Sailing: I Open Treasure Chests in the Pirate World

Sword energies shot out in all directions, cutting deep, axe-like marks into the ground of Golden Island.

The astonishing shockwave transformed into a fierce gale, billowing Hawkeye Mihawk's robes.

Hawkeye Mihawk watched Edward Weevil, who had blasted away his flying slash, a look of keen interest rising in his yellow eyes.

It's a bit of a shame that I couldn't meet the real Whitebeard, or perhaps the Whitebeard Jr.

Edward Weevil, the "Whitebeard III" who fights with a naginata, is quite skilled; at least his opponent is a "swordsman" who fights with a knife!

Hawkeye Mihawk is very interested in Edward Weevil.

They successively experienced probing attacks from two of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Buckingham Stussy finally came to her senses at this moment, and she screamed loudly.

"Stop fighting! Please stop fighting!"

"Mother……"

Edward Weebull glanced at Buckingham Stussy.

Although his little brain could vaguely sense that giving up the fight now was definitely not a good choice.

But who can blame them when it's Buckingham Stussy's order?

Edward Weebull listened to his mother.

But the others found Buckingham Stussy's presence quite an eyesore.

"Where did this old woman come from?"

Crocodile glanced at Buckingham Stussy, not recognizing her, and raised his right hand, gathering a swirling cloud of yellow sand.

"Just kill him!"

Crocodile! How dare you kill me?

Buckingham Stussy glanced at the Sandstorm on Crocodile's right hand and couldn't help but lean closer to Edward Weevil, but she didn't back down in words.

"Whitebeard's defeated opponent! I am Whitebeard's most beloved woman!"

Whitebeard's most beloved woman...

The moment those words came out of Buckingham Stussy's mouth.

Crocodile's Sandstorm instantly stopped operating.

It wasn't because he was intimidated by Whitebeard's fame, but because his ears were offended by that statement...

The sandstorm didn't "stop," but rather "got stuck"...

Who is this white-bearded man?

The world's strongest man, the pirate emperor who reigns over the New World, a legendary pirate who accomplished his great feat before ascending to the throne of the Pirate King.

According to Crocodile.

If we consider the Great Pirate Era as a competition, then Edward Newgate, the Whitebeard, is an extremely rare "gold medalist" on the high seas.

But now there is a woman who claims to be the woman Whitebeard loves the most?

And this woman is... an old and ugly woman?

Crocodile felt as if his intelligence had been thoroughly insulted...

the other side.

Hawkeye Mihawk is not interested in so-called "romantic relationships".

Although he also thought Buckingham Stussy's statement was absurd.

However, there was another witness present.

That's the "Whitebeard III," Edward Weevil!

"I'm curious."

Ian, who had been inactive until now, finally spoke up.

He looked at Edward Weeble with interest, then at Buckingham Stussy.

"As far as I know, Whitebeard's dream was never to conquer the world, but to build a family."

"On the Moby Dick now, Whitebeard is the patriarch, and everyone else is his 'son.' The ship just happens to need a 'mistress.'"

"If you really were Whitebeard's most beloved woman, then why didn't you live on the Moby Dick?"

Ian's words drew the attention of Hawkeye Mihawk and Crocodile.

Moreover, Edward Weebull also thought Ian's words made a lot of sense.

".‖ Mother……"

Edward Weebull looked at Buckingham Stussy and asked with a cautious expression.

Why don't we go find Dad?

"Of course...of course...because..."

Buckingham Stussy's forehead was covered in sweat, instantly making her heavily made-up face a mess, but she quickly found an explanation.

"Because that Whitebeard Pirates is just a 'fake pirate crew,' they're just a bunch of pirates playing house!"

"I am the white-bearded woman, and I should be living with my son and my husband! Not letting a bunch of strange little devils break into my house!"

"Although I also think the Whitebeard Pirates are a bit like a 'playing house pirate crew,' but you..."

Ian shook his head and immediately revealed Buckingham Stussy's true identity.

"Buckingham Stussy, do you not want to join the Whitebeard Pirates, or are you afraid to join them?"

Ian had always found Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil's actions very strange.

Judging from Whitebeard's style of doing things and his life ideals.

