On the deck, Blackbeard was sitting on the ship's railing, munching on a cherry pie.
His left shoulder was wrapped in a dirty bandage, the bloodstains seeping from it not yet completely dry, but this did not affect his appetite in the slightest.
" Doc Q, how much longer until we reach the Marine Base?"
"Two or three days, maybe."
Doc Q leaned against the mast, injecting himself with medication as he answered.
The ship's doctor himself was sickly, his face as pale as a corpse.
The formula of the medication he administered was unknown, but after the injection, he felt much more energetic.
The nearest Marine Base is just a few islands ahead.
I heard there's a rear Rear Admiral stationed there recently, what's his name again... I forgot.
"Unimportant."
Blackbeard stuffed the last piece of cherry pie into his mouth, chewed it twice, swallowed it, and gave a satisfied smile.
"Anything from the navy will do."
I've already made contact with the World Government. As long as I hand over Ace, the Shichibukai position is mine.
"But boss, will the World Government really be that agreeable?"
"Hahaha! You just don't understand."
Blackbeard stood up, walked to the ship's railing, and looked at the faint outline of the islands visible on the distant horizon.
What do World Government fear most?
It wasn't Whitebeard, it wasn't any of the other Four Emperors; it was that the balance of power was broken.
If Whitebeard dies at my hands, or is executed by the Navy because of me, the landscape of the New World will be completely changed.
What the World Government needs most is a compliant Shichibukai to help them stabilize the situation.
He turned around, his eyes gleaming.
"I'm the obedient Shichibukai."
Doc Q remained silent for a moment.
Although he had been following Blackbeard for some time, every time he heard the fat black man analyze the situation,
I still feel that this person is not as rugged as he looks.
Beneath that fleshy face lay an extremely shrewd mind.
"What should we do with Ace?"
"Keep it locked up for now."
Blackbeard turned and walked towards the cabin. "I have something to discuss with him."
The door at the bottom of the cabin was pushed open, and a beam of light shone in from outside, illuminating Ace's face.
Blackbeard's massive body squeezed through the hatch, carrying a bowl of thin porridge and a piece of dry bread.
He placed the food on the ground in front of Ace, then sat down cross-legged, not in a hurry to speak, but simply sized up the prisoner bound by Seastone chains.
"Captain Ace."
"You, why did you give up being the Second Division Commander to chase after me?"
And the result? He chased himself until he looked like this.
Ace didn't speak, or even glance at him. He just stared at a point on the deck, as if he were looking at something that only he could see.
"But honestly, I really admire you."
Of all the captains under Whitebeard, you were the only one who chased after him.
The others either lacked the courage or the ability.
Only you, Portgas D. Ace, Second Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace.
"You are indeed a worthy opponent."
Blackbeard stood up, walked up to Ace, and forced a sincere, almost exaggerated smile onto his fleshy face.
So—join me, Ace.
Ace finally raised his head.
His lips twitched, as if he had heard something utterly ridiculous and was about to let out a sneer.
"What's on your mind?"
"I was thinking—thief, hahaha!"
Blackbeard spread his hands.
Only the truly strong can survive on this vast ocean!
Thatch was weak, so it was only natural that he was killed!
And you are the strong one, Ace!
With you and me joining forces, this ocean will be ours for the taking!
"Look, the Whitebeard has aged."
How long can he protect you?
In a few years, he won't even be able to unleash his Conqueror's Haki anymore. At that point, you sons will be nothing more than easy prey.
Blackbeard became more and more excited as he spoke, spittle flying everywhere.
"It would be better to cooperate with me now, and after Whitebeard dies, we can split his territory equally, and his—"
"Shut up."
Ace's voice wasn't loud, but the cold laugh that came from deep in his throat made Blackbeard instinctively stop talking.
" Teach."
"You just said that Thatch was weak, so it was only natural that he was killed?"
"And what about you? Without the Dark-Dark Fruit, you wouldn't even have half of Thatch's strength."
"You've been on Whitebeard's ship for over twenty years, and you still haven't been elected as a division commander."
"What right do you have to talk about being a 'strong person'?"
Blackbeard's smile froze for a moment.
"You're nothing but a piece of trash who rose to power through sneak attacks and betrayals."
"Shut up--!!!"
Blackbeard's fake smile finally crumbled.
He grabbed Ace's hair and slammed his face hard against the deck.
The wooden planks creaked as Ace's lip struck one of them, blood trickling down his chin.
Fire Fist Ace!
No matter how arrogant you are, you're still just a prisoner!
I want to kill you, and I can kill you right now!
"Then kill him."
Ace was pressed against the deck, his voice muffled, but the contempt in his tone remained undiminished.
"Anyway, Pops will avenge me. Your end is coming soon."
I'll be waiting for you in hell.
Blackbeard suddenly loosened his grip.
He tilted his head and looked at Ace, the anger on his face slowly fading, replaced by a strange smile.
That smile sent a chill down Ace's spine.
"Hahaha! Yes! It's that ' Pops '!"
Blackbeard released his grip, took a few steps back, and sat down cross-legged again.
"This is my trump card."
"What did you say?" Ace frowned.
"I said—that old bastard with the Whitebeard is my trump card."
Blackbeard held up a finger and began to describe his plan in detail.
His tone was calm and self-satisfied, as if he were sharing a brilliant chess game with an old friend.
"Step 1: Hand you over to the World Government in exchange for the title of Shichibukai."
"Step Two: In order to deter the New World, the World Government will definitely publicly execute you, as Roger's descendant."
You are Whitebeard's most trusted and beloved lieutenant; the whole world knows that.
Step 3: That old man with the Whitebeard will never abandon his son.
He will lead the entire Whitebeard Pirates to Marineford and wage war against the Marine Headquarters.
Blackbeard's smile grew brighter and brighter.
"Step 4: Both sides suffer heavy losses. The Marine Headquarters ' fighting force will be reduced by at least half, and that old bastard Whitebeard —it would be best if he died directly at Marineford."
"By then, Whitebeard's territory in the New World will be leaderless, and the position of Shichibukai will just be a stepping stone for me."
As for the fifth step...
Blackbeard suddenly stopped speaking at this point.
He grinned, revealing a mouthful of missing teeth, and smiled like a fox who had just stolen a chicken.
Ace didn't ask what the fifth step was.
His full attention was drawn to the first four steps.
He finally understood.
This manhunt was a calculated operation from the very beginning.
It wasn't that he was chasing Blackbeard; rather, Blackbeard was waiting for him to chase him.
Blackbeard needs him—he needs a significant bargaining chip to kickstart this plan.
And he— Portgas D. Ace — the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates —was the perfect bargaining chip.
What's even more terrifying is that Blackbeard's judgment was absolutely correct.
Whitebeard would never abandon his son.
To save him, Pops might actually lead the entire Whitebeard Pirates to Marineford.
To engage in direct combat with the Marine Headquarters.
And he was the spark that ignited this war.