Blackbeard Arrives

"Hehehehe..." Just then, a distinctive and chilling laugh suddenly erupted from a corner of the tavern. The laughter was like the hooting of an owl or the maniacal laughter of a demon, instantly shattering the previously noisy and chaotic atmosphere.

"Holy crap..." This sudden laughter startled everyone present, and Moke's expression changed slightly. Although he maintained his composure on the surface, his heart was actually in turmoil. You see, in the work of <One Piece>, many characters have unique and highly recognizable laughter. Sometimes, just by their laughter, people can easily determine who the other person is.

Sure enough, upon hearing that eerie laughter, Moke immediately understood—the one who uttered such laughter must be Four Seas, the future Four Emperors who would one day Might-Shaker the Blackbeard! Moke's pupils constricted to pinpoints, and a fine layer of sweat beaded on his forehead. He never imagined that, having just stepped into the Grand Line, a sea full of unknowns and dangers, he would be so unlucky as to encounter such a super boss!

Given Moke's current strength, attempting to confront Blackbeard head-on was nothing short of a pipe dream. Facing such a formidable enemy, Moke knew that the slightest mistake could cost him his life. So, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, which was pounding in his chest. Then, Moke slowly turned his head, his gaze fixed intently on the dark corner from which the laughter was coming.

Sure enough, at that moment, the burly man who had been facing away from him suddenly turned around and stared directly at him. His eyes flashed with an undisguised admiration.

Beside this burly man sat a haggard-looking man, seemingly terminally ill. His breathing was weak, and he appeared to be on the verge of death. Moke recognized him immediately at a glance— Doc Q!

It's important to know that Blackbeard originally commanded Admiral: Lafitte, Gizas Jesus Burgess, Van Augur, and now Doc Q. So why is Blackbeard here at the entrance to the Grand Line? Could it be...? No, if we think about it the other way around... this is actually the entrance to the Four Seas!

If I remember correctly, Lafitte, one of Blackbeard's Admiral, hails from the West Blue. He's said to have been a policeman in the West Blue, and even had fearsome nicknames like "Demon Sheriff" and "Demon Police Officer." Furthermore, Lafitte later became the navigator of the Blackbeard Pirates and is expected to become the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates ship in the future.

Considering the current situation, with only Blackbeard Doc Q by Admiral side, could this mean that this is precisely the crucial moment for Blackbeard to head to the West Blue and ultimately recruit Lafitte? Thinking this, Moke's heart raced, filled with curiosity and anticipation for what might happen next.

However, what exactly prompted this mysterious figure to travel to the West Blue? Was it merely to win over that guy Lafitte? This left everyone puzzled. After all, was it really worth Blackbeard going to such lengths to travel all this way just for Lafitte? As everyone speculated, the once bustling tavern became deserted, with most people taking advantage of the chaos to flee the scene.

Blackbeard slowly rose from his seat and walked straight toward Moke with steady, powerful steps. At the same time, his sharp, hawk-like eyes were fixed on Moke, as if trying to see through him, and he began to scrutinize him carefully from head to toe.

Suddenly, Blackbeard spoke up, "You're absolutely right. Those guys who easily give up on their dreams don't deserve to humiliate those with lofty ambitions!" Hearing this, Moke didn't respond immediately, but silently frowned, as if he was thinking about something.

At this moment, Blackbeard burst into a wild laugh, "Zhehahahaha..." The laughter echoed in the empty tavern, sounding particularly jarring. After laughing, he immediately added, "So, how about it, interested in joining my pirate crew?" It turned out that Blackbeard had already witnessed Moke's outstanding performance. Putting aside his astonishingly powerful aura, the fact that he could instantly intimidate others with his sharp gaze was enough to prove that this person was no ordinary individual. Not only that, the Devil Fruit ability that Moke displayed was also incredibly powerful, and coupled with the Sandai Kitetsu he held tightly in his hand, his swordsmanship must be extraordinary. Taking all factors into consideration, a talent as outstanding as Moke was naturally worth Blackbeard's efforts to recruit.

