One Piece: Surrounded at Marineford? Just kidding!

Chapter 12 The most shameless excuse: Whitebeard's approval!

The sea breeze at night blew across the deck, carrying a slight salty smell of the sea.

The air seemed to freeze.

Marco, Jozu, and Vista, the three top commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates, were like three insurmountable mountains, completely blocking all of Chenye's escape routes.

The crew members around the conference room fell silent, sensing the unusual oppressive atmosphere. A multitude of gazes converged on them, filled with confusion and scrutiny.

"Tatsuba."

Marco's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable pressure.

"Who exactly are you?"

"The strength you've shown is not something a newcomer should possess."

Faced with this question that carried immense pressure, Chen Ye showed no sign of panic.

He blinked, a look of utter bewilderment first appearing on his young face, as if he couldn't understand what Marco was saying at all.

Immediately afterwards, that sense of bewilderment was quickly replaced by an uncontrollable, almost frenzied excitement.

"strength?"

What kind of power?

Chen Ye lowered his head, spread out his hands, clenched his fists tightly, and then suddenly relaxed them, as if he were experiencing some novel toy.

"I don't know either, Brother Marco!"

He looked up at Marco with excitement, his voice filled with the thrill of discovering a new continent.

"Ever since I joined the Whitebeard Pirates, I feel like I have inexhaustible energy!"

"Especially...especially when I'm giving my dad a back massage!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, even gesturing wildly. His innocent appearance made Marco's prepared follow-up questions get stuck in his throat.

Bista frowned slightly; he couldn't see any flaws.

Joz remained silent with his arms crossed, but a hint of surprise and doubt flickered in his deep eyes.

This kid's reaction... doesn't seem fake.

"Brother Marco, you mean domineering, right?"

Chen Ye seemed to have finally figured something out, slapped his thigh, and said excitedly.

"I understand! I understand everything!"

He took a deep breath, his face flushed red, and shouted to everyone in a tone that was almost like declaring the truth.

"I think it's definitely because Dad's kingly aura is too strong!"

"That spirit, that majesty, was just like the sun in the sky!"

"I'm always by my father's side, bathed in his regal aura... even a pig could be transformed into a fierce tiger by that influence!"

This shocking theory plunged the entire deck into an eerie silence.

Everyone was stunned by these words.

Attributing the awakening of domineering aura to being "influenced" by others?

What utterly absurd and twisted logic is this!

However, they have no choice but to believe this fallacy because of its core reason!

That's their father!

White beard!

Marco's eye twitched involuntarily.

In all his years of life, having sailed the entire ocean, he had never heard such a... such a shameless explanation.

Yet, Chen Ye's expression was so sincere, so matter-of-fact, as if he were stating an irrefutable truth of the world.

"so!"

Chen Ye didn't give them any time to think. He pounded his chest loudly, his voice filled with pride and arrogance.

"My meager strength must all be 'bestowed' upon me by my father! I'm just benefiting from his influence!"

"Yes! Or perhaps... or perhaps I have an innate talent that allows me to sense the domineering aura in a short time!"

He nodded emphatically, finding the final and most perfect explanation for his theory of "genius".

The entire room fell silent.

Vista opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Even Joz's perpetually expressionless face showed a slight crack.

Marco felt a throbbing sensation in his temples.

He was about to speak, forcefully interrupting this farce.

A burst of laughter, like a landslide or a tsunami, erupted behind them without warning.

"Guralalalalalala!"

The laughter was filled with unparalleled boldness and domineering spirit, instantly dispelling all the oppression and tension on the deck.

Everyone turned around abruptly.

Suddenly, the white-bearded man appeared, holding a huge wine jug in one hand, laughing so hard he was shaking, tears welling up in his eyes.

"Well said!"

The white-bearded man strode forward with heavy steps, causing the earth to tremble. He walked to Chen Ye's side, his enormous shadow completely enveloping Chen Ye.

"Gurarararara... As expected of my son!"

A large, fan-like hand slammed heavily onto Chen Ye's shoulder.

"Bang!"

Chen Ye felt an immense force surge through him, almost slamming him into the deck, his bones groaning in pain.

Despite the excruciating pain, he wore an even brighter and more honored smile.

"Dad!"

Whitebeard was clearly amused by Chenye's shocking "theory of cultivating domineering aura." He took it as an extremely funny joke and also as his new son's most straightforward admiration for him.

He turned his head and looked at Marco, whose expression was still somewhat stiff.

"Marco."

"This kid is my son, Edward Newgate. Isn't it only natural that he has some talent?"

Although the white-bearded man's voice carried a hint of amusement, the weight of his words was undeniable.

"Stop doubting and investigating my new son over such a trivial matter."

One sentence from the white-bearded man!

A hammer is fixed.

Marco gave Chen Ye a deep look, then sighed helplessly and shrugged.

"Yes, Father."

Since Dad has said so, let's leave it at that.

Seeing that the crisis was over, the surrounding crew members laughed and joked, and the atmosphere instantly returned to its usual relaxed and lively state.

"Haha, so it's because Dad's domineering aura is too strong!"

"That's right! We're with Dad every day, aren't we much better off than those pirates out there!"

"This new little brother is a real character!"

A huge crisis that could have exposed Chen Ye's identity was so easily resolved by him with the most shameless and outrageous excuse.

Not only that, he also attributed all the "credit" to Whitebeard, which both flattered him and covered up the secret. In fact, he made Whitebeard personally endorse his "genius" status.

From today onwards, his status as a "monster rookie" has received the most authoritative and unquestionable certification.

Watching the white-bearded man laugh as he turned and left, Chen Ye rubbed his aching shoulder and breathed a long sigh of relief.

Chenye!

Bet right.