In a quiet courtyard tucked behind the towering cake-castle, Argus and Newgate sat side by side, each puffing away—cigarettes for Argus, a thick cigar for Newgate.
They had stepped out not for celebration, but to breathe. To collect themselves as the Edward family stood on the edge of a new beginning.
But peace never came.
Instead of calming their nerves, the silence only tightened the knot in their chests.
Argus was anxious. This was his first child—not just in this life, but across two lifetimes. And not just any child. This one carried the potential of his deepest investment—the bloodline of the Red Dragon King.
Newgate was no better. For a man who had spent decades carving out a family with his fists and fire, this was the real thing. Bloodline. Legacy. A continuation of everything they had fought to protect and build.
In just thirty minutes, Argus had burned through thirty cigarettes.Newgate? Forty cigars.Even with monstrous constitutions, the smoke made them dizzy. Not from nicotine—from dread.
Then—
ROOOOAAARRRR!!!
A bestial roar erupted from within the castle.Not human. Not natural.It shook the very walls.
"…!"
Time froze.
"Fuck!" Argus spat, bolting to his feet.
"Who the hell's threatening my niece or nephew?!" Newgate bellowed, his Conqueror's Haki flaring instinctively.
The two brothers stormed back into the castle, leaving scorched cigar butts in their wake.
Outside the birthing chamber, chaos reigned. Servants and midwives stood paralyzed. No one dared breathe.
"Lord Argus! Lord Whitebeard!" a maid rushed forward, pale as a ghost. "The lady gave birth safely, but—something… strange… happened!"
Argus's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be?
Is the Red Dragon King's bloodline awakening… now?
He turned to Newgate. "Brother, stay here. Just in case."
Then, without waiting, he pushed open the chamber doors.
Inside, the air was thick. Not with smoke—but with power.
The female doctors stood frozen. Pale. Trembling. Most had signed up to deliver a noble's child—not witness a myth come to life.
Serena lay on the bed, sweat-soaked and deathly pale, her body drained of all strength. She struggled to lift her head.
"Husband…" she whispered, trying to rise.
"Don't move," Argus said, voice low but firm, rushing to her side. "You did well. Just rest."
Seeing him, Serena let out a breath. Her lips curved into a faint smile before she slipped into peaceful sleep.
Then—
Fwooooooosh!
A blazing crimson light exploded in the center of the room.
Floating above them, a phantom dragon—majestic and terrible—manifested in mid-air. A true Western dragon, vast and sinuous, its scales glowing like molten rubies. It coiled through the air with divine authority, roaring toward the heavens.
Its eyes locked on the newborn child, who lay in a doctor's trembling arms.
The doctor's knees buckled.
"If I drop this baby, I'm dead," she thought. Tears welled in her eyes. She shut them tightly, bracing for fire, for death—
But death never came.
The dragon did not strike.
Instead, it descended slowly… deliberately… and began to shrink.
The phantom collapsed inward, spiraling down until it dissolved into a single stream of energy—and merged straight into the infant's chest.
A glowing, arcane rune etched itself onto the baby's heart. Crimson and gold. The ancient Seal of the Red Dragon.
And then—silence.
The power faded. The air calmed. The nightmare was over.
"...Hand her to me," Argus said softly, stepping forward.
"Y-Yes, my lord…" the doctor stammered, still dazed, still half-expecting to wake from a hallucination.
She placed the child—warm, quiet, and astonishingly alert—into Argus's arms.
He didn't look at the doctor. Not once.
His calloused hands, forged from battle and blood, held the child as if she were the most fragile treasure in the world.
"Check Serena. Then examine the baby thoroughly. Once both are cleared, collect your reward—and leave."
"Yes, my lord!"
The doctors, spurred by terror and duty, snapped into motion. Serena was examined first—aside from the exhaustion, she was stable. Healthy.
Then came the child.
Bathed. Swaddled. Scanned head to toe.
An hour passed.
At last, the lead physician approached Argus with a bowed head.
"My lord… the lady is well. Resting, but unharmed. As for the young one…"
Argus raised an eyebrow. "Young one?"
The doctor hesitated. "…She's a girl, my lord."
Argus blinked, then chuckled. "Hah. So my firstborn is a daughter, huh? I suppose the world just got a little more dangerous."
Serena, half-conscious, visibly relaxed at his words.
The doctor's voice trembled as she continued.
"My lord… the young lady's body is… abnormal. Her musculature, bone density, reflexes—everything is several orders beyond any known newborn. At a conservative estimate, she is over one hundred times stronger than a standard infant."
