As Blackbeard sat there looking utterly confident, Kuzan's eyes flickered almost imperceptibly in the shadows.
Just then, a low, flat voice devoid of emotion came from the hall's heavy doors.
"Captain, he's here."
The speaker was Van Augur.
He stood at the entrance with his long Sniper Rifle in his arms, wearing the same dead-eyed expression as always.
But those words-"he's here"-
Made every officer in the hall freeze at once!
Whoosh!
In an instant, Shiryu's sinister gaze, Chou Chou's amused gaze, Samuel's fathomless gaze, Jesus Burgess's blank gaze, and Pizarro's puzzled gaze as he barely managed to raise his head-
Everyone's eyes swung from Van Augur's expressionless face to Blackbeard in the seat of honor.
The smug smile on Blackbeard's face slowly faded. He rose from his enormous chair and spread his arms,
Striking an almost exaggerated pose of welcome, his booming voice filled with deliberately manufactured warmth.
"Oh? My 'Benefactor' is here!"
He grinned, showing the gaps in his teeth, his eyes fixed brightly on the shadows at the entrance.
"Don't just stand in the doorway! Come on in!"
"I've... been waiting a long time!"
He deliberately drew out his words, then, as everyone watched with bated breath,
Clearly pronounced the name that made every heart stop, one word at a time.
"Red Hair..."
"!!"
"Red Hair?!" "Shanks?!"
"Didn't Heavenquake capture him?!"
"How could he be here?!"
In an instant, all manner of horrified thoughts exploded in the officers' minds!
As Blackbeard's final words and arrogant laughter rang out, a figure stepped steadily out of the shadows beside Van Augur at the entrance.
The light traced his silhouette, revealing a tall, upright figure,
Striking red hair, handsome features, and a well-tailored dark formal suit that carried the air of an old-world aristocrat...
When his face was fully revealed