Chapter 2 - 12 to 23

How is this possible!"

Akainu instinctively tried to elementalize, but was horrified to find that his body was grabbed by the opponent, and vines emerged around him, binding him tightly, making it impossible for him to elementalize and escape at will.

Senju Hashirama turned his head to look at Kizaru, who had already fled far away, and shook his head with some regret.

"This guy's speed is indeed very fast..."

At this moment, Senju Tobirama also flashed over. Behind him, a human-shaped water ball floated, in which Aokiji's figure was immersed, also with a grim expression.

"Leave it to me. Seawater has great limitations on these guys, and your Sage Art cannot be used indefinitely."

Senju Tobirama nodded, and another Water Prison appeared, engulfing Akainu's figure as well.

At this point, of Marineford's Three Admirals, two were captured, and only Kizaru escaped.

"It's terrifying, truly terrifying..."

Kizaru, far away in the sky, turned his head to look in the previous direction, a sense of powerlessness rising in his heart.

Is this the existence ranked seventh on the Golden Rankings?

Compared to Senju Tobirama's grand offensive, Senju Hashirama's moves were unremarkable, yet he effortlessly suppressed Akainu, rendering him immobile, all while chatting and laughing.

"I must report to the Fleet Admiral as soon as possible. To deal with them, perhaps only the Gorosei, or the rumored Imu, can!"

Kizaru's thoughts raced, and he sped up again, his figure transforming into a golden lightning bolt and disappearing.

"First Hokage, Second Hokage!"

"Hokage-sama!"

The surrounding Ninja were all unable to conceal their excitement.

They never expected to see these two legendary Ninja in their lifetime.

Their deeds had long been written into the historical texts of Konoha Village, and their faces were carved into the Hokage Rock, becoming a symbol of faith.

Now, these two legendary Ninja stood alive before them, and they felt somewhat dazed.

"Konoha Village has been destroyed!"

Hiruzen's face was a bit bitter, and he felt somewhat ashamed in front of his two Senior.

Senju Tobirama merely hummed faintly: "The current situation is turbulent, with other worlds fusing and invading. This is something that cannot be changed. Natural disasters are indeed not something human power can resist. Such a terrifying tide, even I cannot stop it."

Senju Hashirama smiled: "A Village can be rebuilt if it's destroyed. As long as the Will of Fire continues, home can be found anywhere."

Saying that, he raised his hand and smiled calmly: "Then, let's rebuild Konoha Village right here!"

Everyone was stunned.

This place had already turned into a vast ocean, and the original Village was buried at the bottom of the sea. How could they rebuild their home?

Kakashi, who was nearby,'s eyes flickered.

He was well-versed in the history of Konoha Village and knew that this founder of Konoha Village, the God of Ninja, possessed Wood Release Ninjutsu, and had reached an extraordinary level, so he felt some anticipation.

"Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence--"

After Senju Hashirama formed the hand signs, the previously calm seawater stirred again. Incredibly thick tree trunks twisted and drilled out from the seabed, beginning to grow rapidly.

Under the dumbfounded gaze of everyone, at the original location of Konoha Village, countless thick tree trunks emerged from the seawater. In the blink of an eye, this place transformed into a giant forest.

These trees had lush branches and leaves, and their trunks were extremely thick, with massive crowns that blotted out the sky.

Especially on top of these tree crowns, branches twisted and intertwined, forming exquisite treehouses of various sizes.

At the top of each large tree, one or several treehouses appeared.

They were interconnected, with branches intertwined between each trunk, forming paths built of wood.

"This..."

Jiraiya, who always considered himself knowledgeable, was now also somewhat shocked, astonished by the methods of this legendary Ninja.

The other Ninja were already unable to describe their feelings, only awe.

What was happening before their eyes was simply a miracle.

To build a huge forest Village by oneself, such a feat, what else could it be but a miracle?

"Go and bring the villagers back. We will continue to live here."

Senju Hashirama withdrew his Divine Ability, turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and said with a faint smile.

Hiruzen Sarutobi snapped out of it, nodded, and gestured to Kakashi.

Kakashi understood, his figure flickered, and he disappeared with a group of Anbu Ninja.

"By the way, there don't seem to be many people from the Uchiha Clan left!"

At this moment, Senju Hashirama's tone changed. He scanned his surroundings, and his eyes finally settled on Danzo Shimura.

Danzo Shimura's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly knelt down, feeling terrified for a moment, not knowing what to say.

His strength was immense, and he was confident that even Hiruzen Sarutobi could not do anything to him, and that even if some of the dark things he had done in secret were exposed, it wouldn't matter.

But now, he was afraid.

The two legendary Ninja staring at him gave him a sense of despair.

"Never mind."

Senju Hashirama narrowed his eyes, seemingly contemplating something, then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, also harboring some suspicions.

The Uchiha Clan's Bloodline Limit was incredibly powerful, and they were also a very ambitious Family.

Their downfall must have been orchestrated by Hiruzen Sarutobi behind the scenes.

Danzo Shimura merely reaped many benefits from it.

Those who can become Hokage are not benevolent individuals.

Danzo Shimura's methods were dark and could not be brought to light, which was one of the important factors why he ultimately could not become Hokage.

"How should we deal with these two guys?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Aokiji and Akainu, who were trapped in the Water Prison.

Senju Tobirama said: "The world is undergoing great changes now, and we are still not very clear about the specific situation of the other two worlds. These two guys seem to be high-ranking officials from another world. Their active invasion this time is not a bad thing; it's a good opportunity to obtain a lot of information that we don't understand."

Ninja have always attached great importance to intelligence.

The Anbu and Root organizations were born for the purpose of acquiring intelligence.

Now that the opponents have delivered themselves to their doorstep, it's a good thing.

Fortunately, the two legendary Ninja reappeared at a critical moment, otherwise the future of Konoha Village would truly be uncertain.

Hiruzen Sarutobi mused: "Since you two have returned, we need to start considering future matters. The world has changed drastically now; it's no longer the age of Ninja. Many unknown powerhouses have appeared. For Konoha Village to establish itself, we need more information. We should establish a larger intelligence organization."

To this, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama remained noncommittal.

Senju Hashirama said: "Leave such matters to you. You are the current Hokage of Konoha Village. Oh, by the way, since the two of us have been resurrected, is there any news about that guy Uchiha Madara?"

When this person was mentioned, everyone present's expressions changed somewhat.

Uchiha Madara, that was an existence comparable to Senju Hashirama, with strength that was unprecedented.

When he was mentioned, even Senju Tobirama's expression turned a little grim.

"Everyone, don't look so down!"

Senju Hashirama smiled slightly and said, "Now that Tobirama and I have been resurrected, the Golden Rankings mentioned that fellow is also planning his resurrection, but he shouldn't have succeeded yet. Tobirama and I were able to return because we received rewards from the Golden Rankings. Now, what we need to do is quickly find out Uchiha Madara's plan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in agreement, saying, "That fellow is truly terrifying, and his strength is even above yours. Moreover, he also received a reward from the Golden Rankings; I remember it was a Puppet for substitution. Once he revives, it will be extremely troublesome!"

Senju Hashirama's expression was complex. Regarding that fellow, he actually didn't hold extreme hatred; on the contrary, he felt a sense of mutual appreciation.

It's just a pity that they walked different paths. Once he returns, the two will inevitably clash.

And in the current Konoha Village, the only one who can contend with Uchiha Madara is Senju Hashirama.

"It's time to make some plans!"

Senju Hashirama mused, "Now that the worlds have merged and the situation is turbulent, while we gather intelligence from other worlds, we also need to gradually integrate the entire Ninja world. With our Konoha Village as the Foundation, we will gradually expand outwards, absorbing strong individuals while also cultivating the younger generation. We absolutely cannot have a situation where there's a gap in talent!"

"In this current world, too many unknown things are hidden. Perhaps it's time for us to set our sights further. Holding onto this peaceful corner is not the best choice. Ambition, you see, will continuously grow with the increase of power..."

Senju Hashirama's gaze was far-reaching, seemingly hinting at something.

"Tobirama and I are already considered top-tier among humans. Although our resurrection was aided by that mysterious Golden Rankings, our inherent power hasn't grown much. There are still several powerful individuals above us, such as Madara, that mysterious Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, the progenitor of Chakra, a terrifying existence that even we don't fully understand..."

"And... that mysterious first-place individual whose information even the Golden Rankings couldn't obtain..."

Senju Hashirama's brows were deeply furrowed, with a hint of worry in his expression.

But with his Heart-Nature, he quickly brightened up. He was a person who was very good at self-regulation; although he possessed great power, he always had a sun-ward Heart-Nature.

"Speaking of which, are there any noteworthy young ones in the Village right now?"

Senju Hashirama showed an interested expression.

Senju Tobirama also looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"There are, yes..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't know how to explain it for a moment: "Most of them are young ones with special Bloodline Limits, descendants nurtured by their Families, considered exceptionally talented. There are also two young ones who are a bit different..."

Senju Hashirama let out an "Oh," raising his eyebrows and smiling, "How are they different?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before saying, "One is a junior remaining from the Uchiha Clan. Due to the clan's annihilation, his Heart-Nature is somewhat dark. If not carefully watched, he could very likely become a second Uchiha Madara."

"And another is even more special; he's a Jinchuriki!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply, speechless for a moment, then finally spoke the rest of his sentence: "He's the Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki!"

"Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki!"

Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama both showed surprised expressions.

They were naturally familiar with Tailed Beasts, as their power alone was enough to rival or even surpass a Tailed Beast.

