Whitebeard did not answer Ren Mori immediately.
Instead, he simply stared at him for a long moment.
“Gulp…
gulp…” Whitebeard picked up his jug and took several more drinks before finally speaking.
“If that’s what you’ve decided, then do as you please.” “Also, I’ll assign a few people to your 17th Division and have them go with you.” Whitebeard’s intention was obvious.
Ren Mori had spent all these years aboard the ship and had practically no real combat experience.
Whitebeard was worried that once Ren Mori went out to sea alone, he might encounter something he could not handle.
So he wanted to send a few reliable people with him.
Whitebeard had originally thought Ren Mori would readily agree.
Instead, Ren Mori smiled and shook his head.
“There’s no need, Whitebeard.
I’ll be fine on my own.” “Besides, you were the one who said that if I wanted members for the 17th Division, I’d have to find them myself.” Although Ren Mori claimed that he was heading out to gain experience, his true purpose was actually much simpler.
He needed a reasonable explanation for anything he obtained from the System.
Take Wood Release, for example.
If he continued staying with the Whitebeard Pirates, everyone aboard already knew what he had been like for the past ten years.
The moment he suddenly displayed Wood Release, people would inevitably become suspicious.
But what if he left for a while?
If he returned later and used the ability, everyone would naturally assume that he had eaten a Devil Fruit during his travels.
Of course, explaining his abilities was only one reason.
The far more important reason was that Ren Mori possessed a Summoning System.
If he suddenly displayed a new ability while aboard the Whitebeard Pirates, at worst people might suspect that he had eaten a Devil Fruit years ago and deliberately concealed it.
But if another person suddenly appeared out of nowhere beside him…
How the hell was he supposed to explain that?
“Ren Mori, the outside world is far more dangerous than you imagine.” Marco sat on the ship’s railing with a bottle of alcohol in his hand as he reminded him, “Pops is doing this for your own good.
In a situation like this, you shouldn’t act recklessly.” Ren Mori looked toward Marco and merely smiled.
“Only by being reborn from desperate situations can I grow faster.” “But—” Marco was about to continue when Whitebeard interrupted him.
Just as he had once refrained from stopping Ace, this time he chose not to stop Ren Mori either.
“Marco.
Let him do as he wants.” Hearing that, Marco swallowed the words that had already reached his lips.
Truthfully, compared to Ace, Ren Mori worried him even more.
At least Ace had already made a name for himself before joining the Whitebeard Pirates.
He had possessed considerable strength of his own and had endured all kinds of hardships.
But Ren Mori?
He had joined the Whitebeard Pirates when he was still young.
He had grown up under Whitebeard’s protection and possessed almost no real combat experience.
Sure, he was clever.
But in the face of overwhelming strength, cleverness alone was useless.
“I won’t stop you, Ren Mori.” Whitebeard looked at him seriously.
“But there are a few things I have to tell you.” “Since you’re going out to gain experience, start from the Grand Line and take things one step at a time.” “Also, if you happen to run into Ace and he needs help, lend him a hand.” “It’s already late tonight.” “Tomorrow, I’ll have someone prepare a ship, food, and the other supplies you’ll need.” “Thank you very much.” Ren Mori slowly stood up and bowed toward the massive man before him.
Whitebeard glanced at him but said nothing more.
He simply raised his jug and continued drinking.
“Pops, you’ve already gone way over your drinking limit today.” Marco reminded him.
“Gurararara…!” Whitebeard’s laughter rang out before his voice followed.
“Idiot!
Who cares about that?
I’m happy today!” …
The next morning, by the time Ren Mori woke up, Whitebeard had already arranged everything for him.
Once Ren Mori finished preparing and boarded the secondary ship, almost everyone aboard the Moby Dick came to see him off.
“Brother Ren Mori, the sea is dangerous.
Make sure you stay safe!” “Once you’re out there, don’t trust people too easily!
Remember, we’re the ones who treat you best!” Faced with their repeated warnings, Ren Mori smiled, waved, and nodded.
When the sails were finally raised, Ren Mori dipped his hand into some paint and leaped upward.
On the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates, he wrote the number— 17 Then he drew a circle around it.
“Ren Mori!” Marco stood on the railing of the Moby Dick and shouted toward him.
“I’ll be waiting for you to come back!
Next time, let’s have a proper spar where neither of us holds back!” Ren Mori climbed onto the railing of his own ship and grinned.
“Next time…
I’ll definitely beat you, Marco!” Under everyone’s watchful gazes, the ship carrying Ren Mori gradually sailed farther and farther away.
Eventually, it disappeared from sight.
“Why did Brother Ren Mori suddenly decide to leave?
This came completely out of nowhere.” “Exactly.
Everything was fine yesterday, and then first thing this morning, Pops tells us Brother Ren Mori is going out to sea.” “He probably wants to train outside.” Jozu, Commander of the 3rd Division, answered from nearby.
“But if all he wants is training, there’s no need for him to leave.
We already have plenty of powerful people aboard this ship.” “That’s true.
Brother Ren Mori is ignoring all the perfectly good training partners right in front of him.” …
Naturally, Ren Mori knew nothing about their discussion.
He looked back toward where the Moby Dick had already vanished from view.
Then he surveyed his surroundings.
The sea was calm.
Leaving the control room, Ren Mori walked onto the deck.
Without wasting any time, he immediately initiated the summoning process.
“System, summon!” Ding!
Command received.
Summoning in progress.
Ding!
Summoning successful.
100 Summoning Points consumed.
Ding!
Congratulations, Host.
You have obtained Madara Uchiha from Naruto.