Under the veil of night, Arthur, Edward, and Linlin sat drinking together.
Although Arthur was still considered a trainee crew member, none of the officers ever truly treated him as one. His record was simply too astonishing. He had never crossed blades with the senior officers directly, but anyone who could stir up trouble on the Red Line and come back alive had already proven his strength beyond doubt.
"Glug—! Glug—!"
The three of them drank greedily, mugs slamming down in unison.
"Ha! That's the spot!" Edward said with satisfaction, leaning back. "What luck, running into this brat Marco on the way back."
Marco, sitting just behind him, scratched his pineapple-shaped head awkwardly. At this age, he was still a shy, timid boy.
"MOMOMOMOMOM~~~" Linlin let out her distinctive booming laugh. "My son is the best of them all!"
It was obvious: in the future, many of Linlin's children would be treated more like tools than family. But at this point in time, with these first few sons and daughters, she truly did see them as her own flesh and blood.
Take Katakuri and Snack, for example. Both would one day stand among the Sweet Commanders. Yet when Katakuri lost a battle, he was still recognized as second-in-command, the foremost of the Commanders. But when Snack lost, he was simply stripped of his title in disgrace. The difference in how she treated them was clear. Even Cracker had faced a similar fate.
Linlin's later children—she never truly saw them as children at all.
Arthur chuckled, setting down his cup. "I still think Bullet is the strongest. After all—he's the knight I chose."
"Mm?"
"Huh?"
Edward and Linlin both turned to him, suddenly intrigued. Their gazes shifted to Barrett, who returned their looks with intensity. For a moment, the atmosphere between the three adults tightened, as though a fight might break out at any second.
"Want to test it?"
"Bring it on!"
"Who's afraid of who?!"
Soon after, as their ships anchored near a small island, the three children faced one another.
"Battle?" Bullet muttered, his eyes sharp with determination. "I absolutely cannot disgrace Lord Arthur!"
Marco sighed, but clenched his fists. I can't let Father down.
"Mother…" Katakuri's voice was low but burning with resolve. At this age, he hadn't yet taken to wearing a scarf, and his personality was more hot-blooded—closer to Luffy's fiery spirit than the calm figure he would one day become.
Without another word, the three brats locked eyes.
Then they all charged.
BOOM!!!
The clash was raw, unpolished—but fascinating to watch.
Katakuri had already eaten the Mochi-Mochi Fruit, a rare Special Paramecia with properties resembling a Logia. Bullet wielded the Clank-Clank Fruit, one of the most formidable Paramecia, granting him the power to merge with weapons and machinery. And Marco had eaten the Mythical Zoan: Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix, an unparalleled fruit kept in Edward's personal collection.
A top-tier Paramecia, a special Paramecia, and a Mythical Zoan.
All three had extraordinary talent. All three were barely six or seven years old.
It was no surprise that the fight was nearly even.
But in the end, the first to fall was Marco. For all his promise, he was still too green. Compared to Katakuri, born monstrously gifted, or Bullet, hardened by the battlefield, he simply lacked experience.
"Father…" Marco bowed his head, ashamed. He had lost face for Whitebeard.
"GURARARARARA!!" Edward's booming laugh echoed. "Marco! Don't feel ashamed. No man sails these seas winning every fight. Don't fear failure. What matters is that you win it back in the future."
"Yes, Father!" Marco lifted his head, determination seared into his young heart. His first defeat had planted the seed of a burning will.
Meanwhile, Bullet and Katakuri's duel raged on until Bullet barely eked out a victory. The difference in strength was slight, but undeniable.
"Mother…" Katakuri bowed sadly.
Linlin only laughed, brushing it off. "Don't worry about it! You'll win it back next time!"
Her words carried warmth—very different from how she would one day treat her countless later children.
"Lord Arthur!" Bullet said through ragged breaths, looking up at his master.
Arthur chuckled softly and nodded, his eyes full of approval. Bullet's lips curved into a rare smile.
The small skirmish ended there.
Afterward, the three crews set sail once more. Bullet, stung by his near defeat, threw himself into training with even greater ferocity. Seeing his resolve, Marco and Katakuri also began training harder. It was an amusing outcome, but exactly what Arthur had intended—Bullet had been tested against worthy peers, and in doing so gained motivation to grow.
For Arthur, that was the true goal.
Later, when each returned to their crews—
"Edward!"
"Linlin!"
"Arthur!"
Messengers came running.
"Captain Rocks is summoning you!"
The three froze. Captain Rocks rarely called upon them directly. In fact, it had been a long time since he summoned anyone at all.
Though puzzled, the three quickly made their way to answer the call.
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