"Didn't Blackbeard take action against them afterward?" Perona asked curiously.
After going through the trouble of rescuing them from that terrifying place, Impel Down, he just left immediately... Wouldn't Blackbeard want to eliminate them?
Does that make any sense?
"I don't know," Shakky shook her head. "At least I haven't received any information about Blackbeard clashing with them." So she wasn't clear whether anything had happened on Blackbeard's side.
"What happened later then?"
"Did Blackbeard cause trouble for those guys afterward?!"
"No."
Shakky thought for a moment before saying: "Not only did he not cause trouble for them, he even gave them an opportunity to rejoin the Blackbeard Pirates!"
Hearing Shakky's words, Meiser, who had been pondering the issue, was immediately stunned.
Then, as if realizing something, he said: "Is this the reason you said earlier that their strength is quite formidable?"
"Yes," Shakky nodded. "They contributed significantly in the battle against Little Ace!"
Not only did they contribute greatly, but they also brought a substantial number of people!
This was one of the reasons Blackbeard could defeat the Whitebeard Pirates.
"I understand," Meiser nodded.
No wonder he had felt something was off earlier - it turned out these guys had later rejoined the Blackbeard Pirates!!!
That would make sense.
Then, Meiser asked: "So... when did they join the Blackbeard Pirates?"
Shakky didn't answer immediately, but lowered her head to think before saying: "About two days after Blackbeard obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
"Anyway, these former deserters of Blackbeard arrived at that island two days later."
"After that... they engaged in battle with the Whitebeard Pirates."
As for whether Blackbeard had contacted those guys in advance, she didn't know.
"Two days later..."
Meiser said: "It seems Blackbeard had been planning this for a long time."
Otherwise, he shouldn't have arrived two days earlier than Ace and the others.
You have to admit, this guy really knows how to bide his time.
To wait a year and a half for the Tremor-Tremor Fruit before making his comeback... What a terrifying guy!!
"Indeed," Shakky nodded. "This guy is truly a qualified schemer."
Looking at the things this guy has done, you can tell he's both intelligent and ambitious.
If he gets lucky enough, it wouldn't be impossible for him to claim a Four Emperor position!!
Meiser nodded, then as if thinking of something, said: "What do you think... could it be that Blackbeard intentionally let these guys go?"
"With the purpose of having them search for information about the Tremor-Tremor Fruit."
Thinking about it carefully, it's not impossible.
"Your idea is interesting," Shakky said. "But have you considered one problem?"
"What problem?"
"Why would these escapees from Impel Down help Blackbeard find the Tremor-Tremor Fruit?" Shakky remarked. "Couldn't they just eat it themselves?"
If they were already powerful enough, consuming the Tremor-Tremor Fruit would instantly elevate them to the level of a Four Emperor!
Who could resist such temptation?
Noticing Meiser's thoughtful expression, Shakky continued, "Those types of scoundrels have no sense of honor."
Given the opportunity, they would never hand the Devil Fruit over to Blackbeard!
After all... there's only one vacant position among the Four Emperors!
"Then why did they rejoin the Blackbeard Pirates?" Nami asked curiously.
"That I don't know," Shakky shook her head.
She had no access to such information and couldn't discern their true motives.
"Perhaps it's because Blackbeard consumed the Tremor-Tremor Fruit," Meiser speculated.
"Oh?"
Shakky blinked in surprise before asking, "Why do you say that?"
"With the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power, Blackbeard definitely has what it takes to claim the vacant Four Emperor position," Meiser explained. "These guys probably recognized that and chose to rejoin his crew."
Otherwise, why would these profit-driven pirates willingly serve under Blackbeard?
Ultimately, it all came down to Blackbeard being able to offer them greater benefits.
Of course, Blackbeard's willingness to take them back might have played a role too.
"That seems the most plausible scenario," Rayleigh chimed in.
When a powerful, ambitious figure extends an olive branch despite past conflicts... they'd have no reason to refuse.
Shakky blinked again before adding, "We can't rule out that Blackbeard promised them something they wanted."
Hearing this, Meiser smiled wryly - wasn't that essentially what he'd just said?
