A few minutes later, Blackbeard entered.
Despite facing the highest-ranking Marines Sengoku, Akainu, and Kizaru he showed no fear. Instead, he strode in with a relaxed gait, openly sizing them up with an arrogant grin, as if this were a meeting of equals. The three Marines watched him closely.
The man was tall and burly, his dark skin contrasting with his wild, unkempt hair and crooked smile. His shirt hung open, exposing his chest, while rings and glittering jewels clung to his fingers and neck. Everything about him screamed recklessness and greed a pirate through and through.
"You... Blackbeard?" Sengoku asked sharply.
"Thief hahahaha! That's right! The name's Marshall D. Teach!" he replied, laughing loudly.
At the mention of the "D", a visible shift passed between the three officers. The Will of D a mystery the world feared, a lineage wrapped in chaos. What did he want?
Blackbeard didn't care about the tension in the room. He continued, "I used to be with Whitebeard, second division. But I've defected. I'm putting together my own crew now. And yes I'm here for the title of Shichibukai."
Direct and unapologetic, his ambition was laid bare.
For pirates on the rise, becoming a Warlord meant legitimacy and freedom. Marine would no longer chase him. It was a perfect stepping stone for someone with grander goals.
Sengoku leaned forward slightly, skeptical. "And what are you offering in return?"
So far, all Blackbeard had done was talk about what he wanted. Sengoku wasn't going to give power away for free.
Blackbeard's grin widened. "I thought you'd ask that."
He paused for dramatic effect, then added, "What if I told you... I can hand over the second division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates?"
That landed. The air in the room thickened.
He meant Portgas D. Ace, the pirate with a bounty exceeding 500 million berries. But more importantly the son of Gol D. Roger. The key to a larger war. The flame that could ignite the world.
Sengoku's mind moved quickly, already crafting plans within plans. He kept his voice steady. "Do you already have Ace?"
"If you do, we'll consider the proposal," he said, deliberately vague.
Blackbeard smirked knowingly. "Marshal Sengoku, you really are as crafty as they say..."
Then, leaning forward slightly, he said, "If you grant me the title, I'll capture Ace alive and deliver him within two months. That's my promise."
He stressed the word alive, understanding Sengoku's true concern.
There was no hesitation. "Deal," Sengoku said firmly.
Blackbeard flashed a final grin, then turned and left, footsteps echoing through the room.
Kizaru, still reading a newspaper, commented lazily, "A bit too hasty, don't you think? That's not like you, Sengoku."
But Sengoku, still watching the door, smiled faintly. "If he really brings back Ace, a little haste is a small price."
Then, with a gleam in his eye, he added, "The age of Marine's resurgence... is close."
And for the first time in years, Sengoku laughed.