Moreover, Senju Hashirama's wife, Uzumaki Mito, was the first Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki, and the Nine-Tailed was once subjugated by Uchiha Madara.

And the Nine-Tailed is the strongest of the Nine Tailed Beasts, possessing a terrifying amount of Chakra.

"How did a Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki appear in the Village? Who is that unfortunate young one?"

Senju Hashirama couldn't help but ask.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "Years ago, someone invaded Konoha Village and released the Nine-Tailed, causing widespread destruction in the Village. The one in charge of the Village at the time was the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, also my Disciple. He was a very talented child, but to protect the Village, he sacrificed himself to Seal the Nine-Tailed inside his own child..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi recounted the events of that year, feeling a bit emotional.

"Mysterious person, Rinnegan..."

Senju Hashirama was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's go, take me to see that young one!"

...

Kizaru fled frantically across the vast ocean. Everywhere he went was open sea, but there were also islands emerging from the surface, mostly submerged mountain peaks.

"Such terrifying power. Akainu and Aokiji have both been captured. If I hadn't run fast, I probably would have been in trouble too!"

Kizaru was still shaken.

As he spoke, he raised his wrist and looked at the Log Pose he was wearing.

His expression then subtly changed.

Due to the intense battle earlier, his Log Pose had been damaged and was completely unusable.

Currently, because the Three Realms' Fusion has not yet been completed, the entire world's magnetic field is somewhat chaotic. They had noticed this earlier.

And the New World's Log Pose proved very useful at such times.

The Log Pose he wore was set to Marineford; by following the direction of the pointer, he could directly reach it.

It's easiest to get lost on the boundless ocean.

"This is troublesome!"

Kizaru was somewhat agitated; he was in a very sorry state at the moment.

He, who was always accustomed to staying out of trouble, hadn't suffered such a great loss in a long time, and to be fleeing in such a sorry state even with all three Admirals present.

Now, his entire body was charred black, and only half of his cloak remained, leaving only the character "just" (Justice), while the character "righteous" (Righteousness) had disappeared.

Perhaps this was a mockery of him abandoning his comrades and fleeing alone.

Suddenly, Kizaru's gaze sharpened, looking into the distance.

He saw a small black dot slowly moving on the sea surface not far away.

"That's... a ship!"

Kizaru's spirits lifted, and he quickly approached that direction.

Indeed, it was a small boat, with only one person on it, a young man, with a lazy black cat curled up beside him.

At this moment, the young man was sitting sideways on the edge of the boat, holding a fishing rod in his right hand, concentrating on fishing.

On his wrist, there was also a Log Pose.

Kizaru's eyes immediately lit up, and he landed directly on the stern of the boat.

The boat swayed, and the young man was startled, turning his head to look.

"This old man..."

Kizaru coughed lightly, just about to introduce himself, intending to use his reputation to intimidate the young man. As a cultured Admiral, he was unwilling to resort to violence easily.

Unexpectedly, the young man merely glanced at him, then turned his head back to concentrate on fishing.

As if a middle-aged man inexplicably appearing on the boundless ocean was nothing strange.

Kizaru was speechless; how did he encounter such an oblivious fellow? No wonder he was drifting here alone on a boat.

It was practically courting death.

"Young man, this old man is Kizaru, an Admiral of Marineford. Due to certain events, my Log Pose was damaged, and now I need to requisition yours."

Kizaru didn't intend to waste any more words; returning was the most important thing now.

"..."

No one answered.

Kizaru's forehead couldn't help but twitch with a vein.

Does this young man also have hearing problems?

"Young man, I'm talking to you!"

Kizaru couldn't hold back anymore. He had always been the one playing dumb and fooling others; this was the first time someone had done that to him.

He walked forward, intending to pat the young man's shoulder.

Unexpectedly, the young man's body suddenly became illusory, and his hand passed directly through him, hitting nothing.

But when he looked again, the young man was still sitting in place as if he had never moved.

Oh?"

Kizaru narrowed his eyes. "A Devil Fruit User?"

His mind hadn't fully disengaged from the Pirate World yet, so when he encountered something he couldn't understand, he instinctively assumed it was a Devil Fruit User.

"Then I apologize, but this old man will have to take it by force!"

Golden light emanated from Kizaru's hands, forming the Ama no Murakumo, faintly surrounded by black flowing light.

As an Admiral, he was naturally skilled in using Armament Haki, and his mastery was not low, allowing for perfect coating.

From their brief encounter, he instinctively believed the other party was also a Logia-type Devil Fruit User.

"Meow…"

The black cat beside him seemed annoyed by Kizaru's interruption, opening one eye to reveal a glowing blue vertical pupil, letting out a very displeased meow.

It seemed to be a warning.

Kizaru was unconcerned. It was just a cat; he would treat it as air.

Whoosh—

The Ama no Murakumo slashed towards the young man's head, and at the same time, a barrage of golden light bullets rained down on him.

"Yasakani no Magatama—"

He started with a killing move.

Kizaru had already been made nervous by the Senju brothers, and now he encountered another mysterious Logia-type young man here. Since he had already offended him, he might as well eliminate him directly to prevent future trouble.

"Ow—"

Suddenly, the black cat lying beside the young man abruptly opened its mouth, and a suction force appeared, swallowing all the light bullets into its belly.

At the same time, it leaped onto the young man's shoulder. With a crisp "crunch," the Ama no Murakumo, coated in Armament Haki, was directly bitten into pieces, dissolving into specks of golden light.

"???"

Kizaru's eyes nearly popped out.

What was going on?

He wore an expression of disbelief.

A cat just bit off his proud weapon?

That's not logical!

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically.

As if remembering something, his body instantly transformed into specks of starlight and drifted away, re-coalescing dozens of meters in the air, creating distance between himself and the man and cat.

"This… could it be… that person!"

Kizaru's forehead was now covered in cold sweat, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

He remembered something now.

On the Golden Rankings, the second-ranked existence seemed to be a black cat, whose appearance was not just similar to the one in front of him, but absolutely identical!

"Then this kid… could he be the mysterious existence ranked number one!"

Kizaru was utterly shocked.

He carefully observed the young man, who was still fishing, trying to get a clear look at his face.

But the young man had only glanced at him at first, then kept his back to him, not taking him seriously at all, and hadn't even made a move.

Then, Kizaru became confused again.

"What did he look like, anyway?"

Kizaru, who had always been confident in his memory, was now surprised to find that he couldn't recall what the young man's face looked like.

Kizaru felt like crying but had no tears. Was this jumping out of the wolf's den and into the tiger's mouth?

Fortunately, this guy in front of him didn't seem to be interested in him.

He should seize the opportunity to escape before he got enraged.

Kizaru thought of leaving as he pondered.

But the young man's indifference didn't mean the black cat was indifferent.

The black cat suddenly unfurled a pair of silver-white wings from its back, flashed a human-like, eerie smile at Kizaru in mid-air, and with a gentle flap of its wings, a spatial blade, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, shot towards Kizaru.

Kizaru's heart screamed with alarm. Although he couldn't see it, he had already sensed the arrival of the Shinigami.

He wanted to dodge, but the spatial blade was too fast and carried an incredibly powerful oppressive force, binding him tightly in place.

"No…"

Kizaru let out an unwilling roar from his throat.

At this moment, he actually erupted, his Observation Haki and Armament Haki pushed to their limits, his body faintly surrounded by a flowing, cherry-blossom-like glow.

In the nick of time, his body shifted slightly to the side by a small distance.

It was this small distance that saved his life.

His usually infallible Logia transformation was unusable, completely restricted.

The spatial blade, originally aimed at his head, cut through Kizaru's body without hindrance, and his entire left arm detached from his body, falling towards the sea.

"Escape!"

Kizaru didn't even stop to pick up his falling arm, fleeing at high speed towards the distance without looking back.

"Meow—"

Blackie seemed very dissatisfied that he hadn't managed to kill Kizaru.

Since he had disturbed his sleep, he had to pay the price.

Just as he was about to flap his wings to pursue, a faint voice sounded from behind him: "Blackie, don't chase him. Since he's lucky, let him live."

Zhou Li turned to look at the already distant Kizaru, then patted Blackie's head.

"We need to keep a low profile. You trying to kill an Admiral of Marineford right off the bat, isn't that a bit much? How am I supposed to keep a low profile after this?"

Blackie let out a dissatisfied growl, then leaped off Zhou Li's shoulder and lay back down.

Zhou Li chuckled, "An Admiral of Marineford in such a sorry state, coming from the west, it seems he suffered quite a loss. Interesting. The world's conflicts have already begun. This Golden Rankings really isn't up to any good. We should try to interfere as little as possible. Although I'm not afraid of it, attracting its attention won't do any good."

After thinking for a moment, Zhou Li said, "I forgot to shield your heavenly secrets earlier, which led to some of your information being leaked. Your black fur is a bit conspicuous, how about a change?"

Blackie's eyes widened, and he suddenly jumped away, shaking his head vigorously.

"I was just suggesting it, don't react so strongly!" Zhou Li chuckled. "How about we discuss it?"

…

At this moment, Kizaru was fleeing rapidly through the air, his heart filled with a sense of grievance.

He, a dignified Admiral of Marineford, was now in such a sorry state.

First, he went to the Ninja Continent to recruit two people and was left behind, and now he encountered a hidden big shot and had his arm severed. He almost wanted to cry.

Suddenly, his heart throbbed, and he instinctively looked up at the sky.