Moke paused for a moment, his expression gradually turning serious, but soon a smile returned to his lips. He put his hands on his hips, puffed out his chest, and declared in a slightly childish tone, "How can that be... My dream is to become the One Piece King!" He followed this with an exaggerated laugh, "Zehahahaha..."

Upon hearing this, Blackbeard, standing to the side, was initially taken aback, seemingly surprised that Moke would utter such arrogant words. But then, he couldn't help but burst into laughter. At this moment, his gaze towards Moke was completely different, now containing a hint of scrutiny and inquiry.

After a long while, Blackbeard stopped laughing, then said to Moke with a meaningful look, "How interesting. I'll look forward to our next meeting." Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards the tavern door. Doc Q had been following closely beside Blackbeard, stayed close behind.

After the two stepped out of the tavern, Doc Q suddenly stopped and turned back to glance at Moke, who was still inside. Then, he quickly caught up with Blackbeard and said in a low voice, "Boss, in my opinion, this kid may seem a bit green now, but he'll become a formidable opponent sooner or later. Why don't we take advantage of him before he's fully developed..." However, Doc Q was rudely interrupted by Blackbeard before he could finish speaking.

"Hmph, there are countless ambitious fellows like him on the high seas. Do you think I can kill them all? Even if they did have such thoughts, how could I possibly kill them all? On this vast ocean, countless people board ships every day with all sorts of ambitions, hoping to achieve some kind of hegemony." Blackbeard strode forward with great strides, coldly replying without turning his head.

At this point, he suddenly stopped, slowly turned his head, and a chilling light flashed in his sharp eyes. Then, in an extremely Haki tone, he said, "However, if that day ever comes, and he dares to stand against me and become my enemy, I will mercilessly rip off his arrogant head with my own hands... Hahahaha..." Accompanied by an extremely arrogant laugh, Blackbeard turned around again and continued striding forward.

At this moment, in Blackbeard's eyes, Moke is not even worthy of being his opponent. Or more precisely, in Blackbeard's eyes, whether Moke can grow to the point where he can stand on equal footing with him and compete with him is still an unknown!

After Blackbeard had walked away and disappeared completely, Moke, who had been on edge the whole time, finally let out a long sigh of relief. To be honest, just a moment ago, deep down he didn't want to confront or clash with Blackbeard. After all, the difference in strength between them was too great; his side had virtually no chance of winning. However, despite this, he had resolutely prepared to fight at any moment. Unfortunately, in the end...

Tsk tsk! Moke's hand, which had been gently resting on the hilt of the Sandai Kitetsu, clenched tightly involuntarily. The seed of wanting to become stronger in his heart had never grown so wildly, breaking through the soil and bursting forth with an unprecedentedly intense desire.

He knew all too well that if he wasn't strong enough, he wouldn't even be able to provoke anyone to fight, let alone become their opponent. This deep sense of powerlessness and frustration surged through him, making him even more determined to improve his strength.

Not long after Blackbeard left, the waitress returned with light, graceful steps. She held a small, exquisite object in her hand and said softly, "Sir, this is the Eternal Pose of Chef Island, priced at 300,000 Beli." Hearing this price, Moke's face twitched involuntarily. It wasn't that he couldn't afford the mere 300,000 Beli, but he inwardly marveled at how outrageously high the prices on the black market were.

It's worth noting that when Roronoa Zoro bought those two Meito in Loguetown, the total price was only 100,000 Beli. However, Moke didn't hesitate much and generously pulled out 300,000 Beli from his pocket and handed them to the waiter. After all, for him now, this amount of money wasn't a significant financial burden.

After paying, Moke seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly added, "By the way, I wanted to ask if you sell any information?" The waiter smiled and nodded, indicating affirmation, "Of course... but, are you looking for a specific person, or are you looking for information on something specific?"

