"The Dark-Dark Fruit is that strong?" Marco frowned.
"Not only that, because of Teach's special physique, he can use the Dark-Dark Fruit to gain two additional Devil Fruit abilities!
At that time, he will become the only triple Devil Fruit user on this sea!"
"..."
Everyone else was dumbfounded.
A triple Devil Fruit user? How powerful would that be! It's hard to imagine.
Fortunately Ron told them, otherwise if Ace went and got captured by Teach, it would have been disastrous.
"I didn't expect the Dark-Dark Fruit to be so bizarre and to actually be able to use three Devil Fruits. Teach really planned this carefully."
"Yeah, thanks to Ron. If he hadn't told us, the consequences would have been serious."
"What should we do now? Why don't we all go hunt down Teach together and kill him!"
The group buzzed with discussion, clamoring to hunt Teach down.
Surely he couldn't defeat all of them together single-handedly.
Ron couldn't help but admire how clever these pirates were.
"Pops, what should we do? We'll follow your lead."
Everyone turned to Whitebeard, awaiting his command.
Whitebeard furrowed his brow.
The Dark-Dark Fruit was indeed as fearsome as that man had been.
Even back then, it was only due to unfortunate timing that he had been defeated by the combined efforts of Garp and Roger.
Now that Teach had obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, these seas would never know peace again.
But killing a comrade aboard his ship? That was absolutely unforgivable!
His gaze then fell on Ron.
He realized this young man knew far more than he let on.
Moreover, by stopping Ace, Ron had effectively saved his life.
With that in mind, Whitebeard looked at Ron and spoke.
"Kid, what are your thoughts?"
Hearing this, Ron was taken aback.
Whitebeard was asking for his opinion?
He wasn't even a crew member yet—he only speak because Thatch had saved his life.
But that was the extent of it.
Yet now, Whitebeard was asking for his input.
It seemed he was gradually gaining some influence in the old man's eyes.
"My thoughts are simple." Ron smiled and addressed the group calmly.
"There are many ways to seek revenge and killing the target outright is the lowest and most basic method."
"Huh?"
"..."
"Tsk..."
The pirates were dumbstruck.
What the fuck?
Killing their enemy was the most basic way to get revenge?
Hadn't they always done it that way?
Before anyone could respond, Ron continued.
"The highest form of revenge is simple—let the enemy live, but make them wish they were dead."
Ron's voice turned cold like a frigid wind from the depths of hell.
"Make them live in fear every day, unable to sleep at night, constantly terrified of being killed!
Make them tread carefully, drive them to the brink of madness, make them suspect even a passing bird might be their executioner!
That... is the true art of revenge!"
Everyone stared at Ron in horror, a shiver running down their spines.
Just imagining that scenario made their legs tremble uncontrollably.
This guy looks like a pretty boy, but who would have thought he could be so ruthless!
Killing the enemy outright and settling grudges with vengeance?
That's child's play!
Making them live in constant fear, terror, and despair—that's the ultimate way to take revenge!
They felt like they're not a real pirates— Ron is the true pirate here!
Whitebeard was slightly taken aback by Ron's words, surprised that this young man could be so ruthless.
"Hmph!"
An untimely snort sounded as Ace retorted somewhat indignantly,
"Easier said than done. Teach isn't some weak-minded small-time pirate and what do we have that could possibly scare him?
He dared to kill on the ship of the Yonko!
Do you really think he'd got something to be afraid of?
And once Teach becomes a triple Devil Fruit user after some time, He'll be unstoppable.
Not to mention Pops condition..."
Ace didn't finish, but everyone knew what he meant.
Whitebeard's health was indeed failing, deteriorating day by day, relying on IV drips just to stay alive.
"My body is indeed failing. That bastard Teach wouldn't fear me after daring to do such a thing."
Whitebeard took over the conversation, speaking with a tinge of sorrow.
"Pops..."
Everyone fell silent.
Right now, it was only Whitebeard's remaining prestige that kept the seas in check, preventing others from going too far.
If Whitebeard were to truly die, falling from his Yonko throne, what would Teach have left to fear?
Amids the silent room, a wave of suspicion began to ripple through the crew.
Marco, ever the level-headed one, stepped forward, his expression hardening.
"Hold on a minute," he said, his voice cutting through the growing excitement.
"You've said a lot of things that are... hard to believe, little guy. But what really gets me is how you know so much about Teach's Devil Fruit. The Dark-Dark Fruit is not a common fruit and most people doesnt know such a fruit exist. How do you, a stranger who appeared out of nowhere know all this?"
Jozu and the others nodded in agreement, their initial hope giving way to a renewed sense of caution.
Their weapons, which had been lowered, were now being gripped tightly once more.
Whitebeard's gaze, though not as overtly hostile as his sons', was just as hard.
"It is a valid question. You speak of secrets that even I only learned through years of battling on these seas. Yet, you seem to know them with a certainty that is... unsettling. Are you a spy? Do you have ties to the World Government or some other faction?"
