Hadena and Hademan stayed silent.
They understood Mostima's words well enough but where could they find such a monster? They had been waiting for three years and found nothing.
The great pirate crews in the New World were already at their peaks; joining them now would mean nothing but scraps. Their rank would be low, and they had no interest in following youngsters like Kaido or Big Mom.
Still, beneath their silence, a faint anticipation stirred.
"Boss! Something's happening at a bar. Want to take a look?" A pirate rushed in, breathless, and called to Mostima.
"Abby, what is it?" Hadena asked, folding his arms.
If Teach had been here, he would've recognized the young pirate instantly this was the same Abby who had charged him back at the port.
"A new pirate landed on the island this morning," Abby explained quickly. "The moment I saw him, I felt pressure. Remembering what was said on the ship, I tailed him. He went into a tavern. The Mad Blade Pirates are about to storm the place. A fight's about to break out, so I came straight here."
Abby wasn't just any crewmember. He was Mostima's sharpest trainee, gifted with natural intuition.
Under Mostima's guidance, he'd awakened his Observation Haki and shown rare talent. Mostima had assigned him to watch the port precisely for this reason; to catch threats early and relay word.
"Hmm. Traveling alone on a small boat?" Mostima rubbed his chin. "You say he gave you pressure. How does he compare to me?"
"This…" Abby hesitated, his throat tightening.
"Speak honestly. I won't blame you." Mostima's voice was calm, almost kind. Abby let out a shaky breath. He recalled the figure he'd followed earlier.
At last, he glanced nervously at Hademan. Compared to Mostima's quiet patience, Hademan's violence made him far more terrifying.
"What're you staring at? Spit it out already!" Hademan barked, eyes flashing.
Abby flinched but nodded. "I feel… he's stronger than the captain. Much stronger."
Gasps spread through the hall. Abby pressed on, his voice trembling but honest. "If the captain is an eagle, then that man is a flood dragon. Outwardly, he looks ordinary. But when I sense him with Observation Haki… there's nothing. An abyss. The more I think about him, the clearer his shadow lingers in my mind."
Fear showed in Abby's face.
Hadena frowned. "Yesterday morning, there was a storm. A rare one. How far did it stretch?" His gaze fell on Shuke, the bespectacled navigator.
Shuke blinked, then pulled a small notebook from his pocket. "Because it was unusual, I recorded it. The storm spanned seven, maybe eight islands. White Sand Island included. Our whole sea area was inside its reach." He pushed his glasses up, voice serious.
The crew went silent. To cross such a monstrous storm alone? Impossible for an ordinary man. Coupled with Abby's judgment, how could such a figure be unknown?
Mostima's lips curved into a smile. He slid his silver sword back into its sheath and faced the door. "Let's go. Time to meet this fellow."
His men followed.
Laughter and shouts echoed through the street. Dozens of pirates marched down the center of the road. At the front strode a giant three meters tall, a thick beard covering his scarred jaw, serrated cutlass resting on his shoulder.
"Hahaha! To the bar! Tonight, I, Mad Blade Schiller, claim it for myself!"
"Yeah! Thank you, Boss!" his men roared.
Citizens and pirates alike shrank to the sides of the street. Residents lowered their eyes, fearful and disgusted. Other pirates gave the Mad Blade crew a wide berth.
Everyone knew their reputation, slaughter, cruelty, and madness. Schiller himself had a bounty of 130 million, infamous across these waters.
He was known for disemboweling pleading victims with his jagged blade. Mercy had no place in his dictionary, not even for his own crew. His men obeyed because they feared him more than death.
And Schiller reveled in it.
Inside the tavern, Teach ate heartily. He wasn't refined, but he wasn't crude either. He worked through the last bowls of fried rice and braised meat. His second bottle of rum was already uncorked. He inhaled its aroma deeply, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy as if drunk.
