In a hidden underground room in Baltigo.
The air was thick with the musty smell of poor ventilation.
Van Augur and Doc Q stood quietly before Teach, their expressions cold and wary.
Behind them, on the floor, lay two people bound hand and foot—the Whitebeard Pirates' 3rd division commander, "Diamond" Jozu, and 4th division commander, Thatch.
Despite their struggles, the sea-stone handcuffs on their wrists rendered them virtually immobile, making any resistance futile.
Teach looked down at them, a strange smile creeping across his face.
His gaze was full of amusement, as if he were enjoying a good show.
He slowly stepped forward, his black cloak dragging on the ground with a dull thud, like the footsteps of death.
"Zehahaha..."
His laughter echoed through the underground room, eerie and ominous.
"Whitebeard Pirates' 3rd division commander, 'Diamond' Jozu, and 4th division commander, Thatch, welcome to my turf as guests!"
Jozu's eyes glared, his voice filled with defiance and anger, "Who are you? Why did you attack us?!"
Jozu's voice reverberated through the basement like thunder, yet it was filled with barely concealed confusion and unease.
Both of them were veterans of the Whitebeard Pirates, and they couldn't understand why anyone would dare to attack them, let alone capture them so easily.
Teach didn't answer immediately, only continuing his chilling laughter.
A flicker of madness flashed in his eyes, as if he completely disregarded Jozu's question, instead finding it amusing.
"You guys are lucky," Teach finally said, a hint of mockery in his voice, "I've taken a liking to both of your bounties and status, so I 'invited' you two here to help me out."
His malicious tone sent a chill down one's spine, as if he were discussing a simple transaction, not a gamble involving life and death.
The dim light in the basement cast eerie shadows on Teach's face, making him look sinister, his eyes fixed on Jozu and Thatch like those of a venomous snake, revealing his greed and ambition.
Van Augur and Doc Q stood by, their gazes alert and cold.
They were well aware of Teach's plan and understood how important these two were for the upcoming operation.
This organization known as the 'Savior Association' was actually a carefully selected tool by Teach, where he held absolute authority, and now, he was ready for the next step.
"I'm going to use you two to make a deal with the World Government," Teach's voice turned cold and resolute, his eyes filled with calculation and ambition.
He had his sights set on the title of 'Shichibukai,' knowing the convenience and power it could bring.
Moreover, and more importantly, Teach hoped to completely escalate the conflict between the World Government and the Whitebeard Pirates through this action.
Thatch's eyes widened in disbelief as he heard Teach's plan.
He suppressed his inner anger, clenching his teeth, "What exactly do you want?!"
Teach looked at Thatch, his smile even more profound and sinister, "You'll find out soon enough, Zehahahaha!"
He turned away, as if he had already lost interest in Jozu and Thatch, his mind already set on the conspiracy that was about to unfold.
He took a few steps, the shadows behind him seeming to devour everything, and with his laughter fading into the distance, the air in the basement grew heavier and more oppressive.
Jozu and Thatch lay on the ground, exhausted both physically and mentally, but the unease and fear in their hearts continued to grow.
They realized that what this man was after was far more dangerous than they had imagined, and the coming storm would completely change the landscape of this world.
Teach stood in the dim light, a trace of obscure and complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
His signature smile still hung on his lips, but a coldness and determination emanated from the depths of his eyes.
He knew that with his current strength, his chances of directly confronting an invincible force like Whitebeard were slim.
However, he never believed that direct confrontation was the only path.
His fingers gently traced a map on the table, marked with various islands and shipping routes, as well as the targets he planned to strike.
His finger stopped at a certain point, the light in his eyes growing colder.
"Baseness is the passport of the base, nobility is the epitaph of the noble," he murmured, as if talking to himself, or to the air around him.
Behind him, Van Augur and Doc Q stood silently, not daring to interrupt.
They understood Teach's thoughts perfectly, but didn't dare to easily interject.
Teach's existence was like a beast in the darkness, ready to devour everything around it.
Teach removed his finger from the map, his eyes refocused, his smile becoming more sinister, "And I, only seek victory."
His voice was low and firm, like a heavy hammer striking the air, making the atmosphere in the room even more oppressive.
He didn't care whether the means were honorable or not, nor did he care if his reputation would suffer as a result; the only thing he was fixated on was victory.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, countless insidious plans and strategies flashing through his mind.
He had already seen through the rules of this game, knowing how to exploit people's hearts and how to seek his own interests in this chaotic sea.
His heartbeat was steady and strong, each beat carrying endless ambition.
In that silent moment, Teach's hand rose again, as if to grasp something, an invisible net seeming to appear in the void, and he was the weaver of this net.
Every thread, every knot, was woven by his own hands, specifically for those powerful but careless opponents.
......
A faint breeze blew through the air, as if responding to his resolve.
Teach chuckled softly, then turned around, his cloak billowing behind him like dark wings.
His steps were firm and powerful, heading towards the door.
Van Augur and Doc Q immediately followed, silently trailing behind him.
They knew that this time, Teach would go all out, no matter how despicable the methods, he would not hesitate in the slightest.
As the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, the room returned to silence.
The shipping routes on the map seemed to flow under the dim light, foreshadowing the coming turmoil.
And Teach's figure was like a heavy black curtain, gradually shrouding the sky above this sea, preparing to devour all light and hope.
At this moment, there was no fluctuation in Teach's heart, only one thought echoed in his mind—victory, no matter the cost, must belong to him.
Since he couldn't shake the Whitebeard Pirates with his power alone.
Then he would drag everyone down with him!
...
...