Argus's gaze softened.
A warmth glowed behind his eyes.
"…I see."
The Red Dragon had chosen its vessel.
And the Edward family now had its first heir.
A daughter born not just of blood and legacy—but of fire, might, and fate.
February, Sea Circle Calendar 1469
Totto Land – Cake Island
Cake Island had changed.
What had once been a bizarre novelty of sugary terrain was now a fortified stronghold—an architectural miracle raised in mere months, thanks to overwhelming manpower and the kind of strength only this world could produce.
On Earth, such a feat would take years. But here?Where pirates could raze a fortress in an afternoon and rebuild it by week's end—time bowed to muscle, will, and gold.
At the very heart of the island, rising from the mountainous layers of sponge and cream, stood a magnificent castle—equal parts monument and citadel. This was Argus's personal domain, his throne, his sanctuary.Shared only with Serena, his first wife and queen in all but title.
As for Newgate?
He couldn't care less.
The old man chose a modest cake-castle nestled to the side—rough around the edges, but cozy. He'd appear at mealtimes, throw impromptu feasts, and vanish for raids when the itch struck. He always came back with treasure, a story, and the occasional black eye.
But make no mistake.This was a different Newgate.
He had a brother.He had a home.He had a family.And that grounded him more than any anchor.
Still, Argus wasn't the kind to leave things to fate. Knowing what kind of toll Newgate's body had taken in the canon timeline, he insisted on daily medical checks. Newgate grumbled, but he didn't resist. Not anymore.
But all of that—the castles, the battles, the inspections—faded into insignificance now.
Because Serena was in labor.
"Doctor! Doctor—this way!"
The castle erupted in chaos. Maids dashed through corridors. Midwives shouted over one another. Physicians scrambled for sterilized tools and hot water. Orders overlapped with prayers.
The air buzzed with nervous energy.
In a nearby chamber, the other concubines—Sharon, Mina, Rose, Wendy, Donna, Sandy—waited in tense silence. All of them were visibly pregnant, ranging from five to eight months along.
Even Sally and the Snake Princess were near term—perhaps only a few weeks behind Serena.
Yet none of them rested.They stood quietly, eyes fixed on the closed door to the birthing room.
At the center of it all stood Argus.
On the surface, calm. Controlled.Hands clasped behind his back. Posture firm. Gaze unwavering.
But beneath the mask?
Turbulence.His foot tapped unconsciously against the floor. His breathing was too even. Too forced.
Despite having lived two lifetimes, this was uncharted territory.
He was about to become a father.
Will Serena be safe?Will the baby be healthy?What if something goes wrong?
Footsteps echoed sharply in the marble hallway.
"Argus!"
Newgate appeared, his usual thunderous voice barely above a whisper. The moment he caught sight of the birthing chamber's door, his steps slowed.
He came to his brother's side and asked quietly, "Everything alright?"
Argus nodded, tight-lipped. "Doctor says the delivery's progressing smoothly. No complications yet. The full team's already inside."
Newgate exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Good… That's good…"
But his clenched jaw said otherwise.
The legendary pirate who once tore through fleets now looked like a nervous wreck—anxious, unguarded. Just a man. An uncle.
He and Argus had only found each other at age twenty. Now, at twenty-one, a new life bearing the Edward bloodline was about to arrive.
This wasn't just a child.
This was legacy.
Argus glanced sideways.
The concubines stood silently, some with hands resting protectively on their bellies. Tension hung thick in the air.
Newgate scowled. "Shouldn't Sally and the Snake Princess be lying down? They're damn near ready themselves."
Argus shook his head. "They refused to leave. Said they wanted to be here for Serena."
Newgate grunted, nodding.
Then he noticed Argus's twitching fingers and the vein pulsing at his temple.
He smirked.
"Come on. Step outside. I brought cigarettes."
Argus blinked. "I don't smoke."
"Neither do I," Newgate said, pulling a cigar from his coat. "But today's different."
The brothers stood outside beneath a pale moon, smoke curling skyward into the night.
A silence settled between them. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.
"Huuuh…"Newgate let out a breath, savoring the moment.
"Better?" he asked, half-lidded eyes watching the stars.
Argus took a slow drag. The harsh burn of tobacco grounded him.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I know she'll be fine. But still... Becoming a father for the first time... it's overwhelming."
Newgate chuckled—low, deep, and far softer than usual.
"Of course it is. That's natural. This child... they're not just yours. They're ours. The first true heir of the Edward family. Not a brother found through drink or battle—but a child born of blood. Of legacy."
Argus said nothing.
