Hello everyone! Here is the next chapter!

I don't have much to say before we start

So enjoy!

Read and relax

Whitebeard felt worried during the drive home, not sure what he would find when he searched for this name and if it was a trap set by Lilith. When he got home, he went to his office, saying to Thatch, who said dinner was done, that he needed to do some business first. When Thatch said he could help, Whitebeard said no, he could do this alone. And went to his office, opened his laptop, and went into incognito mode. He knew it didn't do much, but it made him feel more secure. Then he went to google and searched for 'Porter Daniel Rhyder'.

The results came fast, and it was obviously someone who had been murdered, and Whitebeard pressed the one from the news outlet he knew was legit and started to read. 'Porter Daniel Rhyder (28) was killed Monday evening during what looks to be a professional hit. It has been speculated he has been a hitman and informant, and this was confirmed Tuesday during a press conference the FBI had. It seems he was killed by one of his own in search of money and to possibly take over contracts Porter had. The FBI is still searching for the murderer, and has said based on the hit, how it was executed, is someone professional. The general public should not be scared, and the FBI is on high alert.'

Whitebeard blinked. Had Ace done this? Killed one of his own in search of money and information? It was obviously what Lilith was hinting at, but obviously didn't have enough to make an arrest. So how could she know this was Ace? Whitebeard then read the rest of the article, and it said Porter hadn't just been shot or stabbed, but had been tortured as well, in what looked to be in search of information, and his place was ransacked. This really didn't sit well. Could Ace have done this? …He had killed at least one that he knew off for sure. No, two, he admitted to killing Thatch's blood uncle. That made him blink and he put in Thatch's previous last name, and it came up. Theodore Malsugi was killed brutally in what was believed to be a drug deal gone wrong and Theodore did deal drugs from time to time to make money, but was believed to be a good man. But he did find a few who theorized he was dealing with human trafficking and such, one of the reasons for his death. This was worrisome.

But could Ace do this? He got Ace killed, but he wouldn't just kill one of his own… right? Ace was obviously good at hiding what he was doing. …was Marco in danger? He then went out and asked if Marco was home, to which he was told no, he was out. He could see Curiel looking unsure, and when he was about to ask more, Cuirel spoke. "Pops, I just remembered, I got a call I need to tell you about, in private." Whitebeard nodded and they went to his office, where Curiel explained what had happened, and who the Henkels were. They were bad people who often targeted others who had fame or were thought to be a danger, using weapons that were labeled and engraved, and if spotted, even if it was a victim, they would be in deep trouble. Whitebeard nodded, he didn't like this at all. Curiel did also mention a very scarred back, which might make sense based on Ace's work, but it was very bad. Yes, Whitebeard didn't like this.

When Curiel left, Whitebeard thought for a second, before he took up his phone and sent a message to Marco about needing him home now, there was an emergency he was needed with. Marco did say he would be home in half an hour, he would just say bye to Ace and come home. He then went and ate dinner, and when they were done, he heard the front door open, so Whitebeard went and met Marco and asked him to his office. When there, Whitebeard first told about Lilith, that she had called, and what she said. When he had finished, Marco nodded and looked thoughtful. "That is worrisome. And why include Vista and Thatch, yoi?" Whitebeard shook his head. "I don't know, but there is more. She also waited for me outside the building and spoke with me, she called it 'a random encounter', obviously a lie, and told me to search for 'Porter Daniel Rhyder' online."

Marco nodded and Whitebeard showed Marco what came up on his laptop, which had Marco frowning. "But are we sure Ace did this? It says it was brutal and he was tortured, yoi." Whitebeard sighed. "We know he killed Thatch's blood uncle, and that was also brutal." And showed what came up when he searched on him. It made Marco look worried as he mumbled. "Ace did that…?" When Marco had read it, Whitebeard spoke. "I want to think there is more to the story, which there probably is. But we don't know Ace that well. And he just gave me over 2 million dollars as a gift with money he had 'lying around'." Whitebeard gave a breath. "I don't mean to imply what I am implying, but this is…" Marco nodded. "No, I… I don't want it to be true, but…" Marco massaged his face. "I don't know, yoi. We don't know him well, but… torture?"

