One Piece Gunslinger

Bista didn't stay long either. After chatting with Li Ang for a few minutes, he went to find his teammates. Before leaving, he asked Li Ang if he wanted to come along, but Li Ang declined.

It seems that within the larger circle of the Whitebeard Pirates, there are also some smaller circles. However, the boundaries between these smaller circles are quite blurred.

Alright, everyone's started eating. The only two people who had tried to stop him have left, and Whitebeard hasn't shown up yet. Not knowing what they're doing, Li Ang didn't think much of it and just ate. Any serious business could wait until he was finished eating.

Everyone else was sitting in groups of three or five, but Li Ang was all alone. However, Li Ang was quite content with this; he preferred being alone to dealing with these enthusiastic pirates. At least he didn't have to compete with others for food.

Just as Li Ang was quietly pondering how to persuade Whitebeard to lend a helping hand to the Revolutionary Army, someone approached him.

"Hehe, you look unfamiliar. Are you new here?"

Hearing the unfamiliar voice, Li Ang turned around. His pupils constricted slightly when he saw the person, but he quickly recovered and said, "You may look unfamiliar, but I'm not new here, and I'm not part of the pirate crew."

There were plenty of unfamiliar faces around. At this banquet, Li Ang had just spotted two people who used to belong to Ace's Spade Pirates. The only thing Li Ang could think of that guy approaching him was because he'd attracted attention when he was with Jozu Vista.

Upon hearing Li Ang's reply, the visitor realized who Li Ang was: "So you are Li Ang, the chief of staff of the revolutionary army. I heard you defeated Vista and Joz in succession. You truly live up to your reputation. Let me introduce you. My name is Marshall Teach."

"No need for introductions, I already know you're Marshall D. Teach," Leon thought to himself. "This guy concealed a 'D' in his self-introduction. What's his thinking? Did he not tell Whitebeard that his name contained a 'D' in order to hide and infiltrate the Whitebeard Pirates?"

Although this wasn't mentioned in the original work, or perhaps it was mentioned but Li Ang couldn't recall it now, thinking about it made Li Ang even more impressed with the future world-renowned Blackbeard Teach.

If that's the case, then Teach's patience and cunning are terrifying. This suggests that when he joined the Whitebeard Pirates over twenty years ago, he already knew the meaning of the D. clan and had already planned out all the problems that would arise over those twenty years.

Li Ang said calmly, "Oh, Teach. You're from the Second Division, right? Only members of the Second Division didn't travel with us, which is why they don't recognize me."

"Hahaha, that's right," Blackbeard laughed. "It's a real shame I couldn't witness your battle."

Then Blackbeard asked with a curious look, "Hey, you've come to see me, Old Man, so you must have something to discuss on behalf of the Revolutionary Army, right? Could you tell me in advance? I'm just a little curious. Oh, if it's classified, then forget it, just pretend I didn't ask."

Facing Blackbeard's question, Li Ang showed no displeasure. He still bit off the last piece of meat from the bone, tossed the bone aside, picked up the beer mug, took a big gulp, and then casually replied:

"Actually, there's nothing I can't say. You'll all find out eventually anyway. I just want the Whitebeard Pirates to help our Revolutionary Army fight against the World Government."

When Blackbeard heard that Li Ang had such an impossible goal, he was so surprised that he couldn't speak.

You really dare to think that way. I've been lying low for over twenty years for the Dark-Dark Fruit, and I'm embarrassed to even mention it.

Chapter 324 Even Gold Doesn't Always Shine

Indeed, Li Ang's idea was incredibly audacious. When he first told Ryu and Fujitora about this suggestion, they both looked at him with an expression that seemed to say, "Are you kidding me?"

Li Ang himself knew how difficult it would be to persuade one of the Four Emperors to lend a hand to the Revolutionary Army. But Li Ang did not believe that he would necessarily fail.

There's nothing in this world that can't be done; if there is, it just means you're not capable enough. Li Ang has drafted countless plans to persuade Whitebeard this time.

After a moment, Blackbeard came to his senses and realized that this was just a fabrication by Li Ang to avoid revealing his true purpose. Nevertheless, Blackbeard still feigned praise, saying, "As expected of the Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, this is completely beyond the expectations of ordinary people. May I ask what your success rate is?"

“One hundred percent,” Li Ang replied confidently.

