CHAPTER 20

c20: Spreading News

"Zehahahahaha! I just dropped by for a drink, but I didn't expect to overhear something so deliciously interesting.

You seem to know quite a lot about Rocks D. Xebec... and the Roger Pirates, Navy brat!"

"Let me introduce myself properly Marshall D. Teach, but people call me Blackbeard! The future King of the Pirates!"

"Zehahahahahaha!!!"

Teach grinning wildly, belly protruding under his long black coat, with that signature scraggly beard swaggered right between Carl and Rayleigh, completely unbothered by the tension in the air.

"Boss! A bottle of your strongest!"

Xia Qi narrowed her eyes but complied, bringing out a bottle of rum. She wasn't thrilled about serving him, but she knew better than to provoke someone as dangerous as Teach.

By now, Blackbeard's infamy had exploded across the seas he had murdered Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, to steal the Yami Yami no Mi. After defecting, he turned Ace over to the Marines to secure a seat among the Shichibukai.

Whitebeard himself had sworn to hunt him down and personally drag him into the depths of hell.

Now, with Teach showing up in the Sabaody Archipelago of all places, even Rayleigh arched a brow in interest.

"Teach… What are you doing here of all places? The Sabaody Archipelago isn't short on bounty hunters and government eyes. Aren't you afraid of Whitebeard tracking you down?"

"Zehahahaha! That old relic? What's so scary about him? Soon I'll be a Warlord of the Sea an Oka Shichibukai! Once the World Government approves me, even Whitebeard won't touch me!"

Teach's arrogant laugh echoed through the bar, and Rayleigh's expression hardened ever so slightly.

"You're a bold man, Teach. I've seen your bounty posters, read the reports. You reek of ambition a careerist with no bottom line."

"Zehahaha! Appreciate the compliment, old-timer! So you're that Navy star everyone's whispering about Colonel Carl, right?"

Teach's smile faded just enough to reveal the edge beneath it. His eyes sharpened like knives, filled with raw hunger and unmistakable killing intent.

It was like a predator staring down fresh prey but he didn't make a move.

Teach wasn't foolish. He knew full well this was Rayleigh's territory, and even more, that this was a neutral bar where Xia Qi tolerated no fighting.

Besides, with his Shichibukai status still pending, the last thing he needed was a battle with a Navy prodigy and the former right hand of the Pirate King.

"Now, now no need to make things tense! Why not continue your little chat from earlier? I'll just sit back and soak in the info won't say a word!"

Teach gestured casually as if trying to ease the mood, but the atmosphere was already thick.

Rayleigh stood up slowly, eyes veiled, but voice firm.

"No matter what Ace's true parentage is, it doesn't concern me. As for the Rocks Pirates... that's a past I'd rather not revisit."

With that, Rayleigh turned to leave, clearly wanting to disengage before emotions overcame his logic.

He feared that if he stayed, he might end up taking action to help Ace and that wasn't a burden he was ready to carry again.

Teach grinned widely as Rayleigh exited, revealing his uneven, broken teeth still stained by too many battles.

"Zehahahahaha... now that the old man's gone, how about we sit down and have ourselves a real chat?"

"Heh! I've got nothing to say to the likes of you, pirate. Even if you're about to become one of the Shichibukai, it's meaningless.

Sooner or later, the Warlord system will be dismantled and when that day comes, you'll be a wanted man again!"

Carl didn't want to waste too much energy on Teach.

This man was cunning, unpredictable and Carl's goal had already been achieved.

The explosive truth that Portgas D. Ace was the son of Gol D. Roger had now been leaked to an outsider.

And knowing Blackbeard's opportunistic personality, it wouldn't take long before that information spread like wildfire through the seas, with Teach likely taking credit for the discovery himself.

That was who Marshall D. Teach was manipulative, deceptive, and driven by selfish ambition.

"Zehahahaha! What an amusing kid… Seems like you deliberately spilled the news, hoping I'd be the one to broadcast it!

But that works out perfectly! The plan you couldn't execute yourself I can carry forward instead. Seems like fate's on my side!"

