"Yeah, why isn't he back yet?"
Whitebeard had also noticed something was wrong. It was already dark, and knowing Marco's personality, he should've returned by now. He'd just gone out to buy books, yet hours had passed, and the shops on the island were about to close.
"Wait… we didn't have any money. Where'd you get the money to give Marco?"
"Here." Roy took out a gold coin and flicked it toward Whitebeard.
Whitebeard caught it and was surprised when he saw it. "You actually have gold coins?"
"Yeah. I gave Marco one."
"You gave him a whole gold coin?!"
"Yeah, why? What's the problem?"
"That brat walking around with a gold coin… he probably got targeted." Whitebeard grabbed Roy and leaped off the ship.
"Huh?!"
Roy hadn't yet processed what was happening, but quickly realized something must've gone wrong. If Marco revealed he had a gold coin, even if he was a Devil Fruit user, he was still just a seven-year-old kid and couldn't defend himself well.
He'd been gone too long—something definitely happened. Roy wasn't overly worried for Marco's safety because of his Devil Fruit powers, but he was concerned he might've been kidnapped.
Whitebeard, anxious, carried Roy through the island, using his Observation Haki to search. Under its sweeping presence, he quickly located Marco.
And he wasn't alone.
At that moment, Marco was fighting alongside three other scrappy kids against a group of adults. The three kids looked about the same age as Marco and were just as dirty.
They were surrounded by grown men with all kinds of hair colors and weapons. Despite being kids, Marco and his group had knocked out a few of them, but the rest were still overwhelming. After all, they were just children—things weren't looking good.
Even though Marco had the Phoenix Devil Fruit, his flames weren't offensive, and using his power constantly drained his stamina.
Just as they were about to be caught, the men suddenly felt a gust of wind behind them—and then darkness loomed over them.
Sensing the overwhelming presence behind them, they froze and slowly turned their heads.
What they saw were Whitebeard's cold eyes like an abyss, and their hearts skipped a beat.
"How dare you touch my family!" Whitebeard raised his massive naginata, Murakumogiri.
"No!"
Before they could beg for mercy, he struck.
"Get down!" Roy yelled to Marco and the others. All four kids hit the ground instantly.
Whoosh!
The swing of Whitebeard's blade sent blood flying.
He wasn't holding back—he even cleaved a nearby building in two.
On his shoulder, Roy felt the intense impact, and he clung to Whitebeard's hair
Then, the island quaked.
Whitebeard's power was terrifying. Those who'd never experienced his earthquakes couldn't fathom the sheer terror.
The ground heaved. Buildings swayed like they were made of paper.
Fortunately, the earthquake wasn't strong enough to cause widespread damage, and most buildings were intact.
Other than Marco, the three other kids were frozen in place, staring blankly at what had just happened.
Roy tugged Whitebeard's ear and shouted, "Can't you hold back a bit? That was like using a cannon to swat a fly! Why not just use Conqueror's Haki?! You almost killed Marco and the rest!"
Whitebeard blinked, realizing he'd overreacted. But that was just how he was.
With only two people he considered family, Roy and Marco, how could he not panic when one of them was in danger?
Roy understood—but it was equal parts touching and infuriating. The man was too reckless.
"Marco, what happened? Weren't you just out buying books?" Roy jumped down from Whitebeard's shoulder, checking Marco for injuries. None.
But when he got a closer look at the three other kids, Roy was stunned.
Even though they were young, he immediately recognized them.
Jozu. Thatch. Vista.
Future 3rd Division Commander Jozu. 4th Division Commander Thatch. 5th Division Commander Vista.
Among the three, Jozu was the biggest. Thatch was the oldest, then Vista.
"He stole my gold coin!" Marco pointed at Thatch. "I was too scared to come back empty-handed, so I chased them. Then they said someone else stole it, and they'd help me get it back!"
Thatch, slightly taller than Roy, scratched his head sheepishly.
"I… uh…"
"Who has the coin now?" Roy asked.
"Him." Thatch pointed at one of the corpses.
Roy retrieved the coin. By now, people were gathering. Whitebeard growled, "We're leaving."
"Right."
They followed Whitebeard as he strode away.
Behind them, the three kids huddled.
"Thatch..... what do we do now?" asked four-year-old Jozu, who, despite his age, had come out brawling with Thatch. He was huge, nearly Thatch's size.
"Vista, you okay?" Thatch noticed Vista staring after Whitebeard's group leaving.
"He's… so strong," Vista murmured, awestruck.
"Yeah, no kidding. Let's get out of here."
But Vista didn't move. "Thatch… I want to follow him."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know. Just now, he protected the pineapple-haired guy....even killed for him, if we joined him… wouldn't he protect us too?"
Thatch was stunned. The three of them were orphans. Thatch had worked in a kitchen but was kicked out after stealing food for Jozu. Then he met the wandering Vista, and the three of them became a little band of thieves.
Marco, flashing a gold coin, caught Thatch's attention. But after stealing it, Thatch was targeted by another gang and robbed.
Not wanting to let it go, Thatch brought the others to ambush the gang, just in time to meet Marco again. They joined forces, leading to the earlier brawl.
Now, after seeing Whitebeard's overwhelming strength, Vista's heart wavered.
"Vista, are you serious?" Thatch asked.
"Yeah. I mean it. I want to follow him." Vista nodded firmly.
"Jozu, what about you?" Thatch asked.
"Hungry," Jozu replied, chewing his finger.
"Then let's go. He has two kids with him—he must like kids, maybe he can also take us in."
Thatch made up his mind. With Jozu and Vista, he chased after Roy and the others along the path they left.
They finally caught up at the dock.
"What do you want?" Marco glared, still pissed about the stolen coin.
Thatch stepped forward. "We… want to join you. Please take us in."
"I don't take subordinates," Whitebeard said flatly.
Vista's face fell. Jozu's stomach growled. Thatch lowered his head.
Then
A massive hand stretched toward them.
They looked up.
Whitebeard grinned.
"But would you like to be my sons?"