Before long, Teach led a group of his underlings into the auction house and took their seats.
The captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Zero Division was no minor figure. The moment Teach entered, many of the guests gasped once more.
Though the dozen or so men following Teach were lackeys before their captain, each of them was a somewhat renowned minor officer of the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World when taken individually.
Thus, Teach and his group received a grand welcome from the auction house attendants and were seated in the second row, in luxurious seats inferior only to those assigned to Garen's group.
The distance between Teach and Garen suddenly became negligible.
Teach's underlings all recognized Garen—the rival whom their captain had stepped over to rise to prominence.
And because he had promised to keep Garen's secret, Ace had not told the other brothers in the crew that Shichibukai Garen had become sworn brothers with a pirate like him.
So those underlings could not help showing Garen looks of hostility, provocation, or mockery.
The smile on Teach's face remained unchanged. He merely rested his gaze lightly on Garen and said with a smile,
"Garen."
"I really didn't expect you to be here too."
"What, are you here to buy that Logia Devil Fruit as well?"
The atmosphere immediately became subtle.
Teach was already secretly sizing up Garen and his companions with eyes hiding murderous intent:
Good.
Other than Garen, a supposedly Admiral-level powerhouse who was all reputation and no substance, they were all pretty women not worth mentioning.
In that case, even if Garen won the fruit he had long dreamed of—
A dangerous smile spread across Teach's lips.
For the Dark-Dark Fruit, he was fully capable of murdering someone and stealing their treasure.
Wait.
Teach's gaze suddenly