"Captain, you should've replaced our ride long ago. A raft… doesn't exactly suit the glory of the Shichibukai title we're about to claim! Hahaha!"
"A Navy battleship—refitted a little—now that would make a proper vessel for us!"
…
At last, the massive Navy warship docked.
Vice Admiral Comil and Natsuha stepped ashore, one after the other.
"They only sent a Vice Admiral? Not even ordinary marines with him…"
"They're not worried we'll just pull a double-cross and take everything for ourselves?"
Blackbeard grinned broadly at the sight, his voice thick with provocation.
His crew mirrored him, their expressions dripping arrogance. None of them spared Comil a shred of respect.
Ace, chained to the side, lifted his head and watched silently.
So I underestimated him after all… this schemer!
Would this lunatic even try plundering a Navy battleship next?
Comil's hand moved toward his sword hilt at the sight of their insolence—only for Natsuha to stop him.
Better to secure Ace first. Once that's done, they could turn their blades on the Blackbeard Pirates without hesitation.
…
Natsuha ignored Blackbeard's taunts and instead fixed his gaze on the barely-breathing Ace.
"So you're Ace—the bloodline of the Pirate King, Roger." Natsuha's childish voice carried the poise of an adult.
Ace blinked, startled.
The Vice Admiral hadn't spoken, yet this boy had—and Comil's eyes showed no disapproval at all.
Could it be that this child outranked even a Vice Admiral?
Ace didn't have the strength left to dwell on it.
"Damn Navy… if you've got the guts, kill me!" Ace spat, furious.
"Sorry. That, I can't do." Natsuha waved dismissively.
The Blackbeard crew froze for a beat, then gawked in disbelief.
What was with this kid's tone? Such authority…
Was Comil actually his subordinate?
A seasoned Vice Admiral, taking orders from an eight-year-old?
There could only be one explanation: he must be some pampered Navy noble brat.
A weakling with no strength of his own, swaggering under the shield of family influence.
And if that was true… Blackbeard and his men had slain countless such "privileged heirs" on the Grand Line already.
Their shock melted into ridicule.
"Zehahahaha! Interesting, very interesting…"
"So you're the one in charge of this little mission, eh, brat?"
"Want me to buy you some candy while we're at it? Hahahaha!" Blackbeard roared.
His crew piled on, their laughter cruel and mocking.
"No wonder the Navy's been losing ground against us pirates all these years…"
"Turns out you've got no one left! An eight-year-old brat's considered a top figure now?"
"Vice Admiral Comil, doesn't it sting? Being ordered around by a weak little kid? Why not ditch the uniform and join us instead? Pirates are free—none of those Navy chains around your neck! Hahaha!"
"An eight-year-old trying to negotiate with us? Kid, you've got guts. Just don't start crying later!"
Comil's hand twitched, his patience fraying under Blackbeard's sneers.
But Sengoku's orders were clear: the Seraphim must be the ones to strike. This was their chance to test the Seraphim in real combat.
And since Natsuha was here—and the Seraphim were his inventions—Comil swallowed his anger and kept silent.
"Who says the Navy has no strength?" Natsuha replied evenly.
His calm tone carried no anger, no agitation. To him, Blackbeard and his men were nothing more than corpses that hadn't yet realized they were dead.
He would let them dance a little longer. That much was his mercy.
Hearing this, the Blackbeard Pirates burst into fresh laughter, clutching their bellies.
"Zehahaha! Kid, maybe those so-called 'strong ones' of yours only look powerful in your eyes!" Blackbeard sneered.
"Yeah, brat! Maybe those 'strong ones' you're bragging about—I could crush them all with a single punch!" Burgess boasted, flexing his massive fists.
"Kill these brats and boil them into soup, that'd be just about right…"
Lafitte leered, making a mock "scary face" as if to spook children.
But Natsuha's lips curled faintly upward. A troupe of clowns—nothing more.
They still hadn't sensed the terrifying energy radiating from the Seraphim at his side.
Without another word to them, he ordered one Seraphim to bring Ace forward.
"Ace belongs to us," Natsuha said coolly.
Blackbeard's grin twisted with cruelty.
Of course Ace had to go to the Navy. Without delivering him, Blackbeard couldn't claim the Shichibukai title.
But this eight-year-old dared act like the deal was his to dictate? That, Blackbeard would not forget.
He would teach the brat a hard lesson. Show him just how cruel this world could be.
Killing him was off the table—the Shichibukai arrangement depended on this exchange.
But taking something from him? That was fair game.
"Ace is yours. But the Shichibukai seat—and one of your battleships—those are ours now, right?" Blackbeard's smile was oily and conniving.
"You bastard! The Navy never agreed to give you a battleship!" Comil barked.
The pirates only laughed louder.
"Zehahaha! I just changed my mind. What's the problem with that?"
"You don't seriously think you'll leave this island safely without giving us a ship, do you?"
The Blackbeard crew straightened in unison, their bloodlust exploding outward.
The air itself grew heavy under their pressure.
Comil felt the weight in his very bones, sensing their power with Kenbunshoku Haki.
No wonder they had captured Fire Fist Ace, once the strongest rookie of his generation.
Their strength was truly formidable.