A Conversation
"What happened during this time?" Teach sat on his high dark throne, looking at Mostima in the image with great interest.
Teach is confident that there won't be any unexpected problems at the wedding.
"There are no problems. All the naval intelligence personnel and World Government agents who have made unusual movements have been exposed. Based on our memories and other information, we have selected half of the suitable candidates for modification." Mostima sat at a desk, flipping through the documents.
The so-called modification is naturally a modification of his memories, making him loyal to the Night Pirates and serving as their intelligence Night Pirates within the Navy and the World Government.
After numerous experiments, the Night Pirates now have a complete set of rules for altering memories.
From capture, drug-assisted coma, Rediat's memory probing, Lafitte's hypnosis, to the modification, deletion, and addition of memories by Devil Fruit User.
Then send him back to where he was originally.
All the measures have been mastered.
The actions of the World Government and the Navy were expected. These were just the exposed individuals; who knows how many more intelligence personnel and agents are still hidden in the shadows.
Since Dark Night ascended to the top, even though it hasn't been exposed, it's clear that the number of World Government and Navy intelligence personnel within the Night Sea Domain is constantly increasing.
It is estimated that they account for at least one-fifth of the intelligence forces of the Navy and the World Government, which is enough to show their extreme importance to the World Government.
Although the Night Sea Domain is relatively open, it also contains many forbidden areas that other forces cannot access or enter, which is something the World Government and the Navy are particularly eager to know.
The location of the Night Pirates' secret research facility, in particular, is a major focus of attention for the Navy and the World Government.
You should know that the remains of the Uranus have already fallen into the hands of the Night Pirates. Who knows what kind of dangerous weapon the Night Pirates are capable of developing with their research capabilities?
The World Government does not want a repeat of the threat posed by the Uranus. Although both are Uranus, the threat posed by the Night Pirates is ten times greater than that posed by the Flying Pirates.
Therefore, if we can obtain intelligence, any price we pay is worthwhile.
Based on the ideas of the Navy and the World Government, Teach and his team were also considering whether to take advantage of this and set up a cage to lure the Navy and the World Government's high-end forces to carry out a planned elimination, thereby weakening their combat power.
Of course, this is just a plan; the implementation timeline has not been set, and it will take at least several years.
Other powers in the New World should also thank the Night Pirates; the Night Pirates alone have tied down most of the World Government and the Navy's intelligence capabilities in the New World.
However, for the Night Pirates, the more intelligence agents the Navy and the World Government send, the more advantageous it is for them, and the faster their plan to infiltrate the Navy and the World Government will proceed.
Therefore, compared to the Navy and the World Government, the Night Pirates are not in a hurry at all. The Night Pirates' strength will continue to grow, while the Navy and the World Government are in a precarious situation.
The loss of foundational strength cannot be recovered in just a few years; it takes at least decades or even centuries for those powerful individuals who have been cultivated over many years to regain their former glory.
The Night Pirates will not stand by and watch the World Government and the Navy recover and grow stronger.
Of course, if the World Government were to bring out a treasured Devil Fruit would be a different story.
With eight hundred years of history, the World Government has been working to reclaim Devil Fruit to cultivate its own power. It is impossible to predict how many Devil Fruit the World Government still possesses.
The Devil Fruit that the Night Pirates took from the Holy Land were only Devil Fruit belonging to the Celestial Dragons, not those in the World Government's Curry.
Over the years, Stephanie has provided Teach with more than thirty Teach Devil Fruit, roughly three a year, sometimes four.
These are all Devil Fruit that the World Government could easily provide, controlled by the Vice Chief of CP0.
Therefore, Stephanie's connection with the Night Pirates visibly became closer, and some important intelligence was also passed back to the World Government through Stephanie.
This has also made the World Government pay more attention to Stephanie, especially in the last six months, the World Government has increased its investment in Stephanie considerably.
This information was all true, and it was information that Stephanie was able to obtain. It sounded important, but in reality, it wasn't very useful.
Stephanie could only obtain information by eliciting information or by visiting the Night Pirates' territory.