"So... Blackbeard might become the next Four Emperor?" Luffy suddenly looked up and asked.
Recalling what she knew about Blackbeard, Shakky nodded. "Most likely."
"That guy's been recruiting aggressively these past six months. He'll probably make his move soon."
"When that happens... he might just become a new Four Emperor!"
"What, are you interested in him?"
Noticing Luffy's furrowed brow, Meiser asked, "If you want to take him on, we can head straight for him after reaching the New World."
He too was curious about this man who could consume two Devil Fruits.
If he could study him... perhaps he could uncover the secret behind how Blackbeard managed to eat two Devil Fruits!
Luffy didn't respond immediately to Meiser's suggestion, instead lowering his head in thought.
Finally, he shook his head. "No, let Ace handle this guy."
If he attacked the Blackbeard Pirates now, Ace might be upset - after all, Blackbeard has history with the Whitebeard Pirates!
Better to leave this to Ace.
"Alright, understood," Meiser nodded.
If Luffy wasn't interested in Blackbeard, they could deal with it another time.
"Hoho, if Ace can defeat Blackbeard, he'll basically become one of the new Four Emperors," Rayleigh said with a chuckle.
Meiser simply nodded at this without saying anything more.
"So that means..." Nami looked at Shakky and said, "One of the Four Emperors' positions in the New World has been vacant for these past two years?"
"Yes."
Shakky nodded. "That's precisely why pirates in the New World have been fighting so fiercely."
In their desperate bid to claim the vacant throne among the Four Emperors, those pirates have been battling it out relentlessly.
But unfortunately, none of the secondary contenders have demonstrated overwhelming superiority, so the empty position remains unclaimed.
"Logically speaking, Blackbeard should be the most likely candidate to claim that position," Meiser mused, stroking his chin. "But he hasn't made any major moves in the past six months?"
"No."
Shakky shook her head. "Aside from recruiting more crew members, he hasn't taken any significant action."
"However... I suspect it won't be long before he makes his move."
Such an ambitious man wouldn't remain dormant for too long, so she believed Blackbeard would likely act soon.
"It seems this guy is planning something big," Meiser remarked, still stroking his chin.
After pulling off a major scheme, he would seize the Four Emperor position in one fell swoop!
"That's a possibility," Shakky agreed with a nod.
As for what exactly he would do, she had no idea—after all, she wasn't a mind reader.
Meiser nodded and set aside the intelligence on Blackbeard, then picked up the files on the other Four Emperors.
"These guys have been snatching up territories left and right..." Meiser commented.
"Without Whitebeard acting as the stabilizing force, it was impossible to maintain control over so many territories," Shakky explained.
Although the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates are still quite powerful, they're far from matching the strength of a Four Emperor-level force.
After all... they lack the capability to confront either Kaido or Charlotte Linlin!
"I see..."
Meiser put down the documents in his hand and looked up at Shakky. "What about Fish-Man Island?"
Hearing the name Fish-Man Island, Luffy and the others immediately turned their attention to the conversation.
"Fish-Man Island is currently flying Big Mom's flag," Shakky said.
"Who?"
A question mark appeared above Meiser's head. Who was Linlin?
The other young people also looked at Shakky with puzzled expressions, clearly not understanding who she was referring to.
"Ah, I forgot you don't know her real name," Shakky said, tapping her forehead.
Then, she pointed to the intelligence file about the BIG MOM Pirates on the table and said, "It's this one, the BIG MOM Pirates."
"And this person named Linlin is the captain of the BIG MOM Pirates, Charlotte Linlin!"
"Though most people on the seas prefer to call her BIG MOM."
Hearing Shakky's explanation, Meiser immediately understood who she meant.
So it's Galette's mother?
"In that case, Fish-Man Island is currently under the protection of a Four Emperor crew," Meiser concluded.
"Correct," Shakky confirmed with a nod.
Thanks to the BIG MOM Pirates, Fish-Man Island has been able to develop peacefully.
Otherwise... many more members of the Fish-Man race would undoubtedly have become slaves!
At this thought, Shakky's gaze grew somewhat complicated.
"What does it mean that Fish-Man Island is under the protection of a Four Emperors Crew?" Nami asked in confusion.