Whitebeard thought for a second. "This might be what Lilith wants as well, make us doubt him and turn him in. But there might be some truth here." Marco nodded. "What do you think we should do, yoi? I don't want to accuse Ace of this." Whitebeard sighed. "I agree, but we need to speak with him. He does seem to be rational and do the right thing, or so I hope." Marco nodded. "I can ask him to come for a meeting, yoi. And we take it from there." Whitebeard nodded. "Sounds like a plan. Try and have it happen fast, maybe tomorrow, before Lilith." Marco nodded and sent a message to Ace, showing it to him, and it said 'Hey, something came up, an emergency, do you have some time tomorrow?' Whitebeard nodded and Marco sent it. And it didn't take long to get an answer, which was 'I can at 9am, meet at your office?' Which sounded like an idea and they said yes.

As that was done, they searched more, but found nothing too much. They found a bit more on the state Porter and Theodore were in, and it was not good at all. They had really been tortured and Porter was obviously a man for hire based on what they saw, and been killed by one of their own it was said. He didn't like this. But they needed to be prepared. So, they prepared some things, in case this was true, they both put a note in their rooms, as well as did if they had not turned it off, their phones would send an automated message at 3pm, to read the letters they had placed, something Jozu had taught them. He had hoped it would never use it, and he hoped now wouldn't mean the message would be sent, that this was all something Lilith did.

Whitebeard didn't sleep well at all, and the next day, the day went slow, and when the clock was almost 9am, Ace came, and they went to Whitebeard's office, Marco with them, and when there, Ace looked worried. "What's up? What's the emergency?" Whitebeard gave a small breath. "It is about your work, I just, I don't mean to assume, but it is about Porter Daniel Rhy-" Whitebeard was cut off by Ace, who tapped the desk a bit hard, before he motioned to be silent, before he grabbed a piece of paper and wrote 'FBI?', to which both him and Marco nodded, and Ace gave a breath as he rolled his eyes, before he rummaged some papers, then spoke. "Yes, I have the answer to these papers, if you could follow me."

Whitebeard blinked, on his way to answer, when Ace stood up and started to leave, and on the way out, Ace spoke. "Should anyone join?" Whitebeard blinked, before he remembered what Lilith had said. "Maybe Vista and Thatch should." Ace nodded. "Grab them." Whitebeard nodded and had Marco grab them, before they went out, and then they headed into Ace's car, Vista and Thatch seeming shocked, wondering what was up, and Whitebeard said he would explain soon. Then Ace drove a small bit, before they stopped at what seemed to be an empty garage complex, and then Ace got out and asked them to as well, before they headed to a door and walked into what seemed to be an office, and Ace sat down by a desk and offered some chairs to them.

Ace then moved and grabbed a small thing, placing it on the desk, before he spoke. "Are any of you wearing a wire? I hope you know I need to ask to cover my side." Thatch blinked. "What? Wh-" Whitebeard moved a hand to make him be silent. "No, but Lilith did contact me, and had a random encounter with me." Ace nodded. "It is okay, if you were, this little nifty thing-" Ace patted the device he took up. "Make the sound and possible image be scrambled." Whitebeard nodded, he got that and understood it. Ace hummed. "Well, that helps prove you aren't wearing one, if you had, you would have panicked now. Now, what did Lilith say?"

Vista frowned. "What is going on? Why are we here? What about Lilith? Isn't she the one with the FBI?" Ace hummed, and looked at Whitebeard. "Does he know anything?" Whitebeard shook his head, and Ace nodded. "Okay, should you or I clue him in?" Whitebeard nodded. "I can." And then explained how Ace was a man for hire, and that Teach had hired Ace to kill him, how Ace had not, then the events around that, how Whitebeard had hired Ace to handle Teach, before they now did business together. Vista seemed shocked, but took it all in. When everything was told, Vista nodded. "Okay, so the FBI is after us because of… Ace?" Ace hummed. "Actually, I think, after doing a lot of searches, you are one of the reasons, Vista."

They all blinked, and Whitebeard spoke. "What?" And looked at Vista, who looked shocked as well. "What?" Asked Vista. Ace nodded. "I think there is more, or, I know there is more. But, about a month and half ago, you tattooed a guy, he wanted a red spider web on his ribs." Whitebeard blinked. Vista tattooed many as he was a tattoo artist. Vista nodded. "Yes, I remember him, why?" Ace hummed. "Well, you see, he is with the mafia gang The Red Haired ones. He is one of the ones that might officially join them, I also checked this with their leader. But he also might not join based on this." They all blinked, as they knew who that was, or had heard about them. A known mafia gang, known around the world. Ace hummed. "You can't say this, but that is sort of their mark, but not quite. I found him in your system and checked him and the FBI is on his tail, and that was linked to you-" Ace motioned to Whitebeard. "And they are not really on my tail, but sort of. And you-" Ace motioned to Thatch. "Are here because of your blood family, which are… causing some issues for the FBI, and they think you might be in contact with them. Which… well, you are." Thatch blinked. "I am not!" He yelled out, and Ace held a hand up. "Let me explain." Thatch nodded, looking unsure.

Ace hummed. "So, if you go on your phone, to your bank app, you will see very small and subtle transactions, and a few of them are connected to them. Now, I just noticed this myself after I got the message from you yesterday-" Ace motioned to Marco, before he continued. "I did a really deep dive with some help, and found out this. it is obvious your blood family wants you to have a hard life, but I will do my best to fix it." Thatch nodded and looked thankful. Ace then sighed. "I also found something else out, about you, Marco. Would you like to tell?" Marco sighed, before he looked at Whitebeard. "Remember when the FBI first came and I burned those papers, yoi?" Whitebeard nodded. "I do, why?" Marco sighed. "I…" Another sigh. "It was dumb. I invested in some stocks, and it turned out it was… well, bad stocks, I don't know how bad, but yeah." Ace hummed. "Very bad ones, and it took some time before I found it myself, the FBI is trying to hide it from me I think. And I know you cashed out, but your name is still there." Marco looked worried, but Ace spoke. "I am working on getting your name off it fully. And I am making progress." Marco nodded and looked relieved.

Ace then hummed. "Now to you," And looked at Whitebeard. "You also have a part in this, as from the FBI's side, you are scamming people." Whitebeard blinked. "What?" Ace nodded. "I know you're not, but someone is using your name, your face, your company, to scam people, and not just any people, but the state and other official people, and the FBI got wind of it. And then they find out I am doing business with you? They wouldn't miss this opportunity. I still haven't found out who this is, who is using your company and person, but I hope I will soon, I have also put some others on this to help me along, people I trust." Whitebeard nodded, that was good.

Ace sighed. "Now, to Porter Daniel Rhyder. Yes, I was with those who took him out. The reason; he was selling out his own people, we can't have people like that, so we took care of him. And yes, it was a bit brutal. We needed to get to know who he had sold things to. I will not try to deny we didn't hurt him, we did, the same with your uncle, Thatch." Thatch nodded. "He deserved it. He was… not a good man." Ace hummed. "That's saying it mildly. Now," Ace looked at him. "You really have Lilith from the FBI? Wow, that is… fun. She is… special and insane. Heartless. When will you meet with her again, if you know?" Whitebeard nodded. "Today at noon, I am heading to her office." Ace nodded. "Which office?" Whitebeard blinked. " Runnel Lane 11. Are there more?"

Ace hummed. "Okay, she is playing that game. Just, be prepared, She will throw a lot at you. Now, for the story you will tell, if you want to that is. You needed some papers from here," Ace moved and grabbed an envelope and handed it to him. "It has been signed by Mary, who works here as a notary and distributor of some of The Straw Hats equipment, just in case the FBI is following you, you have a reason you were here. Now, I might not have helped this case, by going a bit overboard with my gifts," Ace moved and held out a finger to Marco. "Don't say it." Marco just chuckled, probably going to have said something to it, like 'I did say so'. Ace continued. "But should I have my end covered for where the funds came from and my side is all good. Now, should you want to tell the truth, about me, you can, but know I will cut my losses then. This is not a death threat, but I will make your lives more complicated." Whitebeard nodded, he got that, and he wouldn't tell Lillith about this.

