Chapter 24: Blackbeard Teach's Wrath
"Is your head worth anything?"
Satan's expression was light as a breeze.
At that, Bloodbeard burst out laughing. "Brothers, this brat is asking if my head is worth money."
"Listen up, brat.
"Standing before you is the captain of the Bloodbeard Pirates, a great pirate with a ninety-million bounty.
"Tell me, is my captain's head worth anything?"
The dual-blade pirate behind Bloodbeard laughed.
"A few tens of millions at most. A small fry," Satan said calmly.
The whole tavern jolted again.
"What an arrogant kid. A fresh rookie?"
"Calling Bloodbeard a small fry—has the fool gone money-mad?"
"Trying to ride the wave to fame, I bet."
"Fame? You still need strength for that. This is Bloodbeard."
"There are always rookies looking for shortcuts on these seas."
"Calves unafraid of tigers. Shame he picked the wrong target."
The pirates chattered, eyeing Satan as if he were hopelessly ignorant.
"Brat, this granddaddy's head is worth nearly a hundred million. Want it?" Bloodbeard's aura surged. A terrifying killing intent blanketed Satan. He would make him taste true horror and twist off his head amid screams.
"A hundred million is too much.
"I only need a hundred thousand Berries. I'll sell your head to the proprietress," Satan said, unmoved.
In that instant, all the laughter in the tavern cut off. Everyone stared, dumbfounded. They had never heard anything so absurd—yet Satan's face held only seriousness. He wasn't joking.
Bloodbeard's wild laughter died.
"Brat, you're really getting on my nerves.
"I'm the great pirate Bloodbeard who'll one day sweep the New World.
"I will surpass Whitebeard himself.
"You've made me angry."
His killing intent boiled. Satan's naked contempt had to be paid for.
"Surpass Whitebeard?
"With what, you gutter trash," came a cold, displeased voice.
"Who said that? Who!" Bloodbeard roared. How many would ignore him today?
"Me. Blackbeard."
Boom.
A violent aura flared from a corner of the bar. Satan felt a power that made his heart clench. He followed the aura and saw a burly middle-aged man, rough of face and thick with body hair. His hair was black and tousled beneath a bandana. Two necklaces hung at his throat, bracelets circled both wrists, and jeweled rings gleamed on all ten fingers. Three flintlocks rode his left hip, a bottle of strong rum was tucked at his right. Green trousers, black coat—the very picture of a vulgar upstart.
From him, Satan sensed a mighty Wrath.
"Ding. Wrath detected. Absorb?"
"Absorb."
"Absorption successful. Gained 300 Wrath. Randomly gained 30 Stamina."
"This guy carries so much wrath?" Satan was startled. It was the first time he had taken three hundred points of a Deadly Sin from a single person. This man was Blackbeard Teach. Then the two hundred Gluttony points earlier—was that because of him too?
Satan hadn't expected to meet Blackbeard here. Had Ace been captured? About to be captured? Blackbeard Teach would one day kill Whitebeard and become a Yonko, a superlative villain.
"Blackbeard?"
"Never heard of you.
"If you dare interrupt Bloodbeard-sama's fun, I'll start with you," Redbeard bellowed and hurled a heavy punch at Teach.
Bang.
His fist slammed into Teach's head—yet it felt like striking steel. A crack sounded, and his hand broke.
"Ah!"
A scream of pain tore from Redbeard's mouth as he clutched his shattered hand.
"W-what just happened?"
"The captain's hand snapped?"
"Is that guy's body harder than steel?"
The pirates were aghast. Redbeard had attacked Blackbeard, yet Redbeard was the one injured. What a monstrous body.
Step.
Step.
Step.
"With trash like you, surpass Whitebeard?" Blackbeard's eyes were icy. His aura grew even thicker, like a demon god in the dark. Redbeard began to tremble.
"W-who are you really?
"There can't be a monster like this on the seas."
"Remember this. In your next life, set your target straight.
"Only I get to surpass Whitebeard."
Blackbeard threw a punch.
Boom.
Redbeard was blasted away. The terrifying force smashed through the tavern wall and even toppled several houses in a row.
"What horrifying brute strength."
"Blackbeard, huh?" Satan mused. As expected, Blackbeard was no simple man. Even without the Gura Gura no Mi, he was formidable. When he hid himself, there was no sign at all. If Redbeard hadn't boasted about surpassing Whitebeard, they might never have noticed Blackbeard was here.
Wait.
Redbeard just got sent flying.
So who pays the bill?
Satan looked at Blackbeard. "Hey, that guy was my prey.
"If I don't have him, how do I pay?
"Do I use your head instead?"
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