Blackbeard

Marine Headquarters - Fleet Admiral's Office

As soon as the Den Den Mushi's projection went out, the room fell into dead silence.

Only the sea breeze from outside the window swept through the room, stirring a stack of official documents on the corner of the table. The rustling sound of the documents turning was like the pages of a book about the fate of the navy and the world, turned to a crucial chapter by the hand of destiny.

Sengoku stood with his back to everyone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the Harbor of Marineford, where a warship returning to port in the morning sun was slowly approaching the shore.

His shadow stretched long in the sunlight, heavy as a mountain.

"For Roy to still spare no expense in protecting a certain 'intelligence source' during an operation of the 'hunting down of the Four Emperors' level," he said in a low voice.

That fruit is definitely extraordinary.

His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

He gently pushed aside the documents beside him, his fingers interlaced, his gaze behind his glasses like cold lightning. "That child has always been cautious in his actions, unless there's something extremely powerful involved behind the scenes."

"If he insists on concealing the information about the fruit from the official battle report, then this fruit... may involve more than just the power of the user."

Rather, it's something he doesn't want the 'upper class' to interfere with.

Zephyr snorted coldly, his brows furrowed. "Hmph, that kid has never been one to follow the rules."

"But each time the line is crossed, it's to remove a larger abscess."

Kuzan abandoned his usual languidness, placed his hands on his knees, and stared directly at Sengoku's back:

"Fleet Admiral, you just mentioned that you wanted to 'personally handle the intelligence sources'..."

"Are you preparing to--"

Sengoku suddenly turned around, a golden light Flash in his eyes, his tone firm and almost unquestionable:

No need to ask any more questions.

All three were startled, then fell silent.

They weren't unaware; rather, they all understood that if Sengoku decided to handle it personally, then this matter was already beyond their authority.

It might even involve special beings such as the "Celestial Dragons" and the "Five Elders".

Sengoku silently closed the document sealed with black "Top Secret" wax, and slowly put on the coat with the word "Justice" written on it.

"Although this operation yielded brilliant results,"

"But Whitebeard's death, Marco's capture, Teach's imprisonment..."

All of this is enough to shake the balance of the entire world.

"I must personally go to Holy Land Mary Geoise to explain to the Five Elders."

As he reached the door and pushed it open, Tsuru suddenly spoke softly, "The Sengoku, Mary Geoise was not Battlefield."

"But it is more dangerous than any Battlefield."

Sengoku paused slightly, his shoulders as broad as mountains.

He turned his head slightly, his eyes no longer displaying their usual serene nature, but rather the coldness and clarity of a true Fleet Admiral: "Rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

He took a deep breath and uttered the final command:

"Before Roy and the others return--"

"Block all external information, including newspapers, intelligence networks, and even the World Government's direct communications."

The three exchanged a glance, and none of them objected.

This is not only for the sake of "balance," but also to preserve the "order" that they can still control.

"Bang--"

The heavy doors slammed shut, and the "Justice" cloak cast a slanted shadow in the air.

The entire Marine Headquarters seemed to be facing a silent yet raging storm with Sengoku's departure.

New World Route: Warship Bottom Floor Prison

"Bang--"

The heavy iron gate slowly closed, and the guards retreated to a distance under Roy's gaze, leaving only a dark and cold dungeon.

Inside a cage made of special materials, Blackbeard was charred black and covered in chains.

His arms and legs were tightly locked in a specially designed "Cross Shackles," and a burn on his chest was still emitting Smoke.

He was still unconscious, his head was tilted to one side, blood remained at the corner of his mouth, and he looked extremely disheveled.

Roy stood outside the bars, his gaze as cold as a knife, silently watching the monster that had once laughed wildly in the darkness.

"Their vitality is truly remarkable..."

"As expected of Rocks' offspring."

He muttered under his breath, his tone filled with both disgust and a chilling coldness.

Ace stood to the side, his brows slightly furrowed. This wasn't the first time he'd heard the name "Rocks" since the start of the great battle.

