บท 47: The message

New world. Whitebeard territory.

On the Moby dick.

The old man had asked Ian if he wanted to challenge him. Challenge him for the title of the strongest person in the world.

Afterwards there was only silence after the old man spoke with his deep rumbling voice echoing around.

All the people around were waiting what would Ian's response be. Such words spoken had made them tense. If he was here to challenge their pops title of the strongest man in the world, coupled with how he had said Ian was strong… it truly made them nervous of what is to come. One could not blame them however, as each one of them was absolutely strong in their own rights, but for their pops to say he could beat them combined, C-O-M-B-I-N-E-D, that was really enough to make even them nervous.

Meanwhile with Ian, he just stood there rooted to his spot with a happy smile on his face like a small child who got his candy or rather in this world a humanoid reindeer who got his candy? Anyways Ian really couldn't fathom this moment. The character he most liked from the one piece series from his last life was standing in front him right now, or rather sitting. Even so, as he was sitting, his height was still more than that of Ian. If he stood up, he would be three times Ian's size. That was a bit intimidating for Ian even as strong as he was.

He turned and looked at the people around him like they are nothing but dumb chicken.

'Heh, challenge the title of the strongest man in the world. Challenge one of the four emperors of the sea that rule the new world, and also the strongest person among them. Challenge Edward Newgate. The "Man Closest to One Piece" after Gol D. Roger's death, and the man known as being roger's rival and equal. Yeah right!!!' he snickered to himself. Although Ian was pretty confident in his strength to be able to be beat him, he was not confident enough to do so without heavy losses on his part. The old man was in possession of a devil fruit capable of destroying the world after all. Its abilities were heaven defying. And he was not confident his defenses could take it on.

'Just wow… this strength… it is practically oozing out of him…' Ian thought to himself. He could feel that the level of the old man was no joke. He did not gain his titles randomly after all.

Even as sick as he was, Ian could tell 'HE' would be classified as peak 'earth realm'. Meaning he most likely was at the 'emperor realm' before. And Ian right now was still far from the peak of the 'earth realm'. Of course, he could use his defense mode, which increases his strength to the peak, but then they would only be equals in both physical strength and abilities. Whitebeard with his Quake powers and Ian with his Telekinesis.

Ian shook his head and got back to the subject.

"Ahm, first of all, I think introductions should be in order. I, go by the name Ian Louis, I'm pleased to meet someone of your status, Whitebeard. Cough, and also that's not why I'm here. I was actually sent to meet you by someone." Ian finally replied to him. 'Or something…' he added in his mind as he was not yet sure about the voice's origins.

Ian couldn't help the tinge of admiration latched to his voice from being heard resulting in him coughing to change the subject while he was still speaking.

"Sent to meet me? By whom?" Whitebeard had a glint of curiosity in his eyes. The strength Ian had been feeling rescinded now that it was clear he wasn't here for a fight. Clearly the old man too had been on guard the same as his sons, even if he didn't show it.

Furthermore Ian could notice a sense of fatigue on the old man's visage. And once he thought of that, he noticed that all the members of the crew shared that same look. He surmised it as them being worried about Ace who by now was already caught by the marines. Still Ian knew that his execution wouldn't be announced until a week later or so.

"Well I don't really know who myself…" Ian trailed off on his words as he thought to himself, what type of being the voice who talked to him could belong to. "I was actually hoping YOU would provide me that answer once we finish our discussion." He then spoke after a bit of silence.

Immediately after he spoke the atmosphere became heavy and oppressive. Though Ian still stood their nonchalantly as if everything was the same like before and nothing had changed.

"Brat, are you playing games with me?" Whitebeard spoke gravely as he thought that the brat in front of him was playing games with him, and even in front of his crew at that. Not to mention he was worried about his son, Ace who was caught by the marines.

"No. I was tasked to seek you and deliver a message." Ian said as he replied to the old man before he added after. "I don't even know who the one who tasked me to deliver the message is, in fact I'm not even sure if it was a person... But I know that the message is extremely important. Are you sure you want to hear it in front of your crew?" Ian then asked him at the end.

He had spoken as such impulsively, but after thinking about it for a while, he realized that he had just put the old man in a really tight spot. As if the old man said no then his crew and family would be disappointed a bit that he doesn't trust them enough to share this with them.

But whitebeard just snorted dismissively as he spoke soon after.

"Brat just speak already. I don't have all day for this." He was starting to get irritated from this conversation. Even the wine in the large bottle he was drinking from was starting to taste bad.

"The diávoloi are awakening" Ian said each word at a time. By the time he had finished whitebeard stood up from his seat hastily with a look of pure shock plastered all over his face.

"This was the message I was tasked to deliver." Ian added.

After a few minutes of silence whitebeard finally recovered. He then turned after taking the medical equipment off, and started walking to interior of the ship.

"Follow me! Marco, Jozu, you come too." He said before he disappeared inside.

"Can I get my friends to board the ship?" Ian quickly said before the old man disappeared inside.

And was met with a silent nod, before Ian went to the side of the ship, and raised his hands.

[Pull].

Which resulted in his ship moving towards him. He used his power to bring the odyssey towards the ship quickly.

He then yelled towards them.

"You guys, get up here, and get to know the crew of the strongest man in the world. Haha" He said and he laughed before he started following after the old man's inside, but before he passed the door inside, he suddenly remembered something and turned and glared at the crew on the deck.

"Don't any of you have any weird ideas about my family…" He spoke threateningly. Before continuing on. Not explaining anything else to them.

Which left behind him a perplexed yet scared crew.