The Reason for His Hatred

Hachinosu Harbor

The sea breeze howled, and the heavy smell of gunpowder filled the air; the Harbor was deathly silent.

Ace's cold question, like a burning flame, instantly ignited the entire atmosphere.

However, Teach just laughed loudly, "Thief-haha!"

The laughter was exaggerated and shrill, as if deliberately mocking the flame of Justice before them.

He raised one hand and waved it casually.

Two members of the Blackbeard Pirates immediately dragged a badly wounded, barely alive man out of the shadows.

It was the squad leader who had attacked a civilian cargo ship without authorization a few days earlier.

The man was dragged in front of the crowd; his head was almost completely crushed, blood gushing from his mouth and nose, and his face was almost unrecognizable.

Teach looked down at him, her expression calm, yet revealing a chilling cruelty.

He stepped on the man's back, his smile chilling, "This matter—was indeed our fault."

"This guy under me is unruly and has gotten into trouble he shouldn't have."

He reached out his large hand, adorned with numerous rings, and patted the man's bloodied and mangled head with an almost gentle touch.

"I've... taken care of him for the Navy."

After saying that, Teach raised his head, revealing that malicious smile.

"I will discipline my subordinates properly from now on, Navy Commander."

He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "So—are you satisfied with this solution?"

His smile was chilling; it appeared humble on the surface, but was actually full of provocation.

That "humble" tone only made people feel more oppressed.

His words, though seemingly humble, were blatantly provocative.

Ace's gaze was like a knife, fixed on the dying captain, whose shattered head was faintly flaming in his palm.

"You're pretty ruthless when it comes to your own people, Teach..."

"In that respect, you're still the same as before." His tone was flat, yet it carried a hint of sarcasm.

Teach's smile faltered slightly.

In that instant, a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes.

"Just like before."

He knew perfectly well what Ace was trying to rub salt in the wound with.

The Whitebeard Pirates.

The Death of Thatch.

His "unruly" act of defection.

That understated sarcasm was tantamount to tearing open these long-buried memories once again.

The air seemed to freeze instantly, the air pressure plummeted, and even the sound of the waves crashing became muffled.

However, Teach only paused for half a second before bursting into his signature maniacal laughter again.

"Thief--hahaha!!"

He spread his arms wide, tilted his head back, and laughed exaggeratedly, "My rules are my rules!"

"Once a rule is established, it must be followed; otherwise, what's the point of having rules?!"

Ace's eyes turned slightly cold. "Back when you were in the Whitebeard Pirates, I never saw you follow the rules either."

"Especially—that most important one."

His voice was low, yet it resonated like Thunderclap in everyone's hearts.

The Blackbeard Pirates' officers exchanged bewildered glances; the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Some of the younger members didn't even understand the meaning of the sentence, but they all instinctively felt a suffocating sense of oppression.

Teach's laughter slowly faded, and the smile on his lips gradually disappeared.

His gaze met Ace's in mid-air—

At that moment, flames and shadows intertwined, as if even the air itself had been torn in two.

Lafitte turned slightly to the side, tapping his cane lightly with his fingertips, his eyes darting between the two men, ready to strike at any moment.

However, Teach suddenly laughed again.

This time, however, his laughter was low and menacing, like a mockery and threat squeezed from the depths of his throat.

"Thief—hahaha... Ace."

He raised his head, his dark pupils flashing with ambition and madness.

Things are different now.

"Back then, I was just a Pirate."

"Now—I am the leader of the Blackbeard Alliance."

He spread his arms wide, his smile full of arrogance, "You think the navy can just tread here like that?"

Flames burned in Ace's arms, and a storm suddenly arose.

Zoro and Kuina subtly tightened their grip on the hilts of their swords.

Luffy's smile vanished completely, his aura deepened, and Haki silently emanated from him.

But Ace's eyes burned brighter than any flame.

He whispered, "Do you know why I hate you so much, Teach?"

"It's not because you're Pirate, nor because you've ever defected—"

His voice was deep, and the flames in his chest crackled.

"But it's you--"

"They don't care about their brothers and comrades at all."

Those burning eyes revealed suppressed anger and contempt.

"A brother you've known for decades, you just kill him like that."

"Whitebeard, Thatch, that entire crew... in your eyes they're nothing but tools, aren't they?"

"But I'm different." Ace clenched his fist, and flames surged up like waves.

"Roy is the older brother I respect the most."

"Luffy, Sabo, Nami... they are my most important family."

"So people like you, who treat 'brotherhood' like a joke—"

"I despise them the most!!"

The air suddenly froze.

Teach's smile slowly faded, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Then—he burst out laughing.

"Thief--hahaha!!"

The laughter was unrestrained and arrogant, tinged with mockery and indifference.

"As long as I can survive to the end, I'll seize any opportunity!"

"Just a cargo ship--"

"The young masters of the navy actually came all this way to question me?"

He spread his hands, grinning sarcastically. "I've already 'dealt with' the person and made it clear they won't do it again. What more do you want? Do you want to start a war with me?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the group of newly joined Blackbeard thugs behind him were instantly ignited by his words.

They stared at each other, their arrogant laughter rising and falling.

"Haha! The Navy really has a big ego!"

"Four mere brats dare to come to Hachinosu and cause trouble?"

"With the boss around, do you think they can even make it back alive? Haha!"

More and more people joined in the commotion, and the arrogant laughter spread like a tide.

Ace, Luffy, Zoro, Kuina simply stood there quietly.

They didn't get angry, nor did they make a move.

Because they could tell that these people were just a bunch of trash.

--until.

From the back of the crowd, a drunken thug staggered out.

A twisted smile played on his lips; he had clearly drunk quite a bit and was intoxicated by the lively atmosphere.

"Haha--This is hilarious!"

He brandished the bottle of liquor in his hand, pointing mockingly at Ace and the others, his tone full of contempt:

"Your subordinates are all such cowards, what's your boss's name again?"

He pretended to "not remember," then grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth. "Oh right— Roy!"

Upon hearing this, Teach immediately reacted, stretching out his arm to slap his mouth shut, but it was too late.

"Your boss, Roy, must be a complete waste of space too!!"

In an instant, the Harbor fell into a deathly silence.

All laughter was utterly shattered in that instant.

Teach for a moment, the smile on his face vanishing completely.

The outstretched hand finally slapped him away, sending him flying into the pile of goods behind him, but he didn't need to look to know—

That sentence has completely lit the fuse to hell.

The Blackbeard Alliance's executives simultaneously entertained the same thought—

We're doomed.

The next moment--

"--boom!!"

Four violent auras shot into the sky above the Harbor!

Flames, sword energy, Conqueror's Haki, and the power of mythical beasts intertwined to create a raging storm.

The sky over Hachinosu was instantly torn apart, the clouds churned violently, and the waves surged wildly!

The oppressive force even caused the rock walls of Hachinosu to tremble!

At this moment, the entire Hachinosu...

They were plunged into true silence and fear.