Edward Teach strolled through the forest in Extreme Cold Hell.
He carried Lightning in one hand, as if he were holding a frail little chick.
Just moments ago, he had used [Observation Haki] to listen across the entire forest.
He had paid particular attention to the areas where Lightning had been spotted.
After a careful search,
Edward Teach found a hidden entrance deep in the forest.
With his [Observation Haki], he could clearly hear a jumble of voices coming from within.
Unless he was mistaken,
that hidden entrance led to Level 5.5—the secret Newkama Land inside Impel Down!
Edward Teach—
or rather, Storm, hidden inside the "Edward Teach Humanoid Mecha"—
was headed for the Newkama Land beyond that mysterious entrance!
A few minutes later,
Edward Teach arrived at the entrance.
Even without using [Observation Haki], he could clearly hear the voices coming from inside.
Edward Teach didn't hesitate. He stepped right in.
At first the passage was narrow enough for only one person. After walking a few dozen steps, it opened up into a broad space.
Edward Teach emerged into a vast, empty cavern.
Though it wasn't as high as the surrounding Extreme Cold Hell, the cavern still rose dozens of meters overhead.
It was more than large enough for members of the Giant Tribe to move around comfortably.
The cavern seemed to have been specially fitted out. It looked like a theater with rather crude decor.
When Edward Teach entered, the people inside were celebrating and enjoying themselves.
A performer with a wildly disproportionate build and an enormous afro was putting his heart into a show on the theater's stage.
"...Everything you could want is here!
"Liquor! Food! Weapons! And most important of all...freedom!
"This is Impel Down's secret garden—the Newkama La-la—"
The afro-haired performer had just turned around when he spotted the towering figure among the crowd.
His eyes bulged in shock, his mouth dropped as wide as it could, and his tongue curled up in alarm.
"Whitebeard—?!"
The lead actor's horrified reaction set off a chain reaction among the others in Newkama Land.
The lights came on.
Everyone in the theater saw the unfamiliar guest who had suddenly appeared.
"Whitebeard!"
"Edward Newgate!"
"World's Strongest Man!!"
Newkama Land descended into chaos.
"What a lively place, gurarara..."
Edward Teach let out a deep laugh and tossed the injured man in his hand toward the stage.
"He's one of your men, Okama King."
Emporio Ivankov instinctively raised both arms and caught the unconscious, gravely wounded figure.
"Lightning!? What happened?"
"It's a bit complicated to explain."
Edward Teach rubbed his stomach and glanced toward the banquet nearby.
"Is there anything to eat?"
"Yes! Of course! Just give me a moment!"
Ivankov first gave Lightning a shot of "Healing Hormone."
Then he hurried over to Edward Teach and carefully led him to a seat at the table.
"Bring out the food! The finest ingredients! The best liquor! Bring it all!"
In no time,
a mountain of food had been set before Edward Teach.
"I won't hold back!"
Hidden inside, Storm quietly spent points on his various abilities.
After his recent battles and accumulated rewards,
Storm now had eleven [Golden Trophies] and three [Platinum Trophies].
Before entering Newkama Land,
Storm had spent several Big Trophies to improve some of his abilities.
[Geppo/Rankyaku/Swordsmanship/Life Return: ★★★★★]
As for now, with plenty of food laid out before him, Storm's choice was obvious—
[Physique] enhancement!
As the last three [Golden Trophies] were used up,
Storm's [Strength] and [Speed] attributes surged.
Without hesitation, he invested his remaining three [Platinum Trophies] in [Endurance] and [Speed].
[Strength: ★★★★★]
[Speed: ★★★★★☆]
[Endurance: ★★★★★★]
The moment the [Physique] enhancement was complete,
an unprecedented hunger welled up inside Storm.
He grabbed a piece of Sea King meat and stuffed it into his mouth. The mountain of food before him quickly dwindled and disappeared.
In the cavern,
the only sound was the monstrous noise of him eating.
The okama in Newkama Land watched the ravenous feast before them.
Not one of them dared to make a sound.
Even Ivankov, the "Okama King," didn't dare disturb "Whitebeard" while he ate.
As the food before "Whitebeard" dwindled,
Ivankov hurriedly waved to the chefs in Newkama Land, urging them to bring out more.
Time passed, little by little.
The "New Humans" of Newkama Land exchanged astonished glances.
'Whitebeard's been eating for half an hour...'
'He's incredible! His stomach's a bottomless pit...'
