Chapter 192: Blackbeard
Marine Headquarters · Fleet Admiral's Office
As soon as the projection of the Den Den Mushi faded, the room fell into a deathly silence.
Only the sea breeze blew through the hall, flipping through a stack of official documents on the corner of the desk with a rustle-rustle sound, like the pages of the book of fate for the Marines and the world being turned to a critical chapter by the hand of destiny.
Sengoku stood with his back to everyone, gazing out the floor-to-ceiling window at the port of Marineford. A fleet of warships returning with the morning sun was slowly docking.
His shadow stretched long in the sunlight, heavy as a mountain.
"To make Roy, in the midst of an operation to 'Hunt a Yonko'," his voice was low, "still spare no cost to protect a certain 'intelligence source'—"
"That fruit is absolutely extraordinary."
His tone was calm but carried an irrefutable authority.
Tsuru gently pushed aside the documents at her hand, fingers interlaced, her gaze behind her glasses cold as lightning. "That child has always been cautious in his actions, unless the implications behind it are immense."
"If he insists on concealing the intelligence about the fruit from the official battle report, then this fruit... might involve not just the power of an ability user."
"But some existence he does not want the 'upper echelons' to interfere with."
Zephyr snorted coldly, his brows furrowed tightly. "Hmph, that brat has never been one to follow rules."
"But every time he crosses the line, it's to clear out a bigger abscess."
Kuzan put away his usual laziness, hands resting on his knees, looking directly at Sengoku's back.
"Fleet Admiral, you mentioned earlier that you would 'personally handle the intelligence source'..."
"Are you planning to—"
Sengoku turned around abruptly, a golden light flashing in his eyes. His tone was firm, almost brooking no argument.
"No need to ask further."
All three were shaken, then fell silent.
It wasn't that they didn't understand, but they knew clearly: If even Sengoku decided to handle it personally, then this matter had already exceeded their authority—
It might even involve the "Celestial Dragons," the "Five Elders," and other special existences.
Sengoku silently closed the document sealed with black "Top Secret" wax and slowly draped the coat with "Justice" written on it over his shoulders.
"Although the results of this operation are brilliant,"
"The death of Whitebeard, the capture of Marco, the imprisonment of Teach..."
"All of this is enough to shake the balance of the entire world."
"I must go to the Holy Land Mary Geoise personally to explain to the Five Elders."
Just as he stepped to the door and pushed it open, Tsuru spoke softly. "Sengoku, Mary Geoise is not a battlefield."
"But it is more dangerous than any battlefield."
Sengoku paused slightly, his shoulders broad as a mountain.
He turned his face slightly. The usual benevolence of the Buddha was gone from his eyes, replaced by the coldness and sobriety of a true Marine Fleet Admiral. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
He took a deep breath and issued one last order:
"Before Roy and the others return—"
"Block all external information, including newspapers, intelligence networks, and even direct telecommunications of the World Government."
The three exchanged glances; none objected.
This was not only for "balance" but also to protect the "order" they could still control.
"BANG—"
The heavy door closed. The "Justice" cloak cut a diagonal shadow in the air.
With Sengoku's departure, the entire Marine Headquarters seemed to welcome a silent but turbulent storm.
New World Route · Warship Bottom Prison
"CLANG—"
The heavy iron door closed slowly. Under Roy's gaze, the guards retreated far away, leaving only a dungeon shrouded in dim light and cold air.
Inside a cage made of special materials, Blackbeard Teach was charred black and covered in chains.
His arms and legs were locked tight by "Cross Shackles" of a special structure. A burn wound on his chest was still emitting white smoke.
Still in a coma, his head lolled to one side, blood at the corner of his mouth, looking utterly wretched.
Roy stood outside the bars, his gaze cold as a knife, quietly watching this monster who had once laughed wildly in the darkness.
"Tenacious vitality indeed..."
"As expected of Rocks' spawn."
He murmured low, his tone carrying both disgust and heavy chill.
Ace stood beside him, frowning slightly. Since the start of the great battle, this wasn't the first time he had heard the name "Rocks."