He saw an eye slowly opening on the Golden Rankings in the sky.

The Golden Rankings live broadcast has begun!

This Golden Rankings live broadcast was not always active; it had a time limit, opening for a maximum of one hour each time. During this period, everyone could communicate without barriers regardless of distance, which was also for them to gather intelligence from each other.

But this also depended on individual ability, as everyone was an old fox, and how much information they could extract from each other depended on their respective skills.

They also had to judge for themselves what was true and what was false.

At this moment, inside the live broadcast room.

"Kizaru: 'Fleet Admiral, something terrible has happened! Akainu and Aokiji have been captured, and I encountered the gold list number one and two on my way, narrowly escaping with my life, but my arm was severed!'"

Sengoku: "What did you say? Akainu and Aokiji were both captured? What exactly happened?"

Senju Hashirama: "Speaking of which, are you the Fleet Admiral of Marineford? The supreme commander? You dared to brazenly invade my Konoha Village. Those two arrogant fellows are now in my hands. This time is just a warning to you. If there's a next time, don't blame me for directly destroying your so-called Marine!"

Akainu: "Fleet Admiral, this guy is the seventh-ranked expert on the Golden Rankings. His strength is unfathomable. We were taken down in a single encounter; we're simply no match for him!"

At this moment, Marineford, the Marine headquarters.

Inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office.

Fo Zhi Sengoku's face was gloomy, looking extremely displeased. He suddenly slammed his fist heavily on the desk.

Garp, sitting on the sofa, glanced at him, bit into a senbei in his hand, and chuckled: "I said it back then, the current situation is too chaotic. Don't rush to expand. You dared to send people running around without knowing anything. You're an old fox, how could you make such a mistake? Now you've run into a tough opponent, haven't you!"

Sengoku snorted: "Garp, stop gloating. Akainu and Aokiji are Admirals of my Marineford, indispensable and important combat forces. We absolutely cannot just give up on them!"

Garp hummed: "Sengoku, you're also a guy ranked on the Golden Rankings, you should know your own strength. The opponent is a seventh-ranked existence, and he just revived after many years of death. It's precisely the time for him to establish his might. You don't want to give up? Fine, then you go rescue them yourself."

Garp had no good feelings for Akainu at all. As for Aokiji, a junior, he still had some good feelings, but it was impossible for him to go and die knowing it was a suicide mission.

He was a Marine Hero, true, but that was based on Marine honor. He couldn't sacrifice himself for personal reasons.

Sengoku gritted his teeth and reconnected to the live stream.

Sengoku: "Senju Hashirama, right? This matter was indeed our fault. You release them, and you can name your demands."

In the newly built Konoha Village.

Inside the largest treehouse, which was now Senju Hashirama's home.

"Take this opportunity to ask for more benefits!"

Senju Tobirama smiled slightly; the opponent's reaction was already within their expectations.

After all, Akainu and Kizaru were not only experts on the Golden Rankings, but more importantly, they were very important Marine cadres, so it was impossible for them to be given up so easily.

Senju Hashirama tilted his head: "Of course, but what demands should I make?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered: "If we're making demands, we can approach it from two angles. One is about important intelligence regarding the Pirate World's power system, such as their Cultivation methods, and those miraculous Devil Fruits. If we can get some, that would be best."

"The second is the Golden Rankings rewards. Previously, many experts from the Pirate World were also listed on the Golden Rankings, including some from the Marine. The rewards given by the Golden Rankings are all good things. If they want their people back, they must exchange them for treasures!"

Senju Hashirama clapped his hands and laughed, praising: "Hiruzen Sarutobi, you truly are worthy of being Hokage for so many years. You have good ideas. Good, let's do it that way!"

Senju Hashirama: "Of course, there's no problem with wanting your people back. First, send me a hundred Devil Fruits. Second, bring all your Marine's Cultivation techniques. Also, bring ten Golden Rankings rewards. It's a fair exchange, no tricks!"

"Damn it!"

Fo Zhi Sengoku, in his office, couldn't help but curse, slamming his fist on the table, shattering the entire table into pieces.

"This is too much, absolutely outrageous!"

Fo Zhi Sengoku's veins bulged on his forehead. He, who was always known for his elegance, could no longer remain calm.

A hundred Devil Fruits, is he crazy!

The entire Marineford's Devil Fruit reserves were nowhere near that many.

One Devil Fruit represents the birth of an expert, and its value is immeasurable.

It was simply an exorbitant demand.

He also wanted the Marine's Cultivation techniques. The Marine Six Powers were the foundation of the Marine's standing on the seas; how could they easily hand them over to others!

And this guy even wanted ten Golden Rankings rewards!

How many Marineford presences were there on the Golden Rankings? You actually want ten. Not to mention whether they would be willing to hand them over for these two Admirals, even if they were, Sengoku would certainly not be willing.

Those were rewards from the Golden Rankings! Any single item among them was worth either Akainu or Aokiji.

Sengoku: "Since you have so little sincerity, then there's nothing to discuss. Akainu, Aokiji, I will apply to the World Government to posthumously honor you as Marine martyrs."

Akainu and Kizaru, currently imprisoned in the water prison, naturally saw Sengoku's reply.

They exchanged glances, and the atmosphere became somewhat silent for a moment.

They also didn't expect to be given up so easily.

They were Admirals of Marineford, the pillars of the Marine!

In fact, after the Golden Rankings appeared, the world situation had already changed, especially with those miraculous Golden Rankings rewards, which could make an expert transform and become even stronger.

While Akainu and Aokiji's deaths would be regrettable, it was not impossible for someone else to step up.

After all, the price of saving them both was something Sengoku could not bear.

Senju Hashirama: "...Aren't you going to reconsider? Those are your important cadres!"

Sengoku: "If you insist on these conditions, then there's no need to consider!"

Whitebeard: "Worororororo, I've been watching for a long time, Sengoku, you're really too stingy. It's just a hundred Devil Fruits, you're the Fleet Admiral of Marineford, isn't this something you can easily hand over?"

Kaido: "That's right, Sengoku. And those Marine Six Powers, for two Admirals, what's the harm in sharing them? You won't lose anything!"

Big Mom: "Just ten Golden Rankings rewards. The World Government is wealthy and doesn't care at all. Aokiji and Akainu, you two youngsters, I think your Fleet Admiral simply doesn't want to save you!"

The Four Emperors of the New World all surfaced to incite discord, making Sengoku gnash his teeth, wishing he could directly raid their lairs and tear them to shreds.

Akainu: "Fleet Admiral Sengoku, you don't need to be troubled. It is my honor to die for justice and for the Marine!"

Aokiji: "...I don't want to talk!"

Senju Hashirama awkwardly rubbed his hands in the house: "Were the demands I made a bit too excessive?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was somewhat speechless.

Not just excessive, but far too excessive!

I told you to ask for benefits, not to make an exorbitant demand! You're clearly showing that you don't want to negotiate!

Senju Hashirama: "Your spirit of dedication deeply moves me, so I've decided to show some leniency and lower my demands."

Senju Hashirama also didn't plan to kill those two guys; it wouldn't do him any good.

Instead, exchanging them for something would be the most practical.

The current world is too chaotic; killing just two Admirals wouldn't cause too much of a stir.

If Konoha Village could gain benefits from it, it would be greatly advantageous for its future.

Sengoku's eyes flashed, and he quickly said in his consciousness:

[Sengoku: "If you genuinely want to release them, I can send you five Devil Fruits and the cultivation methods for Armament Haki and Observation Haki. As for the Golden Rankings rewards, impossible!"]

[Whitebeard: "Wororororo, my old friend Senju, you absolutely must not agree! He's treating us like beggars!"]

[Kaido: "Exactly, exactly! It's too stingy! Five Devil Fruits, I could eat them all in one bite! He's clearly looking down on you! You are a being ranked seventh on the Golden Rankings!"]

[Mama: "The strong never surrender!"]

[Red Hair: "Hmm… they're right!"]

The Four Emperors continued to incite, not wanting them to reach a deal at all.

They were pirates, in opposition to the World Government for many years. Seeing two Marine Admirals captured, they were overjoyed and certainly wouldn't let them return so easily.

Senju Hashirama immediately hesitated.

Due to the asymmetry of information, he wasn't sure about the true value of the things the other party mentioned.

Jiraiya interjected from the side, "Let's take what we can get. In my opinion, this is their bottom line. I obtained some information during the battle; that Armament Haki seems to be able to counter those Devil Fruit Users with special abilities. This is already very valuable to us."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, deeply agreeing with this.

His strength was clearly superior to those three, yet he fought incredibly frustratingly.

If he had the means to counter them, these three wouldn't be so presumptuous.

"Such Devil Fruit Users are clearly not common; their numbers definitely won't be too many."

Senju Tobirama also nodded.

Since that was the case, Senju Hashirama had nothing more to say.

[Senju Hashirama: "Alright, I agree. I'll give you half a month to complete the transaction. No waiting if you're late, and if you dare to play tricks, you'll all stay here!"]

As a being ranked seventh on the Golden Rankings, he had such confidence.

Sengoku breathed a sigh of relief. Although some things were lost, for Akainu and Aokiji, it really wasn't much.

Just five Devil Fruits, and they didn't specify what type.

They could just find five of the worst Animal-type Devil Fruits for them, and they wouldn't know.

As for the cultivation methods for Armament Haki and Observation Haki, they were actually already common knowledge in the New World of pirates and would eventually spread throughout the Three Realms.

So, they actually didn't lose anything at all.