But his eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
A man who had wandered through two lives now stood on the edge of something new—something real.
A future he never dared to imagine.
February, Sea Circle Calendar 1469
Totto Land – Cake Island
Cake Island had changed.
What had once been a bizarre novelty of sugary terrain was now a fortified stronghold—an architectural miracle raised in mere months, thanks to overwhelming manpower and the kind of strength only this world could produce.
On Earth, such a feat would take years. But here?Where pirates could raze a fortress in an afternoon and rebuild it by week's end—time bowed to muscle, will, and gold.
At the very heart of the island, rising from the mountainous layers of sponge and cream, stood a magnificent castle—equal parts monument and citadel. This was Argus's personal domain, his throne, his sanctuary.Shared only with Serena, his first wife and queen in all but title.
As for Newgate?
He couldn't care less.
The old man chose a modest cake-castle nestled to the side—rough around the edges, but cozy. He'd appear at mealtimes, throw impromptu feasts, and vanish for raids when the itch struck. He always came back with treasure, a story, and the occasional black eye.
But make no mistake.This was a different Newgate.
He had a brother.He had a home.He had a family.And that grounded him more than any anchor.
Still, Argus wasn't the kind to leave things to fate. Knowing what kind of toll Newgate's body had taken in the canon timeline, he insisted on daily medical checks. Newgate grumbled, but he didn't resist. Not anymore.
But all of that—the castles, the battles, the inspections—faded into insignificance now.
Because Serena was in labor.
"Doctor! Doctor—this way!"
The castle erupted in chaos. Maids dashed through corridors. Midwives shouted over one another. Physicians scrambled for sterilized tools and hot water. Orders overlapped with prayers.
The air buzzed with nervous energy.
In a nearby chamber, the other concubines—Sharon, Mina, Rose, Wendy, Donna, Sandy—waited in tense silence. All of them were visibly pregnant, ranging from five to eight months along.
Even Sally and the Snake Princess were near term—perhaps only a few weeks behind Serena.
Yet none of them rested.They stood quietly, eyes fixed on the closed door to the birthing room.
At the center of it all stood Argus.
On the surface, calm. Controlled.Hands clasped behind his back. Posture firm. Gaze unwavering.
But beneath the mask?
Turbulence.His foot tapped unconsciously against the floor. His breathing was too even. Too forced.
Despite having lived two lifetimes, this was uncharted territory.
He was about to become a father.
Will Serena be safe?Will the baby be healthy?What if something goes wrong?
Footsteps echoed sharply in the marble hallway.
"Argus!"
Newgate appeared, his usual thunderous voice barely above a whisper. The moment he caught sight of the birthing chamber's door, his steps slowed.
He came to his brother's side and asked quietly, "Everything alright?"
Argus nodded, tight-lipped. "Doctor says the delivery's progressing smoothly. No complications yet. The full team's already inside."
Newgate exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Good… That's good…"
But his clenched jaw said otherwise.
The legendary pirate who once tore through fleets now looked like a nervous wreck—anxious, unguarded. Just a man. An uncle.
He and Argus had only found each other at age twenty. Now, at twenty-one, a new life bearing the Edward bloodline was about to arrive.
This wasn't just a child.
This was legacy.
Argus glanced sideways.
The concubines stood silently, some with hands resting protectively on their bellies. Tension hung thick in the air.
Newgate scowled. "Shouldn't Sally and the Snake Princess be lying down? They're damn near ready themselves."
Argus shook his head. "They refused to leave. Said they wanted to be here for Serena."
Newgate grunted, nodding.
Then he noticed Argus's twitching fingers and the vein pulsing at his temple.
He smirked.
"Come on. Step outside. I brought cigarettes."
Argus blinked. "I don't smoke."
"Neither do I," Newgate said, pulling a cigar from his coat. "But today's different."
The brothers stood outside beneath a pale moon, smoke curling skyward into the night.
A silence settled between them. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet.
"Huuuh…"Newgate let out a breath, savoring the moment.
"Better?" he asked, half-lidded eyes watching the stars.
Argus took a slow drag. The harsh burn of tobacco grounded him.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I know she'll be fine. But still... Becoming a father for the first time... it's overwhelming."
Newgate chuckled—low, deep, and far softer than usual.
"Of course it is. That's natural. This child... they're not just yours. They're ours. The first true heir of the Edward family. Not a brother found through drink or battle—but a child born of blood. Of legacy."
Argus said nothing.
But his eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
A man who had wandered through two lives now stood on the edge of something new—something real.
A future he never dared to imagine.
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