Moke narrowed his eyes, observing the waitress before him, and thought to himself, "Ata, the cook, a woman from Loguetown in the East Sea, who has even appeared on that mysterious Cook Island... she's definitely no ordinary person!" He was eager to know everything about Ata, so he said firmly, "No matter the price, I need all the detailed information about her right now."

Upon hearing this, the waiter paused briefly, then nodded and replied, "Okay, please wait a moment..." After saying that, he turned around and left with light steps.

Moke sat in his chair, his brow furrowing slightly involuntarily. For some reason, he felt that this waiter was somewhat different from usual. On ordinary days, when they saw him, they would always have a beaming smile, even with a hint of servility and flattery. But today, although this waiter maintained his politeness on the surface, his smile seemed somewhat stiff, and it subtly revealed a sense of superiority.

Moke was deeply puzzled. What could have caused such a drastic change in the waiter? Just moments ago, he had displayed formidable strength. Logically, the waiter should have shown him even greater respect! Could there be some hidden story behind this? Thinking this, Moke's lips curled into a slight smile, and he murmured softly, "Heh, this is getting more and more interesting..."

At that moment, Moke's gaze was fixed on the waiter's departing figure, as if trying to see through his slender frame to the secrets hidden deep within his heart. Just as he was lost in thought, the waiter returned shortly after. He held a yellowed piece of paper in his hand, approached Moke, gave a polite smile, and then said, "Sir, the Ata you're looking for is indeed a remarkable person. However, due to the difficulty in obtaining information about her, the fee this time might be a little higher..."

In that mysterious and dark Underworld, human intelligence is like a precious commodity with a price tag, its value usually depending on the individual's strength and social status.

Upon hearing the price quoted by the waiter, Moke couldn't help but show a hint of surprise on his face. Originally, he had only reluctantly agreed to help the weapon shop owner find the target out of courtesy, having received two renowned swords from him. However, to his surprise, this search would bring such an unexpected delight.

Moke pondered for a moment, then replied without hesitation, "As long as the information you provide is accurate, price is absolutely not a problem." The waiter then slowly extended one finger and whispered, "One million Beli." Immediately after, he swiftly pulled a small, exquisite Den Den Mushi from his pocket and added, "This price may sound a bit exorbitant, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for; it's definitely worth it. Once you pay this fee, we will dispatch someone to closely monitor the target's every move. If her location changes even slightly, we will contact you immediately via Den Den Mushi and keep you updated until you successfully locate her..."

Upon hearing this, Moke was slightly taken aback, a look of surprise appearing on his face. He thought to himself, "Such meticulous service costs so much?" He frowned, lost in thought. However, after a short while, he reconsidered. The service was indeed impeccable; every detail was handled perfectly, making him feel incredibly comfortable and satisfied. Perhaps it was precisely because of this high-quality service that the price was relatively high. With this thought, he gently relaxed his furrowed brow, a slight smile appearing on his lips, and nodded slightly, indicating his acceptance of the terms of the deal.

At this critical moment, everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on Moke. He calmly and unhurriedly raised his right arm, his movements as natural and fluid as flowing water, as elegant and captivating as a dancer gracefully twirling on stage. His slender, white fingers were slightly bent, each subtle movement so gentle and soothing, as if he were carefully touching a rare treasure, afraid of damaging it with the slightest carelessness.

As Moke's arm slowly reached towards his chest, the previously peaceful atmosphere was instantly shattered. The air itself seemed to become heavy and oppressive because of his action. People involuntarily widened their eyes, their hearts pounded, and their throats felt as if they were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, making even breathing difficult. At this moment, time seemed to freeze, as Moke's hand moved at an extremely slow pace, inching closer to the mysterious place on his chest. Everyone present was filled with curiosity and anticipation, eager to know what was hidden in his arms that made him so solemn.

A moment later, he finally withdrew his hand from his robes. In his palm lay an object radiating a mysterious light. The object was wrapped in a thin layer of silk, its delicate outline faintly visible. Moke carefully offered the object forward, his eyes revealing a hint of reluctance, but even more so, a firm resolve for the transaction. There lay a deep blue, gem-like object, radiating a captivating light, as dazzling as a pearl from the deep sea.

