"Is that so?" Teach nodded after hearing Redyat and Nelsen's report about O'hara's destruction. He had already seen the news in the paper, so this only confirmed the details.
"That's not bad," Teach said with a grin. "It has nothing to do with us, but the spark has already been planted. Sooner or later, it'll ignite. When it does, it'll give the World Government and the Marines a massive headache. That only benefits us."
He picked up his wine glass and clinked it against Redyat's.
"Clink."
The clear sound rang out. Both men took a moment to savor the aroma before taking a sip of Teach's prized monkey wine.
Causing trouble for the World Government and the Marines was naturally a good thing for Teach and his crew. It was simply a matter of perspective. No matter what, Marshall D. Teach, captain of the Nightfall Pirates, was destined to become a thorn in their side once he rose in the New World.
The same applied to Redyat.
Whether it was his former identity as the prince of the Kingdom of Tirisfal or his current status as Teach's right-hand man, Redyat was already a dangerous figure. Add in his bloodline as the son of 'Red the Aloof' Patrick Redfield, and once he chose to openly inherit that surname, his identity would inevitably be exposed.
In some ways, Redyat's importance was no less than Teach's.
"The Dark Council will begin in a few days," Teach said. "Laffitte has already handled his part. He managed to persuade about two-thirds of the underground forces in the West Blue to attend."
"That many?" Redyat raised a brow.
"Much better than we expected," Teach continued. "We assumed only the major players would come. Most others were watching, or even mocking us, since they hadn't seen any concrete benefits yet."
From the start, Teach and his crew had been prepared for a difficult opening. Building the Dark Council required enormous capital, most of it provided by these underground forces, with Teach quietly covering part of the cost himself.
Money had been flowing out like water. Preparations had begun more than a month ago, and the financial pressure was intense.
Now, with so many forces agreeing to attend, Teach had to admit he underestimated Laffitte's ability as a diplomat.
Of course, attending the Dark Council did not mean they would join it. Still, willingness to show up meant the Council was already halfway to success.
Over the past month, the detailed charter of the Dark Council had been finalized. Laffitte, acting as Teach's representative, had gone through endless negotiations, bargaining, and revisions with the underground forces.
As long as people attended, some were bound to join. That alone would ease much of the financial strain.
The charter itself was attractive enough to draw in those with foresight. The earlier they joined, the greater the benefits they would receive.
Naturally, the Dark Council also had its own threshold. Not just anyone could enter.
"As expected of him," Redyat said sincerely. During the time he had spent with Laffitte, he had come to understand him well. Strength, talent, temperament. Laffitte excelled in all of them.
As an Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit user, Laffitte's future was bright. Among the cadres, his overall ability ranked firmly in the top three.
"Now it's up to you," Teach said, his tone turning colder. "Make sure the Dark Council is established smoothly. We've already dealt with a few troublemakers, but someone might still try something during the meeting. If that happens, you know what to do."
A glint of ruthlessness flashed through his eyes.
The Dark Council was a massive undertaking. In the future, it would not be limited to the West Blue. It could expand to all Four Seas, or even the Grand Line.
For Teach, its value went far beyond money and resources. It meant intelligence, influence, and leverage. With a single word, the entire West Blue could be thrown into chaos.
That alone was enough to make the World Government and the Marines wary.
"I understand," Redyat replied, lowering his head slightly with a smile. "Anyone who causes trouble will be executed on the spot. Honestly, we probably haven't killed enough yet. Laffitte would enjoy that."
Then Redyat's expression grew more serious.
"Still, after such a big incident, the Marines should come knocking sooner or later."
He was referring to the battle a few days ago. Teach had killed Marine Vice Admiral Brom, and Redyat had made his first shocking appearance before the world.
Yet after that, Marine Headquarters made no obvious moves. Even the Buster Call fleet avoided provoking the Nightfall Pirates and returned directly to the Grand Line.
This disappointed many who had expected the Marines to seize the chance to surround and annihilate Teach's crew.
Instead, the Nightfall Pirates' bounties only rose slightly.
Teach, known as the Dark Emperor, saw his bounty increase by over 200 million, reaching 945,200,000 Berries.
Redyat's bounty surged as well, breaking past 500 million. Even so, his name still did not appear on his wanted poster.
It was obvious that Redyat's identity and background were now on the World Government's investigation list.
"It'll happen eventually," Teach said, shaking his head with a smile. "But not until we reach the Grand Line. As long as we don't stir things up ourselves, the Marines won't actively hunt us for now."
"Suppressing the Four Seas is their top priority," he continued. "And Marine Headquarters itself is undergoing a generational shift."
Teach's eyes gleamed with interest.
"With the Great Pirate Era and their defeat in the New World War, the seas are more chaotic than ever. Pirates are rampant. The Marines need a new image to reassure the public and the allied nations."
This was an internal trend within Marine Headquarters, backed by decisions from the upper ranks of the World Government. Teach had learned about it from Stephanie, and the news had genuinely surprised him.
The rise of the three Admirals was going to be accelerated.
