At this moment, Marco looked at the group of people around him, who were engaged in lively discussion.
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
Then, he raised his voice and said, “That’s right! It is indeed news about the doctor! But it’s not about his travels!”
With that, Marco unfolded the wanted poster in his hand!
Vir’s face immediately came into everyone’s view.
However, the people around showed complete indifference.
“Huh? A wanted poster?”
“That’s not interesting at all.”
“Vir the doctor has such incredible medical skills, and you’re bringing up his combat prowess?”
“Come on, Marco, that’s pretty pointless.”
Some of the division commanders shook their heads speechlessly.
Their sentiments were echoed by everyone around them.
“Exactly, Marco.”
“You’re out of line with this one.”
Hearing the teasing remarks from those around him, Marco wasn’t the least bit angry. Instead, he burst out laughing.
“Hahaha! Alright, alright! Strength? Take a good look at what real strength is!”
Marco held up the wanted poster and flaunted it around, making sure everyone got a clear view of the contents!
“Look! Take a good look! How much? How much is it?!”
As he displayed the poster, Marco continued to mock them.
“Saying he’s not strong, that he’s not good enough! Why don’t you take a look at yourselves first? If he’s not good enough then what about you guys? Huh? Your bounties aren’t even close to his spare change!”
Marco kept talking, but the people around him had already tuned him out.
All of them were staring intently at the ridiculously handsome wanted poster.
Not at the face.
At the bounty.
One billion…
No mistake…
One billion berries!
A god-damn doctor had a one-billion-berry bounty?!
“WHAT THE HELL?!”
“HOLY—!!”
“WHAT KIND OF BULLCRAP IS THIS?!”
“THE WHAT?!”
“HUH?! HOW MUCH?!”
For a long moment, there was nothing but exclamations of shock!
Confusion!
Doubt over their own efforts!
Doubt over the medical profession!
Doubt over Vir himself!
It all erupted at once!
Even Whitebeard’s face showed a hint of emotion.
That’s right, even he was a bit surprised.
This bounty wasn’t something an average pirate could achieve.
And to make things even more shocking, that brat had reached such heights at an unbelievable speed!
Even someone as experienced as Whitebeard was astonished by Vir’s bounty.
A doubt surfaced in his mind:
‘That brat is really a doctor?’
‘Why is his bounty almost catching up to my ship’s doctor?’
‘That kid is only eigh—no, just twenty years old, right?’
‘His future… is truly boundless.’
“Pops! Vir is quite something, huh?”
Marco asked proudly.
After all, he had answered Ace’s call, so in a way, he was the one who had introduced Vir to them.
If Vir became famous, Marco was more than happy about it.
Hearing this, Whitebeard nodded in agreement.
There was no denying it.
Even he couldn’t compare to Vir back in his younger days.
“Don’t worry, Pops. His medical skills are definitely no worse than his strength. Once he treats you, you’ll be back in top shape!”
“You can toss out all these tubes and bottles for good!”
As he spoke, Marco glanced at the countless IV lines attached to Whitebeard’s body—each one critical for slowing the progression of his illness.
Not to mention the restrictions: less drinking, less of this, less of that…
Hearing Marco’s words, the others also turned to look at Whitebeard.
They had strong faith in Vir’s abilities.
But Whitebeard himself thought differently.
His condition… was essentially organ failure.
At his level of power, once his organs began deteriorating, recovery was near impossible.
Just like Roger.
Men like them didn’t just get sick under normal circumstances.
But when they did fall ill… it was always something incurable.
His condition… might even be more troublesome than Roger’s.
Who could possibly cure him?
No one!
“Yeah… I, too, look forward to the day I can drink to my heart’s content again!”
“Gurararara!”
Whitebeard’s deep, magnetic voice and hearty laughter made everyone around him laugh as well.
Even though he didn’t believe Vir could cure him…
He could at least pretend to be optimistic.
He didn’t want to disappoint his sons anymore.
In these final days…
Just being able to experience the warmth of family was enough for him.
—
Meanwhile, back on the Vir’s side.
They had already arrived in Whitebeard’s territory.
It wouldn’t be long before they reached the Moby Dick.
“Vir! You sure you can handle my old man?”
Jozu asked, his face full of worry.
Vir could only sigh in exasperation.
Dude, do you even hear yourself?
Handle your old man? Who the hell wants your old man?!