If his "beloved woman" and "biological son" are indeed wandering outside.

Even if it meant taking the Moby Dick across the Red Line, Whitebeard wanted to reunite his family.

Whitebeard was known worldwide for his great kindness towards his "family".

But Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weevil seem to be avoiding the Whitebeard Pirates all along.

If Whitebeard hadn't died in the Marineford War...

Buckingham Stussy and Edward Weebull will likely continue to hide.

What were the reasons behind this mother and son's actions?

Edward Weebull was a fool.

The only one truly capable of making decisions is Buckingham Stussy.

In other words.

Buckingham Stussy was the one who had been actively avoiding Whitebeard.

what is the reason?

It's a little embarrassing to admit, but Ian instinctively came up with a reason, which was—

Edward Weevil is not actually Whitebeard's biological son!

however.

Before Buckingham Stussy could respond to Ian's words.

Crocodile, who was standing to the side, suddenly "exploded".

He unleashed the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, and his entire body was surrounded by a sandstorm. Even the surrounding land was eroded by the power of this sandstorm, turning it into a barren desert that was constantly expanding.

"Are you 'Buckingham Stussy'?"

Crocodile stared blankly at Buckingham Stussy, his voice as cold as the desert at midnight.

"Buckingham Stussy of the Rocks Pirates?"

Judging from Crocodile's expression and demeanor, Buckingham Stussy clearly sensed a sense of danger.

She moved a few more steps toward Edward Weebull, almost completely hiding in his shadow.

"That's right!"

Once he stood beside his son, Buckingham Stussy regained his confidence to speak.

"I am Buckingham—"

"go to hell!"

Crocodile, without saying a word, immediately launched his ultimate attack.

"Erosion of Reincarnation!"

Chapter 173 The world is a desert!

The grass withered, the earth dried up, and even the hard rocks were affected by the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit, turning into sand.

This is the power of the awakening of the Sand-Sand Fruit!

A desolate power, like a natural disaster—

Erosion of reincarnation!

It's not just the earth.

Any non-living matter that comes into contact with the earth.

They all withered under the influence of the power of "erosion and reincarnation".

And life forms that come into contact with the earth.

At this moment, the moisture in their bodies was also taken away by the [Sand Fruit].

Originating from Crocodile's location, the surrounding area was rapidly assimilated into a desolate and ruined desert.

Buckingham Stussy, who was targeted by the Sand Crocodile, was the first to be affected by the power of "Erosion Cycle".

The dark red pointed leather boots that Buckingham Stussy was wearing were directly assimilated into grains of sand by the power of the Sand-Sand Fruit.

"My designer leather boots!"

Buckingham Stussy immediately let out a scream.

On the other side, Edward Weebull also made a questioning shout.

"Mom! My shoes are gone! Have you seen them?"

The influence of Logia-type Devil Fruits is too vast.

Hawkeye Mihawk, not wanting to be affected by the Sand Crocodile's abilities, was planning to retreat a short distance to avoid the impact of "Erosion Cycle".

Just then, Hawkeye Mihawk suddenly saw that Ian was still standing still, and the small patch of ground under his feet had turned into a lump of white clay.

Awakening against awakening!

Crocodile's Sand-Sand Fruit ultimately couldn't affect Ian's Clay-Clay Fruit!

Hawkeye Mihawk leaped and landed right next to Ian, standing side by side with him.

"What's wrong with Crocodile? Why is he reacting so strongly to the name 'Buckingham Stussy'? Or is it because of... the Rocks Pirates?"

Compared to ordinary people, Hawkeye Mihawk certainly knew about the existence of the Rocks Pirates.

This powerful pirate crew, which once dominated the seas for a time, was ultimately destroyed by the combined efforts of Pirate King Roger and hero Garp...

Hawkeye Mihawk simply didn't understand why Crocodile would react so strongly to the name of this pirate crew.

Everyone has a past they don't want to look back on.

Ian turned to look at Hawkeye Mihawk and said calmly.

"Isn't it?"

Ian could also see Crocodile's anger at that moment.

He did not use Observation Haki, which allows him to "read people's minds," to probe Crocodile's inner thoughts.