"Hand Ace over to Admiral Kojin."
Marshall D. Teach didn't hesitate. He turned to Burgess with a grin.
After cautiously glancing at Kojin, Burgess bent down, hauled Ace up with one hand, walked a few steps forward, and tossed him onto the ground.
Kojin looked down at the freckled young man lying motionless and narrowed his eyes.
With his sharp senses, he could tell Ace was already awake. He simply wasn't moving because his injuries were genuinely severe.
Nearly every rib in his body was broken. His skin was covered in wounds, and his internal organs had suffered varying degrees of blunt-force trauma.
The extent of those injuries revealed something else as well: Teach was far more dangerous than he appeared.
"Kuma, I'll leave him to you." Kojin smiled faintly.
Bartholomew Kuma said nothing. He stepped forward, lifted Ace onto his shoulder, and stood waiting.
Teach's pupils contracted.
He knew very well who "Tyrant" Kuma was. As one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Kuma was no weakling.
Yet now, he was obeying Kojin without the slightest complaint.
Since when had the Marines and the Warlords become this close?
"Then we'll be leaving. The official announcement of your appointment as a Warlord will be issued soon."
"Just wait quietly for the news."
Kojin turned and spoke calmly.
"I'll be in your care then, Admiral Kojin." Teach bowed deeply, unable to hide the joy on his face.
Kojin didn't waste another word. Together with Kuma, he boarded the ship and departed.
Only after the two were completely gone did Burgess hurriedly speak up.
"Captain…"
Teach immediately raised a hand to stop him.
"Don't underestimate that man's abilities. Until we're absolutely certain he's out of range, don't say anything unnecessary."
His lowered voice made every member of the Blackbeard Pirates tense.
"You mean... even after he's left, he can still hear us?" Van Augur asked in shock.
"I don't want to admit it, but... I think he really can." Teach answered gravely.
Taking a deep breath, his expression grew even more serious.
"His Observation Haki... is it specialized for long-range perception?"
"How terrifying."
He couldn't help recalling their encounter in Mock Town. Kojin's absurd sensing range back then still sent a chill through his heart.
It was practically divine.
"Combined with his Devil Fruit..." Van Augur muttered,
"...he's like an ultra-long-range sniper."
"I never imagined the Marines would produce someone this terrifying in this era."
"I don't even know whether that's the world's blessing... or its tragedy."
The first thing that came to his mind was Kojin's incredible Observation Haki combined with the Goro Goro no Mi.
The result was nothing short of horrifying.
Silence settled over the crew.
Until Teach spoke again, no one dared say another word.
After a long while, he finally let out a slow breath.
"All right. Facing someone like him, we have to be careful every step of the way. One mistake, and we'll fall into the abyss before we've even had the chance to grow."
Burgess immediately asked anxiously, "We just handed Ace over like that. What if the Marines go back on their word?"
"If they couldn't even keep a promise like that, that man would never have become who he is today." Teach's voice was firm.
"Burgess. We may stand on opposite sides. We may be enemies. But deep down... I still respect him."
From watching Kojin battle Whitebeard years ago to facing him in person not long ago, Kojin had left an unforgettable impression on Teach.
That overwhelming, nearly invincible power had shattered his pride, replacing it with awe.
Just as he had said, even as an enemy, he couldn't help but respect him.
Teach didn't realize that this was simply instinct: the natural reverence a weaker being feels toward someone vastly above them.
Unable to face such a gap head-on, he instinctively lowered his head.
Looking over his crew and seeing their gloomy expressions, Teach suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Zehahahaha! Come on, everyone! Why the long faces?"
"As long as we stick to the plan and keep moving forward..."
"...once we've fully grown stronger..."
"...the Blackbeard Pirates will defeat him sooner or later."
"For the dream of swallowing the entire world, what's a little humiliation now?"
But no one's expression changed.
They all knew the truth.
Against Kojin's seemingly invincible power, they couldn't see even the slightest hope of victory.
"So, Captain Teach..."
Van Augur looked up.
"What's our next move?"
"We continue with the next stage of our plan." Teach's grin turned savage, his eyes burning with ambition.
"We'll find another powerful target, take their ability, and make myself even stronger."
He paused before smiling wider.
"If this plan succeeds..."
"...we'll immediately have the power to stand against Kojin."
"And when that day comes..."
"...the whole world will be ours."
