"Hahahaha…"
Blackbeard burst into laughter, reaching for his pocket. "Who do you think I am? Talking to a customer like this…"
Mid-sentence, his expression froze, and then he patted his pockets up and down.
"Huh? Where's my money?"
Seeing this, the waiter was furious. This slob was trying to dine and dash.
He immediately prepared to call the boss, but as he opened his mouth, his pupils suddenly constricted, his face filled with horror.
Behind Blackbeard, a mass of black shadow slowly rose, gradually forming into a human figure.
The figure was entirely black, with only a pair of eyes staring intently.
Perhaps sensing the waiter's expression, Blackbeard paused and suddenly turned around, looking behind him.
His expression changed slightly, then he said in a low voice, "Shadow Fiend!"
As soon as he said this, the diners in the restaurant exclaimed in unison.
"Shadow Fiend! That Shadow Fiend from the Phantom Pirates!?"
"The great pirate with a 500 million bounty, the one who killed a Celestial Dragon, that Shadow Fiend?"
"How did he appear?"
The crowd suddenly stood up, all moving away from the bar.
Vladimir stared calmly at Blackbeard and said, "You recognize me?"
Hearing this, Blackbeard narrowed his eyes slightly. "Who hasn't heard your name? Why would someone like you appear here?"
"Stop pretending, Marshall D. Teach."
Vladimir said indifferently, then corrected himself, "No, Blackbeard!"
Blackbeard!
Hearing this title, Blackbeard's face immediately sank. Most people called him Teach; few referred to him as Blackbeard.
After all, Whitebeard was an Emperor, and he was just a member of the Fourth Division. Calling himself Blackbeard was like challenging Whitebeard.
"You're looking for me… I have no dealings with your Phantom Organization."
Sensing the ill intent of the visitor, Blackbeard became extremely wary.
"Cut the nonsense, where is Nini Poland?" Vladimir said, too lazy to bicker, and directly pressed for an answer.
Hearing this, Blackbeard's eyes flashed, and he suddenly attacked.
His left hand dropped, and with a slight shake, a black hook claw suddenly appeared, slashing towards Vladimir's chest.
The movement was extremely swift, and under a surprise attack, it would be difficult for an ordinary person to dodge.
But Vladimir remained motionless, completely ignoring the attack.
Whoosh!
A black light flashed, and the hook claw swept past. Vladimir's lower body and upper body were instantly separated.
However, before Blackbeard could smile, his expression suddenly froze, his eyes staring blankly.
He saw the chest area where the Shadow Fiend had been swept was turning into wisps of black smoke. These black smoke seemed to have no physical substance, and after being dispersed, they condensed again.
"Impossible! I used Haki just now!" he exclaimed in disbelief.
As he spoke, he leaped backward, jumping behind the bar, and simultaneously kicked out, sending the entire bar flying towards Vladimir.
Seeing this, Vladimir said unhurriedly, "Decisive enough to attack immediately upon hearing Nini Poland's name. However, you won't escape!"
As his voice fell, the Shadow Fiend's body suddenly disappeared. The next moment, he appeared within Blackbeard's shadow.
This ability, similar to teleportation, immediately made Blackbeard's heart clench.
He swung his hook claw back, but it missed again.
Vladimir raised his right hand, ignoring the opponent's attack, and reached directly for Blackbeard's neck.
"I know you had contact with Nini Poland a few days ago, and I can guess what agreement you reached. Now, I just want to ask you, where is she?"
"You're after the Treasure-Hunting Mouse too!"
Blackbeard retreated repeatedly, all the way to the door, preparing to flee at any moment.
If possible, he didn't want to clash with the Phantom Organization.
"I'll ask one more time, where is she?" Vladimir said calmly. "If you don't answer, I will have no choice but to annihilate you."
"Hahahaha…"
Blackbeard chuckled twice. "Shadow Fiend, a member of the Phantom Organization, possesses the world's top infiltration and stealth abilities but is not good at combat. In the Phantom Organization, he's like a messenger. If it were one of your ruling-level executives, I certainly wouldn't be a match, but how could you possibly defeat me!"
"Is that so? You seem to know our members quite well."
Vladimir waved his hand, and black smoke billowed out, filling the entire restaurant with dense black mist.
Blackbeard immediately lost track of the Shadow Fiend; even his Observation Haki couldn't detect him.
Immediately, cold sweat dripped from his forehead. This bizarre ability was indeed in the style of the Phantom Organization.
Then, the Shadow Fiend's voice echoed, seemingly from all directions.
"Such a minor figure, daring to speak so boldly?" Vladimir merged with the surrounding black smoke. "You can only hide under Whitebeard's name and engage in dark dealings. Just you, there's no need for a ruling-level executive to act. I alone am enough."
As soon as the voice fell, dozens of dark blades condensed from the surrounding black smoke, attacking Blackbeard from all directions—front, back, left, and right.
"Wait!"
Seeing this, Blackbeard quickly said, "Since you're also after the Treasure-Hunting Mouse, why don't we cooperate? Nini Poland proposed the condition of rescuing her brother. If you and I join forces, we can rescue Andy Poland from the prison ship!"
"Hehehehe… We have no interest in cooperating with minor figures."
Vladimir said dismissively. "Besides, Andy has already disappeared, rescued by a mysterious person. Your plan has fallen through!"
"What did you say!?"
Blackbeard was greatly alarmed.
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