Michael was a bit conflicted when he first heard this news.
Because the location and person involved in the appearance of the Dark-Dark Fruit weren't really a problem…
But the timing was way too early.
So early that even Michael hadn't considered this possibility.
After all, from the very beginning, he had never taken Blackbeard seriously…
Because back then, that moment was still far too far away.
No matter how cautious Michael had been, he wouldn't give something that might only happen more than twenty years later a high priority.
Yet this exact event happened ahead of schedule.
Michael didn't know whether this was a coincidence or if he had stirred the world for too long and the butterfly effect was finally revealing itself.
After all, in the original timeline, the Marineford War happened in Sea Circle Calendar 1522, and in SCC 1520, Ace had only just formally joined the Whitebeard Pirates and regarded Whitebeard as his "father."
Which meant that the time Blackbeard killed Thatch and stole the Dark-Dark Fruit happened sometime between 1520 and 1522.
There should have been at least three or four years left…
But since it happened, it happened.
Aside from the fact that Thatch really died quite unjustly, Michael didn't have much emotional fluctuation.
After all, this whole thing was essentially self-inflicted damage among pirates.
One more or one less didn't mean much.
Instead of wasting time caring about them, he might as well push forward the cultural invasion plan.
But…
He still wanted to complain—did Blackbeard just have something against the Second Division Commanders of the Whitebeard Pirates?
In the original story, he was hunted down by Ace.
Now he was being hunted by Weevil, who had replaced Ace as the Second Division Commander.
Why didn't he just provoke Kozuki Oden, who was still alive here? He had also once been the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates!
Originally, Michael could have just left his complaints there.
But now, the person privately contacting him through a Den Den Mushi was Whitebeard.
That made things different…
"You're worried about Weevil?" Michael raised his brows. "Even though Weevil isn't very smart, his combat ability is absolutely reliable…"
Especially now that Weevil had been trained personally by Whitebeard for years.
He was far stronger than Ace back then.
And Weevil wasn't even a Devil Fruit user…
On the other hand, Blackbeard had only just acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit. If he wasn't careful, he really could be killed by Weevil.
"That's not what I'm worried about. Weevil is the son with the greatest combat talent among them!" Whitebeard's voice finally wasn't as heavy as when the call began. "But like you said… he's not very smart. I'm not worried about him fighting Teach… but what if Teach uses other means?"
"Stop, stop, stop, old man. What exactly are you trying to say?" Michael cut him off. "Don't tell me you want me to go out to sea to look for your son… I'm not the babysitter of the Whitebeard Pirates! I helped you build a nation because I could make you something other than pure pirates, so the Revolutionary Army and Marines would have less pressure out on the seas…"
"You don't have to be that honest." Whitebeard sighed. "I'm only telling you—I've discovered Teach's next destination…"
"His next destination?"
"Raijin Island."
"Raijin Island… isn't that Kaido's territory?"
"With the Flying Pirates crushed by you, and the BIG MOM Pirates also establishing a nation, Teach is left with only two choices: cooperate with Kaido or build his own force."
Whitebeard's voice remained calm, his explanation clear and logical.
The strongest man in the world also possessed a keen mind.
"And without a doubt, cooperating with Kaido is the best choice for a speculator like Teach."
"You really know your son well."
"No matter what… they are all my sons."
"To be honest, if not for your overwhelming power… you really aren't suited to be a pirate."
"That's why I'm the king of the Whitebeard Kingdom now."
"All right, Your Majesty. Anything else? If not, I've got a little revolution to attend to… a few countries left to liberate."
"…All right, one last thing. This one requires you to go. With my current status, acting rashly would only drain national strength and spark a large-scale war." Whitebeard's voice carried faint helplessness. "Kaido of Raijin Island… is planning to take revenge on Wano."
Revenge… on Wano?
Hearing this, Michael didn't show worry…
He actually smiled.
"Good. Deal… Weevil will return safely to the Whitebeard Kingdom."
Michael finished speaking and hung up the Den Den Mushi.
He then looked at the tense expressions of everyone around him.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You were just speaking with Whitebeard!"
"And you mentioned Kaido and Wano… Even without details, just hearing those names tells us this isn't a small matter!"
"This is definitely no small matter."
Michael smiled.
"Back then, I helped them massively. If I help again, Wano will owe me two enormous favors… So tell me—shouldn't they pay me back properly?"
"Michael… do you need me to remind you?"
Gion sighed, stepped forward, and lifted her hand to gently touch Michael's cheek.
"You're smiling way too much like a villain."
"Gion… I'm not a demon, you know."
…
Raijin Island.
Blackbeard panted heavily as he looked at the unconscious Weevil collapsed on the ground, then burst into loud laughter:
"Zehahahaha! You idiot, chasing me nonstop! Look who's suffering now!"
"Huff… good thing you struck at the right moment, Kaido."
He lifted his head, and saw a massive azure dragon coiled high in the sky.
Fish-Fish Fruit · Mythical Model · Azure Dragon.
Kaido.
"Shhh!"
The dragon snorted out a burst of white mist, then reverted from his Beast Form.
A giant figure stood towering over Blackbeard Teach.
In the next moment, he reached out his hand toward Teach.
Teach let out a "zehahaha," then firmly grasped Kaido's hand.
Kaido looked at Teach with visible disdain:
"Although I don't like you… no, to be precise, I despise you, until the final goal of our alliance is achieved… you will remain my ally."
"Until…"
"That man called Michael disappears from this world!"
Teach released his hand, showing his rotten teeth as he grinned:
"In that case, it seems our evil alliance… will remain solid as iron for a long, long time."
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Fanfic is finished. 583 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg