Pirate of Darkness (si)

Looking at the mess on the ground, Teach couldn't help but touch his head. Turning to Doyle, he said with an embarrassed smile, "Haha, Doyle, I'm sorry, but it seems your business won't work out."

"It's okay, Teach. I should be thanking you for helping me solve this trouble." Doyle smiled and shook his head while wiping a wine glass with a rag. "Astoria."

"Then I'll head out. I'll come back for a drink another time." Teach walked outside. By then, most of the onlookers had left. The matter had been settled, and lingering around might only provoke the strong man who had just killed Schiller in an instant. However, today's events had left a deep impression on them, ensuring plenty of discussion over dinner.

Watching Teach's departing figure, Luoya seemed to want to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. Before she could speak, Teach had already disappeared beyond the door. Sighing, Luoya lowered her head in disappointment.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in her ears. Surprised, she looked up to see a familiar face. Teach had stuck his head back through the doorway, grinning. "Little Luoya, you're my designated little cook. You can't run away. Work hard! I'll come find you next time." He waved before disappearing again.

This time, he didn't look back. Luoya suddenly felt a sense of relief. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she couldn't help but smile—though she wasn't sure why.

"What's the matter? Have you decided to go out to sea with him?" Uncle Doyle chuckled as he bent down to wipe up the spilled wine, carefully picking up large glass shards and tossing them into the trash.

Luoya's face flushed. "I didn't agree to anything! Stop jumping to conclusions!"

"Haha, you should work hard. A man like him is bound to become famous. If your strength is too weak, you'll only be a burden to him." Doyle spoke seriously, but he was pleased to see his niece's reaction. It had been a long time since he had seen her like this. At the same time, he felt admiration for Teach.

Luoya's expression turned serious. Though she didn't answer, she had already made up her mind. Teach's warmth had melted the coldness in her heart, and his overwhelming strength had given her a sense of security.

As she thought about it, Luoya clenched her fists and looked forward—only to suddenly freeze. Just in front of her, behind the window, lay a dark green fruit. It resembled a green cantaloupe but had a rough, uneven surface.

"Is this...?" Luoya recognized it immediately. As a resident of the New World, she understood the significance of such a thing. But how could something so precious just be sitting there?

"You mean this Devil Fruit?" Doyle smiled as he turned toward the stunned Luoya. "Teach left it here for you. Leaving behind something this valuable—it seems he has high expectations for you." He twisted the soaked rag over the trash can before continuing to clean the floor.

"When did he leave it?"

"Just before he walked out."

"This is too precious. I can't take it. We should return it." Luoya shook her head, rejecting the idea.

Doyle chuckled. "Are you sure? Titch said that if you won't eat it, we should just feed it to a dog."

"Feed it to a dog?!" Luoya was stunned, her mind conjuring absurd images. She imagined a giant golden retriever floating in midair, holding a sword in its paws, executing devastating attacks like "Dog Style: Earth Slash" and "Dog Style: Imperial Slash." In another scene, a white dog with a crescent-shaped mustache opened its mouth, unleashing a silver shockwave upon the earth, the sea, and the air—each impact causing an earthquake. Below, countless people knelt, calling out, "Daddy! Daddy!" The dog, with an air of authority, declared, "I am the strongest in the world."

Shuddering at the thought, Luoya felt a chill run down her spine.

Doyle watched her with curiosity, wondering what terrifying scenarios she had imagined. If others knew, they'd probably want to give her a good beating.

Regaining her senses, Luoya made up her mind. She reached out, picked up the Devil Fruit, took a deep breath, and then bit into it. Her face twisted in disgust, but she forced herself to keep eating. One bite, two bites—until she had swallowed it all.

"Ugh, it's really awful!" Luoya coughed violently, nearly retching onto the floor.

"Little Luoya, let me tell you a secret." Doyle grinned mischievously.

"Huh?" Luoya looked at him curiously.

"Actually, just one bite is enough to gain a Devil Fruit's power."

Luoya froze, her body trembling. "Just one bite is enough... Just one bite is enough..." The words echoed in her mind.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU! WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME SOONER?!" Furious, Luoya grabbed a kitchen knife.

"Haha! I was just about to, but you ate too fast!" Doyle laughed but thought to himself, If I told you, where would the fun be?

Luoya didn't pursue it further. For some reason, she felt lighter, almost happy—like she had returned to a time before everything changed.

Recalling Teach's figure, her face turned serious. She looked at Doyle, her uncle, and said, "Uncle, teach me how to become stronger."

Doyle's expression became serious. "Are you sure? My training is tough. I won't go easy on you."

"I'm sure. I want to get stronger. I want to fight alongside him." Luoya's resolve was firm.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Doyle smiled. "Alright. Starting tomorrow, we'll begin your training. I'll make a plan for you tonight. We'll build up your stamina and physical strength. I'll teach you swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and marksmanship. We'll also focus on your talents and preferences. At the same time, you'll need to develop your Devil Fruit abilities. That will be the core of your strength. I can give you some guidance, but ultimately, it's up to you."

---

Meanwhile, in the bustling town of nearly ten thousand residents, Teach strolled through the streets. The island catered to pirates, evident from the abundance of casinos, restaurants, bars, and even an arena.

The island itself had no valuable resources, but its white sand beaches were picturesque. The town, Baisha, was named after them. The sand was used to craft exquisite souvenirs, the island's only real export.

As Teach wandered, he used his Haki to subtly observe his surroundings. The buildings were relatively new—no older than four years. The locals seemed content, their lives stable. It was a stark contrast to the past when Baisha was a lawless pirate haven. Since the Shiratori Pirates took control, everything had changed for the better.

Teach's smile grew. He was eager to meet the captain of the Shiratori Pirates, Mostima, also known as "Asuka."

By now, Teach knew he was being watched. Three strong presences had been near the tavern earlier, one even stronger than Schiller. Among them was a familiar aura—Abby, the pirate he had encountered at the port.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Oh, cherry pie! Haha, boss, give me one! And three more to go!" Titch eagerly bit into a slice, savoring the sweet and tart flavors. "Mmm! This is amazing!"

Moments later, he arrived at a bridge leading to a grand castle—Shiratori's headquarters. There, a swordsman awaited him. Behind him stood Hardno, Hardman, and other members of the Shiratori crew, watching warily.

The swordsman smiled. "I've been waiting for you."

Titch grinned. "I've been wanting to meet you too."

Their eyes met, and both burst into laughter.

"Thief hahahahaha!" "Hahahahahah