"Garp, why don't you go on this trip?"

Sengoku looked at Hero Garp, who was still intently munching on rice crackers.

Garp immediately glared, "You're dreaming! I'm telling you, don't even think about it. You find someone else for this errand. Isn't Kizaru still alive? Let him go again."

Speaking of Kizaru, Sengoku frowned and reconnected to the live stream.

[Sengoku: "Kizaru, you said you met the gold list number one and number two midway. Is that true?"]

Kizaru was currently on a deserted island, looking utterly miserable. With one arm severed, he was washing clothes by the sea. If his subordinates saw him in such a wretched state, they would probably drop their jaws.

Seeing that the Admiral had finally remembered him, Kizaru almost cried out.

[Kizaru: "Yes, it was definitely them. They were simply too terrifying! If I hadn't been lucky, I probably wouldn't even have a body left!"]

[Senju Hashirama: "Didn't you run away? How did you get involved with the gold list number one and number two? Speaking of which, I am very interested in these two beings, especially the number one. I still don't know his appearance. Tell me in detail, and I'll go easy on you next time you come."]

[Kizaru: "Although I really want to tell you, I truly don't remember. This guy is very strange; even though I saw his face before, I can't recall it no matter what. I didn't even touch him! Nor did I see him make a move."]

[Whitebeard: "Are you telling a story? You lost an arm without him even making a move? Did you just cut off your own arm because you were upset?"]

[Kizaru: "Whitebeard, stop being so sarcastic! The horror of this guy's strength is beyond your imagination! The one who attacked me was the number two, that guy who looks like a black cat. Just one encounter almost killed me! If I hadn't broken through in the heat of the moment, I would have died!"]

[Sengoku: "…Report the specific situation when you get back. There are too many people here, and you've said too much."]

[Kizaru: "Admiral, there's something I don't know if I should say?"]

[Sengoku: "This old man is not in a good mood right now. You'd best not be wishy-washy."]

[Kizaru: "That… although it's a bit embarrassing, I can't help it. Actually, I'm lost…"]

[Sengoku: "…"]

[Whitebeard: "…"]

[Kaido: "…"]

…

Just as everyone was about to temporarily exit the live stream, someone else appeared again.

[Saitama: "You really met the gold list number one and number two? I went looking for him before too."]

As soon as these words came out, everyone who had been silently observing in the live stream was shocked.

The guy ranked gold list third had appeared!

And he had even interacted with the gold list number one and number two!

[Senju Hashirama: "Mr. Saitama, I've long admired your name. I wonder if you had a confrontation when you interacted with them?"]

Everyone else also nervously paid attention to their conversation.

[Saitama: "Confrontation? No, it wasn't a confrontation, but a one-sided massacre. I was sent flying by his pet, well, that black cat, with a single move. If it weren't for my strong Physique and the rewards provided by the Golden Rankings, I would probably be dead by now."]

As soon as these words came out, everyone gasped.

A being ranked gold list third couldn't even withstand one move from the gold list second?

Then how strong must that so-called gold list number one be?

[Saitama: "Later, I returned to that place, only to find that it had undergone tremendous changes. The landscape had completely transformed; the original flat ground had disappeared, and forests had sprung up. Before, my concept of strength was destruction, but now, I understand that true strength is actually creation!"]

Creation!

Everyone's hearts trembled.

If anyone else had said this, they might still be skeptical, but this was a being ranked gold list third!

Would he lie?

Perhaps, after all, no one knew each other, and everyone was an old fox, so they wouldn't trust others' words too much. But subconsciously, everyone already believed Saitama's words.

At this moment, in the northern part of the Three Realms, in what was formerly the New World region of the Pirate World.

The Whitebeard Pirates were currently gathered on an island.

Whitebeard, who had already used the Time Potion to restore his Peak condition, sat on his throne, heartily drinking from a massive wine barrel, while below him sat a dense crowd of pirates.

Laughter and merriment filled the air.

In the Whitebeard Pirates, Whitebeard was the backbone, and his subordinates, who had been worried about his health, could now finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Pops, now that your body has returned to its most Peak state, I believe that if the Golden Rankings were to re-rank, you would surely climb even higher!"

Diamond Jozu laughed heartily, raising his wine glass.

"Yes, Pops, the world has changed now. The World Government is no longer the center of power for the entire world. Even Imu, the strongest individual hidden within the World Government, has been punished and is likely unable to recover its Origin Qi in a short time. Why don't we take this opportunity to uproot the World Government entirely!"

Marco, the Phoenix, his eyes gleaming, offered his suggestion.

As soon as he spoke, the surrounding pirates immediately grew excited, each raising their wine glasses and loudly agreeing.

"Right! Take out the Marine, conquer the seas!"

"Take out the Fleet Admiral!"

"I'm going to use Sengoku's head as a sake flask!"

Whitebeard watched his subordinates cheer and let out a hearty laugh: "Wororororo, you're right, the timing is excellent now. The Marine and the World Government are in cahoots, making the whole world a mess. Originally, I didn't want to get involved, but now that the Golden Rankings has appeared, even if I wanted to keep a low profile, I probably couldn't!"

Everyone grew excited.

Did Pops just agree?

Whitebeard loudly declared: "After the banquet, Marco, immediately go contact Kaido, Big Mom, and Red Hair. To take down the World Government, our Whitebeard Pirates alone definitely can't do it. Oh, and also notify that guy Dragon, he'll surely be very interested in this matter too."

Ace, who had now joined the Whitebeard Pirates, nodded and said: "I'll go contact the Revolutionary Army. I believe they won't refuse! Once everything settles, Pops, you are the only one qualified to sit on the throne!"

The throne!

Ace's words immediately pushed the atmosphere to a climax.

Everyone's faces flushed with extreme excitement!

They all fantasized that if Pops truly became the King of the Pirate World, they too would rise in prominence, becoming figures of global attention.

But Whitebeard's expression darkened, and he shook his head: "No, I have no interest in this so-called throne. Even when Roger was alive, I never contended with him for the title of Pirate King, and I won't now. I'm just disgusted with this corrupt world, that's all."

"This old man just wants to be a cleaner, to restore clarity to the world!"

"This world is so vast, this old man wants to see it!"

Whitebeard's words were forceful, and he looked solemnly at his subordinates: "If any of you have similar thoughts, wanting to leave the ship and follow a future King, I will agree!"

Everyone was stunned; they hadn't expected that even the temptation of the throne couldn't sway Whitebeard.

Ace, Marco, and the other commanders were absolutely loyal to Whitebeard; whatever he did, they would unconditionally support him, and most of the pirates were the same.

The reason they joined the Whitebeard Pirates was, first, because of Whitebeard's name and immense strength, and second, because Whitebeard treated them like family.

"Whatever Pops says, we'll do it!"

Marco smiled; he was a man with no great ambition to begin with, and being able to stay by Whitebeard's side was already good enough for him.

The pirates below also voiced their support, shouting: "We pledge to follow Pops to the death!"

However, no one noticed that among the pirates below, Blackbeard Teach sat in a corner, his expression somewhat gloomy, muttering with a sneer: "He's not even grasping such a good opportunity; no wonder he can only be a mere Four Emperors. Following a guy like this, I'll never get ahead. It's time to leave…"

Suddenly, at this moment, the pirate on lookout by the shore raised an alarm.

"Someone's coming ashore!"

The pirates at the banquet all turned their heads towards the sea, but no one showed a worried expression.

With Whitebeard present, their hearts were extremely at ease, fearing no danger.

Not far away on the coastline, a small wooden boat was swaying unsteadily, carrying a black-haired young man lying down, wearing a baseball cap that obscured most of his face.

And on his chest, a white cat lay quietly, looking peaceful.

The wooden boat drifted along with the current until it reached the shore, its hull gently bumping as it came to a stop.

"Hey, wake up!"

The lookout pirate walked forward and kicked the wooden boat.

The black-haired youth opened his sleepy eyes, sat up, and looked around, showing a surprised expression: "Where is this?"

The lookout pirate was a bit speechless: "This is the Whitebeard Pirates' encampment. Who are you?"

This black-haired youth was, of course, the gold list number one, Zhou Li.

And that white cat was Blackie, who had been forced to change its fur.

"I was swept away by the raging tide and drifted at sea. My home has been destroyed, and now only it accompanies me."

Zhou Li put on a pitiful act, grabbing the sleeping Blackie by the scruff of its neck and lifting it up.

"Meow—"

Blackie was instantly furious, baring its claws and teeth, almost reverting to its original form.

"Tide? Home destroyed?"

The lookout pirate suspiciously scrutinized Zhou Li from head to toe, finding the young man's appearance unremarkable, even having the kind of face one would forget as soon as he turned around—a pure passerby face.

"You wait here, I'll go report to Pops!"

The lookout pirate quickly left and returned a short while later, waving: "Come with me, I'll take you to see Pops."

Zhou Li nodded, holding Blackie, and followed him directly to the banquet gathering place.

At this moment, the dense crowd of pirates had stopped eating and drinking, all staring at Zhou Li with unfriendly eyes, their powerful oppressive presence making it hard to breathe.

The lookout pirate walked ahead, trembling with fear; his strength was too weak, and being surrounded by so many strong individuals made his legs feel like jelly.

If most of the pirates' attention hadn't been on Zhou Li behind him, he probably would have collapsed to the ground by now.

But Zhou Li seemed to feel nothing, walking through the gathered pirates with an unchanged expression, heading directly towards Whitebeard at the very center.

