A strangely proportioned figure with an oversized afro was performing on the stage of the Grand Theatre, voice loud and flamboyant.
"—Everything you desire is here!"
"Wine! Food! Weapons! And most importantly… freedom!"
"This place is Impel Down's secret garden—Newkama Para—Para—"
He spun dramatically—
Then froze.
His eyes bulged so far it seemed they might rocket from their sockets.
His mouth gaped wide enough to swallow an apple whole.
Even his tongue curled back in sheer shock.
"W–WHITEBEARD?!"
His horrified scream set off a domino of panic across the entire Newkama paradise.
Spotlights flashed on.
Every Newkama saw the towering silhouette standing among them.
"Whitebeard!"
"Edward Newgate!!"
"The strongest man in the world!!!"
Chaos erupted.
"Quite the lively place you've made… gurarara…"
Edward Teach chuckled deeply, tossing the wounded man in his hand toward the stage.
"This one should be yours, right? Queen of the Newkama."
Emporio Ivankov reacted instinctively, rushing forward to catch the limp body.
"Inazuma?! What happened!?"
"It's a bit complicated to explain."
"Whitebeard" rubbed his belly and glanced toward the banquet area.
"You got food?"
"Yes! Of course! At once!!"
Ivankov jabbed Inazuma with a "Healing Hormone," then hurried to Teach's side like an attentive host, guiding him to a seat.
"Quick! Bring food! The best ingredients! The finest wine! Everything—NOW!"
Moments later—
A mountain of food was piled before "Whitebeard."
"I won't be polite then."
Hidden within the massive frame, Ian quietly allocated system points.
After previous battles and accumulation…
He now had 11 Golden Treasure Chests and 3 Platinum Treasure Chests.
Before entering Newkama Land, he had already consumed several:
[Moonwalk / Tempest Kick / Swordsmanship / Life Return:★★★★★]
And now, with an enormous feast in front of him…
It was obviously time for—
[Physique] upgrades.
As the last three Golden Chests shattered into light—
Ian's Strength and Speed shot upward like rockets.
Then he immediately fed the three Platinum Chests into Endurance and Speed.
[Strength:★★★★★]
[Speed:★★★★★☆]
[Endurance:★★★★★★]
The moment Physique enhancement completed—
A bottomless, monstrous hunger surged through him.
He grabbed a massive slab of Sea King meat and devoured it whole.
Food disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The cavern echoed only with the sounds of a ravenous beast eating.
No one in Newkama Land dared to utter a word.
Even the mighty Queen of the Newkama—Emporio Ivankov—did not dare disturb "Whitebeard" mid-meal.
As the food pile dwindled rapidly, Ivankov panicked.
He waved frantically to the kitchen staff.
"More! BRING MORE!!"
Time ticked by.
Newkama exchanged wide-eyed stares.
"He's been eating nonstop for half an hour…"
"Amazing… his stomach is a black hole…"
"He just consumed our entire week's food supply…"
Throughout it all, Ivankov observed him carefully.
And the more he studied, the more wrong it felt.
The Revolutionary Army's intelligence network was second to none.
Even imprisoned in Impel Down, Ivankov—Commander of the Grand Line Army—received secret intel.
For instance—
He knew Whitebeard was gravely ill, long past his prime.
But the "Whitebeard" before him?
Healthy. Energetic. Youthful.
And there was more.
Ivankov had met the real Whitebeard over thirty years ago, during the God Valley Incident of the West Blue.
The man before him…
'This Whitebeard… isn't Whitebeard…'
Ivankov's mind trembled.
'He's… Whitebeard's BOY!!'
He looked like a young Newgate carved from the exact same mold.
A horrifying possibility dawned on him.
'No way… this Whitebeard… is he the old man's son?!'
At that moment—
Ian finally put down the last bone, throat satisfied, stomach full.
Ivankov swallowed hard, stepped forward cautiously, and bowed.
"Whitebeard-sama…"
He forced a flattering smile across his massive face.
"What… commands do you have?"
"No need to be so stiff, Queen. I've heard of you."
"Whitebeard" rose to his full towering height, looking down at Ivankov as though from a mountain peak.
He extended a massive hand.
"Be my friend, Emporio Ivankov.
I am Edward Teach—Whitebeard the Third."
"Whitebeard… the THIRD?!"
Ivankov had heard rumors of a so-called "Whitebeard Jr."
Strong as the Whitebeard of his youth, they said.
But who the hell was Whitebeard III?!
Though—he had to admit.
Compared to Weevil, this one actually looked like the real deal.
"It is… my honor to be your friend."
Ivankov timidly stretched out a hand and tapped Teach's fingertip.
"GURARARARA!"
Teach burst into hearty laughter.
"Since we're friends, I'll be frank!"
His tone deepened.
"Ivankov, I need your power."
Once Ivankov realized this wasn't the Whitebeard but "Whitebeard III," his courage gradually returned.
"Edward—"
"Call me Teach."
"Yes! Teach!"
"If you need food, we can prepare more!"
As long as his request wasn't ridiculous, Ivankov was ready to agree.
After all—
Whoever this Whitebeard III truly was…
He had brought Inazuma back alive.
And that already made him a friend.
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