The acquisition of intelligence also needs to be plausible. If the World Government actually obtained highly confidential information about the Night Pirates, it would suspect how Stephanie obtained it, and further deduce that Stephanie had made contact with the Night Pirates and betrayed the World Government.
Moreover, the more important Stephanie is, the closer the World Government will keep an eye on her.
If the Night Pirates use Stephanie's information to set a trap for the World Government and inflict heavy damage on it, Stephanie's fate will not be good either; she will most likely be exposed.
Even if the Night Pirates were to reveal that they obtained Stephanie's identity in advance and indirectly used Stephanie information, the World Government would not forgive Stephanie and would have to pay the price for the World Government's losses.
With her identity exposed, Stephanie naturally became less important, and the outcome was predictable.
To avoid such a situation, this intelligence should be left to the World Government and the Navy to investigate themselves.
It's unclear how many Devil Fruits or how many precious and powerful abilities the World Government still possesses, but it's certainly considerable. If they were used, they could quickly cultivate powerful individuals and restore the World Government's strength.
These are all factors that Teach dares not underestimate. The birth of a top-tier expert may not be so easy; potential, long-term training, and the tempering of battle are all indispensable.
However, it is easy to build up high-end combat power at the Vice Admiral level. For many people, a single Devil Fruit is enough to reach that level.
Compared to years of training, Devil Fruit are undoubtedly the best way to achieve instant success.
At the same time, the navy, after internal reforms, will have stronger cohesion and exert greater power.
After all, the Navy's overall structure was originally deformed. Under the suppression of the World Government, the Navy has now begun to improve, especially with the acquisition of judicial power and the establishment of internal rules. Problems like corruption have disappeared by at least 90%.
This was still the Inspection Department under Sakazuki's control, which had long since weathered the most difficult beginnings under his iron-fisted rule.
"Where are Mobius and the others?" Teach asked, a smile spreading across Teach face.
"They're all ready. They're the stars of the day." Mostima was equally amused. Although they'd been together for almost a year, this was a once-in-a-lifetime event for Mobius and the others.
They get along well, after all, he chose his own wife.
Something like running away from a wedding is impossible. Not to mention that Big Mom had already confiscated the Vivre Card, which could restrain the Homie and contained the power of Big Mom's soul, if there were any plans to run away from a wedding, they would have been made from the very beginning.
As far as Teach knew, all five couples had already developed intimate relationships within a month of spending time together. Mobius and his group were already in a stronger position, and for pirates, there weren't many complicated rules.
By now, they are already considered members of the Night Pirates, and they've been together for a long time; this is just a formality.
However, to Teach and his team's surprise, according to the information...
Amande, the wife of Mobius and the third daughter of Big Mom.
Nelson's wife, Castard, Big Mom's sixth daughter, and Wallace's wife, Sinnamon, Big Mom's sixteenth daughter, are both pregnant, with the earliest being four months along.
Because of the upcoming wedding, they were somewhat restrained, but as the wedding approached, they no longer needed to restrain themselves; she was several months pregnant, and it wasn't outwardly noticeable.
Monsters of their caliber usually have a good mindset, but when it really comes down to it, they get nervous too. People grow, especially when they're about to become fathers.
"Hmm." Teach nodded slightly, feeling a bit expectant. After all, he had made a promise with his companions a year ago, and it seemed that the time was almost up.
Who would have thought that what was once a joke would now lead to Mobius and his family having children soon?
Saga, his eldest son, perfectly inherited his physique. Soon, he turned seven, and the appointed time arrived.
Although they have never met in person or spoken a word to each other since birth, they are aware of each other's existence.
A hint of tenderness flashed in his eyes. As a father, Teach was inadequate. Although it was to protect them, he had plenty of time to see them, but he didn't.
Protection cannot be used as an excuse.
However, he will save the best for his children.
As the son of the Dark Emperor, there are certain things he must bear and be prepared for. In this world, having inherited Teach's bloodline, no one can ignore this identity, especially now that Teach is truly the Dark Emperor standing at the pinnacle of the sea.
"Are you ready, Saga?" Teach murmured to himself, his gaze drifting into the distance, beyond the Night Palace, towards the New World, to a small island on the edge of the Night Sea Domain, near the Calm Belt —his homeland to which he felt little affection.
