Ron grinned, feeling reassured.
After all, in this survival-of-the-fittest world, the more means of self-preservation one had, the better.
Next, he turned his attention to the new mission:
"Complete 100 replications of Devil Fruits to unlock the next technology?"
Ron thought it over carefully and concluded that the task wasn't particularly difficult.
Unlike enchantments, replicating Devil Fruits wasn't complicated—the success rate was 100%, though it would replace the original ability.
With enough funds and blood samples, he could quickly complete the mission and unlock the next technology!
"Now that the Whitebeard Pirates' strength has surged, securing more funds shouldn't be too hard!"
*****
Teach stood on the shore of a remote island near Jaya, his brow furrowed as he stared intently in the direction of the distant island.
His heart was filled with doubt and unease, as if an invisible pressure was gradually closing in.
"What the hell are those guys up to?" he muttered under his breath, his voice laced with anger and confusion.
For the past few days, he had noticed strange golden lights flickering one after another on Jaya—sometimes bright, sometimes dim—as if concealing some hidden secret.
At first, he had merely been curious, planning to sneak onto Jaya to investigate and see what was really happening.
But today's events left him even more stunned.
From the direction of Jaya, dozens of golden beams shot into the sky, dazzling like a meteor shower in the night.
The sheer number and intensity of these lights were astonishing, nearly painting the entire sky gold.
The spectacle made Teach suck in a sharp breath.
What unsettled him even more was the constant sound of tremors and splitting coming from Jaya.
The noise was all too familiar to him—it was the sound of Whitebeard using his powers.
Whenever Whitebeard fought at full strength, such deafening tremors would follow.
Yet now, the sounds were coming nonstop from Jaya, as if Whitebeard was locked in a fierce battle with someone.
"What's going on?" Teach's confusion only deepened.
He couldn't understand why so many bizarre golden lights had appeared on Jaya, nor why the tremors were so intense.
Had Whitebeard encountered a powerful enemy?
Or had some unforeseen incident occurred on the island?
No matter what, this was beyond Teach's expectations.
He knew he had to uncover the truth as soon as possible—he couldn't afford to let himself fall into greater danger.
This forced him to abandon his original plan of sneaking in.
He decided to reconsider carefully, after all, nothing was more important than his own life.
*****
As night fell, the moon shone brightly amidst the stars.
The sea was silent except for the occasional sound of waves and the distant lights of ships.
Exhausted from the day's work, Ron decided it was time to wash up and sleep.
He had reaped a bountiful harvest today—it was time for a good night's rest.
He took off his heavy coat and changed into comfortable pajamas, just about to lie down and rest when he suddenly heard the sound of the door being gently pushed open.
Whitey Bay, clad in pajamas, appeared silently at the doorway, startling Ron.
"Whi... Whitey Bay?" Ron looked at her in surprise, a strange feeling rising in his heart.
A sudden thought occurred to him—could what she said during the day actually be true?
Was she here in the middle of the night to repay his kindness?
"Vice-Captain, I have no way to repay your gift of the Devil Fruit except by offering myself~"
Whitey Bay's voice was gentle yet firm, her eyes filled with gratitude and tenderness.
She slowly walked toward Ron, each step seemingly carrying an irresistible charm.
Ron felt his heartbeat quicken, but he tried to remain composed.
"Uh... that's not necessary, your gratitude is enough—"
Before he could finish, darkness filled his vision as a fragrant breeze instantly enveloped him.
Whitey Bay clung tightly to him, as if trying to transfer all her warmth to him.
"If the Vice-Captain rejects me, I'll be upset~" Whitey Bay said..
Her cheek pressed against Ron's chest, feeling the rhythm of his heartbeat, as if the entire world had frozen in that moment.
Ron took a deep breath, feeling the softness and warmth of the woman in his arms, his defenses gradually weakening.
He knew tonight was destined to be an extraordinary night.
Ron: "..."
This is gonna be tough...
*****
The night passed without further words.
All members of the Whitebeard Pirates had gathered together, each face brimming with confidence and joy.
After a whole night of diligent practice, they had not only grown more familiar with their Devil Fruit abilities but also mastered some new techniques.
Especially the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which the Commanders had thoroughly refined.
This power was already strong, but in the hands of these seasoned warriors, it became even more versatile and unpredictable.
Whenever someone activated the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the entire training ground would shake as if the very air was being torn apart.
The reason they could master these skills so quickly was simple: spending every day training with Whitebeard!
Even those who initially seemed slow or dumb could gradually learn in such an environment.
Not to mention, these Commanders were far from foolish to begin with.
"Pops, many of our brothers still haven't gotten their enchanted fruits. Shouldn't we take advantage of this power boost to go make some money?"
"Let's start with Kaido—I've had enough of that guy. Calling himself the 'Strongest Creature in the World'? Strongest my ass!"
"Exactly! If Pops hadn't been in poor health before, we would've made that suicidal bastard truly dead long ago!"
"And Oden .....!"
"Alright, alright, enough of that."
"Let the dead rest in peace."
"...."
A group of people kept venting their frustrations, especially about Oden, feeling deeply disappointed that he didnt ask them for help and die in such a pathetic manner—it was downright absurd.
However, given the circumstances, they refrained from saying too much.
After all, Oden had once been a member of their pirate crew, their brother.
No matter what, they should stand by him.
Before, they had held back due to the old man's health issues, but now things were different.
The old man was back on his feet!
Recovered!
Back at his peak!
It was time to settle some old scores.
Ron watched and listened without commenting—honestly, everything they said was spot-on.