'He's eaten all the food Newkama Land had stored for a week...'
Throughout "Whitebeard's" meal, Ivankov kept a close eye on him.
After observing him carefully, Ivankov realized that this "Whitebeard" wasn't like the "Whitebeard" he knew.
The Revolutionary Army had exceptionally far-reaching sources of information.
Even after Ivankov had been imprisoned in Impel Down,
he still possessed a wealth of secret intelligence as the Revolutionary Army's Grand Line commander.
For example, he had known for a long time that Whitebeard was seriously ill and no longer as strong as he had been in his prime.
But the "Whitebeard" in Newkama Land was unbelievably healthy!
There was something else, too.
More than thirty years ago, Ivankov had met Whitebeard in his youth.
The two of them had experienced the God Valley Incident in West Blue together...
'This Whitebeard doesn't seem like Whitebeard at all...'
Ivankov grumbled to himself.
'This Whitebeard's just a Whitebeard BOY!'
If Ivankov had to describe him,
the Whitebeard who was still eating looked as if he'd been cut from the exact same cloth as Whitebeard in his youth!
'Wait a second! No way!'
An unbelievable idea suddenly appeared in Ivankov's mind.
'Could this Whitebeard...be Whitebeard's son?'
Just then,
Storm had finally eaten his fill after clearing out Newkama Land's entire food supply.
Ivankov hesitated for a moment, then approached as if walking on thin ice.
"Mr. Whitebeard."
The Okama King bowed, forcing a fawning smile onto his rugged face.
"What can I do for you?"
"You don't have to be so formal, Okama King. I've heard of you."
Edward Teach stood up, towering over Ivankov, and held out his right hand.
"Be my friend, Emporio Ivankov.
"I'm Edward Teach! Whitebeard the Third!"
Whitebeard...the Third?!
The Okama King had heard rumors about "Whitebeard the Second."
They said "Whitebeard the Second" had the same powerful strength Whitebeard possessed in his youth.
But where had this "Whitebeard the Third" come from?!
Then again,
this "Whitebeard the Third" really did look more like the real Whitebeard Edward Newgate...
"Becoming your friend..."
Ivankov nervously held out his right hand and lightly touched Edward Teach's fingers.
"Would be an honor."
"Gurarara..."
Edward Teach let out a hearty laugh.
"Since we're all friends, I'll get straight to the point!
"Ivankov, I need your help!"
Once Ivankov had confirmed that this wasn't the real Whitebeard, but some so-called "Whitebeard the Third,"
he gradually grew bolder.
"Edward—"
"Call me Teach!"
"Of course, Teach!"
Ivankov corrected himself at once.
"What do you need me to do? Do you want more food?"
As long as Edward Teach's request wasn't too outrageous,
Ivankov intended to grant it.
After all, judging by what had just happened...
Edward Teach had saved Lightning's life!
"No! Not food!"
Edward Teach clenched his right fist and swung it hard.
"Ivankov, the moment I saw you, I understood.
"You and I are the same kind of person!
"You gave up your old identity and infiltrated Impel Down to build this Newkama Land, didn't you?!"
Uh...
Ivankov blinked.
Edward Teach's words sounded a little off.
But from his perspective, they weren't entirely wrong.
Before he was arrested and imprisoned, Ivankov had been the bona fide Queen of the Kama Bakka Kingdom!
And the reason he had entered Impel Down and gone underground in Newkama Land
was to recruit prisoners and strengthen the Revolutionary Army.
Once the Revolutionary Army began its operation in the outside world,
Ivankov would lead the members of Newkama Land back to the outside world.
Seen from that angle,
Edward Teach's assumption was perfectly reasonable.
"Yes, more or less...probably."
Ivankov gave a haphazard reply, then immediately asked, "What about you, Teach?"
"I couldn't care less about those insignificant little fry."
Edward Teach spread his arms wide, embracing the void as he boldly displayed his "ambition."
"My goal is Infinite Hell, the sixth level!
"I'll choose the most elite and powerful subordinates from among the world's most evil and terrifying criminals!
"I'll form the most fearsome pirate crew in history!
"I'll defeat Whitebeard and become the World's Strongest pirate!
"The remnants of the Old Era have reached the time to leave the stage of history!
"My new era has no ship to carry them!"
An elder in my family passed away unexpectedly.
My update schedule may be a little unstable over the next two days.
I wanted to let you know in advance.
Before you continue