New World, Sphinx Island.
Whitebeard was currently looking at Jake with a helpless expression, scratching his head somewhat sheepishly.
"Gurararara! I know about those things. You, a Marine, being so concerned about a Pirate's health—it's really unlike you. But didn't you say last time that I could drink as much as I wanted?"
Jake felt a vein throb on his forehead and immediately retorted.
"Have you gone senile? Last time, I said you could drink a moderate amount daily—it wouldn't harm your health. But I never said you could drink freely, did I? Is that how you interpret people's words?"
To most people, seeing the world's strongest man being scolded like this would seem unbelievable.
But the crew members aboard Whitebeard's ship were already accustomed to such scenes.
They even joked among themselves.
"Hahaha, Pops got lectured by Jake again! How many times is that this year?"
"Nine times. Every time Jake visits, Pops gets an earful."
"Jake's probably the only one in the world who can scold Pops like this."
"Well, it can't be helped. Pops' personality really needs someone strict to keep him in check. Otherwise, with all that drinking, his health would collapse."
The crew's chatter naturally didn't escape Whitebeard's ears.
Instead of getting angry, he laughed even more sheepishly.
"Gurararara! Even my own sons think you're right. Damn it—my own kids siding with a Marine! Hey, Takuma, Aubrey, you two brats! As punishment, go cut some fruit for me today!"
"Hahaha, don't complain if our knife skills are terrible, Pops!"
"We're gunmen, after all~"
Hearing their cheerful laughter, Whitebeard's mood brightened further.
Jake could only sigh in resignation.
Whitebeard was the type who never listened to medical advice—no matter how many times he was told. But that didn't mean others would escape his scolding.
Especially... Marco!
"Marco! Didn't I tell you before? You need to keep an eye on your old man to prevent him from drinking constantly, or his condition will keep worsening. Have you forgotten everything I said?"
Marco, who had been watching the scene unfold, scratched his pineapple head helplessly after being scolded by Jake.
"I've been trying to persuade him, but you know how stubborn Pops is."
"Ah, forget it. I'll make regular visits from now on—hand over some work and check on old man Whitebeard's health while I'm at it. This time, I came to discuss something important with you all."
Hearing this, Whitebeard leaned in closer, his eyes showing a hint of disbelief as he looked at Jake.
"From what I can guess, the only thing that would require you to consult us about recently would be that event... the Celestial Dragons' Hunting Season, which happens once every three years?"
Jake nodded, letting out a long sigh before speaking slowly.
"Yes, that's exactly it."
At these words, the smile vanished from Whitebeard's face.
His tone grew serious as he addressed Jake.
"Let's talk somewhere more private. There are things I don't want the boys to know too soon."
"Agreed. That was my intention as well."
....
At the harbor, Whitebeard gazed at the calm waves ahead and sighed before speaking to Jake.
"Kid, I never expected you to learn about such things so early. Does it weigh on you? If it does, have a drink. Even back when I was still a pirate, knowing something like this made me feel it was utterly despicable—let alone you, as a Marine."
"Pops, what exactly is this about? What's this 'Celestial Dragons' Hunting Season'? You've never mentioned any of this to me before."
Marco looked at the two of them, confusion written all over his face.
Whitebeard took a sip of his drink before answering slowly.
"This happened before you joined my crew—back when I was still part of the Rocks Pirates. At God Valley, we uncovered the truth the World Government had been hiding.
But before I explain, Marco, let me ask you—have you ever heard the legend of the Island Devouring Fish?"
"The Island Devouring Fish? Yeah, I've heard of it. Supposedly, it's a monstrous fish capable of swallowing an entire island in one bite, surfacing to feed once every three years. Many islands have supposedly vanished into its belly. We even used to joke about hunting it down."
Whitebeard shook his head, his eyes filled with both resignation and disgust.
"The Island Devouring Fish is nothing but a myth. But the vanishing islands? That's a real story. And the ones responsible for wiping out entire islands—along with every living thing on them—are none other than the descendants of the Twenty Kings who supposedly created this world: the Celestial Dragons."
"The Celestial Dragons?! How could it be them? Aren't they just the scum who treat everything in this world as their property? Why would they do something like that?"
"Often, Marco, when you possess more than enough, what you pursue is no longer within the realm of normal human understanding. Every three years, the Celestial Dragons select an island as their hunting ground—regardless of whether that island is affiliated with the World Government or not.
Once chosen by the Celestial Dragons, there's only one fate for that island. On that day, countless Marine warships and agents of the World Government will blockade the entire island. Then the Celestial Dragons come ashore and begin slaughtering the ordinary villagers. Throughout this process, they revel in the pleasure of torturing and killing the residents.
They even tally the number of people they've killed as proof of their 'heroism.' In the end, they use some kind of weapon to obliterate the entire island, leaving not a single trace behind. The so-called 'Island Devouring Fish' is nothing more than a mythical creature fabricated to cover up the Celestial Dragons' crimes."
Hearing this, Marco's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, unable to close for a long time.
"You know, Marco, when I first heard this news, I felt much the same way you do now. And that's just us Pirates. What do you think it would do to the so-called 'justice' of the Marines if they learned of this?"