As everyone knows, once Haki leaves the body it basically can no longer be controlled by the user, and can only serve as a purely destructive force.
But Ripple-fusion type Haki can, while retaining its destructive power, still be remotely controlled.
"Relying on this!" Whitebeard's eyes widened.
Compared to Haki, Ripple energy was far too gentle. "Impossible, how could this kind of energy possibly break through my Haki defense!"
Jotaro directly released the Ripple-fusion type Haki outside his body.
"Saying 'breaking through defense' isn't wrong, but a more accurate way to put it is, I took advantage of a flaw in your defense."
Whitebeard's gaze followed the departing Haki.
It was the first time he had seen someone able to so finely control Haki outside the body, and in his heart waves of shock were already surging.
The ghostly blue Haki was like a long snake, drilling up from beneath his feet and slithering all the way up along his spine.
Feeling the chill on his back, even the dumbest person would know what Jotaro had done.
Whitebeard suddenly understood.
He had defended, but not completely.
"So that's how it is. You sly little brat. At that time, the punch coming straight at me was nothing but a feint. I blocked that move, but the external Haki had already entered my body from another place."
"Not bad." Jotaro explained, "I transmitted the Ripple-fusion type Haki into your body through the seawater."
Ripple-fusion type Haki was not perfect either. Just like pure Ripple, it required a medium to spread.
And the medium's conductive performance had to be similar to Ripple's.
Whitebeard was fully convinced. In a one-on-one duel, perhaps someone would guard their back, but who would guard beneath their feet?
"As agreed, this is what you deserve." Whitebeard pulled out a round Log Pose and tossed it to him. "After it records the magnetic field here, you can sail to the next place."
Jotaro steadily caught it, glanced at it, then tossed him the book that guided Ripple training.
"This is?"
"The Ripple training method. It might let your already limited life last a little longer."
Hearing this, Whitebeard froze, then let out a hearty laugh.
"The world's strongest man is, in the end, still just a human with a heart, who will one day face death. Hmph, I'll accept this book then."
He had no intention of cultivating Ripple, but since this was Jotaro's gift, he still treasured it.
Just as the two were talking, Marco and the others rushed over.
Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine were covered in lumps, tied up tight by them.
The two had tried to resist, but were instantly taken down by the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard's cold, sharp gaze swept over the two and he asked, "Who are they?"
Marco replied, "Some flies that came buzzing from who knows where. How should we deal with them?"
Under Whitebeard's gaze, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine felt as though they had fallen into an ice cave. It was their first time so close to such a figure.
'The real Whitebeard!!!'
"Uh, " Miss Valentine rolled her eyes and fainted dead away.
"Throw these two buzz-killing pests out." Whitebeard couldn't be bothered to look at them again.
"Wait a moment!" Nami pulled Vivi through the crowd and shouted.
With her identity exposed, Vivi had no need to hide it any longer. She dropped her previous disguise, her blue curls spilling down to her waist.
Her youthful, lovely face still carried a melancholy not matching her age.
"Oh? You still have something?" Toward those on Jotaro's ship, Whitebeard was clearly more patient.
Nami glanced at Vivi, then said, "I have questions to ask them."
She walked up to Mr. 5, towering over him with fierce momentum, and said,
"Tell me everything about Baroque Works and your boss. Speak quickly!"
Mr. 5 had already been beaten down by Marco and the others, his former arrogance completely gone, and said weakly, "I can't tell you. If I leak the company's secrets, I'll definitely be punished by the higher-ups."
Nami sneered, "If you won't speak, then we'll punish you right now."
She pointed to the Whitebeard Pirates standing behind him.
Jotaro frowned and asked, "Nami, what exactly is going on?"
Nami looked at him and told everything from start to finish.
"…Vivi is the princess of the Alabasta Kingdom. According to her investigation, the boss of Baroque Works is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Crocodile."
"On the surface, Crocodile is the nation's hero, but in truth he wants to steal Vivi's country. And from the looks of it, it seems he's about to set some plan in motion."
She kicked Mr. 5 to urge him, "Quickly tell us what Crocodile is planning!"
Mr. 5 hesitated endlessly, refusing to open his mouth.
'Say it and I die, don't say it and I also die, why is my life so hard!'
Whitebeard's eyes widened, clearly out of patience. The Conqueror's Haki on his body suddenly surged forth.
"Speak!"
Conqueror's Haki swept out. Under its intimidation, Mr. 5 trembled as he opened his mouth, "I…I don't know much either, only that recently I received orders from Mr. 0 to gather at Baroque Works' headquarters before long."
"Baroque Works' headquarters is within the borders of the Alabasta Kingdom."
Nami pressed further, "Gathering for what?"
"That I don't know either." Mr. 5 didn't look like he was lying.
Vivi felt a very bad premonition.
She looked at Nami, then at Jotaro, and said helplessly, "Nami, Jotaro-san, I must return to Alabasta as soon as possible…"
"Let's go."
Jotaro didn't say much, hands in his pockets, heading back toward his ship.
He had already promised Vivi. Though the destination had changed, he would still send her home.
Vivi's heart leapt with joy. She hadn't expected Jotaro to agree so straightforwardly.
But before her emotions could show, Whitebeard instantly doused her with a bucket of cold water.
"This route won't get you to Alabasta." He explained, "The sea route can only be chosen at the very beginning at Reverse Mountain. Once you start sailing, it can't be changed."
"Could it be we've already taken the wrong route?" Vivi was on the verge of collapse.
Jotaro calmly asked, "There really isn't any other way to change the route?"
Whitebeard's lips curled.
"Of course there is. If you agree to be my son, I'll tell you."
Seeing Jotaro's face grow darker, he didn't continue to tease.
"The Log Pose cannot change the route, but an Eternal Pose can. As its name implies, the Eternal Pose always points to one island."
He pulled out an Eternal Pose and tossed it to Jotaro.
"This pointer points to High West. From there you can return to the route toward Alabasta."
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