As expected, another video had exploded into a top-ranked sensation.
Blaine washed up lazily, turned on his computer, and logged into the official Cross-Anime Projection website.
[Wow! Whitebeard really is worthy of the title "Strongest Man in the World"! So cool! And the way he treats his family, it makes me tear up!]
Rito Yuuki rewarded a handful of Anime Coins…
[One hand shakes the heavens, the other rattles the earth! Mountains bow and seas tremble! This is the world's strongest man? Hah! Not much worse than me!]
Zhang Buwei tipped a single Anime Coin…
[That height… that build… like a walking mountain! Each movement shakes the soul! I, Might Guy, can't help but admire this level of power!]
Might Guy rewarded an Anime Coin…
[Truly one man holding the line, ten thousand failing to break through! This deserves a reward!]
Praise flooded the comment section endlessly.
To Blaine, Whitebeard wasn't merely overwhelmingly strong, he was charismatic, a true father figure.
It was a tragedy that he died at Marineford… and Ace couldn't be saved.
[This "Sakazuki (Akainu)" Marine is disgusting. Always preaching "justice," but his actions are shameless.]
[Wish I could cut him down myself! Hypocrite! No bottom line!]
Even ordinary citizens from the One Piece world watched Blaine's video.
Many were shocked by how poorly the Admirals appeared.
[These guys can be Admirals? What kind of corrupt mess is the Navy?]
[Why do I suddenly feel like supporting pirates? Whitebeard doesn't seem so bad…]
[You people are protected by the Navy and still bad-mouth them? Pathetic!]
While browsing, Blaine spotted Marco's comment and private message.
After reading it briefly, his eyes lit up.
A Ancient Zoan: Tyrannosaurus Rex Fruit?
Now that was a treasure.
Blaine personally didn't like Zoan fruits, transforming into an entirely different species felt weird.
But in this monster-filled world, transformation abilities existed elsewhere too, rare and very powerful.
"This would be perfect for Wayne," he muttered.
Wayne often ranted enviously about transformation users, powerful forms that could protect their homes and vastly enhance strength.
And Blaine had promised him something before.
But… how to help Whitebeard save Ace?
Whitebeard was already in his 70s, his strength deteriorating sharply, just like Garp.
But if he were younger…
Younger…
Blaine suddenly froze, then snapped his fingers.
There was someone who could do that.
A woman with long sea-blue wavy hair, an X-shaped scar on her right leg, Ain.
Her Devil Fruit ability allowed her to regress anything she touched by twelve years.
People, objects, it didn't matter. Repeated use could even make things disappear.
Touch → minus twelve years.
Touch again → minus twelve more.
If they could get her…
Too bad she was a Marine.
But Blaine typed out his reply anyway:
[I can give you a method to boost your forces, but the execution depends on your crew.]
[Use your information network to find a Marine named Ain, user of the Return-Return Fruit. Last known status: drifting somewhere in the New World.]
[If you find her, have her touch Whitebeard two or three times, while keeping her conscious.]
[Your father's strength will to his prime.]
[If that happens… the outcome of Marineford may change.]
As the Whitebeard Pirates sailed toward Marineford, Marco, now in his phoenix form, flew between ships, gathering all Division Commanders for a meeting.
"The original video creator didn't disappoint. He's given us a viable path. I think we should try it."
The commanders exchanged confused looks.
"What path?"
"Is it reliable?"
Marco explained Ain's Devil Fruit ability.
Everyone froze.
A younger Pops?
A prime Whitebeard?
What kind of unstoppable force would that be?
"This author is insane… his intel is sharper than our entire information network combined. Who is he?"
"Even the World Government doesn't know every Devil Fruit user! And he knows the future?"
"His status must be above a Celestial Dragon!"
"Above? Celestial Dragons? Tch! They don't deserve the comparison!"
The commanders became so engrossed in speculating about Blaine's identity that they briefly forgot the actual mission:
find Ain, restore Whitebeard, and change destiny.
Marco bowed his head respectfully.
"If this information is real… he's doing us a huge favor."
Suddenly,
"R-Report! We found intel on Marine Ain!"
A breathless pirate stumbled in, excitement overflowing.
"She's real, and according to the latest info, she recently entered the New World with a small Marine unit. Rumor says she's searching for energy sources left behind by Z!"
"New World?"
Marco's eyes widened.
They were just about to leave those waters.
"When was this report?"
"Yesterday! From Sibo Town!"
Marco burst into triumphant laughter.
"Brothers! Halt the fleet and anchor at the nearest coast!
Everyone, spread out and search for Marine Ain!
And listen well!
Do NOT harm her!
Find her before Pops wakes!"
The mighty Whitebeard Fleet split like a swarm of bees, scattering across hundreds of kilometers in an enormous search net.
Blaine, meanwhile, was happily counting his earnings.
He now had over 2,300 Anime Coins, and the number kept climbing.
Just as he opened the exchange shop, someone pounded urgently at his door,
Wayne.