Aboard the Oro Jackson, Gaban's eyes widened as he gazed out at the distant scene.
"Tell me, what are these two trying to pull off? They could easily finish this fight, but they're making it so complicated."
Roger chuckled, his signature grin broadening. "Maybe they just think it's more fun this way."
"Captain, you're overthinking it," Gaban said, raising an eyebrow.
"Am I?"
Roger shifted his gaze toward Silvers Rayleigh, standing next to him. It was rare for Rayleigh to contradict him.
Rayleigh stood calmly on the deck, his eyes focused on the horizon. A lone cyan figure darted across the distance, locked in combat, while a group of younger pirates chased after him across the sea.
"Even though I haven't known him for long," Rayleigh began, "from what I've observed, that guy places great importance on style."
"Style?" Roger repeated, intrigued by the word.
Rayleigh nodded, offering a knowing smile. "In simpler terms, he's all about the flair."
Roger mulled it over for a moment.
"He could take care of things quickly, but he goes through all this effort to create a certain aesthetic, a sense of satisfaction deep down," Rayleigh added.
Gaban shook his head with a grin. "Larson would probably lose it if he heard you say that about him."
"No, he wouldn't." Rayleigh smirked. "He'd agree with me."
"Ohh!" Roger exclaimed, a light bulb going off in his head. He slammed his fist into his palm as if he had just figured out a great mystery. "That explains why Larson and Whitebeard get along so well!"
Rayleigh thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "It's like the saying... not family, not the same house?"
On a nearby beach, Larson checked the time.
"These guys… how are they still not done with just one person?"
With a sigh, Larson stood up and walked toward Quinn. "Might as well handle this myself."
"What... what are you planning to do?" Quinn stammered, visibly nervous as Larson approached.
Larson paused, his expression calm, even gentle. But to Quinn, the calmness only made him more terrifying.
"Hey, didn't you force one of our crew to join you before?" Larson asked, his voice soft but firm.
Quinn's mind raced. Without hesitation, he pointed at Kaido, who was still recovering nearby. "It wasn't me! It was him! Talk to him!"
He threw Kaido under the bus with ruthless efficiency.
Larson shrugged, his expression unchanging. "Doesn't matter who it was."
Quinn blinked, confusion crossing his face as Larson continued.
"Now, I'd like to formally ask you—how about joining the Whitebeard Pirates?"
Kaido, lying at Whitebeard's feet, and Quinn, sprawled out on the ground, both stared at Larson as if they hadn't heard him right.
"W-what did you just say?" Quinn stuttered, disbelief etched across his face.
Larson smiled patiently. "Did I not make myself clear? Let me repeat myself."
Larson stood tall and spoke with authority. "As the Vice-Captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, I hereby formally invite you, Quinn, to join our crew. We would like to welcome you into the Whitebeard Pirates family. So, what's your answer? Will you join us?"
There was no mistake. Quinn wasn't hallucinating, and his ears weren't playing tricks on him.
"I-I-I… yes, yes! I accept!"
Quinn, trembling with excitement, could barely get the words out.
"Quinn!" Kaido's voice boomed. "Don't listen to him! He's trying to deceive you! Do you seriously think he's going to invite you to join them now? Wake up! Don't fall for his tricks!"
But Quinn, overwhelmed with excitement, didn't seem to hear a word Kaido said.
Larson smiled and added, "Your boss seems really opposed to you joining us, doesn't he?"
Quinn said nervously, "He is him, and I am me. He can't control me."
"Quinn, are you out of your mind? You're going to believe everything he says? Has your brain been eaten by a dog?"
"Enough noise!"
Whitebeard frowned, exerting a slight force on his naginata. Immediately, Kaido, lying at his feet, struggled to breathe.
Kaido felt utterly humiliated. Normally, he wouldn't be in such a pitiful state against Whitebeard, but now he was unable to use his Devil Fruit powers, and Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi had been constantly disrupting his body. He was being thoroughly dominated.
Kaido cursed Charlotte Linlin's entire bloodline for eighteen generations in his mind.
Damn it! She gave him a defective fruit!
This trash Devil Fruit even had side effects!
Kaido silently swore that if he made it out of this alive, he'd settle the score with Charlotte Linlin.
"Please... am I part of the Whitebeard Pirates now?" Quinn asked cautiously.
"Don't worry," Larson responded, his tone calm but firm. "If you want to join our Whitebeard Pirates, you need a nomination—proof of your worth."
Uh... didn't you invite me to join? Quinn wisely decided not to voice his thoughts, instead, asking, "What's this proof of nomination?"
Larson glanced over at Kaido, who was still struggling at Whitebeard's feet. Both Kaido and Quinn suddenly felt a heavy sense of dread.
"Show me your strength," Larson said. "Use your 'former' boss Kaido as your target."
Quinn was stunned. "Are you joking?"
How could he possibly be a match for Kaido?
"A joke?" Larson shook his head with a smile. "I'm not asking you to kill him, just defeat him. Look at him. In his current state, it should be easy for you. Think about your injuries—he nearly killed you. Did you forget how he threw you away? Or... do you no longer want to join the Whitebeard Pirates? Do you think even now, after everything, you still can't defeat him?"
Quinn suddenly went silent.
Kaido, seeing Quinn's hesitation, began to panic. "Quinn, don't fall for his tricks! He just wants to watch us tear each other apart. Can't you see that?"
Quinn slowly stood up, turning his gaze toward Kaido. His face was emotionless as he spoke, "I'm sorry, boss, but for the sake of my future—and your little brother's—I'm going to have to wrong you first."