Seeing how serious Li Ang was, Blackbeard was stumped again. Could this conversation even continue? If we don't talk nonsense, we're still good friends.

Of course, Li Ang wasn't lying about what he said earlier, but what he said later was definitely exaggeration. However, this was strategic boasting. If even he, the proposer and executor, lacked confidence, then what was the point of playing this game? He might as well just go to sleep.

The way the two of them talked, Li Ang, had essentially killed the conversation. Even Teach, who was smooth-talking and had good relationships with everyone in the pirate crew, and had been lurking for over twenty years, didn't know how to continue the conversation.

In truth, Leon didn't want to interfere too much with Teach, this ambitious man, before he obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit. He neither wanted to expose Teach's sinister intentions nor did he intend to warn others to be wary of him.

First of all, it's pointless to say anything. Whitebeard trusts his sons completely, and for Li Ang, as an outsider, to speak out would not only bring him no credit but would also severely damage his image in Whitebeard's eyes. Besides, Li Ang can't produce any substantial evidence.

Secondly, Blackbeard Teach will play a crucial role in Leon's plans afterward.

Li Ang had nothing more to say to Teach, that arrogant, cruel, treacherous, and greedy fellow, so he decisively killed the conversation and focused on eating and drinking.

However, Teach's embarrassment didn't last long. Whitebeard, the main character, finally appeared, and naturally, everyone's attention was focused on him, including Leon and Teach.

"Hmm, I didn't see Ace. I guess Whitebeard wanted to bring Ace along, but Ace fell down again during the fierce resistance," Li Ang thought, looking at Whitebeard who appeared alone.

Whitebeard strode to the large chair prepared for him in the center, plopped down, and loudly announced, "Let the banquet begin!"

"Uh..." Whitebeard's words caught Li Ang off guard.

Marco shouted, "Dad's too slow! We've already started!"

"Gurrah, you bunch of brats, you started the banquet before even waiting for your old man."

Whitebeard's arrival undoubtedly brought the banquet to a climax. The previously scattered small circles regrouped into one large circle, with everyone radiating outwards from Whitebeard in countless rings. They joyfully sang and danced together.

Even Li Ang, who was just there for show, was pulled up by two pirates he didn't know and joined the activity.

After a while, the commotion finally subsided. Li Ang took the opportunity to escape from the group of unfamiliar pirates and walked up to Whitebeard.

In fact, Li Ang not only didn't dislike the lively atmosphere and the large number of people, but he also felt that this was a godsend. His next words were meant to be heard by as many people as possible, which would increase the success rate of persuading Whitebeard. This was like a godsend, much better than being on Whitebeard's ship.

As soon as Li Ang walked up to Whitebeard, before he could even swoon, Whitebeard interrupted, "Kid, you're awake too. Now that you're awake, enjoy this feast."

"Don't talk about state affairs," that's the gist of Whitebeard's words.

Whitebeard wasn't stupid; he could tell that Leon needed his help. As for what it was, Whitebeard didn't know and didn't want to know. He didn't want to have anything to do with the Revolutionary Army again, especially on this happy day.

Li Ang sighed silently. Although he knew he was likely to be turned away, he still felt a little powerless at this moment.

Therefore, Li Ang had no choice but to take a roundabout approach to save the country. Instead of discussing national affairs, he would talk about other things: "Hehe, to be honest, I've seen quite a few pirates, but it's rare to see pirates who don't exist for the purpose of burning, killing, and looting. But today I saw several thousand of them at once."

This familial atmosphere is something I've never seen before among pirates. Countless pirates have driven their crews apart and brothers to become enemies for the sake of profit. To be honest, witnessing such pure camaraderie is an honor.

The standard opening move: no matter what, start by making a big splash. All political and business exchanges are built on this initial hype. This is almost an international norm around the world, but it's just getting started here.

Therefore, in some fanfiction, there are always villains who say sarcastic things to the protagonist at business conferences, only to be immediately proven wrong. These scenarios are actually nonexistent.

Li Ang's boasting certainly resonated with Whitebeard, who couldn't help but laugh happily, "Gurarara, that's right. On this vast ocean, you really can't see such a scene except here with me."

This is far more useful than spouting nonsense about the Whitebeard Pirates being the strongest in the world, Whitebeard being the most powerful, and the man closest to becoming the Pirate King. He didn't care about strength; when Whitebeard was young, all he wanted was to build a large family. You have to be adaptable; even when you're bragging, you have to consider the audience.