As he spoke, Teach slowly clenched his outstretched hand into a fist, his face brimming with confidence.
Van Augur and the others exchanged glances.
The tension on their faces eased slightly.
They all understood their captain's unique ability and that was exactly why they had chosen to follow him.
A man capable of breaking the rules of the world and wielding two Devil Fruit powers had limitless potential.
If Teach acquired another powerful Devil Fruit to complement the Dark-Dark Fruit, his strength would soar to an unimaginable level.
"I just hope everything goes smoothly."
Laffitte let out a sigh.
By now, Kojin had left such a deep shadow over him that he wanted to avoid facing the man ever again.
"Zehahahaha! Don't worry, everyone. The future is ours! We've already taken the first step, haven't we?"
"We traded Fire Fist Ace..."
"...for a ticket onto the world's stage."
"We really should thank Commander Ace!"
Teach burst into laughter.
---
Aboard the Crocodile.
Kojin sat in his chair, while the towering Bartholomew Kuma stood beside him.
In front of them sat Fire Fist Ace. His restraints had been removed, but his eyes remained shut.
"Kuma." Kojin suddenly smiled.
"Do you know who this man really is?"
"The Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace. Bounty: 550 million Berries." Kuma answered seriously.
It was obvious he knew who Ace was and understood the significance of that title.
"And?"
Kojin raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Kuma paused before shaking his head.
He wasn't aware of any other identity Ace might have.
"Ace was raised by Vice Admiral Garp." Kojin smiled faintly, as though telling an old story.
"Garp wanted him to become an outstanding Marine."
Kuma looked surprised.
"So Vice Admiral Garp raised him?"
"Not exactly." Kojin chuckled.
"Garp's personality was never suited to raising children."
"To be more accurate, Ace and his younger brother, Straw Hat Luffy, were both raised by Dadan."
Kuma's eyes narrowed.
Straw Hat Luffy...
That was a name he knew well.
"But before all of that..." Kojin's smile slowly faded.
"...it was I who saved Ace and his mother."
"Until he was two years old, he lived at the former G-18 Marine Base in the West Blue."
Kuma stared at Ace in complete astonishment.
Fire Fist Ace had such an unbelievable past?
If this ever became public, the entire world would be shaken.
"So, in a way..."
Kojin sighed softly.
"...I've always looked at him almost as if he were my own son."
Kuma fell silent.
He could understand that feeling.
Though Kojin looked young, he was actually middle-aged. For an ordinary man, a son would be about Ace's age by now.
"But..."
Kojin continued,
"Ace has another identity. One that no one in the world knows."
Kuma frowned.
"Another one?"
"He is..."
Kojin spoke quietly.
"...the only surviving bloodline of Gol D. Roger."
His voice was calm, but the words struck Kuma like a mountain crashing down.
His expression changed instantly as he stared at Ace in disbelief.
"The Pirate King's bloodline..."
"...still exists?"
"And you..."
Realization suddenly dawned on him as he looked back at Kojin.
"You were the one who saved him."
"That's right."
Kojin nodded.
"I personally rescued them from the Marines."
"But..."
Kuma couldn't hide his shock.
"...you were also the one who captured Roger."
"Yes." Kojin nodded again. "But before that, Roger chose to surrender. He willingly accepted his own death."
"And by doing so..."
"...he ushered in a brand-new era."
"He pushed the Age of Pirates to its very peak."
Kuma stood there speechless.
The truth was far more twisted and unbelievable than he had ever imagined and at the same time, he found himself even less able to understand the man before him.
Kojin was one of the Marines' most important figures...
Yet he had chosen to save the family of the Pirate King.
Just then, Ace slowly opened his eyes.
"You really do know a lot." Kojin smiled.
"I've simply lived longer than you."
Ace struggled to move, then forced himself into a cross-legged sitting position.
"So you've finally stopped pretending to be unconscious." Kojin looked at him calmly.
"Ready to face things head-on now, Ace?"
Kuma remained silent, watching as an observer.
"There's nothing I can't face." Ace snorted.
"The worst that can happen is I die."
He suddenly clenched his fist, gritting his teeth.
"What I never expected..."
"...was that I'd actually lose to a bastard like Teach."
Kojin narrowed his eyes as he stared at him.
"You still don't understand how serious this situation really is, do you..."
"...Ace?"
(End of Chapter)
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