Whitebeard was over six meters tall, and sitting there, he resembled a small mountain, exuding a powerful sense of oppression, his white crescent-shaped mustache on his upper lip being extremely prominent.

"Hmm… this kid, he looks a bit special!"

Whitebeard silently watched Zhou Li approach, his eyes slightly narrowed.

Zhou Li came before Whitebeard, looking up at this legendary figure, and grinned: "You're Whitebeard?"

How dare you!"

"Audacious!"

"How dare you disrespect Old Man like that!"

The Pirates below immediately became displeased, shouting and clamoring. Some had even drawn their weapons, wanting to Teach this ignorant boy a lesson.

Whitebeard raised his hand and pressed it down, and the area below became so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

"Worororororo—"

Whitebeard laughed, his voice booming: "Interesting boy, where are you from?"

Zhou Li's lips curved slightly as he said indifferently: "I come from the distant East. That day, a strange Golden Rankings appeared in the sky, and perhaps because of this, my hometown was inexplicably submerged by seawater. My home was destroyed. Fortunately, I had sailing experience before, so I managed to survive and arrived here with the sea current."

"The East…"

Whitebeard's eyes flickered. He glanced towards the far East, then withdrew his gaze.

"Then, can you tell me what the world in the East is like?"

Whitebeard didn't easily believe Zhou Li's words, asking noncommittally.

Zhou Li said indifferently: "My hometown is unremarkable, there's nothing to say about it. However, along the way, I passed through many other wondrous lands. Perhaps you might be interested."

Everyone immediately showed expressions of interest.

Marco asked: "Wondrous lands? Didn't you arrive with the sea current?"

Zhou Li said: "I couldn't control the direction of the sea current. Indeed, along the way, I witnessed many incredible people and events, such as your Marine and Pirates, and also the Ninja of the West, or the Monster organization and Hero Association of the South…"

As soon as these words came out, the entire assembly was in an uproar.

You know, in the present day, what is most important?

Undoubtedly, intelligence is the most important.

Especially these Peak powerhouses in high positions, they are extremely eager to obtain information about other worlds.

Whitebeard was naturally no exception.

"Ninja? You've seen them?"

Whitebeard's expression also showed a slight change, and he leaned forward slightly, listening intently.

Zhou Li nodded and said: "Their power system is a bit unique. They combine the development of physical strength and Mental Energy to create an energy called Chakra, communicating with natural elements to transform into offensive techniques. This is what a Ninja is!"

Saying that, Zhou Li's hands quickly formed seals, and he shouted.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

His cheeks puffed out, and a small ball of fire suddenly shot out from his mouth, dissipating as soon as it touched the air.

Zhou Li's face showed a hint of embarrassment. He scratched his head and said: "Sorry, my skills are not refined; I've made a fool of myself!"

The Pirates present immediately burst into laughter.

"Haha, are you performing acrobatics?"

"I thought he was a formidable character from his appearance earlier, but he's just a clown!"

"Great Fireball? This is probably just a small flame, haha!"

But the Captain-level figures had solemn expressions, all looking thoughtful.

Ace impatiently said: "You're not a Devil Fruit User? And this fire wasn't produced by some kind of artifact?"

As a Flame-Flame Fruit User, he was already a favorite of flames, and he was very interested in the other party being able to produce fire out of thin air.

Zhou Li nodded and said: "I also encountered Ninja before and studied with them for a period. It's just that my talent is limited, so I can only achieve this level. This is not the power of a Devil Fruit, but rather it's stimulated by the Chakra within the body. If it were a high-level Ninja, they could produce a large ball of intense fire, not just my current level."

Hearing this, most of the people present couldn't help but gasp.

Not a Devil Fruit User, yet able to utilize the power of natural elements, without being restricted by seawater.

This Ninja has some tricks!

Whitebeard nodded slightly and said: "These Ninja are indeed quite mysterious. I also know a little about them. What is your name?"

Zhou Li paused, as if he hadn't thought about this question before. He glanced at Blackie in his arms and smiled.

"My name is Zhou Bai!"

Whitebeard nodded and said: "Very good, Zhou Bai. Since you've come, and you're a poor child who has lost his home, then join my Pirate crew and be my son!"

The Pirates present all showed a hint of surprise.

Everyone knew Whitebeard's generous nature, but not everyone was qualified to join the Whitebeard Pirates and become his son.

This guy isn't strong, and his identity and background haven't been thoroughly clarified. Is it really okay to let him join just like that?

But Zhou Li's mouth twitched.

This Whitebeard really was just like the rumors said, wanting to be a father to everyone he met.

"I don't have any plans to join a Pirate crew for now. I just want to find a place to settle down first."

Zhou Li politely refused.

What a joke.

In terms of age, I'm much older than this Whitebeard. You still want to be my father? You're dreaming!

Whitebeard didn't insist: "Since that's the case, I welcome you if you wish to stay here, and I won't stop you if you want to leave. In a few days, we will set off to encircle and annihilate the World Government. If you're interested, you can come and watch, but with your strength, it might be dangerous."

Zhou Li immediately became interested and agreed: "I've been drifting on the sea for a long time, and I also want to find a place to rest. As for the World Government, I've heard a lot about it, and this time I also want to go and see it for myself."

Whitebeard laughed heartily and said: "That's good then, lads, the feast continues!"

"Yo—"

"Long live Old Man—"

The atmosphere on site became lively again.

Zhou Li hadn't interacted with so many people for a long time, and the current lively atmosphere gave him a unique feeling.

—

Night fell, and the moon hung high.

Even at night, the huge golden Golden Rankings could be clearly seen across the sky, casting a faint golden glow.

Blackbeard Teach was currently hiding in the shadows, quietly walking towards the Moby Dick moored on the shore.

"I remember in a previous battle, Old Man snatched a lot of good things from a group of people. Maybe there's something I want. I can't wait any longer. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If I can gain benefits in this battle to encircle the World Government, maybe I can really sit on the throne and rule!"

Teach's expression was uncertain. He was an extremely ambitious fellow. The reason he hid on Whitebeard's ship was to search for the legendary strongest Logia-type Devil Fruit—the Dark-Dark Fruit.

But now, due to the appearance of the Golden Rankings, Whitebeard had actually recovered to his Peak state and was even going to unite with the Four Emperors to encircle the World Government.

He absolutely did not want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Only by making a grand display during such a gathering of powerhouses would people be convinced. Achieving fame in one battle was now within reach.

However, Teach did not notice that not far behind him, a figure was quietly following.

Inside the Moby Dick's first Treasure Trove.

Blackbeard Teach hid in the darkness, silently watching the two guards.

Both pirate guards were full of weariness at this moment, constantly yawning.

"Kaffir, I'm going to nap for a bit. I really can't hold on anymore; I drank a bit too much today!"

The guard on the left greeted, put down his weapon, and leaned against the nearby wall.

Kaffir nodded and said, "Alright, you sleep first, I'll take over in the latter half of the night."

In reality, the two of them were just putting on a show.

Who would be so insane and suicidal as to plunder the Whitebeard Pirates' main ship? Unless they wanted to die, that's another story.

Especially now that Whitebeard had recovered his Peak strength, even if Fleet Admiral Sengoku came personally, he wouldn't fare well.

Kaffir nodded, then tilted his head and fell into a deep sleep.

Teach emerged from the shadows at this moment, holding a flask of wine, and walked towards the guard on the right.

"Who!"

The guard on the right immediately became alert upon hearing the sound.

"It's me, Charlie!"

Teach grinned, and the dim oil lamp illuminated his incredibly honest expression.

"Oh, Teach!"

Charlie relaxed and asked strangely, "In the middle of the night, what are you doing here?"

Teach laughed, "Pops said at the banquet that he would attack the World Government soon, so he told me to count the Treasure Trove in case of need."

Charlie frowned, "Shouldn't something like this be done during the day?"

Teach said, "Several captains have already been dispatched to contact the Revolutionary Army and the other Four Emperors. Time is tight, so he sent me to count through the night. Please open the door."

Although Charlie was a bit suspicious, he didn't doubt Teach's words much.

Blackbeard Teach had always been very low-key on the ship, acting like a good-natured person, not only hiding his strength but also never getting into conflicts with anyone.

"Teach, it's not that I don't trust you, but the Treasure Trove on the ship was hard-earned by the Pirate Group. I need to confirm; did you bring Pops' token?"

Charlie was still quite cautious.

Teach spread his hands helplessly, "You know, Pops was very happy today and is already dead drunk. After giving his instructions, he fell asleep and didn't have time to give me a token."

Charlie shook his head and said, "Then there's nothing I can do. Guarding the Treasure Trove is my duty. How about you go find some of the other captains to come with you? I remember Captain Izo and the others are still here."

A hint of killing intent flashed in Teach's eyes, but he nodded honestly and said, "Understood, understood, Charlie, you truly are a responsible Marine!"

Charlie was quite pleased and said, "It's alright, after all, my strength is low, so I can only do what I can…"

Before he could finish his sentence, his eyes suddenly bulged out, and he looked down at his chest with an expression of disbelief.

A dagger had already pierced his chest, and the hilt was held in the hand of the smiling man in front of him.

"You…"

Charlie only managed to utter one word before the dagger stabbed him several more times. He tilted his head and completely lost all signs of life.

Teach narrowed his eyes, staring at the corpse on the ground, then glanced at the blood-stained dagger in his hand. A cold light flickered in his eyes, and he whispered, "I didn't want to kill you, but you didn't know your place. Don't blame me."

"What's going on?"

