Chapter 197: Could You Use a Giant Sea King to Pull an Aircraft Carrier? Bai Hu Zi, You

Not just Ace and Ma Erke.

The captains of the White Beard Society, who had always considered themselves seasoned veterans of grand scenes, now stared at the aircraft carrier and battleships and were all struck with awe and joy.

It felt like becoming rich overnight.

Bista walked to the edge of the aircraft carrier and leaped toward the distant battleship, landing swiftly upon it.

He walked across the battleship, running his hand along its edge, feeling that... metallic texture, occasionally pulling out his hilt and lightly tapping the cannons displayed on the battleship.

"Where exactly did Old Man go these past days?"

Bista, always known for his calmness, could not help but feel his heart tremble.

"Why, this time he came back, bringing so many steel warships?"

These past days, Bai Hu Zi had changed greatly.

On one hand, Bai Hu Zi no longer indulged them as before, but began training them.

The training intensity was nothing short of hellish.

Especially the captains of each division.

Bai Hu Zi's demands were especially strict.

Of course, though the training was grueling, no one blamed Bai Hu Zi for it.

They all understood Bai Hu Zi's intent; after the Battle of Marineford, everyone knew the importance of strength.

The Bai Hu Zi Society could not rely solely on Bai Hu Zi.

Suffering a little was nothing, as long as they felt their strength improving.

On the other hand, members of the Bai Hu Zi Society noticed Bai Hu Zi would occasionally vanish for stretches of time.

Although Ma Erke had once worried about Bai Hu Zi and asked about it, Bai Hu Zi only replied he was helping some friends.

Considering how suddenly Su Han and others had appeared, Ma Erke roughly guessed Bai Hu Zi had gone to assist Su Han and the others.

The Bai Hu Zi Society's worries and confusion lasted until one day, when Bai Hu Zi returned looking much younger.

After that, no one ever asked Bai Hu Zi again.

They all trusted Bai Hu Zi.

Whatever Bai Hu Zi didn't tell them must have been for a good reason.

Moreover, if Bai Hu Zi gained benefits from that matter—even extending his lifespan—it was already a tremendous blessing for the Bai Hu Zi Society.

Though they suspected Bai Hu Zi was hiding some secret,

they never imagined he'd return this time with these... steel warships.

He had circled the aircraft carrier for a long time.

Only then did Ma Erke barely calm his emotions, finally landing on the aircraft carrier's plaza.

Beside Ace.

"Ace... what do you think of this ship?"

"

Ma Erke asked in a low voice.

Ace looked thrilled, "Amazing... no! It's beyond amazing!

It's unimaginably incredible! This ship is like a mobile island."

A ship forged from steel that wouldn't sink was already astonishing.

Not to mention how enormous it was.

But Ma Erke let out a bitter laugh: "Even though I feel happy too... but! If the Navy got hold of the method to build these steel ships, it would be terrible."

Ace froze, then met Ma Erke's gaze.

He realized.

Both nodded solemnly, then made up their minds to find Bai Hu Zi together.

Bai Hu Zi had already entered the aircraft carrier's cabin.

The cabin Bai Hu Zi occupied had been urgently modified, given his enormous size.

Clearly, most of the aircraft carrier's cabins were inaccessible to Bai Hu Zi.

But such modifications could wait; Bai Hu Zi wasn't in a hurry.

When Ma Erke and Ace found Bai Hu Zi, they nearly doubted their eyes.

Because Bai Hu Zi was now intently studying a pile of documents.

Ace: "...... Old Man."

He saw what? His seventy-year-old father, now hiding in a cabin, buried in books—had Bai Hu Zi switched careers to become a scholar? This didn't fit at all! Ace was utterly bewildered.

"My dear son Ace, what brings you to me?"

Bai Hu Zi blinked, turned his head, saw Ace, and smiled warmly, then nodded to Ma Erke.

Ma Erke's expression was serious; he bluntly voiced his concerns to Bai Hu Zi.

He expected Bai Hu Zi to grow grave after hearing this.

But he never expected that after hearing this, Bai Hu Zi's lips twitched twice.

Finally, Bai Hu Zi rubbed his brow.

He sighed deeply, his face filled with complexity.

"If you're worried about this... then you can rest easy."

"Huh?"

Ma Erke was stunned.

He didn't understand why Bai Hu Zi said there was no need to worry—but Bai Hu Zi suddenly seemed to remember something, his eyes lighting up instantly as he pulled Ma Erke to the table.

"My beloved son, come quickly and take a look—this is the operating manual for this aircraft carrier."

After taking the aircraft carrier, Marquis Wo Ban, considering the technological level of Bai Hu's world, specifically requested from the Queen of Great Britain an extremely detailed aircraft carrier operating manual.

After returning to his own world, Bai Hu used the system's built-in translation function to translate this aircraft manual into the language of the One Piece world.

But the problem is.

Bai Hu recognized every single character.

Yet when these characters were combined, Bai Hu was utterly baffled.

What on earth was this? Nuclear, nuclear-powered reactor operations, all sorts of lists—what nonsense? The aircraft carrier was brought back by Bai Hu himself; if his son asked him how to operate it and he didn't understand, how embarrassing would that be? Considering this, Bai Hu frantically locked himself in the cabin and buried himself in intense study.

But now, Ma Erke has arrived.

Naturally, this daunting task should be entrusted to the First Division Captain of the Bai Hu Pirates.

Patting Ma Erke on the shoulder, Bai Hu spoke with solemn gravity.

"Ma Erke! Among all my sons, the one I value most is... you."