“Bro, this is the sixth time you’ve asked me today. Did you leave your ears at home, or did I forget to install my vocal cords?”
“I already told you—it depends on the examination! Can you stop asking?!”
Vir looked like he was wearing a mask of pain, as if he was under some sort of cursed spell.
He almost felt like rolling on the ground in frustration.
Seeing this, Jozu quickly shut his mouth.
He was indeed a bit anxious.
He was terrified that Vir would step onto the ship, take one look, and immediately turn around, saying:
“Eat whatever you want while you still can.”
If that happened, things would really be bad.
Finally, a sliver of hope had appeared.
If even Vir couldn’t do anything, then Pops body… would truly be beyond saving.
Jozu was terrified that this faint light of hope might vanish once more.
So, during this final stretch, he just couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“Vir…”
“Shut up!”
“Alright…”
In this agonizing atmosphere, Vir endured for another hour.
An hour later, the silhouette of the Moby Dick finally appeared on the horizon!
Vir instantly became excited!
“We made it! We made it! Hahaha! You can’t kill me! You’ll only make me stronger!”
Hearing his sudden outburst, Jozu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Alright, maybe he was nagging a bit too much just now…
At this moment, everyone on the Moby Dick had already gathered on the deck!
They were all watching Vir as he approached.
In their eyes, there was hope.
*THUD~!*
The two ships quickly connected.
Jozu quickly ushered Vir aboard, wasting no time as they strode across the deck.
Everyone was there, waiting.
Whitebeard was surrounded by his crew.
That towering figure—Vir was seeing it for the first time.
He couldn’t help but reveal a hint of amazement in his eyes.
With a body like that, fighting him must come with an immense sense of pressure.
As Vir sized up Whitebeard, Whitebeard was also observing him.
‘Hmm… Handsome, but otherwise… nothing special.’
In his hand was an unremarkable medical kit, and he was wearing large flip-flops.
Completely ordinary.
Whitebeard sharply noticed the surprise in Vir’s eyes.
‘Has this kid never even seen a Giant before?’
‘Then how the hell is he supposed to treat my organs and body?’
At that moment, Whitebeard’s hopes for Vir’s medical skills dwindled.
He had allowed himself to dream—just a little—that maybe, just maybe, this man could heal him.
But now? That thought vanished like smoke.
*Boom!!*
Jozu, who was walking ahead of Vir, suddenly leaped into the air!
Then, with a thunderous crash, he landed directly in front of everyone!
Standing tall and straight, he immediately delivered a sharp salute to all present.
His expression was resolute!
Then, with utmost seriousness, he shouted:
“Mission accomplished!!”
…
Meanwhile…
While Vir and Jozu successfully reunited with the crew, something far more consequential had unfolded the day before—thousands of kilometers away, on Banaro Island.
A battle that would reshape the world’s balance of power had begun.
“Huff… huff… huff!”
“Ace… Why push this to the death? Let’s just pretend we never met, eh?”
Blackbeard panted heavily, resting both hands on his knees as he gasped for breath.
He and Ace had already fought multiple rounds.
Both were gravely injured.
Their stamina was rapidly depleting.
“The moment you did what you did, you should have already expected this outcome.”
“Between us, it’s a fight to the death.”
In front of Teach, Ace wiped the blood dripping from the corner of his mouth, speaking in a calm tone.
At this moment, Ace felt somewhat fortunate.
He was lucky to have received treatment from Vir in the past.
Whether it was the direct boost in strength or the energy stored in his body, they had allowed him to gain the upper hand in the battle so far.
Without them, he might not have been a match for Teach.
Teach, hearing Ace’s words, knew that things wouldn’t end well today.
If that’s the case—!
“Even a cornered rat will bite! If you won’t back down… THEN DROWN IN THE DARKNESS!”
Teach’s voice grew more intense as he spoke!
By the time he finished, a massive wave of darkness began to rise behind him!
It nearly consumed the entire sky!
Seeing this, Ace merely smiled faintly.
Feeling the remaining energy within him, the fire elements around him began to surge violently!
In mere moments!
The flames reached their peak intensity!
Behind Ace, an enormous mass of fire started to gather!
And all the energy within him was fully infused into this one final attack!
His right arm rose slowly, lifting the inferno higher.
Its radiance and heat were like that of the sun itself!
“Teach… You don’t deserve to live!”
—–
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