Ace then looked at Vista. "Now, you don't know that guy was with the mafia, which he isn't fully yet, just say you didn't know, which you didn't and still don't, go by that." Vista nodded. "I will do that." Ace nodded. "Good. Now you," Ace looked at Thatch. "You haven't noticed the small transactions and ask them to check it more and they will see they lead to your mother, who is trying to frame you basically. Just play dumb, okay? I will fix It." Thatch nodded. "Thank you." Ace shook his head. "It's nothing. And you, Marco," Ace looked at Marco. "Still say you don't know how bad those stocks are, I am trying to fix the rest."

Marco just nodded, a thankful look at his face. Ace then looked at him. "You feign ignorance, one deep dive will show you aren't scamming people and someone is scamming using your name and face." Whitebeard nodded. "Okay, we will do this. Thank you. Is Lillith bad news?" Ace hummed. "Not to make you nervous, but yes. She is known as the wolverine, as they do, they let other prey bite them, then attack them. She does this, she is stone cold and heartless, when you come to her office, and I guess you should be there at noon, right?"

Whitebeard blinked. "How did you know that?" Ace hummed. "I know her play with that office. Just, be prepared and keep your composure, at least try." They all nodded, saying they would. Ace hummed. "When done, don't call about what happened, they might have bugged your phones, they can do that." Whitebeard nodded. "We won't do that." Ace nodded. "Good." Marco hummed. "How about we arrange a date after it, yoi?" Ace nodded. "I would like that. Send a message when you want a date and we will take it from there." Marco nodded and smiled. "Sounds like a plan, yoi." Ace smiled as well, and Whitebeard got this was Marco saying he still wanted to be with Ace.

Ace then hummed. "Now. Just act like you are oblivious to all of this, as if you never spoke with me. And I will do my work and I am sure things will go fine." Whitebeard nodded. "Thank you, and we will." Ace nodded. "That sounds nice. Now, do you want me to drive you back to your office?" Whitebeard hummed. "No, I think it will go fine. We could grab some lunch for everyone as well." Ace nodded. "Sounds good, now, have a good day," Then Ace looked at Marco. "And send me when the next date fits for you." Marco nodded and smiled. "I will, yoi." Then they got up and Ace left after seeing them out, and headed away in his car.

Whitebeard then hummed. "How about we grab Subway for everyone? We can order it and walk there?" Marco nodded. "I like that idea, yoi." Thatch and Vista nodded as well. "Yeah," Started Vista. "Subway is good." Thatch hummed. "Yeah, it works." Whitebeard chuckled. "I know you would rather make it yourself, son. But right now, Subway sounds amazing. And you can cook something amazing for dinner." Marco nodded. "Yes. You are the best chef I know, yoi." Thatch smiled. "I like this idea." That was good. So Whitebeard called the Subway by their office, and ordered food for everyone, which would take some time to make, and it would be done at 10:30am, and they would make it back to the office to serve it, maybe eat, then they would head to the FBI to speak with Lilith. Everyone liked the idea.

Then they did that and when they got back to the office, everyone was glad to see the Subway bags, and they got everyone a 6 inch sandwich and everyone loved it. Then they left for the FBI office after eating, and when they parked, they were about 5 minutes early, and went inside. The office was large and was next to a new bell tower, which he had heard had some issues in the media, but he didn't know why. Then they told the receptionist who they were, and the receptionist said to take the elevator up to floor 10, which they did, and they were a bit early out. When they got out of the elevator, Lilith met them and they headed to an office, where everyone took a seat, Lilith on the other side of a desk, and looked at them. "Now, do you have anything to say before we begin?" Whitebeard frowned a bit, he would do his best to play his part. "No, I am still wondering why we are here." The others nodded, and Lilith hummed. "Now, none of you have anything to tell? Not even you?" And Lilith looked at Thatch, who blinked and shook his head. "No, why would I?"

