Vista, captain of the Fifth Division, swung his sword and severed the chains binding Teach. Jinbe tore away the layers of shackles trapping Teach with his thick fish-man arms, while Ace stepped forward and warmly helped Teach to his feet.
Teach staggered upright and looked out through the open iron window. The prison corridor was packed with brothers who had come to rescue him:
Jozu, Thatch, Vista, and other familiar Whitebeard Pirates commanders; Sabo and Hatchan, whom he had only met once; and even a number of Revolutionary Army officers he did not know at all.
"This..."
Teach had never believed in brotherhood, yet at this moment, he could not help feeling slightly moved.
Combined with the acting skills he had nearly honed into a Passive Skill over the past twenty-odd years, two tears stirred by the scene immediately streamed down his dark face, mottled with bruises and swelling.
"Thank you! My life, Teach's life, was picked up by my brothers today!"
"For today's kindness, I truly don't know how I could ever repay you all!"
As he spoke, Teach thought again of the grievances and despair he had suffered these past few days. Bitterness welled up in his heart, and his tears became impossible to distinguish as real or fake.
"What are you thanking us for?"
Ace held Teach tightly and said with a smile:
"We're all brothers. Of course we should support each other."
"If I ever get captured because of bad luck, I'm sure you, Teach, would come save me without hesitation too!"
"Uh..."
Teach's sob caught in his throat. After freezing for a full second, he finally recovered his expression.
"Of course!"
Everyone fussed over him for a while longer, gradually restoring the sense of security Teach had lost during his long imprisonment.
Then, an uncontrollable