The enormous raft closed in fast. Soon it was less than twenty meters from the nearest warship. The air grew tense, and the marines held their breath.
"Zehahaha! Marines, give us a warship and we'll leave," Blackbeard said with a grin.
"Marshall D. Teach, do you think I'd accept that offer? Don't underestimate the Navy!" Vice Admiral Onigumo barked. The smile had vanished from Hōshō's narrowed eyes, leaving him looking grim.
Blackbeard's offer was an insult to their pride as marines. The Blackbeard Pirates might be formidable enemies, but they had no intention of backing down.
"Zehahaha! So there's no deal?" Blackbeard's face suddenly darkened. "Oh, right. You've only got Vice Admirals here, no one at Admiral level. My offer wasn't quite right, then. Let me make a new one: I'm taking every warship here! Hahaha!"
Onigumo's pupils contracted. Without anyone at Admiral level, stopping the Blackbeard Pirates would be difficult. What they needed most was to hold out for reinforcements. The Admirals were all away on other missions, but someone no weaker than the Three Admirals was on the way. They only had to last until then!
Blackbeard glanced at the silent Onigumo and chuckled under his breath. "Looks like we'll have to take them by force."
A woman's "Murufufu" laugh rose from the raft. "I'll go. I rather like them, especially how upright and righteous they look."
Blackbeard turned toward the only woman aboard the raft and grinned. "Zehahaha! If you're that interested, Catarina Devon, they're yours."
As soon as Blackbeard agreed, Catarina Devon's tall figure moved. The next instant, she appeared on the warship where Vice Admiral Onigumo stood.
The marines' hearts lurched. Onigumo tightened his grip on his sword and stared at the heavily made-up pirate woman who had appeared on deck.
She wore a striped