Thunder God Island, Dungeon.
"Marshall D. Teach," better known as Blackbeard, strolled into the dungeon with practiced ease.
These days, his favorite pastime was visiting this particular cell to check on Edward Weevil, aka "Whitebeard Jr.," the man who had chased him all the way here.
Walking to the deepest part, he once again laid eyes on the thoroughly restrained Weevil.
Despite his grievous injuries and receiving no medical treatment, Weevil's formidable physique had allowed him to recover somewhat.
But...
It was far from enough to escape this prison.
Not only were his hands suspended high above him, but chains also pierced through his shoulder blades and collarbones, immobilizing him completely.
The usually vacant and foolish look in Weevil's eyes vanished the moment he saw Blackbeard, replaced by an intense, murderous glare that briefly dispelled his usual stupor.
Blackbeard had seen this look many times over the past few days...
Yet each time, it sent chills down his spine.
The sheer menace in those eyes carried an uncanny resemblance to Whitebeard himself!
If not for the chains piercing his bones, Weevil would likely have lunged at him, even if it meant tearing his own flesh apart.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Weevil, you're really putting in the effort... That look of yours terrifies me! Zehahaha!"
"I will... I will kill you..." Weevil growled, then shook his head.
"No... I should capture you and bring you back to Pops... so he can ask you himself... why you killed Thatch!"
"I've told you many times, Weevil, killing Thatch was never my intention. He was my best friend," Blackbeard said, looking at Weevil and even pretending to wipe away a few tears.
"It's just... his luck was too good, obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit I've always dreamed of... At that point, I had no choice but to kill him."
"For a Devil Fruit, you'd kill your best friend?" The killing intent in Weevil's eyes gradually faded, replaced by confusion and doubt.
"Then why didn't Pops kill his best friend? Why didn't Michael kill his best friend either?"
"Because they're all hypocritical scum!" Blackbeard shamelessly lied. "If I had their power, I would've already brought the entire sea under my rule long ago!"
"Though I can't out-argue you... I know you're definitely spouting nonsense!" Weevil suddenly raised his head.
"If Michael were here, he'd smash that lying mouth of yours to pieces!"
"But unfortunately, until we deliver you to Michael as part of our exchange... he won't be able to find you."
"Hmph..." Weevil's small eyes darted around before he suddenly shouted at Blackbeard.
"Bad breath! You have bad breath! I don't talk to people with bad breath!"
After speaking, he closed his eyes and even held his breath.
This sudden elementary-school-level argument tactic left Blackbeard momentarily stunned.
But seeing Weevil's smug grin despite his closed eyes, an inexplicable fury surged within Blackbeard's chest.
However, his last shred of rationality held him back.
He knew Weevil was trying to drag him down to his level of stupidity, then defeat him with sheer experience!
Absolutely couldn't fall for this!
"Just keep your eyes closed..."
"You're destined to become my stepping stone."
With that, Blackbeard walked out of the dungeon.
Soon, he returned to the castle where Kaido resided.
"Did you go see that dumbass Whitebeard Jr. again?" Kaido sat at the table with his eyes closed, meditating.
Before him lay a piece of Dyna stone no larger than a thumb.
"So you're just sitting here staring at Dyna stone?"
"Not staring—thinking. I'm considering how best to use these," Kaido raised his head, ambition burning in his eyes.
"To be honest, the Dyna stone Figarland Garling sent could sink all of Wano Country... but that feels like such a waste."
"Don't just feel it—it is a waste," Blackbeard sat opposite Kaido.
"We're here to occupy, to conquer, not to sink the entire nation of Wano... On the contrary, we must ensure most people survive. Without them, occupying Wano loses all meaning."
Kaido glared coldly at Blackbeard.
He was well aware of Blackbeard's ambitions.
Though Blackbeard currently seemed to be living under his roof...
Kaido would never truly consider him an ally.
That was impossible.
Even with his own daughter Yamato, he still had to slap an explosive collar around her neck...
Let alone someone like Blackbeard.
Yet now, their partnership seemed to be growing ever closer.
Though Blackbeard appeared to be a crude fool... in truth, no one in the entire Beast Pirates was smarter than him.
Sometimes, fate worked in strange ways.
And regardless of Blackbeard's ultimate goals, his current suggestion was exactly what Kaido wanted to hear.
He craved invasion and conquest...
But who would he conquer if everyone was dead?
Just then, the Den Den Mushi on Kaido's desk suddenly rang.
Kaido paused, then answered immediately.
"Bruru bruru bruru, bruru bruru bruru, click."
"Kurozumi Higurashi, have you finished gathering intel?"
"Hello? Moshi moshi? Can you hear me?"
The moment Kaido spoke, a man's voice—completely unlike Kurozumi Higurashi's—came through the Den Den Mushi.
The snail's face twisted into a mocking expression.
Kaido froze, instantly realizing—
Kurozumi Higurashi had been exposed!
He immediately moved to hang up.
But unexpectedly, the man on the other end anticipated his action...
"Planning to hang up? But if you do now... you'll lose some precious information, Kaido."
Kaido hesitated.
Almost against his will, he stopped.
Although he had numerous conflicts with Michael, he had never actually engaged in direct communication with Kaido.
Yet his intuition told him that the person who had seen through Kurozumi Higurashi's identity as a mole was undoubtedly Michael!
This meddling bastard loved nothing more than running amok across the entire sea!
But even he didn't notice—when Kaido realized it was Michael, the corners of his mouth involuntarily...
Twisted into a bloodthirsty, frenzied grin.
"What should I say, Michael?"
"Is this our first meeting?"
On the other end of the Den Den Mushi, Michael likewise revealed a cruel smile.
"If you've got nothing worthwhile to say..."
"You can call me Daddy."
"That way, you can be siblings with Yamato... Wait, no—brother and sister. You'd be the younger one."