Hearing Nami's puzzled words, Meiser said, "You should still remember what happened to Camie two years ago, right?"
"Of course I remember!"
Recalling the events from two years ago, Nami frowned and said, "If we hadn't intervened in time back then, Camie and Merry would have been finished!"
If they had been even a moment slower, both of them would have been bought by someone.
By then... hell would have awaited them!
Seeing that Nami still remembered this incident, Meiser nodded and continued, "Then let me put it this way."
"If no one protects Fish-Man Island, then human traffickers would frequently target the island."
"By that time... countless members of the Fish-Man race would become slaves!"
"And among them... Camie would very likely be included!"
After saying this, Meiser went on to tell them about encountering Camie near Mary Geoise some time ago, leaving Nami and the others utterly stunned.
"That idiot Camie got captured again?" Nami stared at Meiser in shock.
"That's right,"
Meiser spread his hands and said somewhat helplessly, "Otherwise, why do you think I mentioned it earlier?"
When he said Camie might be included, he wasn't just saying it—after all, that fool really was easy to capture!
Nami fell silent for a moment before saying with some relief, "Thank goodness one of the Four Emperors is willing to protect Fish-Man Island, otherwise..."
"Indeed."
Meiser said with emotion, "Otherwise, Fish-Man Island would have suffered terribly~"
Even with Jimbei there, he couldn't stop the swarming pirates and slave traders.
So... using the name of a Four Emperor was the most effective method!
"So that means this BIG MOM person is a good guy?" Luffy said.
"A good person?"
Meiser tilted his head and looked at Luffy before saying, "I don't know if she's a good person, but receiving protection from a Four Emperor requires paying a fee."
Luffy was taken aback. You have to pay just to borrow their flag?
That's too troublesome. "No wonder the Four Emperors are willing to protect these islands," Perona said.
So there are benefits involved!
Then she asked curiously, "What kind of price do you have to pay to receive a Four Emperor's protection?"
"I don't know that," Meiser shook his head.
He had never collected protection fees with a Four Emperor, nor had he ever paid them, so he didn't know the specific cost.
But he felt... the price probably wasn't low.
"You'll find out when you go to Fish-Man Island," Rayleigh interjected.
"Yeah, that's true," Meiser nodded.
Then he noticed Nami's unusual expression.
"Hey, Nami, what's wrong with you now?" Meiser asked curiously.
Why did this girl's expression become strange after hearing about protection fees?
"Nothing," Nami shook her head. "I was just remembering some things."
Meiser paused for a moment. Some things?
What kind of—
Just then, a thought occurred to Meiser.
'Could Nami be remembering when Arlong collected protection fees in her village all those years ago?' Meiser wondered to himself.
This explains why Nami's expression had turned that way.
Once he understood this, Meiser decisively dropped the subject.
He then changed the topic, asking, "By the way, Shakky, have you found the Devil Fruit I asked you to look for?"
"No."
Shakky shook her head. "For the past two years, I've been searching the black market for Devil Fruits, but I haven't found a suitable one."
There were some ordinary ones, but Meiser simply didn't take a liking to those common Zoan types.
Otherwise, two years ago, he wouldn't have had her sell those two Zoan Devil Fruits.
"It seems finding a suitable Devil Fruit isn't an easy task," Meiser said with a headache.
"Are you looking for a Devil Fruit for yourself?" Nami asked curiously.
"No, why would a Ninja like me eat a Devil Fruit?" Meiser shook his head. "I'm looking for it for someone else."
"Someone else?"
"Mm."
Meiser nodded. "My idea is that it would be best if everyone ate a Devil Fruit to boost their combat strength."
Of course, if they refused to eat one, he wouldn't force them.
Hearing Meiser's words, Nami fell silent for a moment before saying, "Is it because of the World Government?"
"Mm."
Meiser nodded helplessly. "They could attack at any time, so I have to do everything I can to increase your strength."
Nami nodded in understanding and said, "Then it's up to them whether they're willing to eat a Devil Fruit or not."
If they weren't willing, even if Meiser prepared a powerful Devil Fruit, it would be useless.
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