If I said I did know him, explaining how I came by that knowledge would be far too difficult.
"El… do you truly believe that there is someone among my crew who harbours disloyal intentions?"
Whitebeard asked, his tone grave and serious.
"Would you like me to be completely honest with you, Edward?"
"Speak your mind."
"Yes, I do."
Upon hearing those words, Whitebeard drew in a sharp breath, his expression instantly becoming heavy and stern. After a long silence, he spoke in a low, serious voice.
"I understand, El."
He knew exactly what El had meant. The person within his crew who could not be trusted was none other than Marshall D. Teach.
Although he had no idea how El had come to know this, Whitebeard still chose to believe him without question.
After all, El possessed power so great that he could even bring someone like Rocks back from the dead.
In Whitebeard's eyes, this meant El surely commanded many more extraordinary abilities and secrets that were beyond anyone else's comprehension.
From this day forward, he would pay closer attention to Teach's actions and behaviour.
However, until Teach openly revealed his true ambitions, Whitebeard intended to treat him exactly as he always had — perhaps even with greater kindness and affection, in the hope that he might yet soften and change whatever dark intentions lay hidden within his heart.
"Well then, El… I think this is where we shall end things for today. My head is already beginning to spin, and if I drink any more, I fear my men will have to carry me home on their shoulders."
"Ah well… the years are catching up with me. It seems my tolerance for wine is not what it used to be."
Whitebeard scratched his head and laughed good‑naturedly.
He had originally planned to ask if Teach could be brought here to meet El today, but given everything that had just been said, he decided it was best to let the matter drop.
For now, he simply wished to return to his ship and spend some time thinking carefully about what the future might hold.
"I shall not see you off then, Edward."
"Gurararara… until we meet again, El!"
With that hearty, booming laugh echoing behind him, Whitebeard turned and left the tavern.
Although it was already deep into the night, El felt no trace of sleepiness. Instead, Whitebeard's offhand remark about growing old kept replaying over and over in his mind.
El looked down at his own arms. They were still powerful and well‑muscled, with not a single wrinkle or sign of weakness upon them.
Yet he could tell that the soft, youthful appearance he had once possessed had long since faded away.
He had been transported into this world and had gained access to the Six Paths Sage System, eventually unlocking and mastering every single ability that came with it.
However, even the Sage of Six Paths himself, within the original story of Naruto, had never achieved true immortality. As such, El had not gained that power either.
Thanks to the effects of the System, he aged far more slowly than ordinary people. But even so, he knew that within a few decades, he too would eventually grow old and frail, just like everyone else.
I must obtain the power of immortality first… El thought to himself.
No matter how strong he was or how many abilities he had mastered, there was still one ultimate power that remained beyond his reach: eternal life.
If he wished to continue existing and holding power in this world indefinitely, this was the one thing he absolutely had to acquire.
As far as El knew, there were currently only two methods in the entire world of One Piece that could grant a person immortality or everlasting youth.
The first was a substance known as Pure Gold.
The second was the power of the Op‑Op Fruit.
Pure Gold was a special type of metal, spoken of only in legends.
It possessed a unique radiance and energy that could drastically slow down the passage of time within a person's body.
To put it simply: while a full year might pass for the rest of the world, someone carrying Pure Gold upon their person would only have aged by the equivalent of a few days.
In this way, it effectively granted the user a lifespan that stretched on almost forever.
As for the Op‑Op Fruit, its abilities were already known to be incredibly powerful and almost unbalanced in their strength.
But its greatest secret lay in one particular ability: the user could sacrifice their own lifespan to grant a single chosen person the gift of eternal life.
"Naguri!"
El called out toward the door of the tavern.
Clack, clack, clack…
The door slowly swung open, and Naguri stepped inside, bowing respectfully.
"Mr El, what are your orders?"
"Go and investigate the current whereabouts of the Op‑Op Fruit. Also, search the seas for a Sea King that is shaped like a lantern."
If they were able to find Pure Gold, things would be straightforward. El would simply need to keep it on his person, and his life would be extended indefinitely.
If Pure Gold could not be found but the Op‑Op Fruit was located instead, then the solution was still simple.
He would select one of his most loyal subordinates, reward them with great wealth and status, and have them consume the fruit.
Once they had mastered its powers, they would perform the procedure on El, granting him eternal life.
"Understood, Mr El." Naguri nodded in acknowledgement.
He did not ask why El wanted these things or what purpose they served. He simply accepted the order, turned, and left immediately to begin organising his men and carrying out his task.
....
A long period of time passed after that.
During these years, the world's oceans remained relatively peaceful.
El and the other great pirates were mostly keeping a low profile and making few major moves, while it was the rising new generation of pirates — figures such as Shanks — who were the most active across the seas.
Meanwhile, seeing the immense threat that El and his forces posed in the New World, and recognising that there were still many powerful and dangerous pirates operating freely, the Marines decided to officially establish the Seven Warlords of the Sea system.
Many of the most promising and influential new pirate captains were invited to take up these positions and become allies of the World Government.
At the same time, within the highest conference chamber in Mary Geoise, all the top‑ranking officials and leaders of the Marine Headquarters had gathered for an emergency meeting.
Sengoku sat at the centre of the room and glanced toward the man standing beside him.
"Kuroba… present all the intelligence and information you have gathered recently."
Kuroba was the Director of the Marine Criminal Investigation Bureau, and he was widely known to possess immense power and authority himself.
"Based on the investigations and evidence we have gathered over these past years, we have confirmed one fact: El, the powerful pirate operating in the New World, is currently searching for the Op‑Op Fruit."
Kuroba looked around at all the senior officers assembled in the room as he delivered his report.
"The Op‑Op Fruit…?"
Hearing this news, the many high‑ranking officials looked at one another in confusion.
El had been sending his subordinates out across the world searching for Devil Fruits for quite some time, but until now, he had never specifically sought out one single fruit in particular.
He had always been interested in acquiring any and all types of Devil Fruit. So what reason did he have to be looking for this specific fruit now?
Before anyone could voice these questions, Kuroba continued speaking.
"According to our analysis and investigations, it is almost certain that El's reason for seeking the Op‑Op Fruit is to use its unique power to achieve immortality."
"Immortality?!?"
The moment those words were spoken, the entire room erupted into shock and disbelief.
"That monster El… does he truly intend to live forever?!" Garp spoke up, his expression heavy and grim.
El's strength was already terrifying enough that there were almost no individuals or organisations in the entire world capable of standing against him.
He also possessed a vast array of extraordinary abilities, and years ago, he had even performed the impossible feat of bringing someone like Rocks back from the dead.
The Marines knew full well that right now, they were in no position to openly challenge or fight against him.
The only hope they had ever dared to hold onto was that eventually El would grow old and his power and stamina would naturally begin to fade, giving the next generation of Marines the chance to finally deal with him.
But now… this man was apparently planning to find the Op‑Op Fruit and make himself immortal?!
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