Kaffir was woken by the commotion and was about to stand up, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Suddenly, his mouth was tightly covered, and a sharp pain shot through his neck, causing blood to gush out.

Setting down the other corpse, Teach expressionlessly squatted down and began to search. He quickly found the Treasure Trove key hidden on Kaffir.

"I hope it's there!"

Teach unlocked the door, pushed it open, and walked straight in, his heart filled with apprehension.

He had staked everything. Having killed someone, there was no turning back. Once discovered, Whitebeard would definitely not let him go. With his current strength, he was still far from the captain-level, let alone Whitebeard in his Peak.

Inside the Treasure Trove, dozens of chests were laid out, and a large pile of gold coins lay scattered in the corner, gleaming under the reflection of the oil lamps on the walls.

"Where exactly is it…"

Teach began to search frantically, moving quickly.

Chest after chest was opened, all filled with treasures, gold coins, jewelry, and some antiques, all of considerable value.

But Teach was not interested in these things at all; his objective was very clear.

"This is it!"

Another chest was opened, and inside, neatly arranged, were four strangely shaped Devil Fruits, covered with various mysterious patterns.

Teach immediately locked onto one of the Devil Fruits.

Its dark skin was covered with peculiar patterns, and the entire fruit exuded an eerie aura.

"Logia—Dark-Dark Fruit!"

Teach was incredibly excited. He had previously seen the Devil Fruit encyclopedia and knew Devil Fruits like the back of his hand. He recognized this Devil Fruit, which represented infinite power, at a glance.

"As long as I eat it, I will definitely be able to dominate the seas, surpass Pops Whitebeard, and ascend to the throne!"

Blackbeard couldn't help but chuckle in a low, strange voice, grabbing the Dark-Dark Fruit in his hand.

Just then, footsteps came from the entrance of the Treasure Trove.

Teach's expression tightened, and he turned his head to look at the entrance.

A figure slowly walked in, his face incredibly grim.

"Teach, you really aren't a simple character."

Fourth Division Commander Thatch stared at Teach, then glanced at the two guards lying in a pool of blood, his expression extremely ugly. "Harming comrades, stealing from the Treasure Trove—any one of these crimes is enough to have you cut into a thousand pieces!"

Clang—

Thatch's twin swords at his waist suddenly unsheathed, pressing diagonally against the ground, his expression icy. "You know, Pops hates traitors the most, especially beasts who harm their own comrades!"

Teach slowly stood up, revealing his broken Kiba with a strange chuckle. "Captain Thatch, when did you start following me? Such impressive methods, I didn't even notice anything."

Thatch said coldly, "You don't need to know. I will send you to the Whitebeard Pirates' guillotine. If you have anything to say, you can save it to explain to Pops."

Teach gave a chilling, cackling laugh. "Captain Thatch, your strength is not outstanding among the captains. You only have good cooking skills that Pops particularly likes. To be honest, I've always looked down on you. Your position as captain should have been given up long ago."

Thatch's face grew even uglier, and he shouted, "Teach, stop stalling. It won't do you any good."

Teach's lips curled up. He suddenly raised his hand, brought the Dark-Dark Fruit to his mouth, and bit down hard, juice splattering.

"You!"

Thatch's face immediately changed.

Teach's cheeks twitched and contorted slightly, clearly indicating that the Devil Fruit did not taste very good.

Immediately, he threw away the Devil Fruit in his hand.

A Devil Fruit only requires one bite to obtain its powers.

"That's Old Man's Treasure Trove!"

Thatch roared in anger.

Teach did not reply, but instead tilted his head back, feeling the terrifying power gradually surging within his Physique, a look of intoxication on his face.

Thatch dared not wait any longer, his figure flickered, and his twin blades scraped a series of sparks and sword marks on the ground as he charged towards Teach.

"Receive your judgment, Teach!"

Thatch leaped high, slashing fiercely at Teach's head.

He had already realized that Teach was hiding his strength, and it was very possible that he was not much weaker than himself to begin with.

Now he had also eaten a Devil Fruit; although he did not know what abilities this Devil Fruit possessed, he absolutely could not allow him to adapt to this power.

Teach suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with an incomparably fierce Killing Intent, and he raised his right hand, making a grabbing motion.

"Dark Water—"

The surrounding darkness instantly intensified, tightly enveloping Thatch and dragging him towards Teach.

Snap!

Thatch struggled fiercely but to no avail, and Teach seized him by the throat.

It must be said that Thatch's strength was indeed somewhat insufficient for the position of a captain.

In the hands of Teach, who had gained the Dark-Dark Fruit ability, he was defeated in a single move.

"Captain Thatch, you really are useless!"

Teach's lips involuntarily stretched into a silent, Laughing wildly .

"Wave Curl—"

Thatch mobilized all the power in his body, his skin suddenly covered in black Armament Haki, and his twin blades drew dazzling sword flowers in the air, his wrists as flexible as a swimming Dragon.

Even the two long blades were covered in Armament Haki.

Swish swish swish—

The surging blade light scattered; at such close range, Teach was unable to dodge, and he never expected Thatch to still have the power to retaliate.

Puff puff puff—

Teach let out a scream, released Thatch's hand, and writhed on the ground in pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Thatch fell to the ground, gasping for breath, his hands clutching his twin blades trembling slightly.

Looking at Teach, who was screaming on the ground, a look of surprise and uncertainty also appeared in his eyes.

What he didn't know was that the Dark-Dark Fruit, as the most vicious Logia Devil Fruit, naturally had its drawbacks.

The damage and pain received by the person who eats the Dark-Dark Fruit would be returned to the host exponentially, making the pain unbearable.

Teach was also experiencing this feeling for the first time, nearly fainting.

But he was also a ruthless man; he quickly regained his composure, enduring the pain to sit up.

On his chest, a long sword scar appeared, diagonally traversing his entire chest, blood flowing profusely.

"Good, good, good!"

Teach's eyes blazed with ferocity, Killing Intent surged, and he laughed in extreme anger, "Captain Thatch, I truly underestimated you!"

Thatch knew he was no match and gritted his teeth, abruptly turning his head, wanting to escape the Treasure Trove.

This was Whitebeard's territory; as long as he got out of here and sent a distress signal, a large number of pirates would immediately come to his aid, and then no matter how powerful Blackbeard was, he would regret it on the spot.

But how could Teach give him this chance? His face twisted, and he suddenly reached out a hand towards Thatch and clenched it.

"Dark Hole—"

In an instant, an extremely dense darkness flowed out from Blackbeard Teach's body, spreading wildly outwards.

With him at the center, the darkness flowed rapidly like water, and everything it touched was sucked in and pulled down, quickly reaching Thatch's feet.

Thatch was greatly alarmed and immediately leaped up, intending to use Moonwalk to escape.

Unexpectedly, a black hand suddenly emerged from the darkness on the ground, grabbed Thatch's ankle, and violently dragged him into the ground.

"Teach has betrayed us, help—"

Thatch only managed to utter half a sentence before his entire body was swallowed by the dense black swamp.

"Damn it!"

Teach's expression was somewhat grim; Thatch had still managed to send out a distress signal in the end, and he couldn't stay long. If he didn't leave now, he wouldn't be able to leave at all.

The surrounding darkness began to recede, re-entering his body, and the things that had been sucked in earlier were also spat out, including Thatch's lifeless corpse.

The power of the Dark-Dark Fruit was terrifying; anything swallowed by the Dark Hole could be completely digested and devoured into nothingness.

However, Teach had only just obtained the Devil Fruit's power, and his level of development was still shallow; he didn't have time to ponder it further now.

Teach looked back, stuffed the remaining three Devil Fruits into his embrace, and quickly left the Treasure Trove.

About ten seconds after he left, a person slowly walked out of the shadows of the Treasure Trove, as if he had been there all along, not seeming out of place at all.

"This Teach has the makings of a hero!"

Zhou Li looked in the direction Teach had left, and couldn't help but exclaim, "He will definitely be a significant figure in the future. He is ruthless to others and even more ruthless to himself. To be able to lie dormant beside Whitebeard for so many years is truly terrifying!"

Blackie sat on Zhou Li's shoulder, licking his fur, and let out a disdainful "Meow."

Zhou Li smiled, walked over to Thatch's corpse, and squatted down.

"This Golden Rankings's plan is an open conspiracy, aimed directly at me. It's time I did something; otherwise, being too passive isn't good. I can't let its plan proceed too smoothly. Planting some informants is still necessary!"

As he spoke, a milky-white light emanated from Zhou Li's palm, enveloping Thatch's body.

"Hmm... I'll use you as my first seed. Whitebeard is indeed a significant figure, and he will also be a person standing at the peak of the world in the future. I wonder what expression Teach will have when he sees you again!"

Zhou Li smiled at the corner of his mouth, withdrew his palm, and walked out of the Treasure Trove without looking back.

The milky-white light gradually dimmed, and Thatch's fingers, which had been dead, trembled slightly. He suddenly opened his eyes.

"I've been resurrected... Thank you, Master!"

Thatch picked up the twin blades from the ground and stood up again. He was alive again, and his Physique had been transformed by that milky-white energy, making his future Cultivation twice as effective.

"Enemy attack—"

Thatch rushed out of the Treasure Trove, letting out a long cry.

And as early as when he issued the first alarm, the pirates resting on the island had already been awakened and began to quickly gather towards the Moby Dick on the shore.

Seeing Thatch rush out of the Moby Dick, disheveled and carrying his twin blades, everyone was stunned.

"Captain Thatch, what happened?"

