Early the next morning, Su Xiao Qi, who hadn't slept well all night and hadn't even had time to settle accounts with Ning Rongrong, received an urgent distress message from Nami: she and Princess Vivi had been captured by the Blackbeard Pirates, and the Going Merry had been seized by them as well.
After learning the entire situation, Su Xiao Qi could only feel both amused and exasperated — in the end, this matter was really Nami's own fault.
Nami had increased the ship's sailing speed in order to reach Alabasta earlier. Because of this, their Straw Hat crew arrived at Drum Island several days ahead of the original timeline.
As a result, they hadn't even gotten Chopper aboard yet when they encountered the Blackbeard Pirates.
When the two crews met, Luffy's personality naturally caused him to start fighting them, and even if Nami wanted to stop him, it was impossible.
However, the current Luffy was no match for Blackbeard. No matter how much he "cheated" or was overpowered, he could not defeat Blackbeard, unless he was like Ichigo Kurosaki—the ultimate cheat king.
The other members of the Straw Hat crew were likewise no match for Blackbeard's crew. The final outcome was that the three main fighters of the Straw Hats were soundly beaten.
Nami, Usopp, Kaya, and Vivi did not take part in the fight. Usopp was too frightened to move, the other two had no combat ability, and although Nami possessed electromagnetic powers, she knew she could not defeat the Blackbeard Pirates by herself, and would only enrage them.
Fortunately, because Luffy currently had no bounty, and Princess Vivi revealed her identity and offered herself as a hostage to exchange for the lives of Luffy and his crew, Blackbeard did not kill them.
Otherwise, even if it meant Nami had to reveal her special "summoning" method in front of Blackbeard and the others, she would have summoned Su Xiao Qi for help.
After that, Nami, in order to find an opportunity to rescue Vivi, took the initiative to go along with the Blackbeard Pirates, claiming she was familiar with the Going Merry and could help steer the ship for them.
Currently, the Blackbeard Pirates were sailing on the open sea. Nami believed this was the best opportunity to rescue them, so she sought out Su Xiao Qi.
Nami did not agree to let others come along. She was too familiar with Blackbeard's strength; even if others came, they would not be able to help.
Su Xiao Qi thought that Tokisaki Kurumi, with her Time Stop ability, could be helpful, but Nami still had not fully trusted her.
With everything prepared, Su Xiao Qi looked at Zhu Zhuqing and said, "Zhuqing, I'm heading out. I'll leave this place to you. Don't go easy on Yu Xiaogang—give him a hard slap in the face."
Zhu Zhuqing reached out and tidied Su Xiao Qi's clothes, saying, "Be careful, I'll be waiting for your return."
"Alright."
After Su Xiao Qi and Zhu Zhuqing hugged, he disappeared from the spot.
---
**Pirate World**
At this moment, Nami found an excuse to sneak into the cabin. When she saw Su Xiao Qi appear, she hugged him tightly, feeling excited.
During the time she had been with the Blackbeard Pirates, every moment had been nerve-wracking. She was even cautious about every single move she made.
Su Xiao Qi understood Nami's feelings and patted her back gently, asking, "Where's Princess Vivi?"
Nami said, "She's tied up on the deck. That Lafayette has been watching her the whole time. Also, the Blackbeard Pirates' next destination is Alabasta."
Su Xiao Qi felt the situation was getting complicated. The plot had become chaotic. He guessed Blackbeard, knowing Vivi's identity, planned to use her for some scheme.
At that moment, ugly laughter sounded from outside the cabin.
"Gahaha! Didn't expect to find a little mouse hiding on the ship."
The door was kicked open with a loud kick.
Su Xiao Qi shielded Nami behind him, eyes locked on the figure standing in the doorway.
"There are only Blackbeard and Burgess?"
At this time, the Blackbeard crew had only five members. The other three were Lafitte, who was watching Vivi; Van Augur, the sniper who was probably hiding and waiting; and Doc Q, the ship's doctor, who was not visible at the moment.
"Gahaha!" Blackbeard laughed loudly, looking at Su Xiao Qi.
"Kid, I'm really curious how you managed to get here."
Blackbeard had used his Observation Haki and ordered Burgess to search the ship inside and out. He was certain this person hadn't been on the ship before, but had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Su Xiao Qi smiled and said, "Invisible Fruit, Door Fruit, Teleportation Fruit, Thunder Fruit—guess which one I ate?"
Blackbeard's pupils contracted sharply at those names, and he asked, "Let me ask you another question — what's your purpose in showing up here?"
Su Xiao Qi smiled again: "Rescue the woman behind me, rescue Alabasta's princess, join your pirate crew, or maybe I'm just passing by—guess again."
Burgess sneered, "Captain, I think he's messing with us. I'll catch him and interrogate him slowly."
Blackbeard nodded in agreement. He wanted to see what kind of devil fruit powers Su Xiao Qi had. If Su Xiao Qi was indeed a devil fruit user, Blackbeard was confident he could capture him, since he had eaten the Yami Yami no Mi, the nemesis of all devil fruit abilities.
Burgess stretched his wrists, then suddenly charged out.
*Bang!*
Burgess was thrown flying backward at a speed even faster than before.
"Trash worth 20 million berries," Su Xiao Qi sneered.
Su Xiao Qi truly looked down on Burgess. This guy only had brute strength and durability; otherwise, he was worthless.
Su Xiao Qi spread his hands at Blackbeard: "How did this trash become your crew? Has your recruitment standard sunk this low?"
Blackbeard was slightly stunned, then burst into loud laughter.
"Interesting. I haven't seen such a fun newcomer in a long time."
At that moment, Burgess got up from the ground and roared, "I'm going to kill you!"
"Stop."
This time Blackbeard stopped Burgess, looking at Su Xiao Qi with a serious gaze.
"If you want to join my crew, you're very welcome. But if you're here to cause trouble—"
Blackbeard's expression suddenly turned dark, black smoke rising from his body.
"I will kill you with my own hands."
Su Xiao Qi said coldly, "I have no interest in your weak crew. If you want me to join, you have to show me your strength first."
"Also, this girl and Princess Vivi belong to me. Besides strength, I'm most interested in women."
"This girl, though a bit lacking in many aspects, still counts as a woman. Good enough."
Su Xiao Qi knew that Blackbeard wanted to recruit powerful people at this time. He decided to play along, to see if there was a chance to rescue Vivi.
Nami clenched her teeth and glared fiercely at Su Xiao Qi, absolutely certain he meant every word he said about her.
"Gahaha!"
"You want how many women? I can give you as many as you want, but the premise is that you must demonstrate sufficient strength and join my crew."
Blackbeard looked down on the "fake pirates" that the Straw Hats were.
Claiming to be pirates but doing justice? Ridiculous.
No bounty, yet daring to call themselves pirates and aim to be Pirate King — what a joke.