Blackbeard's Heart-Pounding Fear

Bulu Bulu.

The next day, the Blackbeard Pirates.

Marshall D. Teach and the others stared intently at a Den Den Mushi placed on the table.

Now completely transformed, Marshall D. Teach's clothes and appearance are entirely different... he looks quite presentable. Although he wears a lot of jewelry, it still can't hide his slovenly and thuggish temperament, but his overall demeanor has changed.

He was dressed in the classic admiral's attire, and unlike in the past, he no longer wore only a headscarf.

He is now one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Although the news of his rise to power did not cause a great stir, that was only true for the common people and One Piece. For the forces that were constantly monitoring the changes in the situation on the high seas, his becoming a Shichibukai was a piece of news that could not be ignored.

The reason why becoming a Shichibukai didn't generate the expected buzz was mainly because the Hell Pirates and God Slayer's actions in Sabaody Archipelago were too eye-catching and diverted attention.

However, Marshall D. Teach didn't mind.

He didn't dare to mind.

This means that he has risen from a 'small One Piece's to a 'giant' at sea, shedding the 'title' of the Whitebeard Pirates and becoming completely independent.

This also means that... from now on, he is leading his partners on their own path.

After all these years, this day has finally arrived.

Now, the World Government has announced that it will execute Ace... This event has become a topic of discussion among people.

Following the Supernova's escape from Sabaody Archipelago, another wave of public opinion has been stirred up.

But...

Just then, the phone rang.

Marshall D. Teach was sweating profusely, his throat bobbing, and he was extremely nervous.

Because the Den Den Mushi in front of us is rather special.

It was left to him by the God Slayer in Mock Town.

In other words, the only person who could call was that man.

"It's been ringing for a long time... should I answer it?"

Lafitte glanced at Marshall D. Teach's sweaty, embarrassed expression and raised an eyebrow with a chuckle. "Now that things have come to this, we've established a cooperative relationship with the World Government... With their support, we have an identity and a position to be supported. If the God Slayer wants to manipulate us as he did back in Mock Town, it won't be so easy anymore. We can pretend to ignore it... Of course, now is not the time to turn against him."

"Hahaha..."

Marshall D. Teach wiped the sweat from his brow and looked at the man before him. "With that guy's intelligence, he couldn't possibly have missed it if he hadn't taken the bait... Their fighting strength has been greatly replenished. Crocodile and that Logia-type Devil Fruit user, the Hell Pirates are growing too fast! And we haven't had any new members join us yet... Before we have absolute confidence, we must be extremely careful when dealing with him."

After saying that, Marshall D. Teach took a deep breath and picked up the Den Den Mushi.

The connection was established.

"Very clever... I thought you wouldn't answer."

The Den Den Mushi wore a tiny black top hat and mimicked Oboro's tone and expression.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Marshall D. Teach's pupils instantly contracted.

If he hadn't been certain that the God Slayer wasn't there, he would have thought that guy was always watching him.

After all, he had just had a discussion with Lafitte.

As it turned out, Oboro's first words seemed to indicate that he had guessed what they were thinking.

"Hahaha... How could that be? You think too little of me. I'll answer the phone immediately if it's you calling."

"The first time? That kind of speed..."

"Well..."

Marshall D. Teach swallowed again, speechless.

"Congratulations on becoming a Shichibukai."

Long changed the subject, deciding not to dwell on such a trivial matter.

"Ha ha ha ha."

Marshall D. Teach an awkward laugh. "What can I do for you?"

When are we going to Impel Down?

"I asked calmly."

"!!!!!"

Marshall D. Teach thought he was hallucinating and was so frightened that he almost threw the Den Den Mushi away.

Back in Mock Town, God Slayer said his goal was to become one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea... as if he could read Godslayer's mind.

Marshall D. Teach only thought that the God Slayer had extraordinary thinking and foresight, and since the two were 'the same kind of beings,' it was normal for him to see through them.

However, his intention to seize Impel Down is completely unanalyzable from his past actions... there's not a hint of anything fishy about it, so how did Oboro deduce it? This is completely different from his being seen through and his desire to become a Shichibukai.

Among the Navy's Tsuru and Sengoku, including the high-ranking officials of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons, who dares to say that these high-ranking figures are idiots?

Even they didn't realize it.

Oboro actually knew about his plan.

Marshall D. Teach even had the absurd thought that the God Slayer's abilities might include mind reading.

He was certain that there were no spies or informants among his team members.

Otherwise, the Blackbeard Pirates would be gone... and the World Government would never allow him to become a Shichibukai.

Aside from their first encounter with the Hell Pirates in Mock Town, Lafitte and his group had never had any contact with them.

Why? "Zehahaha... Impel Down? What Impel Down? You want me to help you target that place..." Marshall D. Teach's mind worked incredibly fast, and he instantly realized what was going on.

Regardless of how the God Slayer guessed it.

But this statement could very well be a lie to himself.

Denying it now is the best response.

"Marshall D. Teach".

Upon hearing his statement, Den Den Mushi's face turned cold, and even her upturned eyes seemed to gleam with a chilling light as she murmured his name.

"I warned you before, there's no point in pretending in front of me, you filthy trash... it will only make me more annoyed."

"Your lives were given to you by me... I can take them away at any time."

Glug.

Marshall D. Teach panicked a little and broke out in a cold sweat.

"I'm warning you one last time."

"Now answer me... when are we going to Impel Down?"

"Wow... Haha, as expected of you, you're really amazing."

Marshall D. Teach was startled, but while trying to remain calm, she offered a compliment.

Without further ado, he immediately laid out a small part of his plan.

After a while, with a click, the Den Den Mushi closed its eyes and fell asleep.

A silence fell over the entire room.

Marshall D. Teach slumped into the chair, panting heavily.

It was just a phone call, but the sense of pressure it conveyed was overwhelming.

Lafitte, Van Augur, and Doc Q exchanged glances.

"Hahaha... The information didn't come from within our ranks; you've been following me the whole time. Besides, I only told you about Impel Down a few days ago... The only explanation is that he figured it out!" Marshall D. Teach recovered his composure, grinned, and reassured the others.

"The more I get to know him, the more terrifying he seems... Our One Piece crew only has a few members, so we'll definitely try to expand our strength, and the best target is Impel Down! Therefore, it's not surprising that he could guess that..."

Although that's what Marshall D. Teach said, it sounded more like self-comfort.

"He and I... we thought the same thing."

"As expected, we're the same kind of people, hahaha!"

"He's got his eye on Impel Down too? Doesn't that mean..."

Van Augur frowned.

"It's alright... there are plenty of monsters in Impel Down, enough to share..."

"Moreover, I can guarantee that there aren't many people he'll take a liking to... so it won't be a problem for us."

"With him involved, we are actually safer."