Everyone was stunned as they beheld the peculiar changes happening to Whitebeard! Even Marco, who had already witnessed Pryce senzu bean's miraculous abilities, found himself overwhelmed once again by the god-like effects.
After a long moment, Newgate slowly opened his eyes. As the ship's doctor, Marco immediately noticed a difference—Newgate once-clouded eyes, dulled by years of illness, now carried a sharper glint of clarity. Whitebeard turned his gaze, now brimming with astonishment, toward the ever-calm Price.
"How are you feeling, Pops?" Marco asked anxiously. Despite the visible change in Whitebeard, Marco couldn't help but want confirmation.
"Much better—far more comfortable!" Newgate declared firmly. "Even the old injury in my left arm has improved considerably! A lot!"
"I need to take a closer look at this," Marco quickly responded, activating his senses to carefully evaluate the internal shifts within Newgate body. The old blockages in Whitebeard left arm and blood vessels—had now healed by more than half! To think, after decades of Marco vigilant treatments, he'd only ever managed to slow the obstructive progression in Whitebeard condition. Actual improvement had been deemed impossible. And yet, Pryce magical senzu bean achieved the impossible.
As the person in question, Newgate could keenly sense the transformations happening within himself. The strength he'd had in his left hand in his younger days—it felt like it was coming back to him!
"Kid, you're something else!"
"Absolutely extraordinary!"
"I'm a happy old man right now!" Newgate said with hearty laughter.
Pryce nodded in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. The extent of Newgate injuries was evident—not only the severity but also the years they had accumulated. Without Newgate superhuman endurance and sheer willpower, an average person might have succumbed long ago. Even so, the basic material-crafted, low-grade senzu bean wasn't enough to fully heal Whitebeard. If Pryce could produce a high-tier senzu bean, there was no doubt in his mind that all of the legendary pirate old injuries could be entirely eradicated.
"Young man, join my pirate crew," Whitebeard said with another booming laugh. "Marco certainly has a good eye!"
The entire crew, awestruck by Newgate incredible recovery, eagerly awaited Pryce response. It was clear that everyone strongly hoped Pryce would join them. After all, having even just one senzu bean during battle was akin to having an extra life! For warriors accustomed to constant fighting, such a thing was invaluable beyond measure.
All eyes in the cabin fell squarely on Pryce as he finally spoke up.
"Captain Whitebeard, I already told Marco this when he invited me—I'd be glad to join, but only under certain conditions," Pryce stated plainly, each word clear and deliberate. He wasn't going to be swayed just because the iconic Whitebeard himself had extended the invitation. The utility of his senzu beans would make him a prized asset even to the Marines themselves there was no shortage of avenues for him to pursue.
"Of course, name your conditions freely!" Whitebeard replied, thoroughly intrigued by Pryce conditions. It wasn't often that Whitebeard actively sought to recruit someone. Usually, anyone approached by him would be overwhelmed by gratitude, eager to join without hesitation. But Pryce? He was an exception. This only further piqued Newgate curiosity.
"First, as a member of the Whitebeard Pirates, you must obtain all necessary materials for me to do some research, no matter the cost, as long as it's within your capabilities."
"Second, the primary duty of every crew member must be my personal safety. Even if the Marines surround you, if I'm in danger, you abandon everything and prioritize protecting me!"
"Third, no meddling in my affairs under any circumstances. Absolute non-interference."
"And lastly, my daily salary must be no less than ten million beli."
Pryce conditions dropped like thunder in the cabin, leaving everyone utterly stunned. Even the ever-composed Newgate furrowed his brows upon hearing this. Pryce demands… were they not excessively ambitious?
The first point was acceptable—it was inevitable in the pursuit of making senzu beans. But the second? Demanding they forsake their captain's safety for his own? What did he think of himself? A priceless treasure? And the final stipulation? A jaw-dropping daily wage of ten million beli? Even within the Whitebeard Pirates, where pay was generous, Marco, with the highest wage, only earned a few million beli each month. Pryce wanted three hundred million a month? Was he trying to rob them blind?
Diamond Jozu could barely suppress his rage, clenching and unclenching his fists, clearly itching to teach Pryce a lesson for his audacity.
"Pryce, don't you think you've gone too far?" Marco questioned, his tone firm with disapproval. After all, Marco had brought Pryce aboard and sincerely hoped to recruit him.
"Too far?" Price retorted sharply. "Not at all."
"What if I told you my senzu beans could be mass-produced?"
"What if I told you this bean is the lowest quality, and with the right materials, I could make advanced senzu beans?"
"Even this lowest-grade senzu bean has begun healing Captain Whitebeard chronic injuries. So what do you think one advanced senzu bean could do? What about one hundred?"
Pryce unwavering confidence echoed in the cabin, erasing all doubts. The crew stared at him, dumbstruck, absorbing what they'd just heard—senzu beans with such game-changing effects not only existed but could also be created in abundance?
Whitebeard himself was silent, his expression unreadable but his widened eyes betraying his shock. Though he always presented a carefree front, decades of injuries had wrung constant agony from his body and mind. Night after night, the torment had yanked him awake, leaving him no choice but to endure through gritted teeth. And now, Pryce was saying his entire collection of injuries could be completely healed. It was something Whitebeard had dreamed of for decades—no, something the entire crew had silently yearned for.
But Newgate had learned long ago that people's words weren't always sincere. Subtly, he began releasing his Haki, his observation keenly attuned to Pryce emotional state. If the young man were lying, his emotions would inevitably give him away. Yet, as the waves of his Haki washed over Pryce, Whitebeard could sense only resolute confidence and absolute truth.
Pryce wasn't lying.