Izo walked out of the crowd, frowning as he asked.

Thatch's face was serious, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Blackbeard Teach snuck into the Treasure Trove under the cover of night, killed two of our guard brothers, and stole the Devil Fruit from the Treasure Trove. He has already escaped!"

What did you say?"

Everyone present was immediately startled. Izo asked suspiciously, "Are you talking about Teach from our crew?"

Thatch nodded and said, "Yes, it's him, Marshall D. Teach!"

A pirate laughed, "Captain Thatch, you haven't had too much to drink, have you? That guy Teach would do something like this? Never mind his strength, when we're fighting on the front lines, he's always cowering in the back, quite the coward!"

Diamond Jozu narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Thatch, whose mouth still had fresh blood on it.

Comparatively, he naturally trusted Thatch more.

After all, these captains had followed Whitebeard the longest. The reason they were appointed captains was partly due to their strength, but also their absolute loyalty.

And that Teach…

"Izo, go check immediately!"

Jozu waved his hand.

Izo nodded, and with a flash of his figure, he darted towards the main ship.

Not long after, Izo returned to the shore, her pretty face a sheet of ice: "Thatch was right. The two brothers guarding the No. 1 Treasure Trove are dead. The attack was very decisive and ruthless, definitely the work of an experienced hand. There are also signs of a struggle in the Treasure Trove."

Diamond Jozu's face was covered with a layer of Evil Qi. The shining diamonds quickly covered his entire body, and he sternly ordered, "Pass on my command: everyone immediately search for Teach's location. Report immediately upon finding the target!"

Finally, he added, "No unauthorized action, await backup!"

He knew Thatch's strength very well. While he might not be considered strong among the captains, he definitely had the strength of a Rear Admiral. His Armament Haki and Observation Haki cultivation were also not low, and his dual swords were not much worse than Flower Sword Vista's.

Yet, he was defeated by Teach. This Teach had hidden his strength, and his strength was terrifying.

If he knew that Thatch had actually died once at Teach's hands, he would probably be even more surprised.

"Yes!"

All the pirates responded loudly, then quickly dispersed. Some searched the island, while others directly boarded ships and went out to sea, conducting a carpet search of the surrounding waters.

"What exactly happened?"

Diamond Jozu's face was grim as he quickly moved with Thatch towards where Whitebeard was resting, asking as they went.

Thatch sighed and said, "Earlier, I drank too much and couldn't sleep, so I got up to make some hangover soup. Who would have thought I'd see Teach sneaking towards the Moby Dick? I was already suspicious of that guy, so I followed him."

Then, he briefly explained what had happened, but he omitted the part about being killed and resurrected, only saying that Teach was in a hurry to escape and didn't notice he wasn't dead yet.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived on the other side of the island, at a huge cave that had been temporarily opened up.

This was Whitebeard's temporary residence.

Several other captains also lived here.

Because of the distance, none of them had heard the commotion from over there.

And Diamond Jozu and Izo's team happened to be in charge of the security rotation on the island, so they discovered the situation in time.

"Whitebeard!"

Thatch and Jozu called out from outside the cave.

Not long after, there was a loud bang from inside the cave, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.

Jozu and Thatch exchanged glances, both a little helpless.

It seemed the bed they had made for Whitebeard was still a bit too small.

Soon, a towering figure, cloaked in a large mantle, emerged. It was Whitebeard.

"What's wrong?"

Whitebeard still looked a bit sleepy.

Thatch stepped forward and said, "Whitebeard, Teach betrayed us, stole your Treasure Trove, and killed our brothers. He has now escaped."

"What did you say!"

Whitebeard instantly sobered up. His tiger eyes glared, and a powerful Evil Qi suddenly erupted from his entire body, sweeping around him. His mantle billowed and rustled without any wind.

Jozu and Thatch both involuntarily took a few steps back. Whitebeard's aura was simply too strong, and this was just him unconsciously emitting it.

"Thatch is right. Teach has betrayed us. He has been hiding his strength. In fact, his own strength is already no weaker than ours, the captains. Now he has also eaten a Devil Fruit from the Treasure Trove, making his strength even greater."

Jozu nodded, confirming Thatch's words.

"Marshall D. Teach?"

Whitebeard valued his subordinates greatly and remembered each of their names.

And since Blackbeard's surname contained the special designation 'D', Whitebeard naturally had an even deeper impression.

"An ungrateful wolf pup! I should have known earlier!"

Whitebeard's anger flared. What he could not tolerate most was betrayal, and to harm his subordinates, who were family to him.

"My sons—"

Whitebeard roared.

The terrifying sound wave instantly swept through the area. The cave began to shake and crack, and gravel crumbled down.

"Whitebeard!"

"Whitebeard!"

"I'm here!"

Figures successively darted out from the caves opened up not far away, quickly arriving before Whitebeard.

Aside from First Division Commander Marco, Second Division Commander Ace, and Sixteenth Division Commander Izo, who was on the other side of the island pursuing Teach, all the other commanders were present.

"Teach has betrayed us. Search for him immediately, and capture him alive. I want to personally ask him if I treated him unfairly!"

Whitebeard stood still, his voice like a booming bell as he gave his command. A deep sense of disappointment and heartache flashed in his eyes.

All the captains were greatly surprised to hear this and instinctively turned their heads to look at Thatch and Jozu.

Thatch and Jozu both nodded.

"Yes!"

All the captains immediately took their orders, stepped back a few paces, and then darted out one by one, quickly disappearing.

...

Out on the vast sea, Teach desperately rowed a small boat, sailing across the ocean.

The oars in his hands were already moving so fast they created a blur, and the small boat sped like lightning, leaving a long wake on the sea surface.

In just over ten minutes, he had already moved far away from that island.

"Faster, faster!"

Teach's heart screamed, and his movements became even quicker.

His forehead was covered in cold sweat.

He knew very well that if Whitebeard caught him after what he had done, only death awaited him.

And having just obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, he was far from Whitebeard's opponent.

Suddenly, a clear bird cry came from the sky.

Teach's face immediately changed as he looked up.

He saw a white seagull circling in the air, dozens of meters above him, constantly calling out.

"Damn it! I've been spotted!"

Teach's face became incredibly grim. He stretched out his hand and lunged towards the sky.

Dense darkness transformed into a large hand that shot out, directly grabbing the seagull.

The seagull was instantly swallowed by the darkness and disappeared.

But not long after, more seagulls appeared and circled. They flew higher and in greater numbers, sticking close behind Teach, neither moving forward nor leaving.

It's that damn Beast Tamer!"

Teach's heart sank deeper and deeper, and with his Devil Fruit ability still underdeveloped, he couldn't attack at such a high altitude. He simply ignored it and fled headlong.

But soon, a chill ran down his spine.

Behind him, a dull whistle sounded.

A large ship was rapidly approaching them at an even faster speed.

It was the Moby Dick!

Teach turned his head to look, only to see a towering figure standing at the bow of the ship, leaning on an equally tall naginata, staring coldly at him.

Whitebeard—Edward Newgate!

This legendary figure of the sea had come after him!

"Teach, stop the ship immediately, and I can give you a chance to explain!"

Whitebeard's voice drifted over, clearly piercing Teach's ears.

Teach ignored him, simply continuing his headlong escape.

Jozu, standing at the bow, snorted, "A fool who doesn't know what's good for him, still trying to escape at this point!"

They all knew very well that those who ate a Devil Fruit were cursed by the sea, and could only travel by ship or by air. Clearly, Teach did not possess the latter ability.

Simply using Moonwalk could only provide a brief suspension in the air, and its speed was not as fast as traveling by ship.

"Namur!"

Whitebeard slightly tilted his head to look at the side.

A Fishman, whose appearance strongly resembled a shark, stepped out, baring a mouth full of ferocious sharp teeth, and laughed, "Pops, leave it to me. In the sea, he can't escape!"

This person was Namur, the captain of the Whitebeard Pirates' Eighth Division, a Fishman.

Namur leaped into the sea, a fin appearing on the surface, rapidly cutting a white wake as he quickly approached Teach's direction.

"Namur!"

Teach also noticed the fin coming towards him, his expression somewhat grim.

He suddenly regretted eating the Devil Fruit so quickly, which left him too passive now, trapped on the vast sea with no way to escape.

"Teach, surrender. You have no chance!"

Namur revealed himself not far away, surfacing, and advised, "Go and explain to Pops. What misunderstanding can't be resolved? Pops loves us very much!"

The situation had been urgent before, and Whitebeard and Thatch hadn't had time to explain the specific details of what happened.

And Teach's impression among the crew was that of a good-natured person, so Namur also had a good impression of him.

Teach let out a cold, cackling laugh, "Namur, are you telling me what to do?"

Namur frowned, "I'm genuinely doing this for your own good. Don't be ungrateful. If I have to bring you back, the nature of the situation will be different!"

Teach burst into wild laughter, "For my own good? I don't need it!"

Namur was furious, "In that case, don't blame me!"

With that, he plunged into the water, his figure disappearing.

The next moment, the small boat beneath Teach vibrated violently. The bottom of the boat was directly propelled by a great force, lifted high into the air, and disintegrated into pieces of wood in mid-air, falling into the water.

Namur, in mid-air, sneered, and with a powerful stance, unleashed a punch at Teach, who was also sent flying.

"Fishman Karate—Shock!"

The seawater below seemed to come alive, swirling and gathering around him. With a punch, it fiercely slammed towards Teach.

