"Oboro... join me! Let's be partners!"
"I know everything about your Hell Pirates... the two of us are a perfect match!"
"..."
The moment these words left Teach's mouth, Dom and the others' expressions darkened with dangerous intent.
What did he mean? This fool was actually inviting their captain to become his subordinate?
Was he insane? Did he have any idea who stood before him? How could someone harbor such delusional thoughts?
In Golden Lion's own territory, Oboro wouldn't even grant Shiki face-to-face meetings... much less acknowledge someone vastly inferior to the legendary pirate in both ability and status.
Truly... utterly presumptuous!
Oboro, however, remained composed. This was indeed Marshall D. Teach's characteristic approach, bold to the point of recklessness.
But what gave Teach the audacity to ask someone now "infamous across the seas" to become his subordinate?
"Ever since you killed that Celestial Dragon, I've been watching you... I know what you want." As if oblivious to the hostile atmosphere permeating the tavern, Teach patted his chest with confident enthusiasm. "Trust me, no one in this world understands you better than I do!"
"Oh... then enlighten me. What do I want?"
Oboro asked with deceptive calm.
"Zehahahaha..."
Teach's grin widened, his eyes glinting with barely contained ambition and calculation. He spread his arms dramatically. "The world! You want... this entire world!"
Oboro's eyelids twitched almost imperceptibly.
Marshall D. Teach... this man was truly formidable.
"So... you also desire this world, correct? But have you considered that after obtaining this 'world,' only one person can reign as king...?" Oboro lowered his head, methodically rubbing his fingers together. His voice remained perfectly controlled. "Would that be you? Or me?"
"..."
"Uh."
Blackbeard fell silent for several tense moments, clearly caught off-guard by the direct challenge.
A strained smile clung to his suddenly rigid features. "What's the problem... This world could belong to both of us, no need for, "
"No. I don't share my conquests, especially in matters of this magnitude. And I'm certain you feel the same way." Oboro shook his head with finality. "Honestly... after meeting you face-to-face, I've realized something important. You're genuinely dangerous. It even makes me somewhat... cautious."
Oboro slowly raised his head, his expression turning coldly neutral, his gaze sharp as a blade.
Meeting the God Slayer's icy stare, Teach instinctively swallowed hard and took an involuntary step backward.
"Unnecessary casualties? Hmph."
"Do you honestly believe... your crew can defeat my Hell Pirates?"
Oboro's eyelids drooped slightly, a subtle but unmistakable aura of killing intent beginning to emanate from his form.
"Your real purpose for seeking me out was to request that I grant you power, wasn't it?" Oboro's next observation made Teach's expression shift even more dramatically. The God Slayer had seen through his carefully constructed deception with unsettling precision. He had concealed his true objectives behind layers of recruitment rhetoric, but his apparent desire to ally with the Hell Pirates was merely elaborate theater.
Teach understood perfectly well that since Oboro shared his fundamental nature, the man would never accept subordination to anyone.
And certainly wouldn't form genuine partnerships.
The gap between their current positions was simply too vast.
He had been performing an elaborate charade... using this "recruitment" as a pretense to earn the God Slayer's respect and, through that approval, obtain the supernatural enhancement he desperately craved.
"You're extraordinary..." Oboro said with genuine appreciation, studying the increasingly nervous Teach. "You deduced my capabilities simply from newspaper reports. You traveled all the way to Mock Town and performed like a court jester in front of me, believing I wouldn't kill you outright. You calculated that if you impressed me sufficiently... you'd receive my blessing, just like those enhanced pirates in the North Sea, and your entire crew would gain incredible power."
"You understand that I'm using those pirates as expendable tools against the World Government and Marine. If it meant acquiring strength, you'd willingly become another instrument in my plans. When I say you're extraordinary, I'm referring to your intelligence, your ruthless pragmatism, and your remarkable courage."
"Zehahahaha... thief hahahaha!"
The more Oboro spoke, the more perspiration formed on Teach's forehead.
He could only mask his growing embarrassment with increasingly hollow laughter.
"Guys... let's go!"
Without any warning, Teach suddenly bellowed to his crew.
Immediately, he spun around and attempted to escape through the hole in the tavern wall.
Simultaneously, the other Blackbeard Pirates members scattered like startled birds.
Bang!
A crimson smoke bomb exploded within the confined space, releasing a shower of brilliant sparks and dense, choking smoke.
Dom felt only a rush of displaced air. The razor-sharp blade in his hand slashed through empty space, failing to sever his target's neck as intended. Only a trace of fresh blood remained on the steel, barely visible in the swirling confusion. Looking up, his vision filled with blinding fireworks and obscuring smoke.
"Zehahahaha!"
Almost simultaneously with the detonation, Jesus Burgess burst through the window with his characteristic booming laughter.
The blade that had been pressed against his throat was deflected in the blink of an eye... His raw physical power was so overwhelming that even Yuri couldn't suppress a bloodthirsty grin of appreciation.
Lafitte, utilizing his supernatural agility, vanished without a trace like smoke in the wind.
Under cover of the explosion, the entire Blackbeard Pirates crew had successfully escaped!
"Those clever bastards..."
Dom raised his hand, waving away the thick smoke, and cursed with grudging respect.