Lilith hummed. "Now, you see- ah, wait a moment." A small alarm went off on Lilith's phone, and she hummed. "Now, we just need to wait a moment. As you may know, they built the huge clock by this office, and added some rotors that spin, but it has a tendency to scare the birds. They say they will get used to it, but I doubt it." As Lilith spoke, he heard the bell toll outside, and just after it, there was a small bang and they looked at the window behind Lilith, where there now was a red splat on the non see through glass, obviously a bird, before another splat, then multiple ones, almost coating the window in red. When it was over, the bell stopped to toll, Lilith hummed. "Now that that's over, let us continue this." Whitebeard now got what Ace had meant by trying to keep their composure. This was mean and obviously planned by Lilith to make them wary.

Lilith hummed and looked at Thatch. "Now, Thatch Newgate, formerly Thatch Malsugi. Your family isn't especially good news. They have been… accused of doing bad things." Thatch blinked. "What does that have to do with me?" Lilith hummed. "You have been accepting money from them, your previous family." Thatch blinked. "I have what? No! I haven't! Pops is my family! Not them! I hate them!" Lilith hummed. "So you wouldn't mind us checking your finances?" Thatch blinked. "Do that! I don't do that! I don't want anything to do with them!" Lilith hummed, seeming a bit miffed. "Fine. Now you," And Lilith looked at Vista. "You tattooed a 'Benjamin Hart Caddel' a bit ago, right?" Vista frowned a bit. "I can't say the name rings a bell. What did he get?" Lilith hummed. "A red spider web on his side." Vista nodded. "Oh, yeah, him. What about him? It was just a tattoo." Lilith lifted an eyebrow. "Was it now? Not connected to a gang? The mafia?" Vista blinked. "Wait, he was with the mafia? How would I know that?" Lilith hummed. "So you didn't know that?" Vista shook his head. "No. I tattoo many people, I don't know what they do in their free time. He said he worked in construction I think. He didn't strike me as someone in the mafia." Lilith hummed. "Fine."

Lilith then looked at Marco. "Now you. You do realize you invested in some stocks that directly connect to human trafficking?" Whitebeard saw Marco blinking, looking shocked, before he spoke. "I did invest in some stocks, but I withdrew immediately as I found out it wasn't legit, yoi. I had no idea it was with human trafficking. That's horrible." Lilith hummed. "So you had no idea as well?" Marco blinked. "I withdrew within 2 days, yoi. It looked legit, but I quickly found out it wasn't. If I knew, I would never have done it." Lilith hummed. "Fine. Also, how did the… date go? With Ace? Are you a thing now?" Marco frowned a bit. "I don't see what that has to do with this, yoi." Lilith hummed and looked at some papers. "Seeing how he gifted you a new kitchen, paid someone's tuition, and gifted you," Lilith looked at Whitebeard. "Over 2 million, we are a bit interested." Marco shrugged. "I just guessed his company is doing well, yoi. I don't get what this has to do with this. He can spend his money how he would like." Lilith nodded, not looking too pleased but also still had lie cold expression on her face with a fake smile.

Lilith hummed. "Speaking about companies, care to explain why we have gotten information about your company, Edward Newgate, that you are scamming people?" Whitebeard blinked. "Wait, what! I am not!" He would play a bit with this. Lilith nodded and brought out some papers with some names. "Any of these names look familiar?" Whitebeard looked at the paper, and none did. "No. They don't. I have not scammed anyone. I run a legit business. It is my pride. After my children." Lilith hummed. "Then you wouldn't mind us looking more in your finances? To verify you aren't scamming people?" Whitebeard nodded, he knew he wasn't and Ace probably had control. "Yes, I would like for you to do that. If I have someone in my company scamming, I would like to know so I can fire them." Whitebeard knew it wasn't one of his children, they would never do that. And he had a feeling, based on how Ace spoke, it wasn't anyone in his company at all. Lilith nodded, then spoke a bit on what the law said and what the punishment was if he was scamming people, and they found out they were doing it. But Whitebeard was confident in this, and looked at Lilith. "Do what you must to find out who does this, and if it is someone within my company, which I doubt, I would like to know." Lilith nodded. "Okay."

