Chapter 282: One Day, I’ll Make You Kneel at My Feet!

Teach desperately wanted to grab the Dark-Dark Fruit and devour it on the spot, but he knew that this was precisely the moment when he needed to remain calm. Losing control now would be the worst mistake he could make.

Suppressing the greed burning inside him, he forced himself to look away.

Claudius observed the scene with amusement, his evaluation of Teach rising yet again.

"I never hold back when it comes to rewards," Claudius said with a smirk. "You've proven your worth through strength, and in my eyes, you're someone worth cultivating. So, do you want the Dark-Dark Fruit?"

Teach didn't hesitate for a second. "I want it."

"Then it's yours." A wicked grin curled on Claudius' lips as he signaled to Nia with his eyes.

Nia nodded and stepped forward, handing the small box to Teach.

Teach's heart pounded with excitement. He wanted to toss the fish in his hands away and snatch the box immediately. But even now, he didn't forget to flatter Claudius. Instead of discarding the fish, he shoved it into his mouth and devoured it whole bones, scales, and all swallowing it raw in just a few bites.

Nia blinked in disbelief.

"What the hell... This guy's sucking up so hard, even Spandine's kid might lose to him."

That's right—Spandam, son of Spandine, had been sent to serve under Claudius as a bootlicker. However, Claudius rarely let the idiot show himself, knowing full well that Spandam was nowhere near as competent as his father. If left unchecked, the fool might cause trouble or spill classified information.

For Spandine's sake, Claudius wouldn't dispose of Spandam outright, but he certainly wouldn't trust him with anything important. The only times he let the brat appear were on trivial, non-essential occasions.

Watching Teach swallow a live fish without hesitation, even Claudius was briefly stunned.

"Damn, this guy really is willing to do anything to curry favor with me."

Holding the small box close to his chest, Teach didn't say a word. Instead, he dropped to his knees again and knocked his head against the ground three times in gratitude.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. Teach will never forget this kindness!"

"Finally!" Teach screamed internally. "The Dark-Dark Fruit I've been dreaming of for decades is finally mine! I've spent over twenty years groveling, playing the fool, hiding in the shadows… I even swallowed a damn fish whole! But now, all the suffering has paid off. With this power, combined with my own unique abilities, I'll become the strongest in the world! Everything will bow beneath my feet!"

As these thoughts raced through his mind, Teach's gaze briefly flickered to Claudius' polished shoes.

A vicious determination burned in his heart.

"One day, I'll make you kneel before me, just as I am now. I'll have you licking my boots, Claudius!"

Of course, Claudius had no way of knowing Teach's inner ambitions. But even if he did, he wouldn't care.

To him, Teach was nothing more than a useful pawn, one he intended to unleash upon the New World. A tool to disrupt the balance, to bring down the Whitebeard Pirates, to serve as a stepping stone in his larger plans.

If necessary, he could even help Teach become an Emperor of the Sea.

Of course, that was only if Teach remained under his control.

And could Claudius control him?

Absolutely.

Even if Teach somehow obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit later and became a dual Devil Fruit user, what could he possibly do? By that time, Claudius would be far beyond anything Teach could reach, he might even be going toe-to-toe with the World Government itself.

And if, by some impossible chance, Claudius fell… well, the entire Marine force would still be around to clean up whatever mess was left behind.

Teach?

If he behaved, he could continue licking boots.

If not, killing him would be as easy as squashing an ant.

And if all else failed… well, worst case scenario, Claudius could always consider moving to the moon.

"You don't need to thank me," Claudius said lazily. "This is just a business deal. The transaction is complete. Now that you've proven your worth, I won't force anything upon you. You have a choice, do you want to return to the Whitebeard Pirates, or would you rather continue serving me?"

Teach knew better than to believe a single word of that so-called "choice."

If he so much as uttered the words "return to the Whitebeard Pirates," he doubted he'd even make it out of Mariejois alive.

He might see himself as the one using Claudius, but that didn't mean he underestimated him. This was a man who had killed Roger and Golden Lion, figures who once stood at the pinnacle of the pirate world.

Only an absolute fool would take him lightly.

Besides, Teach had no real loyalty to Whitebeard.

His ultimate goal was to obtain the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. But if he tried to take it by force now, he'd get crushed in an instant.

With the Dark-Dark Fruit finally in his hands, he couldn't afford to be reckless.

No—his best option was to keep playing the game.

Claudius had already hinted at his intentions toward the Whitebeard Pirates. That meant chaos was coming.

And where there was chaos, there was opportunity.

Teach had always believed in one thing: never set sail without a storm to ride.

And if Claudius was about to stir up a hurricane, then Teach was more than happy to ride its waves.

So, the choice was obvious.

Before Claudius even finished speaking, Teach had already responded.

"I have already sworn my loyalty to Your Highness," he declared. "Even though I have received the Dark-Dark Fruit, I humbly request to remain at your side to serve you with unwavering devotion."

Claudius raised an eyebrow.

"Huh. Aren't you just a crude, uneducated pirate? Where'd you learn how to be this eloquent all of a sudden?"

What Claudius didn't know was that Teach had been preparing for this moment for a long time.

Knowing he'd have to navigate the world of the Celestial Dragons, Teach had spent his free time reading every book he could find on manipulation and servitude.

Among them was a particular title: The Ultimate Guide to Bootlicking.

The author?

Spandine.

Of course, Teach hadn't expected that name to pop up, but he had to admit the book contained some valuable techniques.

And so, watching Teach's ever-improving sycophantic skills, Claudius couldn't help but chuckle in satisfaction.

"Very well," Claudius said, nodding approvingly. "I didn't misjudge you. Get up, Teach."

Teach stood swiftly, his face full of what appeared to be unwavering loyalty.

Claudius leaned back slightly, observing him with interest.

"I mentioned before that I intend to deal with the Whitebeard Pirates," he said. "Perhaps you could be of some help in this matter?"

Teach bowed his head immediately. "I would be honored to serve, Your Highness. Please give your command."

Claudius tapped a finger on the table thoughtfully.

Then, after a pause, he asked, "I have my own plans, but as someone who has been on Whitebeard's crew for years, perhaps you have some ideas of your own? Let's hear them."

Teach was cunning just like Claudius, just like Sengoku. He understood that the best way to win favor wasn't just to follow orders, but to contribute valuable strategies.

And so, instead of waiting to be instructed, he took the initiative.

"If we can capture one of Whitebeard's division commanders," Teach suggested, his eyes flashing darkly, "then we'll have plenty of opportunities to shake things up."

A grin spread across Claudius' lips.

"Interesting," he mused. "Tell me more."