"Who is... Rocks?"
"Why does Big Bro Roy care so much?"
But he didn't ask, simply waiting silently for Roy's instructions.
Roy signaled with his eyes. Ace understood immediately, rubbing his fingers together to produce a small flame at his fingertip.
"ZZZT—!"
The flame landed accurately on the burn wound under Teach's ribs. The scorching heat stimulated his nerves instantly!
"AAAAHHH—!!!"
Teach jerked awake. Severe pain twisted his features, eyes bulging, teeth grinding loudly.
When he saw the figure outside the cell clearly, he trembled violently, eyes widening abruptly!
"R... Roy?!!"
He struggled to get up, only to find his whole body locked by chains, unable to move a muscle!
"Why am I here?! Where's Pops? Where's my fruit?!!"
Roy spoke coldly. "Whitebeard is already dead."
Teach froze completely.
His expression looked like he had been hit by an invisible giant hammer. In just a few seconds, his face went from terror to dazed, and from dazed to frantic!
"Dead? That monster, Pops... died?!!"
He muttered to himself, sounding like a drowning man gurgling.
The next second, the corners of his mouth slowly split open, revealing rows of white, even teeth. He grinned hideously. "ZEHAHAHA... You guys are truly insane..."
"To actually kill that monster... madmen... you're all madmen..."
"The world is going to go berserk!!!"
Laughing, he suddenly threw his head back, eyes vicious as a venomous snake. "But I'm not dead yet, am I?"
"Since you locked me up instead of finishing me off with a blade... that means I'm still useful, right?!!"
Ace's gaze sharpened instantly, faintly sensing the danger.
Teach smiled cunningly, the expression of a "chess player" returning to his face. "ZEHAHAHA—Want me to talk? Sure, as long as the price is—"
"BANG!!"
Before he could finish, Roy kicked the iron bars, shaking the entire dungeon with a "BOOM," dust falling!
The iron bars flew directly into Teach. The impact made him spit a mouthful of blood, the smile on his face freezing instantly.
The chains made a cold and heavy clanking sound in the darkness.
Blood flowed from his mouth and wrists, mixing with sweat, the smell of burnt flesh, seawater, and heavy fear, enveloping the entire dungeon.
Roy walked closer silently, his figure like an executioner walking slowly out of the depths of hell.
Every step trod on Teach's nerves, heavy as a hammer blow.
He stood in front of Teach, eyes devoid of any mercy, shadow covering that hideous face.
The air seemed to solidify, thick as dripping blood.
"Your father—"
Roy's voice was low and hard, like a blade scraping slowly over bone.
"Rocks D. Xebec."
Teach's pupils contracted violently. He froze on the rack, breath stopping briefly. For the first time, genuine terror appeared on his face.
Roy leaned in, almost pressing against his ear, enunciating word by word: "What secret did he leave you exactly?"
Teach's throat squeezed out a raspy wheeze, like a beast being strangled.
However, Roy's next sentence completely shattered all his luck.
"The method to possess multiple Devil Fruits simultaneously..."
"What is it?"
"BOOM—!!!"
Teach's brain seemed to be torn apart completely in this moment. An invisible thunderbolt struck from the back of his skull to his tailbone!
His face turned green instantly, pupils trembling violently. Even his fingertips twitched slightly from excessive tension!
"No... IMPOSSIBLE!!"
His voice was broken, hoarse, screaming, struggling like a mad dog.
Chains rattled wildly CLANG-CLANG. Blood sprayed from wrists deeply cut by iron cuffs, but he was oblivious.
"You... how... how do you know... THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU SHOULD TOUCH!!!"
"You... you..."
Teeth chattering clack-clack, he couldn't squeeze out a complete sentence.
Roy's gaze sank abruptly, a cold glint appearing in his eyes, chilling the dungeon temperature instantly.
He raised his hand violently, fingers like steel claws gripping Teach's jaw. With a CRACK, he nearly crushed the jawbone!
Teach roared, trying to break free, but could only emit broken gasps from his throat.
"This reaction... looks like I guessed right."
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