Whitebeard saw the look in Vir’s eyes and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Gurararara! So, kid, how do you think I’m holding up?”
Vir looked at the beaming Whitebeard, then glanced at the tense expressions surrounding him.
Rubbing his slightly heated eyes, he slowly spoke: “Your body… it’s on the verge of breaking.”
“What?!”
“On the verge of breaking!? What do you mean by that?”
“Is he saying Pops is about to die? How could this be? Damn it!”
As soon as Vir spoke, a wave of shocked exclamations erupted around him.
They all understood the meaning behind “on the verge of breaking”.
Had Whitebeard’s injuries really reached such a severe state?
If that was the case, then the battle ahead…
“Kid! What nonsense are you spouting?! Pops body is as strong as ever! How could it be on the verge of breaking? You think he’s some fragile vase?!”
A questioning voice rang out as a Fish-Man with a shark-like face suddenly stood up, grabbing Vir by the collar in agitation.
He was Namur, the Commander of 8th Division.
His eyes were already brimming with tears as he clenched Vir’s collar, shaking him violently.
“Let go, Namur!”
“What the hell are you doing, Namur?!”
Two voices rang out at the same time.
Marco and Jozu rushed forward, quickly pulling Namur away from Vir.
But as he looked at Vir, Namur continued crying and shouting, “He’s just a quack! He can’t even stitch a wound properly! What gives him the right to say Pops is dying?!”
Hearing this, Marco turned his gaze helplessly to Whitebeard.
“That’s enough, Namur.”
A deep, resonant voice sounded, instantly silencing the entire scene.
Namur also turned toward him, eyes filled with disbelief.
He refused to accept Vir’s words.
A fraud!
Daring to speak such reckless nonsense!
But what Whitebeard said next made him—and everyone present—burst into tears.
“The kid isn’t wrong. After this battle, I might just retire. The Whitebeard Pirates… will be in your hands from now on.”
Whitebeard’s voice was calm as he spoke these words.
He was putting it lightly.
He merely said he would retire.
But in truth, he knew all too well—
There would be no chance for retirement.
Even if there was, he wouldn’t accept it!
Dying in battle—that was his only fate!
*Drip…*
The sound of tears falling onto the deck was painfully clear.
Looking around, everyone’s faces were wet with tears.
Their Pops…
He was really… not going to make it.
At this moment, each of them recalled the first time they met Whitebeard.
In their darkest, most desperate moments,
His words—”Be my son”—became the brightest light in their lives.
And now, the figure that had sheltered them all this time…
Was finally reaching his limit.
An indescribable sorrow filled their hearts.
“Pops…”
They murmured, their voices trembling.
As if longing to return to that first moment when they met him.
But Whitebeard’s aged face, his scarred and battered body, told them the undeniable truth.
There was no going back.
Soon, they would lose their great father.
“Waaah… Pops!”
Jozu was the first to break down, crying out loud.
And as he did, everyone else couldn’t hold it in either.
Tears flowed freely, and many began sobbing alongside Jozu.
The ship was soon filled with wailing cries.
Hearing this, Whitebeard’s face darkened.
What the hell?
I’m not even dead yet!
Are they seriously holding a funeral already?!
Just as he was about to put a stop to this absurd atmosphere, a voice rang out before he could speak.
“Enough crying! Hold your tears for a moment! Can you at least listen to what the doctor has to say first?!”
A loud voice instantly drowned out the sobbing.
Vir’s words echoed in everyone’s ears.
They all froze, momentarily stunned.
All eyes turned to Vir.
The crying ceased immediately.
Vir?
What was he up to?
Did he have something to say?
Could it be… he had a way to fix this?
But Pops was already beyond saving, wasn’t he?
Even Marco was helpless…
And from what they’d seen, Vir’s medical skills didn’t seem all that impressive.
So what was he planning now?
Even Whitebeard looked at Vir in confusion.
He had no idea what the kid was trying to do.
Under everyone’s gaze, Vir finally spoke again.
“I never said I couldn’t treat him.”
His calm words left everyone momentarily speechless.
Their minds blanked for a second.
Then, a second later, they finally processed what he had just said.
Vir had just claimed…
That he could cure Pops?!
Whitebeard, too, looked at Vir in astonishment.
This brat…
He actually dared to say he could cure him.
Such bold words.
He already knew how severe Whitebeard’s condition was, yet he still dared to make such a claim.
Was he truly capable?
Or was he just boasting?
“Kid, do you even understand what you’re saying?”
Whitebeard asked, his face serious.
Upon hearing this, Vir merely smiled faintly.
“Of course, I know. You’re only in this state due to the recoil of your Devil Fruit. I’m one hundred percent certain I can restore you to your peak!”
Vir’s tone was calm, but to those around him, his words were like a tidal wave crashing down!
Everyone instantly lost their composure!
