After Cain had recovered enough to move around, he came to a hall together with Uta.
Looking at the newspaper in his hand and listening to Shakky explain what had happened, he was clearly startled.
"Everyone swapped bodies? What the hell happened?!"
Cain, currently in Uta's body, was being held by Uta, who was currently in his body.
As he looked around at everyone else's strange behavior, his face was full of disbelief.
It was already the third day since that incident.
Sabo, Jinbe, Katakuri, and the others had long since left.
Only Ace, Yamato, and the people who had already been here—Luffy, Hancock, and Law—remained.
However, judging from their current states, they all seemed rather happy.
Luffy was using Hancock's body to pick his nose, while Hancock had stretched her arm out long and wrapped it around herself.
She looked at herself, then at Luffy, "This way, I shall never be separated from Luffy again."
Yamato and Ace had also swapped bodies.
Yamato was currently being carried by Ace, sitting on his shoulders.
Rayleigh and Shakky glanced at Gloriosa nearby, then slowly explained things to Cain.
"After you passed out that day, the Marines received news that the Four Emperors had started fighting. Rather than a war between pirate crews, it was more like a personal conflict."
"After Whitebeard's death, the territories of the Four Emperors began expanding. For some reason, Kaido personally moved out and attacked Whitebeard's territory."
"But unfortunately, he happened to run into the Big Mom Pirates, which caused a conflict. When Linlin saw that Kaido wasn't giving her any respect, she charged over directly as well, and then they started fighting. Although the newspapers didn't say it clearly, it seems they fought over child custody."
As Rayleigh spoke, Cain instinctively turned his gaze toward Yamato.
The two of them awkwardly exchanged looks.
This incident had obviously happened because of the two of them.
After all, the newspaper had already written it plainly:
Big Mom and Kaido's Children: Cain, Yamato.
The reason Kaido appeared in Whitebeard's territory must have been because he learned that Yamato had left together with Ace.
Since he knew Yamato was a stubborn brat, he personally went over to find her.
As for Big Mom, she had most likely acted because Kaido had publicly announced in the newspapers that Cain belonged to the Beasts Pirates.
Cain was publicly acknowledged as part of the Charlotte Family.
When Big Mom saw Kaido provoke her like that, and with the conflict between the pirate crews added on top, it was only natural that they ended up fighting.
"Shanks happened to be nearby at the time, and the three of them ended up fighting together. Luckily, only those three were involved, and they only fought for one day. It didn't drag in their entire crews. Otherwise, the New World would have been thrown into complete chaos."
Cain listened carefully, studying the newspaper in his hand before speaking.
"I understand the reasoning, but what does that have to do with us swapping bodies? And what's this about Ace becoming a Warlord of the Sea, then later leaving the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"I'll explain, Cain."
Ace was just about to speak, but since he was currently using Yamato's body, the sight looked awkward no matter how one viewed it.
So he first asked Law to return everyone to normal, then slowly began explaining.
Law nodded.
Since "Katakuri" was no longer here, there was no longer any need for the body swaps.
He returned everyone to their original bodies, with only Cain and Uta still remaining swapped.
Cain was already used to this situation, so he did not pursue the matter any further and hurriedly asked Ace what he had wanted to say.
Ace was still somewhat uncomfortable after being returned to normal.
After all, he was currently being carried by Yamato, sitting on her shoulders while holding onto the sharp horns on top of her head.
He immediately felt embarrassed and was just about to climb down, only for Yamato to firmly hold him in place.
Ace could only helplessly steady himself in a panic before speaking.
"The main course of events went like this."
"After the two Emperors invaded Pops' territory, Blackbeard refused to stay quiet and stuck his foot in as well."
"He brought too many prisoners out of Impel Down. Many of the people who stayed behind in the territory still hadn't recovered from their injuries, so they couldn't deal with it at all."
"Marco and I had come here, and there was no way for us to rush back quickly to support them. The situation was extremely urgent."
"At that moment, the Fleet Admiral extended an olive branch to me. As long as I became a Warlord of the Sea, he would immediately send a Marine Admiral to provide support."
"Although they couldn't directly go to war with the Four Emperors, capturing Blackbeard's group was already part of their duty."
"So you agreed?" Cain thought about it.
The only Admiral who could immediately rush from Marineford to the New World was Kizaru.
That guy had been working overtime for so many days.
What a miserable life.
"Mm. Blackbeard was their target for capture. In exchange for protecting Pops' territory and providing Blackbeard's location, I joined the Seven Warlords."
"Even if that might go against the wishes of most of the people on the ship, this was my choice."
Ace remembered how he had met Roger in that prison that day.
The two of them had spoken openly and sincerely, and he had finally figured out what kind of life he should live.
He should not spend every day carrying some meaningless title on his back.
He should have a life that belonged to him.
"Ace, you… heh. You've grown up," Cain said with a smile.
"Hey, what's with that expression? Don't make that kind of face with a girl's face. Just listen properly until I'm done!"
Ace hurriedly retorted.
Cain suddenly felt his lower abdomen tighten.
Turning his head, he saw Uta staring at him with a dark expression. He hurriedly rubbed his face and put on a serious look.
Seeing Cain behave himself, Ace spoke again.
"How could I not guess what the Marines were thinking? They had just dealt a heavy blow to the Whitebeard Pirates, then recruited one of the crew's core figures under their command. Their intentions were obvious."
When Ace signed the Warlord contract, the terms were written clearly.
The condition for his appointment was that the Marines would send forces to assist the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates in protecting their territory and do their best to protect the civilians there.
The term would last two years, and during that time, they could not attack members of the Whitebeard Pirates or the civilians under their protection.
The contract was signed.
But Ace had seized the loophole inside it.
The one who became a Warlord of the Sea was Fire Fist Ace. This contract had nothing to do with the Whitebeard Pirates themselves.
In other words, Ace becoming a Warlord did not mean he had to remain a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
So—
"The day after I became a Warlord and the Marines sent troops to support us, I publicly announced that I was leaving the Whitebeard Pirates."
"That way, the Marines' calculations completely fell through. As for the infamy, even if the world misunderstands me, I alone can bear it."
"The reason the contract was set for two years is because I intend to use these two years to train properly and become stronger. Only then can I take back all the lands Pops lost."
Ace clenched his fist as he spoke.
The truth was exactly as Ace said. Because of his departure, he and the Whitebeard Pirates no longer had any connection.
On the contrary, because of this Warlord contract, the Marines had been thoroughly restrained.
They had to act according to the contract's terms.
Otherwise, Ace would immediately withdraw, meaning they would essentially have worked for the Whitebeard Pirates for free…
Or would they? Not exactly.
The Marines had never made Ace a Warlord for only that one purpose.
Their core objective was to use this opportunity to enter the New World.
With Ace's contract in hand, even if he was no longer a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, it would at most create some resistance to the Marines' advance into the New World.
Even so, their operation had taken a major step forward.
Most importantly, there was the rumor concerning the Marine Hero.
Once Ace became a Warlord, that rumor collapsed on its own.
Looking at it this way, both sides had gained benefits from the matter, while also being restrained by it.
No one knew when this delicate balance would eventually break.
But even if it broke, it did not really matter.
According to Ace's description, the contract also stated that old man Garp would temporarily be stationed in Whitebeard's territory.
'Tsk.'
He really was treating that place like his own home!
---------
Read 30 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator