'Damn it!'
'Why is HE the one presiding over the Warlord meeting?!'
The man holding a cane and dressed like a stage performer beneath a black top hat felt nothing but cold, creeping dread.
Laffitte couldn't help his nerves. Not long ago, he had met Kojin in person and experienced firsthand just how terrifying the man's strength truly was. Although the Blackbeard Pirates had managed to escape, they had come dangerously close to being wiped out, taking a considerable amount of time just to recover.
And now, after secretly infiltrating Marineford to attend this Warlord meeting, they had run right back into him.
"Ad-Admiral Kojin?!" Laffitte forced a look of pleasant surprise. "I never expected you to be the one hosting this gathering!"
Unfortunately, the sweat trickling down his forehead betrayed him completely.
Kojin sat quietly, his gaze fixed on the intruder. The pressure behind his eyes felt as suffocating as a falling mountain.
"I don't have time to waste exchanging pleasantries with you, Laffitte," Kojin said calmly. "Give me a single reason not to throw you out right now."
Laffitte shuddered. He knew very well what kind of man sat before him: Kojin possessed the strength to back up every word he spoke, and more importantly, he was as decisive as he was ruthless. Even Teach considered him a nightmare of an opponent, a man whose brutal encounter had left Teach wearing a massive scar like a badge of honor.
Taking a deep breath, Laffitte forced himself to speak. "I-I'm here to recommend a candidate for the vacant Warlord position."
"Oh?" Kojin let out a faint, mocking chuckle. "Since when do pirates get to recommend Warlords?"
Nearby, Vice Admiral Tsuru watched the exchange with quiet amusement. From the second Kojin entered the room, he had completely dominated the atmosphere.
Even when dealing with notoriously difficult figures like the Seven Warlords, his authority was absolute. It was almost funny, the mighty Warlords looked like mice that had just walked into a room with a cat.
"Laffitte," Tsuru spoke up, her voice dry and measured. "If I remember correctly, you're a member of the recently formed Blackbeard Pirates. You were once a sheriff in the West Blue, exiled for your excessive brutality. Your captain is Marshall Teach, correct?"
Relieved that Kojin wasn't the one speaking, Laffitte turned toward Tsuru immediately. "That's correct. I'm here specifically to recommend my captain, 'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach, for the vacant Warlord position."
Tsuru frowned slightly. "Marshall Teach? His reputation has certainly grown recently, but becoming a Warlord requires both exceptional strength and widespread influence. What qualifies him?"
Kojin remained silent, observing with a subtle smile. He knew exactly how this story unfolded, but sometimes it was far more convenient to let the current carry things along.
"Our captain recently defeated and captured 'Fire Fist' Ace, commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division," Laffitte announced proudly. Without an achievement of that magnitude, he wouldn't have dared to set foot in Marineford, especially with Kojin sitting in the room.
The conference room exploded into noise.
"What?!"
Every officer present was visibly shaken.
"Fire Fist Ace was captured?!"
"A powerhouse like him actually lost?"
"And the one who defeated him was Marshall Teach, his former crewmate?!"
"Blackbeard has been hiding his strength well..."
None of them realized the apocalyptic chain reaction this single piece of information was about to trigger.
Only Tsuru's frown deepened as she glanced toward Kojin.
"So you're saying Fire Fist Ace is in your custody?" Kojin finally spoke up.
"That is correct," Laffitte answered nervously.
Kojin nodded. "Considering Ace's status and influence, that achievement is indeed enough to earn Marshall Teach consideration for a Warlord seat."
A flash of excitement swept across Laffitte's face. If Teach could secure the position, not only would their primary plan succeed, but they would also avoid directly clashing with Kojin for the time being. To every member of the Blackbeard Pirates, Kojin was an entity that could not be provoked under any circumstances, at least not until they had accumulated enough power.
"However..." Kojin's voice suddenly turned bone-chillingly cold. "...Fire Fist Ace must be handed over to the Marines first."
Laffitte stiffened.
"At present, the Marines have no way of verifying whether your claims are true," Kojin continued smoothly. "Until Ace is delivered into Marine custody, Marshall Teach becoming a Warlord is nothing more than a fantasy."
Laffitte's expression flickered rapidly. As he locked eyes with Kojin's cold glare, horrifying memories resurfaced: raging seas, roaring thunder, and the towering figure standing amidst the storm.
"Th-This..." He hesitated.
Kojin leaned back in his chair. "Hand over Fire Fist Ace, and Marshall Teach becomes the new Warlord. The Marines can accept that deal. Otherwise..." His eyes narrowed dangerously. "...you don't leave this room today."
Laffitte turned deathly pale.
Silence descended upon the conference room. Doflamingo wore a faint, sinister grin. Mihawk remained expressionless, seemingly indifferent to who filled the seat. Bartholomew Kuma sat quietly in his spot, as stoic as ever.
A single Marine Admiral had effortlessly taken total control of the room, silencing every pirate present and casually deciding the future balance of power with just a few words.
"I don't have time to wait around for you, Laffitte," Kojin said a moment later. "Make your decision. Now."
Laffitte took a deep breath, his expression shifting several times before he finally gritted his teeth. "We accept your proposal, Admiral Kojin."
There was no way he was going to risk being trapped inside Marine Headquarters, and besides, handing over Fire Fist Ace had always been part of the Blackbeard Pirates' original plan anyway.
Kojin smiled faintly and swept his gaze across the table. "Then it's settled. The vacant position of the Seven Warlords will be given to Marshall Teach, the man who defeated Whitebeard's Second Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace. Does anyone have any objections?"
Doflamingo grinned widely. "I'll follow your decision."
Mihawk frowned slightly but offered no protest; he had only shown up as a formality. Bartholomew Kuma didn't utter a word.
"Vice Admiral Tsuru?" Kojin looked over at her.
"You can handle the arrangements however you see fit," Tsuru replied with a small smile. She was both impressed and quietly proud of how effortlessly Kojin had suppressed a room full of dangerous pirates.
To her, he was still the bright young man she had watched grow up, and seeing him command this level of absolute authority filled her with pride.
The future truly held limitless possibilities.
Kojin nodded with a smile before turning back to Laffitte. "Then lead the way, Laffitte. Take me to your captain."
Laffitte's expression froze. "Right now?!"
"I don't have time to waste," Kojin said, his tone perfectly even.
Laffitte's heart skipped a beat. For a terrifying moment, he wondered if Kojin intended to use this opportunity to wipe out the Blackbeard Pirates in one fell swoop. They had barely escaped destruction during their clash near Mock Town; another encounter like that would be fatal.
"Relax," Kojin said casually. "I'm more interested in Fire Fist Ace. As for your crew..." He paused, a look of unadulterated disdain crossing his face. "...you're nothing more than a handful of small-time pirates I can crush whenever I feel like it."
Laffitte's jaw twitched. The sheer arrogance infuriated him, but he couldn't deny it; the man possessed the terrifying power to match his words. All he could do was swallow his pride until the Blackbeard Pirates grew strong enough to settle the score.
"I need to contact my captain first," Laffitte said seriously, taking a deep breath.
"Do as you like," Kojin replied.
Relieved, Laffitte pulled out a Den Den Mushi, stepped aside, and quietly conferred with Marshall Teach. A short while later, he turned back around.
"Captain agreed. Please follow me, Admiral Kojin."
Kojin nodded. As Laffitte led the way out of the conference room, Kojin paused near the doorway as if suddenly remembering something. He turned back toward the silent giant who had remained still throughout the entire ordeal.
"Kuma," Kojin called out. "Would you care to join us?"
The sudden invitation caught Bartholomew Kuma off guard. It took him a few seconds to process the request before he slowly rose to his feet.
"All right," he agreed without hesitation, stepping forward to fall in behind Kojin.
"I appreciate the company," Kojin smiled.
Kuma offered no response. At nearly seven meters tall, he resembled a silent, imposing bodyguard walking in Kojin's wake, his overwhelming presence impossible to ignore.
Laffitte glanced back and felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
'This guy is already insanely strong, yet he's still this cautious? What an annoying enemy...'
Before long, Laffitte guided them to a secluded shoreline on Marineford, gesturing toward an surprisingly modest small raft tied to the dock.
Kojin raised an eyebrow but refrained from commenting. The Blackbeard Pirates were clearly struggling financially in these early stages of building their force if 'this' was their primary vessel.
Soon, the three of them boarded. Kojin stood at the bow while Kuma towered silently behind him. Ahead of them, Laffitte rowed with all his strength.
As Kojin watched the former sheriff row, a faint, cryptic smile touched his lips.
"Tell me..." Kojin began casually. "...what exactly are you trying to accomplish as an officer of the Revolutionary Army, Bartholomew Kuma?"
The air aboard the raft instantly turned to ice.
Behind him, a sharp glint flashed through Kuma's normally lifeless eyes.
"You seem to have made some sort of deal with the World Government," Kojin continued in a relaxed tone. "Has your body already been modified? What a crude method... It seems the scientist you're working with isn't particularly skilled."
Kuma remained completely silent for a long moment. Only after several heavy seconds had passed did he finally speak, his voice dropping to a low, icy hum.
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
(End of Chapter)
You can read ahead up to 30 chapters on my Patreon: https://www.p*treon.com/darkshadow6395