Impertinence

Amazon Lily.

"Captain, haven't we gone too far?" Lafitte asked in a shrill, ape-like voice.

"No! I have to obtain the Empress's Fruit," Blackbeard said resolutely.

"But she is one of Swain, one of the Four Emperors' women..." Lafitte continued to persuade him.

The implication was obvious: at this stage, they could not afford to offend Swain, who was at the height of his power.

Van Augur wiped his beloved rifle with a handkerchief and said indifferently, "Enough. The captain has made his decision. We just need to do our jobs as crewmen."

"But?"

Blackbeard impatiently cut him off. "I know what you mean, but there are too many powerful people competing for One Piece. If we don't increase our strength, we'll fall behind this era."

"When the time comes, if Captain doesn't want that woman, let me have a taste."

"That woman has a beauty capable of toppling nations," Shiryu said, a cigar dangling from his mouth as smoke obscured his lecherous eyes.

"Zehahahaha!" Blackbeard laughed. "I don't mind!"

Unlike the original course of events, after Blackbeard failed to seize Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he had not recruited Catarina Devon.

His crew consisted of only seven people: Lafitte, Van Augur, Shiryu, Doc Q, Wolf, Vasco Shot, and Burgess.

Those people had gathered together either because they shared the same foul temperament or because they were wildly ambitious.

Nearly a year had passed since the Marineford War. Using the convenience afforded by the Dark-Dark Fruit, Blackbeard had secured suitable Devil Fruits for them.

They were also willing to struggle alongside Blackbeard.

In just one year, they had risen from obscure pirates to the "Fifth Emperor," a force comparable to the Four Emperors.

That was right!

The Fifth Emperor!

Their bounty had reached an astonishing three billion Beli.

Every one of them