The waitress's previously slightly weary eyes lit up with surprise when she saw the sapphire that Moke had taken out. As if under a spell, she quickened her pace involuntarily, walking rapidly towards Moke. Approaching Moke, she bowed slightly, her face beaming with a smile, and with utmost respect, extended her well-maintained, slender hands, gently and carefully taking the sapphire from Moke grasp.

At this moment, the sapphire, like a star fallen to earth, lay quietly in the waitress's fair and delicate palm. Her hands trembled slightly, as if she were holding not an ordinary stone, but a peerless and priceless treasure. Every slight movement was so careful, as if the slightest force would cause this treasure to shatter and vanish like Utakata.

The waitress stared intently at the sapphire in her palm. Her gaze was like a high-precision scanner, slowly and meticulously moving from the top of the gemstone, inch by inch, not missing a single detail. She carefully observed the surface of the gemstone, noting any possible flaws or patterns. Her focused expression made it seem as if she were appreciating a masterpiece painting by a master.

After a period of repeated examination and evaluation, the waiter Dark-Dark Fruit made a judgment in his mind. "Hmm... although this sapphire is indeed slightly inferior to those top-grade sapphires in terms of overall quality. Neither its clarity nor its color can compare. However, if it is to offset the reward of one million Beli, it is more than enough!" Thinking of this, the waiter's tense face finally relaxed, and the corners of his mouth involuntarily turned up, revealing a smile of extreme satisfaction.

Then, she carefully extended her delicate, jade-like hands and gently grasped the sapphire in her palm, which Shine with a mysterious and captivating luster. The gemstone was like the brightest star in the night sky, radiating an intoxicating light.

Then, with utmost care, she gently placed it into an exquisitely crafted brocade box. The box was a masterpiece of art; its interior was lined with soft, delicate velvet, as if providing the gemstone with a comfortable and cozy home; and around the box were countless dazzling, crystal-clear Diamond, like twinkling stars, reflecting each other, making the entire Diamond appear exceptionally luxurious and noble, clearly a priceless and rare treasure in itself.

Just as she successfully and perfectly completed that extremely delicate action that required a high degree of focus and patience, the waitress turned around slowly and gracefully, like a white swan dancing. Every movement of hers was so elegant and moving, as if it had been carefully choreographed, and every gesture naturally revealed an innate elegance.

Then, she gracefully extended her slender, long arm, like a newly sprouted willow branch, supple and elastic. Her fingers were as white as jade, the tips slightly curved, reaching precisely to the table beside her. Then, with a gentle yet steady touch, she firmly picked up the paper that had been prepared on the table.

This paper is as white as snow, its purity comparable to the snowflakes falling in winter, without a single flaw or blemish. It is flat and smooth, shimmering softly under the light, making one want to reach out and touch its silky smooth surface.

What's even more eye-catching is that the paper is covered with rows of densely packed characters written in bright golden ink. The characters are written with flowing, dynamic strokes, some bold and powerful like ancient pines, others delicate and graceful like trickling streams. Overall, the characters appear as if dragons and phoenixes are playing, exceptionally lively, not only full of unique artistic charm but also exuding an air of mystery, making one want to explore further and decipher their hidden meaning.

Then, the waitress once again walked gracefully to Mr. Moke. She bowed slightly, giving him a proper curtsy to show her deep respect. Next, she respectfully presented the paper to Moke both hands. The entire process was seamless and natural, perfectly demonstrating her high level of professionalism and excellent work ethic.

Just then, the kitchen door slowly opened, and a woman with a graceful figure, full figure, and beautiful face emerged. She wore a snow-white apron tied around her waist, embroidered with exquisite patterns; on her head was a tall chef's hat, the brim trimmed with gold thread, giving her the air of a professional chef. This woman was none other than Ata, the restaurant's cook. It was learned that Ata had just turned thirty this year, at the most mature and charming stage of her life.