One piece: Establishing a Pirate Family

Chapter 237: Kozuki Oden

Early morning.

Charlotte woke up, groaning as he clutched his head.

He had drunk too much the night before and passed out without realizing it. Whitebeard was definitely going to laugh at him again.

And sure enough—

"Kulalalalalala! Wake up, Charlotte! You're still the same as always. You can't handle your liquor!"

Whitebeard sat by the extinguished campfire, holding a large wine gourd in one hand, grinning down at Charlotte.

"Asshole! That's because—because...!"

Charlotte stammered, struggling to come up with an excuse.

But he had none.

Whitebeard roared with laughter.

"Kulalalalalala!"

Charlotte's face flushed red with frustration.

"Asshole! What's so funny about this?!"

He shouted in irritation.

But the more Charlotte yelled, the harder Whitebeard laughed.

By now, everyone was waking up.

"Dad, what are you laughing at so early in the morning?"

A groggy Marco stretched, rubbing his temples.

Whitebeard smirked, about to answer, but—

"Shut up, Newgate! If you say anything, our friendship is over!"

Charlotte cut him off, his voice filled with warning.

Whitebeard stared at Charlotte for three seconds.

Then—

"Kulalalalalala! Fine, fine! I won't say anything. Why are you so worked up?"

His mocking voice only irritated Charlotte more.

Charlotte groaned, running a hand through his messy blond hair.

"Forget it! I've had my fill of drinking and fighting. I'm leaving now to continue my journey. We'll meet again someday."

Charlotte announced, standing up.

"You're leaving already?"

Whitebeard frowned.

"Of course! You think I'm going to stay here and listen to you mock me all day?"

Charlotte shot back.

Then he raised his voice:

"Rockefeller Pirates! Prepare to set sail!"

At his command, his crew immediately began packing up and boarding the Poseidon.

Whitebeard simply stood there, watching silently as the Rockefeller Pirates prepared to depart.

"This ship is massive!"

A voice suddenly spoke beside Whitebeard.

Bang!

Whitebeard punched Kozuki Oden without warning.

"Damn it! You scared me!"

"Ow! Whitebeard! Why'd you hit me?!"

Oden groaned, rubbing his forehead.

"Idiot! Who told you to act on your own?!"

Whitebeard snapped, clearly still annoyed that Oden had recklessly charged into battle three days ago without orders.

Oden blinked, then grinned sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

Whitebeard sighed.

"Let's go. We're leaving too."

He said, turning toward the Moby Dick.

"Aye, Captain!"

The Whitebeard Pirates cheered, quickly boarding their ship.

Aboard the Moby Dick, Kozuki Oden sidled up to Whitebeard.

"Whitebeard! Tell me more about Charlotte! I'm really curious about him!"

Oden asked eagerly.

"Oh? Interested in him, are you?"

Whitebeard raised an eyebrow.

"A little! He's so damn strong!"

Oden admitted, his eyes shining with excitement.

"Of course, he is!"

Marco cut in, walking over with crossed arms.

"He's one of the Four Legendary Pirates of the New World, a man as famous as my old man!

"But I still think my dad is stronger!"

"That's right!"

Vista chimed in, joining the conversation.

"But don't underestimate Charlotte!

"He holds the title of World's Greatest Swordsman—the ultimate goal of all swordsmen!

"Do you know how many people have challenged him?"

Oden's jaw dropped.

"The guy I fought… was the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

Oden was so shocked he could barely speak.

"Yep!"

Whitebeard nodded, confirming it.

"His swordsmanship is the best I've ever seen. The world acknowledges him as the strongest swordsman."

Oden fell completely silent.

His fingers instinctively tightened around the hilts of his swords—Ame no Habakiri and Enma.

Whitebeard noticed his expression and sighed.

He already knew what Oden was thinking.

No swordsman could resist the temptation of challenging the strongest.

If Oden defeated Charlotte, he would claim the title of the World's Greatest Swordsman.

"Whitebeard! I've decided! I'm going to challenge him!"

Oden declared.

Whitebeard, who had just taken a sip of sake, spat it out.

"Cough—are you crazy?!

"You just got one-shotted three days ago! Have you already forgotten?!"

Whitebeard scolded.

Oden grimaced, clearly embarrassed.

He had been defeated instantly.

And it had taken him three days to recover.

Every time he thought about it, a chill ran down his spine.

Charlotte's strength was terrifying.

"Yeah… I can't beat him yet.

"But just because I lost today doesn't mean I'll lose forever!

"Give me a few more years, and I'll take that title!"

Oden declared confidently, puffing out his chest.

Whitebeard chuckled.

"Really?

"Then I'll wait and see.

"But you do realize Charlotte is one year younger than you, right?"

"What?!"

Oden's eyes bulged in shock.

He had assumed Charlotte was older, more experienced.

But younger?!

"Are you serious?!"

Oden demanded.

"Yep! He was born in 1463 of the Haiyuan Calendar.

"He's one year younger than you."

Whitebeard confirmed.

Oden froze.

"Then… when did he become the World's Greatest Swordsman?"

Oden asked hesitantly.

"Hmm… I think he got the title when he was 25—so, three years ago."

Whitebeard recalled.

"What?!"

Oden screamed again.

Charlotte had become the strongest swordsman in the world at 25.

And what had Oden been doing at 25?

Fighting bandits.

Whitebeard patted Oden's shoulder.

"You've got a long way to go before you can surpass Charlotte."

He said with a smirk.

For a moment, Oden looked completely discouraged.

But then—

"I WILL become the World's Greatest Swordsman!"

Oden suddenly shouted, staring toward the horizon, where Charlotte's ship had disappeared.

His voice was filled with determination.

Whitebeard glanced at him in surprise.

Then, with a satisfied grin, he suddenly grabbed Oden in a bear hug.

"Good!

"From today onward, you are the Captain of the Second Division of the Whitebeard Pirates!"

Whitebeard announced.

The entire Whitebeard crew erupted into cheers.

"Oh! Welcome, Captain Oden!"

They shouted in unison.

Oden blinked in confusion.

"Wait, what?! That's it?! I'm Second Division Captain now?!"

He shouted.

"Yep!"

Whitebeard grinned.

"You're one of us now, Oden!"

The crew celebrated wildly, hoisting Oden into the air.

"Young men!

HAVE A PARTY!"

Whitebeard roared, raising his sake.

The Whitebeard Pirates erupted into another wild feast.

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