The pressure in the air intensified, the towering figure of Whitebeard radiating a silent authority that demanded an honest answer.
Ron, feeling the weight of their suspicion, gulped.
He knew he had to tread carefully.
"I understand your suspicion," Ron began, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.
"And I have no ties to Teach, the World Government, or anyone else. I told you before, Thatch saved my life. I'm a scientist and my research is my life's work. It's through that research that I know what I know."
He paused, collecting his thoughts.
He couldn't reveal his true origins, so he had to construct a believable backstory.
"My family, for generations, has been dedicated to the study of the supernatural and the bizarre, and that includes Devil Fruits. We have an extensive library, filled with ancient texts and tomes, some so old they exist before the World Goverment come to existense. My knowledge of the Dark-Dark Fruit, and its peculiar nature, comes from a book passed down for centuries—a book that detailed its history, its properties, and the unique physiological condition required to wield its power without being consumed by it. I didn't learn about it through experience or from a spy network; I learned it from the dusty pages of an old book."
Ron's explanation, while fantastical, had a ring of truth to it.
The idea of an obsessive scholar poring over ancient texts was a concept they could almost grasp.
The tension in the air eased slightly, but the pirates still eyed him with a healthy dose of suspicion.
Marco squinted at him, still not fully convinced.
"A book? You're saying all this knowledge, all these secrets, just came from a book?"
Ron nodded. "Yes. My family's library is my life's work. I've spent years there, learning about every Devil Fruit I could find information on. That's how I know about Teach's special physique and the fact that he can steal Devil Fruits. The Dark-Dark Fruit is truly a unique power, and my ancestors were fascinated by it, detailing its abilities and the potential it held in their journals."
He looked directly at Whitebeard, meeting the Yonko's piercing gaze without flinching.
"I know it sounds unbelievable, but I'm telling you the truth. My knowledge is academic, not strategic. My purpose here is not to deceive, but to help. And if you don't believe me, then I ask you this: why would I risk my life and my reputation to tell you this, if I had nothing to gain from it?"
Whitebeard studied the young man for a long moment, his eyes scanning for any sign of deception.
He saw none.
He saw only a mix of fear, determination, and a strange, almost fanatical devotion to his craft.
A small, almost imperceptible smile touched the old pirate's lips.
He believed him.
The world was a vast and mysterious place, and a scholar who knew too much was far from the strangest thing he had ever encountered.
Marco stepped forward and patted Ron's shoulder.
"I see, thank you for the warning we all know you mean well, and we appreciate it. But Pops condition doesn't allow this to drag on any longer. Teach must die—he must pay for what he's done!"
With that, he turned to Whitebeard, ready to volunteer to take down Teach himself.
Seeing this, Ron knew his opportunity had arrived.
He immediately raised an arm to block Marco's path, then looked up at Whitebeard before sweeping his gaze across the others.
"The captain won't die. In fact, he'll live another twenty years and in good health!" Ron's words echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
The group was first stunned, then stared at Ron in bewilderment as if he were an idiot.
"What?! Dude are you tripping? Has your brain fried?"
"I mean no disrespect to Pops, but we all know his condition. There's no way it'll be as you say!"
"That's pure delusion! If you can actually make Pops recover, i will do whatever you say!" Jozu meant every word.
Seeing Whitebeard hooked up to tubes every day pained him deeply.
"Kid, I appreciate the sentiment, but I know my own body. There's no recovering from this."
Ron shook his head, cleared his throat and spoke with utmost seriousness.
"Ahem... To be honest, I'm actually a scientist, My field of research is Devil Fruits and I've made a breakthrough—I can make a devil fruit user be able to have a second devil fruit abilities by eating a manmade devil fruit i make, i call it the 'Enchanted Devil Fruit'."
"And not only that but i can make the fruit to be able to copy the power of the already existing fruit by simply injecting the blood of the devil fruit user"
Everyone was stunned.
Marco stepped forward once more, carefully staring into Ron's eyes and reaching out to touch his forehead.
"You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense?" Ron removed Marco's hand and said seriously.
"I'm not joking, and my research isn't without cost. One enchanted Devil Fruit costs one billion Berries!"
Seeing how serious Ron was, Marco realized he wasn't joking.
"If what you're saying is true, then Pops might really be saved!"
"Of course it's true." Marco excitedly glanced at Whitebeard, his eyes full of emotion.
"If this really works, Pops could have my abilities—With the powerful recovery and the self-healing ability of my phoenix fruit powers, it can completely heal Pops' years of hidden injuries, and even greatly restore Pops' vitality. It's not impossible for Pops to return to his prime!!"
The more Marco spoke, the more excited he became, as if he could already see Whitebeard restored to his former glory.
The other pirates were equally thrilled.
If Pops truly returned to his peak, it would undoubtedly shock everyone—especially those restless fools.
Their jaws would drop!
However, some still didn't believe it, thinking Ron was deceiving them.
In response, Ron shrugged, indicating there was nothing he could do if they didn't trust him.
Finally, all eyes turned to Whitebeard, waiting for his decision.
"I believe in him." ...