New World, an unnamed stretch of sea.
The night hung oppressively low.
A pirate ship lay anchored on the sheltered side of a deserted island. No flag flew from its hull, and the firelight on deck had been dimmed to almost nothing.
This was a temporary stronghold.
It was also one of Teach's current hideouts.
After the two Emperors of the Sea fell, every remaining pirate in the New World was on the run.
Some fled to the Underworld.
Some fled to black-market ports.
Some tried to seek shelter under Buggy.
Others had begun quietly searching for Blackbeard's flag.
But the Marines and the Adventure Group were clearing them out too quickly.
Many criminals who should have flowed into Teach's ranks were fitted with Seastone Cuffs by the Marines before they could even find their way to him.
This slowed Teach's expansion considerably.
But he was in no hurry.
Inside the cabin.
Teach sat in the shadows, half a bottle of rum before him.
Vista stood beside him, his brow never relaxing.
"Three groups failed to arrive recently. Two were intercepted by the Adventure Group, and one was blocked at the port in advance by a Marine Branch."
Teach grinned. "Zehahaha... That Rock bastard really doesn't want to leave even the slightest opening."
Vista said grimly, "At this rate, the remnants we can absorb will only grow fewer and fewer."
Teach did not answer. He merely lowered his gaze to the sea chart on the table.
Many routes had been circled in red ink.
Those were the areas where Marine activity had been most frequent lately.
And precisely because of that, certain more secret routes became especially conspicuous.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside the cabin.
A pirate pushed open the door and entered, his expression somewhat grim.
"Captain. Someone has come