Teach, in mid-air, was neither surprised nor angry. His foot suddenly tapped, and his figure rapidly rose a section higher.

Moonwalk!

Dodging the attack, Teach's speed suddenly accelerated. A dense black mist permeated around him, growing larger and larger, enveloping the entire area.

"What is this?!"

Namur instinctively sensed danger and turned to leave the area, wanting to return to his home turf in the sea.

But it was too late. The speed at which the darkness spread was faster than his descent. The next moment, it completely enveloped him.

"This is bad!"

The captains on the Moby Dick were instantly alarmed and all rushed out towards Namur's direction.

But most of them lacked the means of flying through the air, and their speed was too slow. By the time they reached the battlefield, it would probably be too late.

"I'll give you a hand!"

Just then, Zhou Li, who had been standing silently in a corner of the ship, suddenly pulled out a scroll from his Pregnant and tore it open. He then made a hand seal and pressed it onto the scroll, before throwing it towards the captains.

"Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!"

A visible yellow light enveloped the captains.

All the captains were startled, clearly feeling their bodies become lighter, as if the gravity of the ground had been negated, allowing them to float in mid-air by their own power.

"What kind of ability is this?!"

Everyone couldn't help but turn to look at Zhou Li.

Zhou Li urged, "Don't worry about that for now. If you don't go, that shark is going to be a goner!"

The captains then snapped back to reality and quickly used their respective methods, blasting the air to propel themselves towards Teach.

Whitebeard glanced at Zhou Li, a half-smile on his face, "You have quite a few tricks up your sleeve…"

Zhou Li smiled faintly, "This was a gift given to me by a Ninja when I passed through a Ninja village. It contains pre-enchanted Ninjutsu, so it's not my own ability."

Whitebeard hummed in acknowledgment, noncommittal, and his gaze returned to the battlefield.

The thick black mist floated in mid-air, obscuring the situation within from everyone's view.

The captains arrived at the edge of the thick mist and stopped.

"I'll do it!"

Flower Sword Vista shouted, and the twin swords in his hands began to spin rapidly, creating a hurricane around him.

"Flower Cut!"

Streaks of fierce slashes, like hurricanes, crisscrossed and cleaved into the thick mist, tearing the darkness apart.

But soon, the thick mist re-converged.

"It's not working!"

Vista frowned, "This is the power of a Logia-type!"

Everyone present's expression changed.

They all knew very well what a Logia-type Devil Fruit represented: the most bizarre and troublesome power among all Devil Fruits.

"Everyone, Armament Haki, charge straight in!"

Diamond Jozu snorted. He refused to believe that Teach, a guy who had just eaten a Devil Fruit, could withstand the encirclement of so many captain-level opponents.

All the captains immediately covered their entire bodies in black Armament Haki, leaving no gaps.

Against Logia-types, Armament Haki was the best method.

Just then.

Splat—

Thump—

A figure fell from the thick mist, landing directly in the water.

It was Namur, who had been swallowed by the mist earlier.

At this moment, his entire body was extensively corroded, revealing stark white bones. Blood gushed out, and he had fallen into a coma, appearing to be not far from death.

"Namur!"

The captains all had grim expressions. Vista had already dived down and pulled Namur out of the water.

"Teach, you deserve to die!"

They hadn't known what Teach had done before, but now, the captains were enraged, Killing Intent surging like a whirlwind.

The Commanders were completely enraged by Teach.

They were on the same ship, Whitebeard's ship, and were as close as brothers; even though Namur was a Fishman, he shared deep affection with them.

From within the mist, Teach's wild and arrogant laughter echoed.

"You think you can catch me with just you guys!"

Teach's figure remained submerged in the thick black mist. Although the area wasn't large, the viscous black mist seemed impossible to disperse. Once it touched someone, it would gnaw at their soul, and several Commanders, despite using various methods, couldn't clear it.

"This is the Dark-Dark Fruit, a Logia type!"

Diamond Jozu's expression was extremely grim.

As Whitebeard's right-hand man, he knew many secrets.

When Whitebeard first obtained this Devil Fruit, he didn't intend to immediately use this special Logia type.

Logia types are undeniably powerful.

However, the Dark-Dark Fruit was known as the 'Fruit of Utmost Evil,' which made Whitebeard very hesitant, and he hadn't found a suitable person to eat it for a while.

This Devil Fruit could amplify the darkness within a person's heart, and if not used carefully, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But despite all precautions, Teach still managed to obtain it.

The black mist began to move, drifting across the sea like a flowing dark cloud, covering the surface of the ocean with increasing speed.

"Trying to escape!"

The Commanders were unwilling to let him go and pursued him closely, but for a time, they still couldn't do anything to him.

However, they knew that the source of a Devil Fruit's power came from one's stamina. Once his stamina was exhausted, he would no longer be able to use his abilities, becoming a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, and would still have to surrender.

"My children, return!"

The Moby Dick was approaching, and Whitebeard stood on the ship's rail, a hint of murderous Aura in his expression.

"Old Man!"

Vista, holding the heavily injured Namur, leaped back onto the ship, his expression anxious: "Quick, save Namur!"

Namur was now barely breathing, his expression dazed, looking as if he was on the verge of death.

Whitebeard's cheeks puffed out like twitching steel rods, and veins bulged on his forehead; he was on the verge of a full-blown rage.

He hadn't expected Teach to be so strong, almost killing a Commander-level subordinate with just one encounter.

"Ship doctor, Dr. Lucas!"

Whitebeard roared, and a figure carrying a medical kit rushed over, quickly squatting down to examine Namur's injuries.

Soon, he raised his head, his expression dim, and sighed as he looked at Whitebeard: "Old Man, Namur… is beyond saving!"

"You're spouting nonsense!"

Vista was furious, grabbing Dr. Lucas by the collar and roaring: "You're the ship doctor, hurry up and save him! Namur's vitality is so strong, you must not have tried your best!"

Dr. Lucas gave a bitter smile, not struggling, only sighing.

"Vista, let him go!"

Whitebeard said faintly, pressing his lips together as he looked at the dying Namur on the ground. He closed his eyes briefly, then suddenly opened them, took a step, and soared into the air, treading on the air towards the black mist.

"Marshall D. Teach!"

The astonishing roar caused the surrounding seawater to burst open. Whitebeard's towering figure moved with astonishing speed, raising colossal waves in his wake.

"Old Man is angry!"

"How long has it been since we've seen Old Man this angry!"

"Teach is dead for sure!"

The Commanders turned back, also startled by Whitebeard's Aura, and all retreated to clear the battlefield.

Yes, ever since Whitebeard became one of the Four Emperors, coupled with the effects of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, his body's functions had aged rapidly. Having experienced too much, Whitebeard rarely had major emotional fluctuations anymore.

But now, Whitebeard was truly enraged.

Flowing Sakura Haki coursed through his entire body, and his bisento reflected a cold glint.

Teach, in the black mist, felt a tingling sensation on his scalp. He already sensed that he was firmly locked onto by this legendary figure, even within the black mist.

"Is this Old Man's true strength?"

Teach felt a genuine sense of impending death and desperately urged the black mist to flee.

Over the sea, Whitebeard, over six meters tall, rapidly flew using Moonwalk, while a thick black mist in front of him swiftly drifted away.

One chasing, one fleeing, the distance between them was rapidly closing.

On the Moby Dick.

"Namur, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?"

Vista knelt beside his brother, his voice sorrowful.

"I…"

Namur spat out a mouthful of blood, but couldn't utter a single word. His pupils had already begun to dilate.

"Don't let him speak anymore; it will be easier for him to go that way."

Dr. Lucas consoled.

Vista bit his lip tightly, remaining silent, tears streaming from his eyes.

A large number of pirates gathered around, especially those under Namur's direct command, all showing sadness, some even wailing loudly.

"That…"

Suddenly, a voice sounded from the side.

Everyone couldn't help but turn to look.

They saw a black-haired young man wearing a baseball cap, who had somehow squeezed in, with a white cat sitting on his shoulder.

"Perhaps you could let me try?"

Zhou Li suggested.

"You?"

Vista was startled, somewhat suspiciously asking: "You can save him?"

Dr. Lucas sneered: "I am one of the best ship doctors on this sea. If I can't save him, what makes you think you can?"

Zhou Li scratched his head: "Just because you can't doesn't mean others can't. Anyway, this guy is already almost dead. Trying won't cost anything, what do you think?"

"Nonsense! You don't know medicine! Commander Vista, don't listen to him!"

"Exactly, just let Commander Namur go peacefully!"

"If Dr. Lucas can't save him, how could this kid possibly save him!"

The pirates clamored, all disagreeing with this suddenly appearing guy messing around.

Vista hesitated, recalling the scene where this guy had just helped them eliminate gravity and fly through the air.

"Then you try."

Vista stood up, yielded his position, and narrowed his eyes, saying: "You'd better not be boasting, or don't blame me for finding trouble with you later."

Zhou Li ignored him, pulled out a small cloth bag from his Pregnant, poured out a bean from it, and directly stuffed it into Namur's mouth, patting his throat with his palm.

Gulp!

Namur instinctively made a swallowing motion, and the bean went straight into his stomach.

"What did you give him to eat!"

Dr. Lucas was startled and questioned loudly: "You're feeding him random things, aren't you afraid of problems! You'll kill him like this! You scoundrel!"

"Murderer!"

"Commander Vista, how could you let an outsider mess around? It's over now!"

The pirates also started shouting.

Zhou Li spread his hands: "Kill him? Wasn't he already going to die anyway?"

The pirates: "…"