What a Disgrace!

Teach had only wanted to cozy up to Oak, but after saying just one sentence, he got slapped hard across the face. And in front of so many people, including the outstanding crew members he had worked so hard to recruit. His expression darkened for a moment.

He was no longer the Teach who had lain low aboard the Whitebeard Pirates. He was Blackbeard, a man who had exposed all his ambitions. Now that he had obtained the Devil Fruit he had coveted for so long, this was the time when he was brimming with ambition and preparing to make his mark. His confidence had reached its peak, and he had his own pride. Yet his expression quickly returned to normal, as though nothing had happened. He swallowed the humiliation and gave up on the idea of retaliating.

The reason was simple: unlike the crewmen under his command, he knew exactly what kind of person Oak was and how terrifying his strength was.

Back at God Valley, he had personally witnessed Oak take action when he was still a child. Oak had only been in his early twenties then, yet he had already been one of the strongest men of that era, capable of fighting young Garp, Roger, Sengoku, and the others. More than thirty years had passed since then. Oak could only be more terrifying now, and he was also the one and only Triple Ability User. Teach felt it would be better for everyone to talk things over peacefully.

Covering his swollen cheek, Teach forced a smile.

"Un... Uncle Oak!"

"I was being immature just now!"

At that moment, Teach demonstrated the art of yielding and adapting to the fullest. Shamelessly, he corrected his form of address. Of course, it might also have been because Oak's slap hurt