The New World, the pirate island of Hachinosu.
The island lay devastated, but the Blackbeard Pirates' flag still flew stubbornly above the surviving fortress.
The Saber of Xebec was docked in the harbor.
Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, had returned and was seated on his enormous, newly repaired throne.
His expression was dark and sour, and his massive hand slapped irritably against the armrest.
"Zehahaha..." He let out his trademark laugh, but there was little pleasure in it. Instead, it brimmed with annoyance.
"Seriously, after seeing all the news flooding in today, I almost forgot..."
"We pulled off something 'big' ourselves!"
He was referring to the destruction of the Heart Pirates.
Taking advantage of Luo's departure from Wano Country, Blackbeard had personally led an ambush, all but crushing the Heart Pirates' main force.
Unfortunately, an unexpected interruption at the last moment had allowed Luo himself to be rescued, denying Blackbeard the Op-Op Fruit ability he coveted most.
It should have been an event that shook the seas, but it had coincided with a string of even more explosive stories: "Three Emperors fall," "Fleet Admiral captures Emperor," and "Wano Country changes hands."
As a result, Blackbeard's "victory" had been completely buried, drawing no attention at all. How could he not be furious?
"But speaking of that..." Blackbeard changed the subject, turning his gaze toward Kuzan, who sat to one side of the hall with thick bandages still wrapped around his chest.
"Kuzan, after seeing the news about that old man Garp, I really didn't expect... that you'd manage to bring him back alive!"
"No, I mean 'keep him here.'"
He quickly corrected himself. Strictly speaking, Garp was missing, not captured alive by Kuzan.
Kuzan straddled a reinforced chair, his back resting against the cold stone wall.
His head was lowered, the curly