Lilith then started a spiel that lying to a federal officer was a crime. But Whitebeard felt confident they were safe, and it looked like his children felt the same. The one who looked a bit unsure, was Vista, which Whitebeard got. He had gotten a lot of information today. A lot of shocking things. But he didn't say anything he shouldn't, which was good. After a bit, Lilith looked at Marco. "So, when are you meeting your boyfriend again?" Marco frowned a bit. "I don't see how that is any of your business, yoi. It is my personal life. Why is it so awful I am dating him? Is it because he is also a man?" Lilith hummed and changed topic, which was good. If she pushed, Marco could label Lilith as a homophobe, and no one wanted that as a label.

Lilith then went on one more round that lying was a federal crime right now, but they stood their ground, they didn't know anything. Lilith then let them go, and they left. When they were out, Marco took up his phone. "I'll ask Ace out on a date tomorrow, or should I do today, yoi?" Whitebeard hummed. "I think tomorrow works just fine." Marco nodded. "Then I will ask him out for tomorrow, yoi." Thatch nodded. "Yeah, ask for a status update about… stuff." Marco nodded. "I will, yoi." And Marco sent a message. It didn't take long for Marco to get a response they could meet at 6pm and Ace could come over to their place, which sounded like a plan. The others seemed to think the same. Marco then hummed. "Also. when Ace comes over tomorrow, how would you feel if he stayed for dinner and I spill the beans we are dating to everyone, yoi?" Whitebeard nodded. "You choose that, son. If you want to tell, I will support you." Marco smiled. "Thank you, yoi." Whitebeard shook his head. "It is nothing, I will always support my children. You are all my pride and joy." Marco chuckled. "We love you too, Pops." Whitebeard smiled and chuckled. He really loved his family.

They then went back to the office and went on with their day.

-x-

Ace hummed as he went around in the mall, needing to buy some stuff for dinner. They would have chicken today, and the clock was soon 4pm. As he walked and was in the bread aisle, just looking if they had gotten anything new, a voice spoke behind him. "Hi, Ace." Ace gave a breath and turned around, seeing Lilith there, having on a green emerald coat. "What do you want?" Asked Ace. Lilith hummed. "Nothing. This is just a random encounter." Ace sighed. "Of course it is. Now, what does this random encounter bring?" Lilith hummed and looked at the bread they had. "Nothing major. I just, I hope you realize you are putting them in danger? Especially that blond, the oldest son. I hope you realize this is deja vu, right? Remember our last random encounter? How is he by the way? Can't say I have seen him for a small bit. Been what now, 13 or 14 months?"

Ace felt his face harden, he knew Lilith wanted a reaction, and he wouldn't give it to her. Ace hummed. "I am not sure what you are talking about." Lilith hummed. "Of course you don't. Just know, if anything happens, it is on you." Lilith then gave a cold smile. "Have a good day onwards, Ace." Then Lilith left. Ace grabbed a bread and he wanted to smash it, but he would refrain from that, and put it in his basket, before he went on with his shopping. Lilith was obviously stepping up her game. Why was this something that made her act so out?

Was there something else he didn't know about Marco and his family? When he got home and they had eaten dinner, he would ask some others and really do a deep dive into everyone and everything. He would find out everything he could find and more when it came to everyone, he felt there was something else here. Either that, or Lilith just wanted to put this idea into his mind so he would access places and them to notice. Hmm… he would ask Benn about this. This might all be a part of Lilith's game, make him do a deep dive. He would try and not do it right now. He would chat with Benn first.

And that's the chapter! Hope you enjoyed!

I am having a lot of fun with this story and I hope you are enjoying reading it

If you have any ideas, don't be afraid to share them!

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