"Zehahahahaha!"

Teach turned and walked out of the bar with a resounding laugh that echoed down the street, drawing the gaze of every pirate, thug, and bystander nearby.

"Captain… should we do something?"

Van Augur the quiet sniper with the monocle and calm demeanor lifted his gaze toward Carl, eyes narrowing as his fingers itched along his rifle's barrel.

But Teach merely smirked and lowered the weapon with a casual wave.

"Not yet. Soon enough, we'll officially be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. No reason to pick a fight with the Marines now.

Besides, I've got something far more important in my hands news that'll shake the whole world and put the Navy in chaos!

Let's move out! Our next destination Marineford!"

Teach gestured to his crew and began striding toward the port, his swagger unchanged and shameless.

Carl, watching the scene unfold, deliberately walked slowly behind them.

He had hoped to provoke Teach into making a move to spark a reaction but the Yonko-to-be had chosen caution.

That only meant he had a more elaborate plan already in motion.

"Looks like it's time for a new confrontation…"

Carl smirked faintly, then returned to the Marine outpost, borrowed a den den mushi from Captain Pizza, and called Marine Headquarters.

"Warring States-san this is urgent. I have intelligence to report. It concerns Ace's true identity.

Earlier today, I encountered BlackbeardMarshall D. Teach and learned from him that Ace is none other than the son of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"

Carl didn't hesitate. He spoke clearly, revealing the secret without reservation.

On the other end of the line, Fleet Admiral Sengoku of the Navy furrowed his brow deeply, then responded in a low, tense tone.

"I know. Say nothing of this to anyone else for now."

He ended the call abruptly.

Then, within the grand chamber at Marineford, Sengoku turned toward Vice Admiral Garp who was lounging nearby, eating doughnuts like nothing had happened.

"Garp… Ace's lineage it's been exposed."

"Eh? What was that?"

Garp paused mid-bite, confusion flickering across his face.

"Ace… is Roger's son, isn't he?"

"Yeah… wait, what are you saying? Ace is my grandson! How could he be"

"Garp! Don't insult my intelligence. You think you could hide this forever?

Maybe you've fooled the world for a time, but not me. Not Tsuru either. And now Karl knows. According to his report, it was Blackbeard who revealed the truth."

"Blackbeard… the one who betrayed Whitebeard…?"

Garp's expression dropped, eyes narrowing with sudden gravity.

After a pause, he slowly put down his half-eaten doughnut and began walking toward the exit, posture shifting from slouching elder to iron-willed soldier.

"Garp don't you dare leave!"

"I know you want to protect him but you can't lay a hand on Teach.

He handed over a Celestial Dragon's life, and paid a billion berries in Heavenly Tribute he's now officially been granted Warlord status by the Gorosei.

He's en route to report to Marineford under formal invitation!"

"If you take him out now sure, you keep the secret buried but what message does that send to the Five Elders?"

Hearing Sengoku's sharp words, Garp clenched his fists but said nothing.

The old hero's jaw tightened, his fury boiling silently as he turned away.

Sengoku watched his longtime comrade retreat into troubled silence and he felt equally frustrated.

A few days earlier, Karl had apprehended both Ace and Luffy at Sabaody.

And now, Blackbeard like a hyena had surfaced just in time to spread the truth of Ace's bloodline.

It was a strategic disaster, and Sengoku's nerves were fraying.

"Garp… Teach is expected to arrive at Marineford within two days.

You'd better keep your distance during that time"

Bru Bru Bru!

Bru Bru Bru!

Suddenly, the transponder snail on Sengoku's desk rang sharply.

He picked it up and answered, but before he could say a word he was blasted with a torrent of rage.

"Sengoku, you dare to hide this from us?! You arrested Roger's son and failed to report it to the Gorosei? Are we meaningless to you now?!"

"If not for Blackbeard, we'd still be in the dark! What kind of Fleet Admiral are you, hiding the child of the Pirate King from the World Government?!"

The call ended in fury Sengoku's expression turned to stone.

The storm had begun. And the Marines were already on the back foot.

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