Pirate of Darkness (si)

Hadner and Hardman didn't speak. They understood what Mostima meant, but where could they find such a monster? They had waited for three years, yet nothing had come. The top pirate group in the New World was reaching its peak, but their inclusion would bring no benefits. Their status wasn't high, and they looked down on younger pirates such as Kaido and Big Mom. Even so, there was a faint expectation lingering in their hearts.

"Boss, there seems to be some trouble at a bar. Do you want to check it out?" At that moment, a pirate trotted in and reported to Mostima.

"Abby, what happened?" Hadner crossed his arms and asked.

If Teach were here, he would recognize this young pirate, Abby, as the one who had charged him at the port.

"It's like this. A new pirate arrived on the island this morning... I felt a strong presence from him. Remembering the words on the ship, I followed him for a while. He entered a tavern, and now the Mad Knife Pirates are headed there to book the place. I feel like there will be a big conflict, so I rushed here immediately," Abby said quickly.

Abby was an important trainee on the ship, naturally gifted with keen intuition. Under Mostima's training, he had awakened his Observation Haki and showed great potential. He was stationed at the port by Mostima to detect any issues in advance and relay messages promptly.

"Really? A lone pirate sailing the sea in a small boat." Mostima stroked his chin. "You felt pressure from him—how does he compare to me?" Mostima looked at Abby and asked.

"This—" Abby was stunned, unable to answer.

"Be honest. I won't blame you," Mostima said gently.

Seeing this, Abby took a deep breath, held it for a moment as he recalled Teach's presence, and then exhaled slowly. After a long pause, he opened his eyes and glanced at Hardman, who stood beside Mostima. Compared to Mostima's mild demeanor, Hardman's violent nature scared him much more.

"What are you afraid of? Speak up," Hardman glared at Abby and barked.

"Alright." Abby nodded. "I feel... I feel like he's much stronger than the captain." He was being truthful. Abby had a natural sensitivity to threats due to his talent in Observation Haki. "If the captain is an eagle, then that man is a dragon. On the surface, he seems ordinary, but when I try to sense him with Observation Haki, I can't feel anything at all. That's the most terrifying part—it's like staring into an abyss. The more I think about it, the more his image lingers in my mind."

Abby's face turned slightly pale as he spoke.

"I recall there was a rare large storm from yesterday into this morning. How widespread was it?" Hadner, seeming to have thought of something, asked.

Hadner looked at Shuke, the bespectacled sailor standing nearby.

"Huh?" Shuke was caught off guard but quickly reacted. He took out a note from his pocket. "Since the storm lasted unusually long, I recorded its range. Let me calculate... It covered seven or eight islands, including our Baisha Island. Our entire sea region was within its reach." Shuke adjusted his glasses and spoke seriously.

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was stunned. It was hard to imagine anyone surviving such a massive storm alone. Considering Abby's earlier judgment that this man was even stronger than their captain, the thought of such a person being unknown was terrifying.

Curiosity rose in the hearts of Mostima and the others. The silver sword in Mostima's hand slid back into its scabbard as he turned toward the door. A smirk appeared on his lips. "Let's go meet this guy."

Following Mostima's order, the group walked toward the tavern.

Meanwhile, on the street, dozens of pirates walked down the middle of the road. The leading pirate, a towering three-meter man with a thick beard and a serrated machete, bellowed, "Haha! Let's go! I, 'Mad Knife' Schiller, have booked the bar for today!"

"Haha! Thanks, boss!" The pirates behind him cheered.

Residents and other pirates stood aside, clearing the path for the Mad Knife Pirates to avoid unnecessary conflict. The residents' eyes were filled with fear and disgust, while the other pirates showed some wariness—not only because of the Mad Knife Pirates' notorious cruelty but also because of Schiller's strength. With a bounty of 130 million berries, he was infamous in this sea.

Schiller was particularly fond of brutal killings. He took pleasure in watching his victims beg for mercy before hacking them apart with his serrated machete. His cruel nature left no room for betrayal; even his own crew members feared him. He thrived on ruling others through fear.

Inside the tavern, Teach smiled and continued eating. His table manners weren't elegant, but they weren't sloppy either. Another two bowls of fried rice and a plate of sauced meat arrived. He opened a second bottle of rum, inhaling its aroma with a satisfied expression. His eyes grew hazy, his cheeks slightly flushed, as if he were getting drunk.

Teach had a natural tolerance for alcohol, honed over years with the Whitebeard Pirates. Though he appeared intoxicated, it was merely his way of enjoying the drink. He had long believed that drinking wasn't truly drinking unless one got a little drunk.

"Thief-haha! Little Loya, do you want to sail with me?" Teach called toward the kitchen window, which was still open. "If you can make cherry pie, even better. You'd be a treasure as our crew's little cook. Thief-haha!"

Before he finished speaking, a steel fork shot out like a dart, flashing with a sharp glint before stabbing into the wooden wall behind him with a thud. The fork's tines were fully embedded, its handle trembling slightly.

"Go to hell, old drunkard! I'm not going anywhere with you!" Loya fumed, her hair practically standing on end.

Teach didn't mind at all. He glanced at the fork, then laughed and took another sip of rum. "Hey, am I really that old in the eyes of young girls these days?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Loya snapped. "And mind your temper, or no one will marry you!"

"I'm still young! Thief-haha!" Teach laughed heartily.

Doyle chuckled. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed such lively company. He poured himself a glass of wine, joining in the moment.

Suddenly, the tavern door was kicked open with a loud bang, splitting in half. Everyone turned toward the entrance, their faces shifting in alarm.

"It's Mad Knife Schiller! What's he doing here?"

Schiller strode in, dragging his machete along the wooden floor, leaving deep grooves behind. He scanned the tavern with a cruel grin.

"I've booked this place. Get the hell out," Schiller declared.

The tavern fell into silence. Outside, the crowd watching murmured in suspense. Mostima and his group arrived, observing from the entrance.

Inside, Teach remained seated, smiling as he reached for his rum. "Can't you wait? The fried rice here is really good. The rum's not bad either. Want a taste?"

Schiller's face darkened. With a sharp movement, he knocked the bottle from Teach's hand, shattering it on the floor. A hush fell over the tavern.

Teach sighed, still smiling. "Well, that was a waste." He picked up his spoon and continued eating his fried rice.

Schiller sneered. "Eat it while it's hot, huh?" He stomped on the spilled food, grinding it under his boot.

Loya gasped, horrified.

Yet, Teach remained calm, scooping the ruined fried rice back onto his plate. "It's a shame to waste food." He took a bite and grinned. "Still tastes great."