Work with me

"Blackbeard really has been hiding his strength!"

Clearly, none of those present had yet realized the chain reaction this simple piece of information would trigger.

Only Vice Admiral Tsuru frowned slightly at those words and looked at Xia Le beside her.

"You said Fire Fist Ace is in your hands?"

He raised his eyes and spoke calmly.

"That's right!"

Lafitte answered nervously.

"Given Fire Fist Ace's identity and standing, he is indeed enough for your captain, Marshall D. Teach, to secure a seat among the Shichibukai."

Xia Le said.

At those words, excitement appeared on Lafitte's face.

If he could help his captain become the new Warlord, they would not only be able to carry out their original plan, but also avoid facing this man for the time being.

To everyone in Blackbeard's crew, Xia Le was a ruthless figure they absolutely could not afford to provoke.

At the very least, until they had amassed enough strength, they could only try to remain on friendly terms with him.

"But before that, Fire Fist Ace must be handed over to the Marines!"

Another icy declaration followed, making Lafitte tense all over.

"The Marines currently have no way of verifying whether what you said is true!"

"Therefore, until Fire Fist Ace is in our hands, Marshall D. Teach becoming a Shichibukai is nothing but a pipe dream."

Lafitte's expression shifted. Looking into Xia Le's cold eyes, he felt as though he had returned to that day on the sea, amid raging waves and roaring lightning.

"But...!"

Lafitte hesitated.

"Hand over Fire Fist Ace, and Marshall D. Teach becomes the new Shichibukai."

"We can approve that deal!"

Xia Le said calmly.

"Otherwise, you're staying here today!"

Lafitte's expression changed again, and he fell silent.

Silence descended over the meeting room. Doflamingo grinned, while