The enormous dock fell into an inexplicable dead silence.
Everyone's nerves tightened at once. Teach's baffling talk of seeking death left them utterly confused.
Only a few people's eyes flickered slightly, as though they had thought of something.
"Heh heh, Teach, you're still the same as ever. When you fought us back then, I seem to recall you saying that you hoped to die at Shanks's hands, so I let you go." Rayleigh smiled as he adjusted his glasses.
"Yet I never expected that after hiding under Whitebeard's command and scraping out an existence for so long, not only had Shanks failed to kill you, but you had even betrayed Whitebeard."
"And now you're telling me you hope Whitebeard and Ace will kill you with their own hands. Are you planning to have me spare you again so you can keep living on in disgrace?"
His quiet words echoed across the dock.
Many of those who had been baffled immediately showed looks of realization.
None of them had expected Blackbeard Teach, a man always brimming with ambition, to have such a past.
Nor had they expected him to cast aside all dignity and beg to be spared once more.
Faced with this sudden exposure, not only Van Augur and the other crew members, but even Blackbeard Teach's cheek muscles twitched.
However, with the current situation favoring the other side, Teach could not afford to argue.
After his expression shifted several times, Teach forced a smile and said, "Rayleigh, you're right. You're a senior—surely you wouldn't lower yourself to kill me, would you?"
"Pops and Captain Ace both see me as a thorn in their side. If they cannot kill me with their own hands and avenge Captain Satch, I'm afraid they'll regret it for the rest of their lives."
"I