While Taro was exploring the Origin Factory, in the sea 50 kilometers away from Narikude Island,
the Saber of Xebec slowly came to a halt. Blackbeard leaned back in a wide sofa, his ugly face clouded with gloom.
Behind the sofa, San Juan Wolf, who had shrunk to his smallest size but was still tall, covered his mouth with one hand, chewing on something cautiously.
"Dictator King" Avalo Pizarro walked over aggressively.
"Teach, we're almost there. Why stop instead of setting up an ambush? If you don't know how to command a battle, let me be the Captain!"
Blackbeard's eyelids drooped slightly, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.
Then, he looked up, revealing a hearty smile.
"Zehahaha, Pizarro, don't be so impatient. Wait a bit. I feel like something isn't quite right; I need to think!"
Avalo Pizarro was very dissatisfied. "With a great battle imminent, hesitation is the worst thing. You..."
"Lulululu, Pizarro, don't be impulsive. Shot and Burgess can't be reached, and communication with the altar has been lost. It's certain that something happened. It's better to be careful!"
"Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon laughed hoarsely for a while and offered some comfort.
She was wearing gaudy, colorful clothes and a pink cape. Her outfit consisted of at least ten different colors, making her quite an eyesore.
Blackbeard's expression grew even more sinister. He had already sent people to investigate the altar, but Burgess and the others... they were his most relied-upon assistants. Now that they hadn't been reachable for several days, he feared they had met with misfortune!
Especially today's newspaper, which reported that the Germa Kingdom had suffered an invasion by pirates.
Although the content of the newspaper was vague, Blackbeard knew that the so-called pirates were Burgess and Shot.
Is that old hag Bakkin trying to scheme against me?
Devon glanced at the contemplative Blackbeard. "Teach, this decisive battle..."
Blackbeard sensed Devon's hesitation. His jewel-encrusted hand clenched into a fist and swung forcefully, releasing a Quake Fist toward the sea.
"Zehahaha! With this kind of power, what does it matter if the Whitebeard Pirates Remnants come out in full force?"
"It seems another faction wants to intervene in this decisive battle, but so what?"
"When a man makes a decision, he must have the resolve to gamble his life. Leave the rest to fate!"
Avalo Pizarro muttered, "Then what are we still waiting here for?"
Blackbeard smiled mysteriously. "Waiting for a powerful combatant to join us. Someone you would absolutely never expect!"
Avalo and Devon looked at each other, both seeing the confusion in the other's eyes.
Blackbeard didn't intend to explain further and laughed wantonly.
"Comrades, have patience. In this decisive battle, the victors will still be us! Zehahaha!"
A few hours later, a pirate lackey on the lookout tower held binoculars, leaning half his body out, nearly falling over.
"There's... someone riding a bicycle on the sea, coming toward us!"
A moment later, he cried out in alarm again.
"It's... it's Aokiji! The former Marine Admiral Aokiji!"
Blackbeard grinned and laughed loudly, taking a large gulp of wine.
"Zehahaha, he's here! Let's go. We're going to welcome this powerful 'ally'!"
Devon and Pizarro were stunned. They never imagined a former Marine Admiral would have any connection with Blackbeard!
"Zehahaha, Kuzan, you're finally here!"
Blackbeard stood by the ship's railing, looking at Aokiji on the sea's surface.
A glint of light flashed across Aokiji's small sunglasses, and his tone was cold.
"I don't like looking up to talk to people. Come down."
Blackbeard was taken aback for a moment. "Zehahaha, what an ally with personality!"
Then he jumped down, landing heavily on the ice.
Aokiji's attitude remained very cold as he shook his head slightly.
"Ally? No, I believe I told you already. I'm only interested in the thing on that island. Intervening in your war this time is just because I want to know what secrets that thing hides!"
"Zehahaha, the prerequisite is that I must be the one who wins the war against the Whitebeard Pirates Remnants!"
Blackbeard laughed loudly. "I also told you, Whitebeard held a part of that thing as well. Now that the old fellow is dead, that thing must be in the hands of the Whitebeard Pirates Remnants. It won't be easy to get them to hand it over!"
Blackbeard's words were meant to get Aokiji to commit to helping him fight, and Aokiji naturally understood.
"Hmph. I'll be watching from the side. As for whether I take action, or when... hmph!"
With Aokiji present, regardless of whether he acted, the Whitebeard Pirates would have to spare manpower to be wary of him.
More importantly, a former Marine Admiral standing in Blackbeard's camp would be a devastating blow to the confidence of the Whitebeard Pirates Remnants!
This Payback War, I am certain to win!
"That's enough!" A smile appeared on Blackbeard's face.
"Then now, according to our agreement, I can reveal some information about that thing to you in advance!"
The pupils behind Aokiji's sunglasses contracted sharply as he stared intently at Blackbeard without saying a word.
Blackbeard's scar-covered, ugly face revealed a terrifying smile.
"That thing involves the essence of Devil Fruit abilities!"
"The essence of Devil Fruit abilities?" Aokiji murmured, looking down at his palm as a layer of extreme frost rose from his hand.
A trace of hatred flashed in Blackbeard's eyes. "Yes, the essence!"
Aokiji frowned.
"Blackbeard, you're seizing Whitebeard's territory, yet you aren't interested in the thing itself. What exactly are you trying to do?"
Upon hearing this, the hostility radiating from Blackbeard surged, but it only lasted for an instant before subsiding.
"That's not within our agreement; you don't need to know. However, if you're willing to become my comrade, I could tell you a bit. Zehahaha, how's that? It's very fair!"
Seeing Aokiji remain silent, Blackbeard spoke again.
"In any case, there's no conflict of interest between us. It won't be too late to answer after you've seen that thing and thought it over!"
Aokiji stared at Blackbeard for a long time. "Why do you know so much?"
Blackbeard gave a cold and disdainful smile.
"You were a Marine Admiral for many years, but everything you know is only what the World Government allowed you to know. How truly pitiful!"
Upon hearing this, Aokiji instantly turned into frost, emitting a piercing chill. His gaze toward Blackbeard was extremely cold.
Beside him, a sleeping penguin named Camel felt the refreshing cold and let out a 'Ya!' sound. Its snot bubble burst as it suddenly woke up.
"Zehahaha, don't be so angry, Kuzan. Now, from the standpoint of a pirate, look at this world again. You'll see many different sights!"
Blackbeard rubbed his large belly with his hand.
"You will find out!"
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