"It's really worrying."
Looking at the unconscious Teach on the ground, Marco rubbed his temples.
If an ambitious young man ate a fruit and found out his ability turned him into a fly, he'd probably go crazy too.
But Teach was usually such a harmless guy. It was strange for him to react so violently.
Maybe he just drank too much…
Marco glanced at Teach's flushed cheeks.
Probably that.
In any case, it'd be better to take him back quickly and let Dad and the others talk some sense into him.
"I'm really sorry, Your Majesty Neptune."
Marco looked up at King Neptune apologetically.
Teach's outburst had caused quite a bit of damage. It would take time to repair the hall.
"Compared to your kindness, this little trouble is nothing."
Neptune shook his head with a smile.
"I want to say sorry too."
Shano squatted down, patted Blackbeard's arm, and sighed. "After all, I brought out this fruit. I didn't expect it to upset Teach this much."
"Brother Shano, don't blame yourself!"
Marco quickly waved his hands. "Teach was the one who liked the fruit, and I was the one who asked you for it. None of this is your fault."
"That's right! Teach was just talking nonsense. Don't take it to heart, Lord Shano!"
Namur added, "In the end, this idiot was just too impatient. Brother Marco clearly told him to wait and ask Dad first."
The banquet was nearing its end.
And with the matter of Princess Shirahoshi now resolved, Marco and the others didn't plan to stay longer. They picked up Blackbeard and prepared to leave.
"Well, it's getting late. Time for us to take our leave. Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty Neptune."
"It was meant to be a joyful banquet, but because of my daughter's matter, you were troubled. I apologize for not being a better host."
Neptune nodded gently. "You are welcome in Ryugu Palace anytime."
"Of course."
Marco smiled and then turned to Shano. "Brother, I said I owe you a favor, and that still stands. Also, when you enter the New World officially, come visit our ship anytime. Let's party properly! The sooner the better. Dad has been wanting to meet you for a long time!"
"Definitely."
Shano smiled and nodded. During the banquet, he and Marco had exchanged den-den mushi numbers. They could stay in touch easily.
He wasn't just being polite.
Whitebeard's crew—no, Whitebeard himself—was a legend standing at the top of the world. Meeting someone like that was worth it.
However...
Why was the old man so eager to meet him?
If it was to spar and test the strength of the new generation, that would be great.
Shano was curious to know the gap between himself and a true world-class powerhouse.
But if Whitebeard wanted to adopt him to fill Oden's vacant spot...
Then he'd have to pass.
…
Shano and Neptune escorted the Whitebeard Pirates to the gates of Ryugu Palace. Both sides waved goodbye.
Watching their fading figures, Shano's gaze paused on Marco's shoulder.
Blackbeard was still unconscious.
It was unclear if he had truly given up his dream of hegemony, or if he was still secretly waiting for the real Dark-Dark Fruit to appear.
Technically, one can't eat a second devil fruit after eating one.
But Blackbeard—whether due to the Dark-Dark Fruit's properties or his unusual body—could somehow wield multiple devil fruit abilities.
So it wasn't impossible that he would someday discard the Fly-Fly Fruit and go after the real thing.
Not that it mattered.
Shano withdrew his gaze and smirked.
He had clearly sensed Blackbeard's hatred and killing intent earlier. And cutting weeds at the root was a habit he'd always maintained.
Blackbeard would be no exception.
Since Marco had invited him, their next meeting would likely be aboard Whitebeard's ship.
By then…
With Whitebeard watching—and possibly using that item he had bought months ago—he could truly end Blackbeard's ambitions once and for all.
In addition...
Shano checked his system panel again.
A string of updates appeared:
> [You sacrificed Marco's glasses and got 2700 points]
> [You sacrificed Namur's dagger and got 1200 points]
> [You sacrificed Blackbeard's hook claw and got 5800 points]
Little Marco was really a righteous man.
Taking his stuff felt kind of wrong.
Tsk, just treat it as an advance payment for helping eliminate Blackbeard.
But why was the claw hook worth so much? Almost the same value as Rayleigh's broken arm?
Shano looked more closely:
> [Blackbeard's Sharp Claw]
> [Quality: Epic]
> [Value: 5800 points]
> [Appraisal: The future Sea Emperor Blackbeard Teach used this weapon for many years before becoming a devil fruit user. It accompanied him from his rookie days to worldwide infamy. With this claw, he left a permanent scar on another Sea Emperor—Red-Haired Shanks.]
Shano finally understood.
So it had a history tied to Red Hair!
…
Later.
Shano returned inside Ryugu Palace, spoke briefly with Neptune, and followed him to the Hard-Shell Tower.
The gate was covered in embedded weapons, which made Neptune sigh.
"Father... Father, is this Lord Shano?"
Shirahoshi timidly peeked out through the bedroom door, long pink hair cascading like a waterfall, her blue eyes full of fear and curiosity.
"Yes, Shirahoshi."
Neptune nodded. "Don't be afraid. Lord Shano is a guest I personally invited to help deal with Vander Decken."