In truth, his tolerance was tremendous, sharpened during his years under Whitebeard. What looked like drunkenness was simply his way of savoring fine liquor, losing himself in it.
For Teach, true drinking meant letting yourself sway with the warmth. Over time, it had become a habit.
"Zehahaha! Little Loya, wanna sail with me?" he called toward the kitchen window. "If you can bake cherry pie, I'll make you our crew's cook. We'll guard you like treasure... Zehahaha!"
Before Loya could answer, a fork flew past his head with a thunk, burying itself deep into the wooden wall.
"Go to hell, you old drunk! I'm not going to sea with you!" Loya shouted, her hair bristling.
Teach only grinned, trading a glance with Doyle. He lifted his rum and sipped.
"Am I really that old, in a young lady's eyes?" he muttered, rubbing his chin. "Don't talk nonsense, little Loya. A temper like that, and you'll never get married." He laughed.
Doyle chuckled too. He hadn't felt this kind of warmth in years. He poured himself a drink.
The tavern doors slammed open with a crash. Splinters flew. Faces turned pale.
"It's Mad Blade Schiller! Why is he here?!"
Schiller swaggered in, cutlass dragging against the wooden floor with a screech, gouging a line in the planks. He looked around at the frightened faces and grinned wide.
"This bar's mine tonight. Get out, trash!"
"Did you hear that? Our captain gave an order! Out, unless you wanna die!" his men jeered.
The other patrons looked humiliated but helpless. In this world, might ruled. One by one, they left their meals behind and slunk out, their anger hidden behind fear. The Mad Blade crew howled with laughter, savoring the sight.
Crowds gathered outside, drawn by the noise.
"Boss, they're too arrogant," Hadena muttered from the crowd. "If this continues, the island's business will suffer. Shall we wipe them out now?"
Mostima's gaze fixed on a figure sitting at the counter inside. Broad shoulders, black cloak, rum in hand.
"Not yet," he said softly. "Watch."
Schiller's eyes landed on Teach, the only man who hadn't moved. Rage twisted his face.
"Oi! Didn't you hear me? Get out! I said this bar's mine!"
Teach turned lazily, smiling. "Can you wait a moment? The fried rice here is truly delicious. I'll be done soon. The rum's good too. Want a sip?" He held out the bottle.
With a snarl, Schiller smacked the bottle from his hand. It shattered on the floor, wine splattering everywhere.
"Ohhh, that's it. He's dead!" someone whispered outside.
Teach calmly wiped his hand. "Floor's a mess now. Doyle, got a rag? I'll clean it up."
"No need. I'll handle it," Doyle said quietly, meeting Teach's eyes.
"Haha, thanks. My fault anyway," Teach replied, still smiling.
He picked up his spoon again. But just as he lifted the plate, Schiller's hand lashed out, slapping it from the counter. Fried rice scattered across the floor.
Gasps filled the tavern.
"Who do you think you are? Eat it off the floor if you like it so much!" Schiller sneered. He stomped down hard, grinding his boot into the spilled rice. "Eat it! You hear me? Our captain commands you to eat!" his men shouted.
Loya covered her mouth, horrified. She had poured herself into that dish.
Teach said nothing. He bent, lifted the plate from the ground, and crouched over the mess.
"Endure that? What kind of man is he?!" Hademan growled outside. "Abby was wrong—someone this weak can't be stronger than the boss!"
"Quiet," Hadena cut him off. His eyes flicked to Mostima, who was staring with intense focus.
"No need to worry," Teach said with a grin. He began scooping the fried rice back into the plate with exaggerated care. "This little girl worked hard to make it. Wasting food's a sin."
He shoveled a spoonful into his mouth and chewed happily. "Still the same taste… delicious! The best fried rice I've ever eaten."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
"He really ate it…"
"Off the floor… and he's smiling…"
Inside, outside, every pair of eyes was fixed on the man in the black cloak, eating calmly as if nothing in the world could shake him.