Now that we have this foundation, Li Ang can continue the conversation further.

"However, I've also noticed a problem: the family atmosphere is just too strong. Everything in excess is a bad thing, and that might not be a good thing," Li Ang said regretfully, his tone shifting.

"Oh? What do you mean by that?" Before Whitebeard could speak, Marco, standing to the side, interjected, "Is family harmony wrong?"

As the center of everyone's attention, the conversation between Leon and Whitebeard had already attracted the attention of others, not only Marco but also everyone else.

In their eyes, although the white-bearded old man wasn't their biological father, he was closer than a real father. And everyone else was like a brother to them. In this environment, they naturally couldn't bear to hear anyone speak ill of them.

However, facing the questioning gazes of the crowd, Li Ang did not answer the question directly. Instead, he continued to say to the white-bearded man, "Of course, family harmony is good, but I believe my father understands what I mean, and he is also troubled by this."

Is family harmony good or bad? That's a silly question; everyone wants a harmonious family. But for the Whitebeard Pirates, it's a double-edged sword.

The Whitebeard Pirates are, after all, a pirate crew. No matter how harmless they may seem, they cannot deny that they are one of the Four Emperors of the New World, a thorn in the side of the World Government, a rival to the other three Emperors, and the target of many who dream of becoming famous overnight.

Everything is in good order now, everything is on track, and the reason for this is that Whitebeard is still alive. But Whitebeard will one day leave his sons; he can protect them for a time, but not forever. Whitebeard's protection of his sons provides the family with a powerful shield, but this also has its downsides.

That is, under Whitebeard's wing, everyone's growth rate was greatly affected. It can even be asserted that no one could grow to the level of Whitebeard, and the Whitebeard Pirates could not produce another Yonko.

And indeed, this proved to be true. After Whitebeard's death, the remaining crew was a disorganized mess, unable to amount to anything. On the contrary, Teach, who betrayed Whitebeard and broke away from his protection, unexpectedly overtook him, replacing the deceased Whitebeard and becoming one of the Four Emperors, forging his own path.

Even Li Ang had to admire this; Blackbeard was indeed a successful and ambitious man.

Now, Li Ang has undoubtedly taken this opportunity to bring this issue to the forefront. It's time for his sons to also grapple with the problem that Whitebeard has been struggling with all along.

As the saying goes, those involved are often confused, while bystanders see things clearly. Teach, who never considered himself Whitebeard's son, and who had previously heard Leon tell him to have the Whitebeard Pirates help the Revolutionary Army fight the World Government, thought to himself, "Heh heh heh, does this guy have a solution to this?"

Whitebeard sat in his chair, remaining silent for a long while before finally saying, "Is this your purpose this time? I must say you moved me for a moment, but I believe my sons are no ordinary people. Don't underestimate them."

Li Ang quickly shook his head and said, "No, no, no, Father, you misunderstood me. I didn't mean to look down on you all at all. After all, whoever you take a liking to is no ordinary person. Unlike ordinary mediocre talents, each of you is a gem. Just like Ace before, we all thought Ace was a big piece of gold, which is why I boarded his ship, and why Father made a special trip to take him as his godson."

Hearing Li Ang say this, everyone's expressions softened, but Teach didn't think Li Ang would just end it like that.

As expected, after pausing for a few seconds, Li Ang continued, "What I mean is that even gold, if things continue like this, may not necessarily shine."

Chapter 325 The Golden Age?

This was just the beginning for Li Ang. But what followed was the truly crucial part, even including his understanding of the entire pirate community, pirate behavior, and this great pirate era, intending to use this as a springboard to take down Whitebeard in one fell swoop.

"Gold doesn't always shine; that's an interesting point. Are you saying that even gold will be buried here?" Whitebeard said displeasedly, and everyone present could feel the anger emanating from him. If Li Ang couldn't provide a reasonable explanation, Whitebeard probably wouldn't care about the Revolutionary Army anymore.

"Hehe, Father, don't mind. This is just a tiny possibility. There are indeed buried treasures and gold in this world, but that's only a part of it." Li Ang was feeling a bit of pressure now. It was one thing when he was drafting the plan, but it was quite another when he was actually standing in front of Whitebeard.

Originally, Li Ang's draft was to say: "Although what I'm saying is hard to accept, it is indeed true that there is countless gold and treasures that have been buried, and only a small portion of them are now seeing the light of day. It should be said that being buried is a common phenomenon, and only a small portion of the gold can shine."

