Marine Headquarters, Mary Geoise Port: The Queen Anne's Revenge slowly stopped and docked at the port.
Teach, accompanied by Burgess, Lafitte, and Van Augur, disembarked from the ship, leaving the other crew members on board.
"Well, well, well, welcome to the Marine Headquarters, Mary Geoise, you scum of the sea!" A tall man in a Marine hat, wearing a red suit with a rose pinned to his chest pocket and a Marine Justice cape, taunted them.
Upon seeing this man, Teach remained unfazed, even though he couldn't fathom why a Marine Admiral himself had come to welcome them in such a harsh manner.
Teach glanced at Sakazuki, maintaining a calm demeanor and a slight grin on his face.
"Ah, if it isn't Admiral Sakazuki, Red Dog himself. I didn't expect you to be the one to welcome me. What a pleasant surprise, hehehe!" Sakazuki's expression darkened, and the air around him grew increasingly hot.
"I'm not here to welcome the likes of you. I would gladly send you to Impel Down."
Teach did not heed Sakazuki's threatening words and walked directly up to him.
"Well, if you have the guts, give it a try! Hehehe! It's quite an interesting piece of news. The Seven Warlords are getting apprehended by a Marine Admiral right here at the Marine Headquarters. I'm sure it will make headlines!"
Teach laughed boisterously, face-to-face with Sakazuki. "Ah, you marines, don't waste our time with idle chit-chat here. I bet there are other pressing matters for you to attend to."
Burgess's sharp voice sounded as he looked down at Sakazuki. "Hmph, I just happened to be returning from a mission.
But Blackbeard, keep your position as a warlord. I wouldn't hesitate to apprehend you if you did personally. I won't be as gentle as Kuzan."
Sakazuki snorted and turned to leave, issuing a warning to Teach. "Don't worry, and I have no intention of relinquishing my position as a warlord. Hehehe!" Teach responded with a sinister laugh as he looked at Sakazuki.
"Hmph!" Sakazuki huffed and left. Teach, Burgess, Lafitte, and Van Augur were led to the meeting room by a Marine officer.
Upon entering the room, they witnessed two Marine Vice Admirals engaged in a heated argument.
"Oh? Is this some entertainment for us? Hey, Marine, get me 50 cherry pies. We've been on the road, and I haven't had a decent meal!"
Teach casually found a seat and instructed the Marine officer beside him. "Hehehe, Fleet Admiral, it's just the three of us this time. Quite a failure, I must say!"
Burgess looked at the room, noticing only Teach, himself, and Doflamingo in attendance. He taunted Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Hehehe, Doflamingo, so you've emerged from the New World's thick fog. Why aren't you back to your old tricks as a Whitebeard ally? Hiding behind your bravado now?"
Doflamingo grinned and teased Burgess.
"Hehehe, Doflamingo, I could easily cut your head off right now!" Burgess smiled back at Doflamingo, delivering a fierce retort.
Seeing that Burgess wasn't losing his temper, Doflamingo's grin deepened, and he turned to Sengoku.
"By the way, I heard you've already joined Blackbeard's crew. Has he changed you?"
Doflamingo turned to Teach and asked.
Smiling, Teach stuffed a cherry pie into his mouth without paying much attention to Doflamingo, who had a progressively darkening expression.
"Doflamingo, I've always admired you. What do you say, want to join my crew and be my partner?"
"Well, well, are you trying to recruit me, Blackbeard, Marshal D. Teach?"
"Indeed, Doflamingo, you're a man of strength and cunning. How about teaming up with me?"
Teach looked seriously at Doflamingo, unaware of the enraged Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Haha!" Doflamingo grinned as he replied, "These pirates are quite intriguing, aren't they?" While the two exchanged words, Sengoku's face grew darker.
"Enough of your nonsense! You scum of the sea, Blackbeard, do you intend to form alliances right in front of me?" Sengoku roared at Teach.
Grinning, Doflamingo glanced at both Sengoku and Blackbeard. "Hehehe, Sengoku, Mr. Blackbeard here doesn't want us to join forces, it seems."
"Hehehe, you're right. It wouldn't sit well with Warlord Teach." Teach laughed heartily and focused on eating more cherry pies. Calmly, Sengoku walked over to Teach and Doflamingo.
"Okay, let's see what the meeting is all about. You can temporarily stay on this island until it begins." After saying this, Sengoku left the meeting room.
Hawk watched as Sengoku departed, then approached Nodige Lester. "Kid, how about joining the Marines?" Nodige Lester looked down at Hawk.
"I'm a pirate, a member of Captain Teach's crew."
"I see; it's a pity." With that, Hawk walked away from the meeting room.
As the Marines convened the meeting to summon the new warlords, Aris, the son of Rocks and the captain of the War God Pirates, was making his way past Fish-Man Island and into the first half of the Grand Line, getting closer to the New World.