The already exhausted Portgas D. Ace struggled to support himself as he slowly stood up.
Staring at Marshall D. Teach, his eyes were filled with seriousness. "What exactly are you trying to do?!"
Ace truly could not imagine what Blackbeard intended to do with him.
"What do I want to do?"
Blackbeard revealed a crazed grin. "Of course, I'm going to hand you over to the Marines."
The Marines?!
Hearing this, Ace froze.
He was indeed a pirate with a bounty of 550 million Berries.
But Blackbeard was also a pirate.
If he handed Ace over to the Marines, was he not afraid they would arrest him as well?
Seeing the confusion on Ace's face, Blackbeard laughed even louder.
"Captain Ace, don't tell me you forgot that there's something in this world called the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a legal pirate position recognized by the Marines?"
The moment Ace heard that, panic flashed across his face. "You're planning to exchange me for a position among the Warlords and use the Marines' protection to avoid being hunted by Pops?"
Looking at Ace's reaction, Blackbeard shook his head slightly.
Sure enough, no one understood his true plan.
At that moment, a certain figure appeared in his mind, the boy from the East Blue who wore a straw hat.
"My ambitions are far bigger than that."
Blackbeard tilted his head upward.
Doc Q and Van Augur quickly stepped forward, understanding Blackbeard's intentions.
They placed seastone handcuffs on Ace.
Logia users were extremely dangerous. If Ace recovered, with his speed it would be difficult for Blackbeard to capture him again.
The moment Ace felt his powers sealed, his first thought was suicide.
He did not know exactly what Blackbeard planned, but he understood one thing clearly.
If he fell into the Marines' hands, it would bring enormous trouble to the Whitebeard Pirates.
The only way to repay Whitebeard was to die.
Ace was neither indecisive nor afraid of death.
Once he made up his mind, he acted immediately.
He opened his mouth wide, sticking out his tongue, preparing to bite it off.
"Captain Ace, did you really think I'd let you die?"
Blackbeard shoved his hand straight into Ace's mouth.
Even though Ace bit down hard, Blackbeard's expression did not change in the slightest.
He tore off a piece of cloth, rolled it into a ball, and stuffed it into Ace's mouth.
After finishing, Blackbeard kicked Ace aside.
With his Devil Fruit power sealed, Ace's head drooped and he quickly lost consciousness.
"You think if Whitebeard dies, the structure of the New World would change?"
Blackbeard's words startled Doc Q.
Before Doc Q could respond, Blackbeard continued, "What I want is to become the Pirate King."
Doc Q first looked confused, then his face slowly turned excited and crazed.
He had joined Blackbeard precisely because he admired that madness.
Ignoring Doc Q, Blackbeard turned his gaze toward the sea, the direction of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Old man, I was your son too. When a son asks his father for a few toys, you would not refuse… right? You're already old. The people you knew are all waiting for you down there."
Meanwhile, aboard the Moby Dick.
For more than half a month, Edward Newgate had seemed distracted.
"Pops, what's wrong?"
Marco had noticed it long ago.
Because of their positions, he had not dared to ask.
But after half a month of this behavior, he finally could not hold back anymore.
"If you're feeling unwell, maybe the doctor should check you."
"I'm fine."
Whitebeard took a deep breath.
The worry on his face still did not disappear.
"It's about Ace."
Whitebeard explained the agreement he had with Ace, to regularly report in and confirm his safety.
This was a common rule for both pirates and the Marines.
It ensured communication and prevented situations where someone was attacked or endangered without anyone knowing.
At first, Ace had contacted them every few days.
But the last call had been over a month ago.
"I'm worried about Ace."
Whitebeard remembered Blackbeard's face.
"That man is not weak. And now he has that mysterious Devil Fruit that made him betray our crew. Ace might not be able to handle him."
Understanding the situation, Marco, Jozu, and Renji relaxed slightly.
As long as Whitebeard himself was not sick, the situation was not too serious.
"Pops, you're worrying too much," Marco said with a relaxed smile. "Ace is the most talented member of our crew."
He glanced briefly at Renji.
"…well, the second most talented now. And you even built him his own special ship. Even if something goes wrong, Ace can simply escape."
"That's true."
Whitebeard nodded, though the concern on his face remained.
"I'm still worried about him."
After thinking for a moment, Renji finally spoke.
"Ace really was reckless going alone. If Pops is worried, then let me take the Fourth Division and search for him in the Grand Line."
Whitebeard looked at Renji.
He trusted Renji's strength completely.
Even in the New World, very few people could threaten him, let alone in the Grand Line.
For Renji, this would simply be a test of command and navigation.
Although Renji held an important position in the crew, he had never independently commanded a fleet or sailed on his own mission.
Whitebeard had already decided Renji would be his successor.
Learning to lead and sail independently was necessary.
And this mission would be the perfect opportunity, with almost no risk to his life.
After thinking briefly, Whitebeard nodded.
"Very well."
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Big thanks to Roman Solis for joining my P@t reon
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