Emperors' father as a shield?

And...

"You can keep adventuring—you don't have to return with your old man," Marco threw his final card: "We'll share the Red Line's original historical record. Whoever becomes Pirate King will do so by their own merit—how about it?"

The Straw Hat Pirates seek nothing but freedom and adventure—then Bai Hu Zi would give it to them!

All they had to do was acknowledge him as father, and they'd gain protection from the Four Emperors' crew...

Usopp was the first to waver!

But before he could speak...

"No way!" Luffy rejected without hesitation: "If I become your son, what does it mean when I become Pirate King? Relying on my dad? I'll become Pirate King through my own strength and my crew's power!"

Hey!

The kid's got ambition.

"Hmph! My father? Bai Hu Zi, you're not worthy!" Hancouk lifted her swan-like neck.

Now, the wavering Usopp could only silently swallow his thoughts.

He still had self-awareness.

If not for Sima Di and the others, he himself wouldn't even be worth Bai Hu Zi's notice—adopting him as a son would only make him seem out of place.

"Gurahahaha—Marco, I told you they wouldn't agree," Bai Hu Zi said without anger, waving his hand: "Go! I'll wait for you in the New World—I hope one day you'll become new Four Emperors! Gurahahaha—"

The Moby Dick was sinking.