On Arcas Island, a young boy with short, naturally curly blond hair and a small body as strong as a cheetah roams the jungle, battling wild beasts in the mountains.
One after another, ferocious beasts fell to his hands, just as Teach had done before.
Those young yet resolute eyes radiated youthful vigor and an indomitable spirit.
"I am ready, Father!"
He was holding a picture of Teach. He had developed a habit of carrying a picture of Teach with him at some point and would look at it whenever he rested.
Being the son of the Dark Emperor put pressure on him. Teach was so outstanding, and others had such high expectations of him; he could almost see that scenario unfolding before his eyes.
His mother didn't think that way and hoped he would live a good life, but having inherited Teach's bloodline and knowing the vastness of the world, how could he be content with mediocrity? Like Teach, he longed for the sea.
The vastness of the ocean attracts countless people to its shores.
The immense pressure wouldn't break him; it would only make him work harder. Being the son of the Dark Emperor was also an honor for him, an honor that needed to be protected. He couldn't let this "honor" be tarnished.
In another month, he will embark on his journey to Pagila Island alone.
That was different, a completely new environment, and he was really looking forward to it.
Mostima noticed that Teach was lost in thought and didn't say anything. After a while, when Teach came to his senses, he looked at the documents in his hand.
"Everything is ready. The wedding will officially begin in two hours. We have complete control of Pagila Island and everyone is under surveillance. We will nip any unusual activity in the bud."
As he spoke, a ruthless glint flashed in Mostima's eyes.
This marriage was a first for the Night Pirates; they were holding a large-scale wedding. As pirates, they had never needed to have a wedding when they were with other women before.
This wedding is of great significance. Although it won't affect the alliance between the Big Mom Pirates and the Night Pirates, any mishap would greatly damage their reputation.
The more powerful a force is, the more it cares about its reputation, especially a massive force like Dark Night Pirates.
Even if Teach doesn't care, his subordinates, hundreds of thousands of members of the Night Pirates, and even the residents of the Night Sea Domain will care.
This marriage was decided a year ago, and preparations for the wedding began six months ago; Mostima will not allow any unexpected events to occur.
The ranking battle of the Night Pirates a month ago signified that the Night Pirates had truly ascended to the top of the New World, shaking the entire world with their terrifying power and surpassing the original Flying Pirates in every aspect.
This marriage alliance will solidify the Night Pirates' unshakeable and supreme position in the New World, making them the true rulers.
By joining Big Mom Pirates and the terrifying power of the Giant race, the combined strength of these two top-tier forces, their affiliated forces, and their close allies is equivalent to half of the New World.
It is enough to suppress everything. After this, there will definitely be a lot of forces that want to get in touch with the Night Pirates and become affiliated with them.
Just like the Flying Pirates of the past, their reputation, influence, and overall strength are the strongest, far surpassing that of the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates.
Numerous pirate crews, drawn by the Flying Pirates' potential and Golden Lion Shiki's ambitions, are increasingly gathering around Flying Pirates.
At its peak, the Flying Pirates had more than 150 affiliated pirate crews.
With his powerful appeal, the number of pirate crews willing to follow Shiki exceeded five hundred.
The number of unaffiliated pirates was even greater. Together, they increased the number of the Flying Pirates by more than 200,000, which brought them to a peak of 500,000.
In the years to come, just like the Flying Pirates grew, the Night Pirates will also expand like a snowball.
The number of affiliated pirate crews will continue to increase.
Those with bounties exceeding 100 million who are not qualified to become affiliated pirate Night Pirates will remain in the Night Sea Domain, and the number of pirate crews affiliated with the Night Pirates will continue to increase.
The Night Pirates Fish-Man over 100,000, nearly 150,000, making up a huge number, and this number is increasing at an extremely rapid pace. Recruited and trained from Fish-Man Island, they have now become a sharp blade for the Night Pirates.
The Night Pirates' system is not suitable for everyone. Some members of the Night Pirates will also form their own pirate crews, which will also be branded as part of the Night Pirates.
These are the hidden forces of the Night Pirates; they are not as simple as they appear on the surface.