"Marshall D. Teach," Ian spoke with interest, "I really find it hard to imagine… a traitor appearing on Whitebeard's ship."
"I always thought your harmonious family had everyone loving each other."
"Gahahahaha!"
Teach scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed. "I joined Whitebeard's crew because I admired his strength!"
"But now he is no longer the strongest. He even fled the New World out of fear, so I thought there was no reason for me to stay in Whitebeard's crew any longer."
Look at that—this is the pinnacle of deception. What he said was indeed true, yet not entirely the truth.
Ian knew perfectly well that Teach did admire Whitebeard's strength—but even more, he desired the Dark-Dark Fruit.
Ian said with interest, "So… you mean that if one day I'm not strong enough, you would betray me without hesitation?"
Teach's body trembled instantly, and he knelt before Ian, drenched in sweat, shouting repeatedly, "Impossible! How could such a thing ever happen?"
"Lord Ian, of course, you will always be the strongest in the world. How could anyone ever surpass you?"
Drake frowned.
Although Teach was flattering Lord Ian, he didn't deny that if someone stronger than Ian appeared, he might betray again.
This guy—
"Hahahaha!"
Ian laughed heartily. "Interesting… very well, I'll allow you to join my ranks."
Teach quietly exhaled in relief.
The rumors on the sea seemed to have some truth—Lord Ian was not as difficult to deal with as people imagined.
"Ian-sama?"
Drake looked puzzled.
No matter how he looked at this guy, he seemed extremely suspicious. Was it really a good idea to let him join just like that?
"It's fine. He'll behave, won't he?"
Ian gazed deeply at Teach.
"Of course! Absolutely, Ian-sama!"
Teach quickly patted his chest to show his determination. "I will loyally serve you, even if it costs me my life!"
Drake still felt unconvinced.
This guy had joined Whitebeard's crew as a teenager and had spent over ten, even twenty years there, and yet he chose betrayal now.
Someone like him talking about loyalty—it sounded like a joke.
But Ian only smiled.
He was well aware that Teach was ambitious, but all of his ambitions were built on the power of the Dark Dark Fruit.
Without finding that fruit, he would take no action.
In the original story, he had already been prepared to stay in Whitebeard's crew for his entire life.
"By the way, Teach," Ian suddenly asked, "I have a question for you."
"I'm listening, Ian-sama!"
Teach hurriedly responded.
"Nepthun told me that he gave the original Road Poneglyph from Fishman Island to Whitebeard-san," Ian said, "Is that stone on the Moby Dick?"
"What?"
Teach was stunned. "You mean the Road Poneglyph?"
"You don't know?"
Ian raised an eyebrow.
The sheer shock on Teach's face didn't look like an act.
"Well…"
Teach scratched his head. "I've never heard Pops mention it, nor have I seen the Road Poneglyph on Moby Dick…"
Did Pops really have something like that hidden?!
Damn it! I've never even heard of it!
If I had known earlier, maybe I could have gotten my hands on that Road Poneglyph!
"Then it seems that Whitebeard-san must have hidden that stone somewhere."
Ian smiled. "No rush. We'll take it slow."
Even now, he only had one Road Poneglyph in his hands.
But as he said, there was no need to hurry. He already knew who held the other three Road Poneglyph.
"I see…"
Teach nodded slightly.
This was bad.
Ian was indeed already very close to the position of Pirate King!
Could he really find the Dark-Dark Fruit before that?
And if he couldn't, wouldn't he just have to watch helplessly as Ian claimed that ultimate treasure?
"By the way, Teach," Ian suddenly remembered something and said seriously, "you came all this way, risking so much to join me. It wouldn't be right if I didn't reward you."
A sudden sense of foreboding rose in Teach's heart, but he quickly plastered a bright smile on his face.
"You're too kind, Lord Ian. There's no need for such courtesy."
"No, no, no. Giving you a reward will set an example. Everyone on the seas will know that anyone with talent who joins me will be valued."
Ian said this calmly.
Teach couldn't help but exclaim, "Truly… amazing, Lord Ian!"
No wonder this man could rule the New World!
His breadth of mind was already far beyond that of ordinary men.
Now, the question was what reward he had in mind for him.
"Teach," Ian smiled. "I remember you don't have any abilities, right?"
Teach's body trembled sharply, the flesh on his face quivering, but he forced a smile. "Yes, Lord Ian… but I'm not fond of Devil Fruits—"
"Do you know why we are called the Beasts Pirates?"
Ian said meaningfully, "An Zoan-type Devil Fruit will help you integrate more quickly into our ranks."
The flesh at the corner of Teach's mouth twitched visibly.
"I also have an Zoan-type Devil Fruit—a Ancient-Zoan Snake-Snake Fruit Titanoboa Model," Ian continued, "I've been looking for the right candidate. Now that you're here, you'll be the one to eat it."
There was no room for refusal in his tone.
The Devil Fruit, sealed for so long, had finally found its purpose.
Teach was already beginning to regret it.
Had joining the Beasts Pirates been the wrong decision?
Even though he could eat two Devil Fruits, after consuming this Ancient-Zoan one, even if he later obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, it wouldn't matter.
There would be no space left for a stronger Devil Fruit!
But.
He looked up cautiously at Ian. The boy's face still wore a smile, but his gaze was so indifferent.
Teach knew that if he refused now, there would be almost no chance of survival.
So, with a heavy heart, he nodded deeply.
"I understand, Lord Ian." Teach showed a bright smile. "Then I won't be polite."
"Mm."
Ian nodded in satisfaction. "Good."
Drake was a bit confused.
Are Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits really that weak?
Lord Ian seemed to be giving it forcibly, yet Teach acted like a dead horse?
Just as Teach successfully joined the Beasts Pirates, in the first half of the Grand Line, at Marine Headquarters.
"Issho and Aramaki, right?"
Sengoku looked at the two men before him, his eyes revealing surprise. "Why do you want to join the Marines?"
"Of course, to protect the gods of this world, the great Celestial Dragons!"
The bare-chested man, Aramaki, laughed arrogantly.
"Just wanted to see this world more clearly," the blind man said gently, his eyes tightly shut.
West Blue, inside a ship bound for the Grand Line.
"The King of the New World, the Emperor Ian," a black-haired girl whispered to herself, hiding inside the cabin.
"If it's him, even when researching the Void century, he wouldn't fear the government's strike, right?"
**********
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