So big...
Shano had to crane his neck to look at the giant mermaid girl who hadn't even reached adulthood and was already more than ten meters tall.
Even considering the randomness of fishman genetics, this was extreme. How did tiny Princess Otohime give birth to her?
Shano smiled and greeted her. She nervously gripped the doorframe and gave a small nod, biting her lip.
"Lord Shano."
Neptune turned and said seriously:
"Since you've proposed a solution, I won't let you go unrewarded. Please name a price for the Sand-Sand Fruit. Even if it costs 500 million or 1 billion berries, I will—"
"I'm not short on money, forget it."
Shano smiled, shaking his head and pulling out the Sand-Sand Fruit.
He was willing to help partly because Shirahoshi's situation was pitiful—being stalked by a twisted uncle for years. Anyone would sympathize.
But another reason was that Shirahoshi, as the current generation's "Sea King," was someone worth forming ties with. If she remembered his help, the Sand-Sand Fruit was a small price.
Besides, natural fruits were the one thing his crew had in abundance.
Oh—and come to think of it, if Shirahoshi is the Sea King, then he must be the ( ) King. They'd pair up quite nicely by title...
He was just about to toss the fruit to Neptune—
When suddenly, a "Bulu Bulu" sound came from inside his coat.
"Excuse me, please wait. I have to answer this call."
Shano picked up, casually flipping the fruit in his hand. Neptune watched it rise and fall, eyes following the arc like a pendulum.
A moment later.
Shano hung up and looked at Neptune.
"My subordinates called."
His expression was slightly strange. "Looks like there's no need for Shirahoshi to eat this fruit anymore."
…
Earlier.
Fishman Street.
Jack had applied a swimming coating to himself and followed two fishmen through the sea, arriving at the depths of the district.
The open space was filled with fishman pirates—drinking, gambling, and gossiping in corners with shifty eyes.
"Hey, where's Brother Hodi?" the fishman asked one of his companions.
"In there. He's having a meeting with the cadres."
The man pointed to a rundown warehouse and rushed off to gamble. "But don't disturb him. The boss is in a bad mood."
"Relax."
The fishman grinned. "Once he hears what I've got to say, Brother Hodi will be in a much better mood!"
There were guards at the warehouse door. After a few words, they were let in.
Jack wanted to go straight in, but remembered the captain's lecture about not alerting enemies.
So he quietly slipped around back and peeked through a window...
Inside, the warehouse was dimly lit by stones on the walls.
At the center, a worn table was covered in nautical charts. Several fierce-looking fishmen were seated.
On the main couch, a pale shark-like fishman sat cross-legged, eyes cold as he looked at the newcomer.
"Speak."
"Brother Hodi!"
The fishman bowed. "Shano—yes, that Shano, the world's number one swordsman—has arrived on Fishman Island!"
"Oh?"
Hodi Jones sat up, interest flashing in his eyes. "You mean the one who beat Arlong and his gang all those years ago in the East Blue?"
"That's him!"
"We saw their ship ourselves, no doubt about it!"
"Really? Hahaha, well done!"
Hodi grinned, licking his teeth. "So, you're finally here, Shano... I've waited for this day for years!"
The cadres smirked viciously.
"Brother Hodi, should we rally the crew now and strike?" Ikaros Mushi asked.
Hodi twirled a red pill in his fingers.
"No rush. Let's wait till they're out of the island. Don't underestimate him. 'World's Number One Swordsman,' huh? Ridiculous title for a human."
"Yeah! He's not even in the same league as our own Baozang!"
"I'm just a mercenary." The drunken Baozang burped. "I don't care about that title."
Hodi sneered. "Whatever. Shano is mine. But as for that female swordsman under him—you can have her, Baozang."
"As long as I get paid. Though fighting a woman is boring..."
"But it'll make us famous."
A new voice cut in, and a shark with striped skin appeared on a nearby sofa.
"Kill Shano. Deal with his crew. Those who surrender can be cannon fodder. Those who resist—kill them. We'll grow stronger, and our name will spread across the seas."
"Exactly, Geo!" Hodi's eyes lit up. "With enough fame, we won't even need to work with that ghost in the deep sea..."
BOOM!
Suddenly, the warehouse wall exploded!
A towering figure stepped through the dust.
"So this is Fishman Street?"
The man sighed. "It's amazing that a place that produced heroes like Fisher Tiger and Jinbei could also give birth to gutter trash like you."
"Who?!"
The cadres drew weapons, eyes sharp.
As the dust cleared, they were shocked.
The intruder was… a fishman?!
"You're one of us! Why serve human pirates?" Hodi growled.
Jack didn't bother answering.
He glanced at them blankly. "I thought the captain might need to deal with you himself. But looks like I can handle this trash alone."
"Arrogant!"
Ikaros Mushi charged with his bladed tentacles.
"Get lost."
Jack didn't even look.
Bang!
A single slap smashed Ikaros Mushi into the wall. Blood sprayed, and the man collapsed in a pool of flesh before he could even scream.