“What?! Vir! Are you serious? Is that really possible?”
“One hundred percent?! Damn! Vir, you’re for real?!”
“Vir, I swear—if you can do it, you’re basically my dad!”
“…”
The surroundings instantly erupted into a frenzy of excited shouts.
Jozu, especially, didn’t hold back. With a full-speed Diamond Charge, he barreled straight toward Vir!
The next moment, he wrapped his massive arms around Vir in a tight embrace!
And that last wild statement? Yeah, that was him.
Both Vir and Whitebeard simultaneously had a dark line appear on their foreheads.
This guy…
He really says whatever comes to mind, huh?
If not for his Twinkle-Twinkle Fruit powers, his own crew probably would’ve beaten him to death by now.
No wonder he’s so durable—must be all that practice taking hits.
“Let go, let go! Yes, you can really do it!”
But Jozu ignored him completely.
Seeing Jozu tightening his grip like he was about to squeeze the life out of him, Vir immediately countered with a full-power Armament Haki headbutt straight to Jozu’s forehead!
*THUD!*
A dull, heavy sound rang out as Jozu’s body was sent flying backward!
*BOOM!*
Jozu crashed hard against the ship’s railing!
A massive lump quickly swelled up on his forehead!
Now kneeling on the ground, he clutched his head, rubbing it frantically.
Yeah, that one definitely hurt.
Seeing this, Whitebeard nodded in satisfaction.
A pleased smile formed on his face.
The others, meanwhile, looked at Jozu rolling around in pain and immediately sobered up.
Damn.
They had completely forgotten this guy was a pirate with a bounty of over a billion berries!
Even Jozu got knocked flat like that.
If it had been them… wouldn’t their skulls have been shattered on the spot?
Good thing they hadn’t rushed up just now!
“So? Do you want me to treat you or not?”
Vir shook his head slightly, then turned to look at Whitebeard.
Hearing this, Whitebeard stared at Vir intently.
He didn’t say anything.
He just kept looking.
As if trying to see right through him.
Vir, unfazed, calmly met his gaze.
After a long silence, Whitebeard finally sighed, his expression helpless. “Gurararara… You’re really sure you can do this?”
“Of course. I swear on Chopper staying single for life!”
“Oh, Chopper is my apprentice.”
Seeing Whitebeard’s reaction, Vir knew he had him convinced.
The others, however, were dumbfounded.
This guy is brutal!
Swearing on his own apprentice’s entire lineage?
If this treatment fails…
Being his apprentice is too tragic!
Whitebeard gave Vir one final, deep look.
Then, he casually asked, “Alright. What do I need to do? Where will the treatment take place? Do you need Marco’s assistance? Any special tools required?”
Hearing this, Vir finally smiled.
“No need. Right here is fine. Just lie down and don’t move.”
“I brought all the necessary tools myself. They’re very complete. And I don’t need anyone’s help—I can handle it alone.”
As he spoke, Vir gestured for the surrounding crew to step back and clear some space.
Then, he began taking out various medical instruments from his kit.
First, he put on his signature sterile gloves.
Then, he turned to look at Whitebeard.
His expression became particularly serious as he said, “By the way, my treatment method might be… a little different from what you’re used to. Just bear with it.”
The moment those words left his mouth, everyone was stunned.
Huh?
What does that mean?
What do you mean ‘a little different’?
It’s just treatment.
How different can it be?
Sure, your gloves look kinda weird, but that doesn’t really matter, does it?
Whitebeard, on the other hand, remained completely unfazed.
He had lived for decades—what treatment style hadn’t he seen?
With all the injuries he’d sustained, he’d probably been treated by every kind of doctor imaginable.
Sure, some doctors had unorthodox methods, but none of them were unbearable.
What, is this guy planning to completely remold his body or something?
What a joke.
“It’s fine. Just do whatever you need to.”
“If you can actually make me so much as grunt in pain, I’ll even grant you a request—as long as it’s not too outrageous!”
Whitebeard spoke casually, brimming with confidence.
And rightly so.
He was the kind of man who could endure inhuman pain without even flinching.
“Do you need anesthesia? It might make things more comfortable for you.”
Vir asked as he took out a vial of anesthetic.
This was real anesthetic.
Not an anesthetic brick.
Of course, he knew Whitebeard wouldn’t need anesthesia—this was just a way to challenge him.
“Anesthesia? No need.”
Whitebeard waved it off without a second thought.
“Alright then, just don’t move. Otherwise, the treatment results won’t be optimal.”
“You brat, why are you wasting so much time tal—”
*VRRRRRRRRR—!!*
Before Whitebeard could finish his sentence…
The unmistakable roar of a chainsaw filled the air, cutting him off mid-sentence!
Vir stood there, chainsaw in hand, smiling at him.
“Are you ready? Here we go~”
—–
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