Yes, that's what Li Ang wanted to say, but under pressure from Whitebeard, he had to change his tune and say that there was only a tiny possibility.

And this is indeed the case. In a world where pirates are the mainstream, countless treasures have sunk with pirate ships, and countless treasures have been buried, their owners long gone, waiting for a lucky person to appear and unearth them.

This aligns with the idea that "talented horses are common, but discerning judges of horses are rare."

However, this statement did not have a good effect. Seeing that Whitebeard was still somewhat angry, Li Ang could only skip this for the time being and move on to the next topic, admitting defeat. No one dared to test the waters by provoking Whitebeard.

"People often ask me what I think of the Great Pirate Era, what I think of Roger's surrender and his last words, and what I think of the pirates of today. I've discussed these questions with many people. However, I haven't yet discussed the question of the Pirate King with him, but now I have the opportunity. Moreover, as Roger's greatest rival back then, my father naturally has his own insights on this issue. Why don't you tell me, and tell everyone else as well?"

Leon's question was undeniably significant, encompassing virtually all pirates worldwide. Compared to this, the previous question about whether gold shone seemed less important. This question, in turn, diverted everyone's attention.

This is actually a question that almost all aspiring pirates have thought about, especially those who witnessed Roger's execution, who studied it all night long, but no one has been able to come to a definitive conclusion.

"Hmph, perfect timing, that's exactly what I was thinking about."

Whitebeard was certainly very concerned about Li Ang's previous questions, but due to his pride and the arrogance he had cultivated over the years, he would never ask Li Ang for advice or bow down to the Revolutionary Army for help.

Li Ang's words gave Whitebeard a way out and an opportunity to inspire and teach his sons how to behave through his decades of experience sailing the seas.

Whitebeard released the pressure he had placed on Leon, stood up from his chair, and addressed his many sons in the Whitebeard Pirates: "Listen up, guys. Roger, that guy, I fought him many times back then, and neither of us was willing to concede to the other. But now I have to admire his dying words, which actually ushered in the Great Pirate Era."

The so-called Great Pirate Era, as you can see, now has several times more pirates on the seas than when I fought Roger. There are even the so-called Four Emperors, making the Navy hesitant to wage war against us. You know, even Roger and I were chased all over the place by the Navy back then.

So, my little ones, cherish this era. Pirates are the freest and most romantic group of people in the world. The Great Pirate Era is precisely such a free and romantic era—an era belonging to pirates, a golden age belonging to you. Isn't such an era worth striving for, to become stronger?

There's only one thing you must remember: in this day and age, don't embarrass me.

This is how Whitebeard motivates his sons. Whitebeard is undoubtedly closer to a reserved Eastern parent. His love for his sons is not expressed directly, but silently hidden in his stern words and subtle reprimands.

Upon hearing Whitebeard's words, his sons erupted in another burst of enthusiastic cheers, expressing their determination. They then shouted, "Long live our father!"

Whitebeard sat back in his chair, continuing to look down at Li Ang, who was barely taller than the chair, and asked, "What do you think of my entire answer? Did it resolve your doubts?"

In fact, Whitebeard had been emphasizing the Great Pirate Era in his previous remarks, which also meant that he was telling Lee Ang that the World Government and his Revolutionary Army were just supporting characters, and only the pirates were the main characters. Basically, he was telling Lee Ang to just sit back and relax.

Furthermore, the emphasis on freedom and romance is also a way of expressing a stance, telling Li Ang in advance that whatever he wants to do, he shouldn't even think about it. The stance of us pirates will not change. You guys go play with the World Government yourselves, don't drag us pirates into it.

Teach, who was mingling in the crowd and chanting "Long live the Whitebeard Pirates" with the others, had already come to believe that Leon had clearly failed.

"Trying to drag the Whitebeard Pirates down with you? A 100% success rate? That's laughable. Oh, wait, my teeth fell out a long time ago." Teach lowered his opinion of the Revolutionary Army. "What Revolutionary Army? They're nothing special."

This situation has practically blocked all avenues. Did Li Ang anticipate this? Did he prepare a plan beforehand?

Of course! This was indeed within the scope of Li Ang's draft. Li Ang had anticipated Whitebeard's strong reaction. This discourse on the Great Pirate Era was exactly what Li Ang wanted.