Only now did he realize that the Blackbeard Pirates had strategically positioned themselves throughout the tavern from the moment they entered. This included Doc Q, who had remained exposed to the rain outside the entrance, and Jesus Burgess, who had positioned himself near the window.
What unsettled Dom most was his ability to sense their absolute resolve. The sniper whose neck he had slashed with his weapon... had been genuinely prepared to die! Although this was clearly a pre-planned escape route, these pirates had still risked their lives tremendously.
Yet none of them had hesitated even for an instant... as if death held no terror for them whatsoever.
It was precisely because of this unwavering commitment that the sniper had managed to flee... Otherwise, even a moment's hesitation would have left a corpse at Dom's feet.
"Blackbeard..."
Dom muttered with dark admiration.
Meanwhile, on Mock Town's main street...
"Zehahahaha..."
Teach laughed uncontrollably as he sprinted wildly through the muddy streets with his escaping crewmates.
Flight had been inevitable.
"Captain... he hasn't made a move yet. Why are we running? Maybe he really would grant us divine power. Didn't the God Slayer actually praise you..." Jesus Burgess asked between labored breaths, his massive arms pumping as he maintained their frantic pace. He occasionally glanced back at the tavern, which continued billowing black smoke from its entrance.
"That man is absolutely terrifying..."
Teach's expression grew uncharacteristically serious as he shouted his response. "Let's retreat for now... The plan has failed completely, and this isn't the time to confront them directly."
Clearly, he lacked the energy for detailed explanations during their desperate escape.
The God Slayer had seen through his calculated deception, which meant... Oboro knew he had been attempting manipulation. He had been trying to play clever games with a master strategist.
Based on his observations and understanding of the God Slayer's character, it was only natural for such a ruthlessly pragmatic individual to tear him apart when faced with such transparent disrespect.
No one appreciates being treated like a fool.
What had truly unnerved Blackbeard was that before encountering the God Slayer, he had been absolutely confident his true intentions would remain hidden... Perhaps through carefully chosen words, he could even manipulate the man's emotions, earn his genuine respect, and establish a completely new reputation for himself!
Teach had studied the divinely-empowered pirates of the North Sea extensively, including Basil Hawkins, who was currently making waves in Paradise. He understood... Oboro's efforts to strengthen these individuals served to complicate the oceanic situation for both the World Government and Marine, overwhelming their capacity for effective response.
In other words, if a pirate demonstrated exceptional qualities and harbored dangerous ambitions toward the World Government... they would undoubtedly earn the God Slayer's admiration!
Recruitment and provocation... these had been Blackbeard's calculated tactics, designed to elevate himself in the God Slayer's estimation and project a carefully crafted "persona."
His image had indeed been successfully established without obvious flaws... but unfortunately, the God Slayer had proven far more perceptive than anticipated.
Teach believed that after years of experience navigating the Grand Line's treacherous politics, having trained under Whitebeard since his youth, he had encountered every type of person imaginable.
Therefore, he had been supremely confident in his ability to deliver a flawless "performance" before the God Slayer.
But... it had been a complete catastrophe.
"Oboro is incredibly intelligent... After this harsh lesson, I suspect from now on... until I become strong enough, I'll need to avoid them entirely." Soon, the exhausted fugitives had fled beyond Mock Town's borders.
Teach gradually slowed his pace, noticing no signs of pursuit. He exhaled heavily and wiped the mixture of blood and sweat from his battered face.
"Captain, we're in such a pathetic state!"
Burgess laughed good-naturedly despite their humiliating retreat.
"You're going to die soon..."
Doc Q said weakly from atop his sickly horse Stronger, directing his ominous prediction toward Van Augur, whose chest was stained crimson with blood.
"It's manageable,"
Van Augur replied stoically, gingerly touching the deep wound across his neck.
The Hell Pirates' sniper had instinctively aimed for a killing blow, but the cut, while serious, hadn't proven fatal.
"Zehahahaha..."
"Listen up, everyone, let's get moving... We still have a long journey ahead, and we're just getting started. We'll settle accounts with them eventually... No need to rush!"
Seeing his crew's condition, Teach took a long drink from his hip flask to steady his nerves, wiped his mouth clean, and laughed with renewed determination.
The four crew members showed no signs of frustration after this humiliating encounter. They remained completely convinced by Blackbeard's words and confident in their ultimate success.
This type of setback... held no implications for their honor or dignity.
However, as they prepared to evacuate the island entirely, Blackbeard suddenly felt his instincts screaming danger. He immediately looked up at the rain-darkened sky, where heavy droplets continued to fall. The air around them seemed to thicken into something approaching liquid consistency, creating an oppressive atmospheric pressure that made breathing increasingly difficult.
"Leave?"
"For where?"
High above, Oboro floated alone through the air, hands casually tucked in his pockets, gazing down at the complete Blackbeard Pirates crew with predatory interest.
"Zehahahaha... You moved so quietly that I thought you'd let us escape... This is rather troublesome."
Upon seeing this development, Teach clenched his fists and forced another laugh.
However, his amusement sounded noticeably hollow and strained.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves... It's time for the real battle!"
The entire Blackbeard Pirates crew versus the God Slayer himself.
Oboro raised his eyebrows with genuine curiosity. It was fascinating... these five individuals were actually serious about fighting him directly.