As night fell, Hachinosu remained as lively as ever.
Most of the pirates here, like their boss Blackbeard, were roughnecks who loved alcohol and good food.
During the day, they swarmed out into the New World, committing all manner of atrocities—burning, killing, and plundering.
They dabbled in everything: war mercenaries, armed transport, human trafficking.
At night, they gathered on Hachinosu like birds returning to their nests, holding feasts around the massive palace at the island's center.
In the spacious hall stood a round table laden with various dishes and drinks.
"Weehahaha! Teach, so you've already obtained a third Devil Fruit?"
Seated around the table were Van Augur, the Death God Doc Q, Champion Burgess, and a strange horse that kept coughing up blood.
The speaker was Burgess.
Two months ago, he had been beaten half to death by Sabo in Dressrosa.
Later, he managed to cling to the bottom of a Revolutionary Army ship and followed it to their base.
Burgess then contacted Blackbeard, intending to launch a surprise attack on the Revolutionary Army's headquarters.
But by the time Blackbeard and his crew arrived in full force, the Revolutionary Army had already vanished without a trace.
Burgess was brutally beaten again, nearly losing his life.
Fortunately, the exceptionally skilled doctor Q treated him, barely keeping his wretched life intact.
It was only in the last couple of days that he fully recovered.
Upon waking, he learned that Shiryu, Jozu, Pizarro, Devon, and Lafitte had all died, leaving him in a daze for several days.
Teach sat imposingly in the main seat, grabbing a large piece of roasted meat with his big hand and eating greedily, his mouth slick with grease.
"Zehahahaha! That's right! My third Devil Fruit is Marco the Phoenix's ability."
Van Augur adjusted his monocle, took a sip of red wine, and chuckled lightly.
"Captain Teach's current strength is probably beyond our imagination. I can sense he's grown significantly stronger than before. The Paramecia Tremor-Tremor Fruit, the Logia Darkness Fruit, and the Zoan Mythical Zoan Phoenix Model. With all three types of abilities now in his possession, his accumulated strength likely rivals Shanks. As for that Caesar…"
Doc Q bit into an apple, spat out a mouthful of blood, and murmured weakly.
"Fate will ultimately guide Teach to success. But challenging Caesar… I fear Lady Luck might just take a dump on your head first, cursing you with misfortune."
"Is that Caesar really that strong?" Burgess found it hard to believe that Teach, who now possessed the powers of three Devil Fruits, was still unable to reign supreme and dominate the seas of the New World.
After all, following the Summit War, Teach had led them charging into the vast ocean of the New World.
With the Tremor-Tremor Fruit in one hand and the Dark-Dark Fruit in the other, Teach swept through almost every opponent in the New World.
Whether facing old-timers from the previous era or the great pirates of the new era, once Teach made his move, it was like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood—swift, unstoppable, and utterly invincible!
Typically, he would pull his enemies in with his darkness and follow up with a tremor strike to end any battle.
And now, with an additional ability, the energy within him multiplied exponentially!
"Captain Teach! Someone is here to see you!"
Suddenly, a low-ranking crew member rushed in.
"Let them in!"
Teach didn't even ask who it was and gave the order directly.
"Yes!"
The crew member turned and dashed back out.
A moment later, a tall, thin figure shrouded entirely in a black robe, wrapped up tightly, walked in alone.
His attire stunned the few people who were eating.
"We don't welcome shady characters here."
Van Augur's hand holding the cup vanished like a phantom as he drew the long gun from his back without even aiming.
Bang!
A swift gunshot rang out, shattering the mask on the robed figure's face.
Teach raised an eyebrow.
"Diamante of the Donquixote Family? Aren't you with the Beast God Pirates? What are you doing here?"
The visitor was indeed Diamante.
Diamante studied Teach, his heart filled with shock.
Just standing in front of Teach, he could feel the immense power continuously radiating from the man!
He even felt his legs go weak, as if his body were submerged in seawater or shackled with Seastone Cuffs.
Immediately, Diamante removed his black robe, suppressing his inner fear, took a deep breath, and said to Teach.
"Blackbeard, I've come... to seek cooperation!"
"Oh? Cooperation?"
Teach tossed aside the roasted meat he was holding.
His greasy hands emitted ethereal black streams that completely covered them before vanishing, taking the grease along.
He picked up a napkin from the table, wiped the corner of his mouth, then leaned back in his chair, looking at the uneasy Diamante with an amused expression.
"Let's hear it."
Diamante licked his lips and gritted his teeth.
"I'm sure you're aware, Blackbeard, that the Beast God Pirates are about to clash with the Marines Headquarters. Although the Beast God Pirates are indeed strong now, the Marines Headquarters, backed by the World Government, have developed tremendously over the two years since they defeated the Whitebeard Pirates. Their power is now like a blazing fire, at its peak."
"If the two sides go to all-out war, the vast territory of Totto Land will be left unguarded. At that time, I am willing to act as an insider and reveal their remaining defensive forces to you, one by one!"
"With their home base lost and the powerful Marines pressing from the front, the Beast God Pirates will surely be thrown into chaos! Then, if you join forces with the Marines to attack from both sides, you can seize the opportunity to absorb the Beast God Pirates' remaining forces, replace them, and become the undisputed ruler of the New World!"
Diamante finished in one breath, relieved, and looked at Teach with hopeful eyes.
"Zehahaha, a fine plan."
Teach laughed heartily, rocking back and forth, even slapping the table.
"Heh, you flatter me, Blackbeard."
Diamante was overjoyed.But Teach quickly suppressed his smile and looked at him expressionlessly.
"But why should I believe you? From what I know, you're just an insignificant underling under Caesar. If it were your young master Doflamingo seeking cooperation with me, I might seriously consider it. But you? What are you worth?"
Diamante's smile froze on his face, feeling an indescribable sense of humiliation and anger in his heart, but he didn't dare show it.
He could only stammer.
"Blackbeard, my relationship with the young master is like family. I can effortlessly obtain all personnel arrangements and important intelligence data he receives from the Beast God Pirates. Moreover..."
After a moment of internal struggle, he gritted his teeth and pulled out a glass test tube from his chest.
Inside the transparent test tube was a colorful liquid mixture shimmering with an elusive glow.
"This is one of the highest experimental secrets of the Beast God Pirates - the Evolution Potion, which can multiply human physical body several times! If you willing to cooperate with me, I'm willing to take some risks to obtain more Evolution Potions for you!"
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