Pirates: Dangerous Options in My Brain

"What Devil Fruit ability is this?"

"The wounds... they're all healed!"

Seeing Whitebeard's previously battered and exhausted body suddenly restored, even showing a hint of vitality, the pirates on the ship were overjoyed. They wiped away their tears and crowded around, holding Whitebeard's arms. "Pops, how do you feel?"

"Gurararara, it doesn't hurt anymore... I feel much better," Whitebeard laughed.

Without showing much emotion, Whitebeard suddenly sat up, moved his arms, and looked at Vivian. "Larvin… is that your name? You saved my life. Is there anything you want in return?"

"In return?"

Having saved the near-death Whitebeard and expended a lot of energy, Vivian felt dizzy.

"Forget about repayment. You should leave here quickly. I don't want this war to continue any longer."

Too many people had already died at Marineford, both pirates and Marines. He didn't want to see more casualties.

"I see..."

Whitebeard laughed, this time louder than ever before. "Larvin, would you like to join my pirate crew? To fill Ace's place."

He instinctively thought that Vivian was a friend Ace had made during his travels. Given the favor and Vivian's previous actions against the Celestial Dragons, Whitebeard had grown quite fond of him.

So, despite Ace's recent death, Whitebeard extended an invitation to Vivian to join his crew.

"Join your pirate crew?" Vivian was stunned.

Clearly, he hadn't expected Whitebeard to invite him aboard, just like Luffy had.

"Pops, this Larvin is actually a Marine," a pirate reminded.

"A Marine?" Whitebeard showed a surprised expression.

"Yes, he's a Marine. How can a Marine join our pirate crew?"

Though they didn't say it out loud, they were somewhat wary. What if he was an undercover Marine?

What if everything he did was just a ploy?

"If he were really an undercover Marine, why would he save Pops?"

Seeing their thoughts, Aili suddenly spoke up. "After all… killing Pops would benefit them more than gaining our trust…"

Though it was an untimely statement, it made sense. If Whitebeard died, the crew would likely disband. Why would the Marines go through the trouble of having Vivian act out such a scene?

It didn't make sense.

Hearing this, the pirates suddenly felt Aili made a good point. The bearded pirate who had spat at Vivian earlier also agreed, "Whether he's a Marine or a pirate, he saved Pops. From now on, he's the best friend of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

"Yes, saving Pops is like saving us."

"From now on, you're the benefactor of all the Whitebeard Pirates!"

With that, led by the bearded pirate, many knelt and bowed deeply to Vivian.

They were genuinely grateful to Vivian for saving Whitebeard.

Having just lost Ace, they couldn't bear to lose Whitebeard too.

"If it makes you happy… But I'm sorry, I can't join your pirate crew," Vivian said.

Aili looked a bit disappointed.

Meanwhile...

"Little Oars and Captain Marco are here!"

Someone shouted.

Marco's voice followed, "Quick, everyone retreat!"

"Once Father recovers, we'll make the World Government pay for this blood debt!"

As the words fell, everyone looked up to see Marco, with only one wing burning, carrying Ace's body and stumbling towards the pirate ships.

Below, countless pirates fought while retreating. Despite many falling, the remaining ones gritted their teeth, determined to cover Marco.

"We must... we must bring Captain Ace's body back..."

Many silently vowed.

"Whitebeard!"

The pirate fleet began to turn around, and at the same time, a bloodied Akainu let out a thunderous roar.

All the retreating pirates turned to look at Akainu.

War correspondents hidden around the island, along with official broadcast cameras, focused on Sakazuki.

"That dead guy, is it Dark King Rayleigh?"

"The one who claimed to have seen One Piece..."

Rayleigh lay at Akainu's feet, eyes closed, his hands and legs almost entirely burned by magma, only half-burned bones remaining, emitting sparks and smoke, looking particularly desolate on the Marineford battlefield.

"The Pirate King's former right-hand man, the vice-captain of the Roger Pirates... defeated by the marines..."

"Now only the struggling Whitebeard is left!"

Marine morale surged again, and they shouted, "Chase them!"

"Kill all the Whitebeard Pirates!"

With the order, gunfire erupted again, and the leading marines, under Akainu and Aokiji, pursued towards the shore.

…

[You have completed the current mission]

[Calculating rewards...]

[Congratulations, you have obtained Conqueror's Haki!]

Meanwhile, still on the pirate ship, Vivian yawned as sleepiness crept in, feeling a bit relieved by the notification in his mind.

Finally… he got it.

All the effort for this mission was worth it.

Now, he just needed to change back into his marine uniform and rejoin the marines once the Whitebeard Pirates left.

His involvement in this war was truly maxed out.

But just as he was about to enter the cabin to change, countless marines reached the shore.

As both sides were about to clash again, at the critical moment...

Buzz—!

An invisible pressure suddenly spread from Whitebeard's ship.

In an instant, the marines, who had been raising their weapons confidently, all collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.