Once the ships drew closer, Ye Chen looked curiously at Kizaru, his face full of confusion. The stare made Kizaru's skin crawl. He knew exactly what Ye Chen was thinking. After studying him for a while, Ye Chen clicked his tongue and laughed. "Kizaru, you really have me looking at you in a whole new light. I'm getting more confused by the minute. What are you playing at? How did you end up with Blackbeard?"
Stone thought it over seriously. "Maybe they're relatives. For all we know, Blackbeard is Kizaru's distant grandnephew."
Everyone burst out laughing. Even Luo, who rarely showed any expression, nearly lost it. Kizaru's face flushed red with embarrassment, and he roared, "What nonsense are you spouting? We're not related!"
Lafitte twirled his silver-white cane and smiled. "No need to guess. I'll tell you. Kizaru has officially joined the Blackbeard Pirates as our Vice Captain!"
"Vice Captain?"
Everyone froze. After several seconds, Ye Chen suddenly burst out laughing. "Kizaru, you're something else. What happened? Saw the Marines were finished, so you hurried to find yourself a new backer?"
Ye Chen raised his little finger and pointed it downward in a show of contempt. Kizaru's face shifted between red and white. He was furious, but he was also so ashamed he wanted the ground to swallow him. Betraying the Marines to become a pirate was hardly something to be proud of.
Blackbeard wanted to back Kizaru up. With a quick wave of his hand, the ships of his fleet spread out and surrounded Ye Chen's Death God.
Blackbeard bared his teeth in a smug grin and laughed. "Zehahaha! Ye Chen, I was just about to come looking for you. I never thought you'd deliver yourself to me. Now we can settle all our scores, old and new."
Ye