Chapter 47: Treatment of Whitebeard
Ayaan pushed open the door and was somewhat surprised to see that Whitebeard was not drunk at all but was instead looking at a nautical chart with intense focus.
Honestly speaking, the contrast between the towering, giant-like Whitebeard and his serious, meticulous demeanor while analyzing intelligence was quite striking.
As the door opened, Whitebeard shifted his gaze and pointed to the stool next to him. "Sit down, little guy."
Ayaan closed the door behind him and asked curiously, "Captain Whitebeard, you don't seem surprised to see me?"
Whitebeard's long crescent-shaped mustache lifted slightly with a chuckle. "Do you think my Observation Haki is just for show?"
Ayaan was momentarily speechless. He had assumed the old man had foreseen something, but it turned out he simply sensed his presence using Observation Haki.
Still, Ayaan was impressed. Whitebeard's Haki could cover the entire ship without drawing attention—remarkable, especially since Observation Haki wasn't Whitebeard's signature strength in the original records.
These old-generation pirates had honed all their abilities to extreme levels. They didn't have weaknesses—just strengths, and greater strengths. Ayaan reminded himself never to underestimate them.
"I see. Captain Whitebeard, you should know that your sons are deeply concerned about your health. And with war approaching, surely you don't want them worrying any more than necessary?"
"Heh heh heh... You've got a point," Whitebeard snorted, clearly a little displeased. "They've already called me an old man acting like a child. How can I still be so willful?"
Ayaan nearly rolled his eyes. Didn't that statement just confirm it?
Then, Whitebeard turned his piercing gaze to Ayaan. "And don't call me Captain anymore, brat!"
With that, he poured two bowls of sake—one massive, one small—and handed the smaller one to Ayaan.
Ayaan smiled and took the cup. "Then, I'll be in your care, old man Whitebeard!"
Whitebeard was well over seventy. Ayaan, even counting both of his lifetimes, had no issues calling him "Dad" mentally. Besides, this old man really was a good father to his sons. If his standards weren't so high, pirates would probably line up from here to Mary Geoise to become his sons.
And honestly, Ayaan had been looking forward to this moment. This would be his first chance to study the physique of a Yonko-level powerhouse! He was confident that after treating Whitebeard, his own body-modification abilities would improve even further.
While Whitebeard didn't possess the overwhelming durability of someone like Kaido or Big Mom, he wasn't far behind—and in terms of stamina, he might even surpass them. After all, he could stop a massive ship with one hand even when ill and badly injured. That kind of arm strength must be measured in tons!
The treatment process itself wasn't complex—just... large. Whitebeard's enormous body meant Ayaan had to use the Baku Baku no Mi to engulf and treat him internally. As a side effect, Ayaan's body ballooned in size by several meters while processing the treatment, then shrank back to normal once Whitebeard was expelled.
For a moment, Ayaan felt his powers were a bit like Luffy's Gomu-Gomu no Mi, given how he could also change size.
While Ayaan didn't find the treatment particularly taxing, he was fascinated by Whitebeard's internal structure. In contrast, Whitebeard felt like a new man.
The long-lost feeling of lightness, of restored vitality, filled him with energy. In a moment of exhilaration, he released a massive wave of Conqueror's Haki.
Ayaan, standing beside him, staggered slightly and squinted. He even felt a brief moment of dizziness—something that hadn't happened in ages.
Currently, Ayaan's power rivaled the top Vice Admirals, and his resistance to mental attacks was very high due to his illusion training. For him to feel even momentarily faint was proof of the terrifying pressure Whitebeard could unleash.
If a typical Rear Admiral had been in his place, they might have collapsed entirely.
"…This old man's Haki really is monstrous. No wonder they call him the strongest man on the seas."
Meanwhile, the entire Moby Dick fell into chaos. For the average crew, the outburst of Haki was enough to knock them unconscious. But for the stronger commanders, it simply jolted them awake.
"Who's attacking?!"
"Was that an enemy?! That felt like Dad's Haki!"
"Go check on him right away!"
A horde of pirates rushed toward the captain's quarters, weapons ready—only to find Whitebeard sitting peacefully, sipping sake, with a healthy flush in his cheeks.
Seeing their concerned faces, Whitebeard snorted and put down his bowl. "Why are you all so panicked? I'm perfectly fine!"
"Uh… Dad… Was there an attack?"
"I was just feeling bored, so I sparred a little with your new brother. What? You think I'm too old to handle a scuffle?"
"No! Of course not!"
"No, absolutely not!"
A group of pirates—grown men in their 40s and 50s—were now being scolded like misbehaving kids. Realistically, it was Whitebeard who woke everyone with his Haki… but he acted like he had every right to.
Well, what could they say? He was Dad, after all.
Marco examined Whitebeard's glowing complexion and vibrant energy. He quickly put the pieces together. Then, hearing Whitebeard refer to a "new brother," he glanced at Ayaan.
"So, Ayaan's joined the crew now? You've officially taken him in as a son, Dad?"
Whitebeard snorted again. He couldn't exactly explain that he'd been ill before and was only recovering now. So, he gave a vague response, "That's right. Just like you hoped for."
But then he frowned—his words sounded as if Marco had convinced him reluctantly, which he didn't like.
Slapping his forehead lightly, he corrected himself. "Don't twist things! This is my new adopted son, Ayaan! He's now your younger brother!"
The division commanders glanced around at each other, then broke into smiles.
Regardless of personality or temperament, Ayaan's abilities alone made him a huge asset in battle—his healing powers were practically bottomless.
Not to mention, he was no slouch in combat either. Among the division commanders, he could easily break into the top ten.
Truthfully, with Whitebeard's usual character, they had expected Ayaan to join much earlier. They just hadn't anticipated it would take this long.
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