Chapter 45: An Unexpected War
"You want to go out with the Fourth Division?" Thatch smiled. "That's not impossible, but we have so many divisions in the Whitebeard Pirates. Why do you want to follow me?"
Even though Ayaan was technically a prisoner, thanks to his miraculous healing abilities, he was treated almost like a captain aboard the ship. Even if Whitebeard himself hadn't been injured, Ayaan's medical skills alone would have earned him this respect.
It could be said that no matter which team he encountered, they all gave him face. After all, no one dared to make things difficult for a doctor—especially one of the world's top doctors.
Hearing Thatch's question, Ayaan gave a faint smile and thought to himself, Of course it's for the Yami Yami no Mi. It took me two months to finally reshape myself into a body that can house multiple Devil Fruits like Teach.
Since I've already taken advantage of Teach, why not go a step further and take the Yami Yami no Mi from this future traitor before he causes chaos?
That way, Teach never rebels. There's no Marineford War, Ace never dies... I'd be saving lives—including yours, Thatch. When you put it like that, I've done a massive favor for the world, haven't I?
Naturally, Ayaan would never say such a thing aloud. Instead, his official reason for requesting to join the Fourth Division was simple—he liked delicious food.
As soon as he said this, Thatch believed him completely. After all, Ayaan was the user of the Baku Baku no Mi —of course he loved food!
And his appetite backed it up. As a Baku Baku no Mi user, his consumption rivaled that of Monkey D. Luffy, the Gomu Gomu no Mi (now known to be Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika) user. Even among the Whitebeard Pirates, Ayaan was among the top eaters.
Now, what does loving food have to do with the Fourth Division? Well, Thatch wasn't just the Fourth Division Commander—he was also the head chef of the Whitebeard Pirates. He was the best cook aboard the ship, and most of his division served as his assistant chefs.
"Alright then! Food lovers are brothers! Brother Ayaan, you're coming with us next time we head out!" Thatch pounded his chest proudly, full of enthusiasm.
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Over the next month, Ayaan followed the Fourth Division on several excursions. He soon discovered that the Yonko Pirates in the New World actually experienced fewer battles than the up-and-coming pirates who had just entered the Grand Line.
That was because the Yonko had formed a kind of political balance in the New World. Inside their territories, most other pirates were either subordinates or allied groups. The only real threats to their rule were the other Yonko.
New pirate crews that entered the New World rarely had the guts to challenge one of the Four Emperors—and those who did, rarely succeeded. Among them, the most successful and threatening newcomer in the past decade had been the Spade Pirates.
As a result, the Fourth Division spent most of its time peacefully protecting island nations within Whitebeard's territory and occasionally disciplining unruly newcomers who didn't understand the rules.
However, this peaceful time was soon disrupted when tensions flared between the Beasts Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates. It looked like war was about to break out.
The reason? Naturally, it was because of the Spade Pirates. With Whitebeard preparing to take Ace and Yamato under his wing, Kaido was absolutely furious.
Initially, Kaido wanted to go on a rampage and directly pick a fight. But both King and Queen persuaded him otherwise, suggesting they try diplomacy first.
Despite often clashing, both King and Queen had been badly beaten by the Spade Pirates before. They knew firsthand how powerful Ace and Yamato had become.
Facing the combined strength of the Spade Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates was a nightmare. Kaido's crew stood no chance.
Although Kaido often acted like a madman and had a habit of getting drunk and reckless, under normal conditions, he was no fool. He understood the political landscape of the New World. If Ace and Yamato officially joined Whitebeard, Kaido's forces would be outmatched.
So, he agreed with King's idea of sending a message first.
However, when Whitebeard saw the letter brought by King, he simply tore it up.
Whitebeard had always despised the Beasts Pirates. He considered Kozuki Oden his brother, and Oden had suffered terribly at the hands of Kaido. If not for the chaos a war would cause—and his desire to avoid seeing more of his sons die—Whitebeard would've sailed straight to Wano years ago and personally taken Kaido's head.
Now Kaido dared to send a letter, demanding he hand over Ace and Yamato? As far as Whitebeard was concerned, Kaido had lost his mind.
If Whitebeard hadn't been so committed to honor and protocol, he might have cut down King right then and there for delivering the message.
When the letter failed to get a response, Kaido flew into a rage. His patience gone, he immediately ordered his forces to prepare for battle.
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Aboard the Fourth Division's ship, an route to rendezvous with the Moby Dick, Ayaan stood on the deck, deep in thought.
I wonder if I've caused a butterfly effect… Without the Yami Yami no Mi, which two Devil Fruits should I pursue instead?
Yes, two. After thoroughly analyzing Blackbeard's body, Ayaan was confident that Teach could have housed three Devil Fruits.
So why did he stop at two in the original timeline? Perhaps he couldn't find a suitable third fruit… or perhaps he was hiding more than he let on.
I remember a mythical fruit, the Kyuuketsuki no Mi (Vampire-Vampire Fruit), hidden in Shuigu Town… The name stood out. Rare Zoan-type vampire fruits aren't exactly common, after all.
If I can get the Yami Yami no Mi, absorbing a third Devil Fruit later should be no problem.
As these thoughts raced through his mind, the Fourth Division's ship reached the rendezvous point. The massive shadow of the Moby Dick loomed in the distance.
From the deck, Ayaan could hear the sound of music and laughter—it sounded like a party was happening on board.
"What's going on?" Ayaan muttered, puzzled. "There's a war brewing, and they're throwing a banquet? Just to boost morale?"
Unlike military armies, pirate banquets were pure chaos. There were no formal rewards or strategic speeches—just lots of food and even more alcohol.
While such a party might make sense for undisciplined pirate crews, throwing a feast right before battle seemed far too relaxed.
Ayaan narrowed his eyes as the ship drew closer, uncertainty filling his heart. Something unexpected was happening again…
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