"Gurararara, Michael, your new follower isn't too bright, is he!"
"Pops, aren't you being a bit too polite to Michael?" Marco's mouth twitched.
"This goes way beyond 'not too bright'! This guy's got no brains at all!"
"See through it but don't say it out loud, you bastard!" Whitebeard shot Marco a glance.
"No matter what, he's someone the Marine's Grand Inspector took notice of. Even if he's a dumbass, he must have extraordinary qualities elsewhere."
Watching the father-son duo play off each other, Michael struggled to suppress a smile, managing to keep a straight face with great effort.
Then, pointing at Whitebeard Jr., who had finally adjusted his jumping angle and direction of force, Michael said.
"Old man, he is the son I told you about!"
"Huh?"
Whitebeard was momentarily stunned.
Son?
This big oaf?
Whitebeard's gaze shifted to Whitebeard Jr., or rather, Edward Weevil's face...
Apart from the crescent-shaped beard that somewhat resembled his own, what else about this guy looked like him?
"Hey, Michael, don't mess with me!" Whitebeard said suspiciously, looking at Michael.
"Tell me the truth—did you hide my real son somewhere?"
"Why would I hide your son? I'm a Marine! Not some damn kidnappers! Isn't making this trip already going above and beyond?" Michael frowned at Whitebeard.
"You're pirates, and I'm Marine! The fact that I'm doing this much is practically prove that i'm a saint!"
Naturally, Whitebeard didn't buy Michael's nonsense.
But while Michael might obscure his motives...
He would never lie to Whitebeard about the facts.
Over years of working with Michael, Whitebeard had come to understand the temperament of this Marine Vice Admiral and Grand Inspector.
He might play small tricks, but he'd admit them openly.
So, this big dummy...It really might be what Michael called "his son."
Whitebeard sighed, his eyes filled with complexity, but mostly with affection and melancholy.
"Michael, you said on the Den Den Mushi... that this is my biological son?" Whitebeard looked at Weevil, who had run behind Michael and was curiously observing everyone.
"What exactly is going on... explain it to me in detail."
"Well, how should I put it?" Michael rubbed his chin, then turned to look at Whitebeard Jr.
"This child's mother is called Miss Bakkin..."
"Miss Bakkin?" Whitebeard frowned. "Never heard of her."
"No, no, of course you know her—just by another name... Buckinham Stussy."
"Stussy!? That annoying woman!?" Whitebeard suddenly stood up, his massive and towering body making Whitebeard Jr. seem small in comparison.
"I might not be sure about other things, but when it comes to Stussy, I can say with absolute certainty that nothing ever happened between us."
"Calm down, take it easy old man!" Michael burst into laughter at the sight of Whitebeard's momentarily flushed face.
"Hahaha, I never said this was a child born from some romantic affair between you two! Why are you getting so worked up?"
"Who told you to speak in half-truths!" Whitebeard glared, wisps of Conqueror's Haki leaking through his gaze.
"Since you know there was never anything between us, why are you so certain we have a child together?"
Truth be told, Whitebeard had already decided to accept Whitebeard Jr. as his new son.
His detailed questioning stemmed more from curiosity than anything else.
After all, when a big oaf suddenly appears claiming to be your biological son, anyone would be curious.
"This brings us to what happened after the Rocks Pirates disbanded—Stussy's next destination was MADS." Michael sighed, his eyes filling with pity as he looked at Whitebeard Jr.
"That organization specialized in forbidden scientific research, led by none other than the World Government's top scientist, Vegapunk."
"And then?" Marco chimed in.
"We obviously know Vegapunk, but how is he connected to this?"
"Vegapunk research focused on Lineage Factors and Devil Fruits... After MADS was dismantled, Stussy escaped with some of the Lineage Factor technology."
"Devil Fruits? Lineage Factors? These things can actually be studied and replicated?" Whitebeard caught the implications in Michael's words.
"Does that mean... artificial Devil Fruits and clones could exist?"
"Hah! Truly worthy of being the World's Strongest Man! People only see your strength and overlook your intellect!" Michael was genuinely impressed—Whitebeard's analytical skills were sharper than Big Mom's, at least.
"You're absolutely right. Artificial Devil Fruits will emerge soon, and clones... well, they already exist."
With that, he reached out and patted Whitebeard Jr.'s leg.
"This here is a clone Stussy created using your and her genes... He shares part of your Lineage Factor, so calling him your biological son isn't wrong at all."
Whitebeard stared at Michael, finally understanding why he had suddenly steered the conversation toward Vegapunk...
This dumbass really was his son?!
"So you're saying... he's the product of Pops and that woman Stussy's combined Lineage Factors?"
"Exactly—your phrasing is spot-on, Marco." Michael nodded.
"Don't you think this is oddly similar to natural conception? Hahaha!"
Whitebeard Jr. watched Michael's laughter, then slowly crouched down and poked him with a thick finger.
"M-Michael, why are you laughing so hard?"
"Ahem, Weevil, it's because I helped you find your real father! I've done another great deed—of course I should laugh!"
"Is he... really my father?" Whitebeard Jr. nodded blankly and stepped forward.
Then he gave Marco a nod.
"Father... you look so short."
"Will I go bald like you when I grow up?"
The entire scene fell into stunned silence, with only Michael bursting into uncontrollable laughter!
"You big dumb oaf! I'm your damn father!"
Whitebeard's furious roar instantly echoed across the entire sea.
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