"Who is Rocks...?"

Why is Roy so concerned?

But he didn't ask any more questions, and simply waited silently for Roy's instructions.

Roy gave a signal with his eyes, Ace understood immediately. He pinched his fingers together, and a small flame flickered from his fingertips.

"Sizzle--!"

The flame landed precisely on Teach's burns in his ribs, the intense heat instantly stimulating his nerves!

"Ahhh--!"

Teach jolted awake, the excruciating pain contorting his features, his eyes bulging, his teeth grinding together.

Upon seeing the figure outside the cell, he trembled violently, his eyes widening in shock!

"Roy... Roy?!"

He struggled to get up, only to find that his entire body was chained and he couldn't move at all!

"How did I get here?! Where's Pops? Where's my fruit?!"

Roy simply stated coldly, "Whitebeard is dead."

Teach was completely stunned.

His expression was as if he had been struck by some invisible giant hammer. In just a few seconds, his face went from fear to blankness, and then from blankness to frenzy!

"Dead? That monster Whitebeard Pops... is dead?!"

He muttered to himself, his voice like the grumbling of a drowning man.

The next second, a slow grin spread across his face, revealing a row of perfectly white teeth. He sneered, "Zhehahaha... You guys are really insane..."

"They actually killed that monster, lunatics... you're all lunatics..."

"The world is about to go berserk!!"

As he laughed, he suddenly tilted his head back, his eyes as sinister as a venomous snake. "But I'm not dead yet, am I?"

"Since you locked me up but didn't kill me with a single blow... that means I'm still useful, right?!"

Ace's eyes narrowed instantly, sensing a hint of danger.

Teach grinned slyly, his "chess player" expression returning. "Heh heh—you want me to speak? Sure, as long as the price's right—"

"Bang!!"

Before he could finish speaking, Roy kicked the iron bars, sending the entire dungeon resounding with a deafening roar and dust raining down!

The iron bars flew off and hit Teach was so shocked that he spat out a mouthful of blood, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

The chains clanged coldly and heavily in the darkness.

Blood flowed from the corners of his mouth and wrists, mingling with sweat, the smell of burning, seawater, and overwhelming fear, enveloping the entire dungeon.

Roy approached silently, his figure like an executioner slowly emerging from the depths of hell.

Each step struck Teach's nerves with the heaviness of a hammer blow.

He stood in front of Teach, with no mercy in his eyes, and a shadow shrouded that ferocious face.

The air seemed to freeze, thick as if about to drip blood.

"Your father--"

Roy's voice was deep and cold, like a blade slowly scraping against bone.

"Rocks D. Xebec."

Teach's pupils contracted sharply, and he froze on the rack, his breathing paused briefly, and for the first time, true fear appeared on his face.

Roy leaned down, almost whispering in his ear, and asked, enunciating each word clearly, "What secret did I leave you with?"

Teach gasped for breath, like Beast being choked.

However, Roy's next words shattered all his hopes.

"A way to possess multiple Devil Fruits simultaneously..."

What is it?

"Boom--!"

Teach's brain seemed to be completely torn apart at that moment, as if an invisible thunderbolt struck from the back of his skull to his tailbone!

His face turned pale instantly, his pupils began to tremble violently, and even his fingertips twitched slightly from excessive tension!

"No... impossible!!"

His voice was broken, hoarse, and screaming; he struggled like a mad dog.

The chains rattled loudly, and blood splattered from the deep shackles digging into his wrists, but he remained oblivious.

"You... how... how did you know... that wasn't something you should have touched!!"

"You... you..."

His teeth chattered, and he couldn't even squeeze out a complete sentence.

Roy's eyes suddenly darkened, a cold glint flashing in them, so cold it made the dungeon temperature drop drastically.

He suddenly raised his hand, his five fingers gripping Teach's jaw like steel claws, and with a "crack," nearly crushed his jawbone!

Teach screamed and tried to break free, but could only let out broken gasps from his throat.

"This reaction... it seems I guessed right."