The reasons were complex. The Marines appeared to be losing ground to pirates, and the allied nations were growing impatient.
Fleet Admiral Kong was gradually delegating power. Sengoku's prestige was rising. At the same time, three new Logia Devil Fruit users were emerging, each with strong backing and tangled interests behind them.
Sakazuki represented the hawkish faction within the Marines, advocating iron-blooded suppression of pirates.
Kuzan stood for the dovish faction. Staff Officer Tsuru was one of its core figures. Sengoku, though outwardly hawkish, leaned toward the dovish side at heart. Garp rarely voiced his stance, but he was closer to that camp as well.
Borsalino, due to his personality and overwhelming strength, naturally became the neutral figure.
Still, an Admiral was more than just a title. It represented the pinnacle of Marine power. Reaching Admiral-level strength was not enough. One had to be outstanding even among monsters of that tier.
Only then could they truly command awe across the seas.
At present, Sakazuki and the others still needed time. At least seven or eight years of refinement, possibly more. Becoming an Admiral was never simple.
There were also hidden powerhouses within the Marines, veterans whose strength already rivaled Admirals. If standards were lowered to cope with the chaos of this era, those people would also have a chance.
An Admiral was not just authority, but enormous influence within the Marines, the World Government, and the allied nations. The interests involved were staggering, and the symbolic value was immense.
There could only be three Admirals.
No one would give up that chance lightly.
On top of that, Sakazuki and the others still lacked military achievements. Standards for strength might be adjusted, but merit could not be faked. Without enough accomplishments, no one could sit in that seat.
Their fame on the seas was also not quite there yet.
"So soon?" Redyat's pupils narrowed. "Then the most likely candidates are those three Logia users. Based on age alone, they'd break Black Arm Zephyr's record for becoming an Admiral."
"Who knows?" Teach chuckled and took another sip of wine. "It's a policy for extraordinary times. It'll happen within the next few years regardless."
As far as Teach knew, even the Seven Warlords system had been pushed forward. It was originally just a proposal, but now it was already being drafted. The official announcement would not be far off.
As for the candidates, Teach was curious whether they would still match the original lineup.
The seas had already changed too much.
Donquixote Doflamingo was a certainty. The power and legitimacy of the Seven Warlords would benefit him enormously.
Crocodile was uncertain. He was nowhere to be found right now, though after the Great Pirate Era began, he would charge into the New World, challenge Whitebeard, and suffer a crushing defeat, losing a hand and replacing it with a golden hook.
Gecko Moria was unlikely. He was already in the New World and had no interest in the title. If anything, it would only make other pirates hostile toward him.
The rest could go either way.
"In that case," Redyat said thoughtfully, "staying in the West Blue a bit longer isn't bad. It'll help stabilize the Dark Council and prevent problems during its early stages."
"Agreed," Teach nodded. "There's no rush to head to the Grand Line. Our cadres still need at least two years to mature. Once we leave the Four Seas, the Marines will definitely target us, maybe even attempt a full encirclement."
The Nightfall Pirates had existed for too short a time. Everyone needed room to grow.
Teach himself still had work to do. He needed to push his physical strength to true Admiral level and further develop his Devil Fruit.
What they needed most was time.
With the Dark Council underway, the Nightfall Pirates would remain in the West Blue for now. It was also safer that way.
"Alright," Teach said, shifting topics. "Where do we go next? Somewhere we can settle for a while. Nelsen, bring me the West Blue sea chart."
In an instant, a fully unfolded chart appeared on the deck.
Teach marked their current location with a pointer. The route the Nightfall Pirates had taken so far was already traced across the map.
The others gathered around, drawn by curiosity. This would determine their next destination.
Teach scanned the chart, eyeing the kingdoms and islands marked across the West Blue.
However, he was not familiar with the region's cultures and customs. Making a decision based on the map alone was difficult.
"If you're unsure," Redyat said from beside him, "take a look at these."
From Redyat's shadow, a mass of darkness stretched outward. Several books slowly emerged and floated into view.
The titles read: Marco Polo's Travels.
"These are travel records by Marco Polo," Redyat explained with a smile. "He journeyed across all Four Seas and recorded what he saw. These volumes focus on the West Blue. I noticed them by chance in O'hara's library."
"Perfect," Teach said, nodding. "Marco Polo lived over fifty years ago. Things shouldn't be too different. This is exactly what we need."
Marco Polo was a legendary traveler, remembered throughout history. His writings described famous nations, strange islands, and even extremely dangerous places.
With these books, their path would become much clearer.
"You handle the reading and plan the route," Teach said. "I don't have time for books this thick right now."
Several crew members eagerly opened them.
"But remember," Teach added, "we still need a musician. Or even a full music team. Focus on islands or kingdoms with strong musical cultures."
"If it's music," Redyat said, stroking his chin, "then the strongest atmosphere in the West Blue would be the City of Music, Venus. It's known as the Holy Land of Music."
As a true prince of the West Blue, knowledgeable and far-sighted, Redyat spoke with confidence.