Chapter 102: Blackbeard Teach, Zoro Awakens Busoshoku!
One day after the Money Pirates left.
A group of people arrived at Jaya Island on a large raft.
"Oh? Where are the Money Pirates?? Didn't they say they were docking here for a few days? They're gone??"
This group was none other than the Blackbeard Pirates.
Some time ago, after Lister defeated Crocodile.
Not only did his fame skyrocket.
At the same time, he also caught the attention of Blackbeard Teach.
Because he wanted to become a Shichibukai.
Lister taking out Crocodile coincidentally left a vacancy in the Shichibukai.
While Blackbeard was grateful to Lister, he also saw Lister as a stepping stone.
After all, Lister had just defeated a Shichibukai, slapping the World Government in the face.
Moreover, when he was in the East Blue.
He slaughtered a Marine base.
Looking across the entire ocean, there was no better stepping stone than Lister.
If he could capture Lister and hand him over to the Marines.
Sengoku certainly wouldn't be stingy with a Shichibukai position.
Therefore.
During this period, he had been inquiring about Lister's whereabouts.
After learning that Lister was on Jaya Island.
He immediately brought the few newly recruited partners, boarded a casually tied raft, and rushed to Jaya Island.
Blackbeard rushed to Jaya Island full of expectations.
But he didn't see the Money Pirates' fleet.
His heart couldn't help but sink.
"Let's go, we'll go onto the island and ask about the Money Pirates' situation. If they just left, we'll chase after them once we find out the direction they left!" Blackbeard said in a deep voice.
The Blackbeard Pirates responded.
And stepped onto Jaya Island.
As they walked.
They found the pedestrians on the road rushing about, which was somewhat confusing.
"What's wrong with the people on this island??" Van Augur muttered blankly to himself.
"Let's go, we'll find a bar and sit down!!" Blackbeard said, leading everyone towards a bar.
In this world, no place was better informed than a bar.
Going there to inquire about the situation was definitely right.
However.
When they arrived in front of a bar.
They suddenly discovered that the bar wasn't even open.
"What the hell is going on?? Broad daylight, and the bar isn't open??" Burgess shouted unhappily.
"Burgess, go catch someone and ask!" Blackbeard said.
"Alright, Captain, I'll go catch someone right away!" Burgess laughed loudly and walked towards where the crowd was surging.
Bang!!
Blackbeard kicked the bar door open directly.
And walked in.
Van Augur and the others followed.
Then.
The group got busy inside the bar.
Drank whatever they wanted.
Ate whatever they wanted.
For what wasn't available, Laffitte personally cooked.
Completely treating the entire bar as their home.
Doing whatever they pleased.
Not long after.
Burgess returned dragging a pirate with a bounty of several million.
That pirate had bruises and swelling on his face.
Obviously, before being caught by Burgess, he was beaten up by Burgess.
"My Captain has questions for you. Answer truthfully, otherwise, you know what will happen!!" Burgess threatened.
"Yes yes yes! This lowly one will definitely say everything he knows and hold nothing back!" That pirate responded hurriedly.
He was really scared by Burgess's beating.
Being slapped by such a huge palm almost cost him half his life.
Too terrifying!
"Let me ask you, were the Money Pirates here a few days ago??" Blackbeard asked.
"Yes yes yes, a few days ago, the Money Pirates indeed docked at Jaya Island, staying for several days!!" That pirate said hurriedly.
"When did they leave??" Blackbeard asked again.
"Yesterday!!" That pirate said.
"Zehahaha... Looks like Godspeed Lister's time hasn't come yet." Blackbeard didn't get angry, instead laughing loudly.
Although ambitious, he was also a man who believed in fate.
Since Lister missed him and escaped this calamity, he also believed Lister's time hadn't come.
So he temporarily gave up the idea of chasing Lister.
He then asked:
"Then what's going on here? Broad daylight, and the bars aren't open for business??"
"Everyone is busy going up to Sky Island to search for gold, you know?? How much money can running a bar make in a day. If one finds a golden treasure, that's getting rich overnight!" That pirate explained.
"I've been here a few times. Back then, everyone didn't seem to believe Sky Island existed. Why is everyone preparing to go up to Sky Island to find treasure now??" Blackbeard asked, puzzled.
"Wasn't it Godspeed Lister who led the way? He went up to Sky Island, moreover, he rang the big bell, making everyone convinced of Sky Island's existence. Furthermore, the day before yesterday, he came down with a large ship made of gold! That glittering gold dazzled people's eyes. Therefore, everyone also believes now that the City of Gold, Shandora, mentioned by Noland the Liar four hundred years ago, truly exists. It was just washed up to Sky Island by the Knock Up Stream. So, everyone is now going to Sky Island to find gold!!" That pirate said.
"Zehahaha... Didn't expect that guy Lister to do such an interesting thing!! Alright. You can scram!" Blackbeard laughed loudly and then said.
Such a small pirate wasn't even worth his attention.
Naturally, he disdained to kill him.
"Yes yes yes!! I'm leaving!!" That pirate felt as if granted amnesty, crawling and rolling out of the bar while responding.
"Hearing about the City of Gold, gold everywhere, Captain, do you want to go take a look??" Laffitte asked.
"Haha, that place was visited by Godspeed Lister. Do you think there's much left for me? If I go up now, wouldn't I become a follower of the Money Pirates? Besides. Before coming to Jaya Island, I left a trail for Ace. Since I can't catch Lister, then I'll use Ace to exchange for the Shichibukai position! A mere bit of gold isn't worth me spending so much effort. Dealing with Ace is my top priority. Once our plan succeeds. What won't we have then!!" Blackbeard laughed.
"Captain makes sense." Hearing this, everyone nodded one after another.
At the same time, they were even more satisfied with Blackbeard as a captain.
Only a figure like Blackbeard, who focused on big things and didn't care about petty profits, was worth following.
"Good, let's continue eating, continue drinking! Recharge our energy and wait quietly for Ace's arrival!" Blackbeard laughed.
"Alright, Captain, cheers!!" Burgess raised a glass of wine and smiled at Blackbeard.
"Zehahaha... Cheers!!"
Boundless ocean.
On the deck of the Money ship.
Zoro challenged Lister again.
Lister tirelessly accepted Zoro's challenge.
Although Lister held back during the spar.
He didn't make it particularly obvious.
He only suppressed his power to a range similar to Zoro's.
Then, he went all out.
Every move was lethal.
Sparring with Lister, Zoro felt immense pressure.
Because Lister would really strike ruthlessly.
One moment of inattention, and the sword in Lister's hand would leave a wound on his body.
Therefore, Zoro didn't dare to be careless in the slightest, bringing out his full combat power to fight desperately with Lister.
In this high-pressure battle.
After Zoro was pushed to his limit, he finally awakened Busoshoku Haki.