Colombia Island.
This name, Whitebeard just mentioned yesterday.
Near the entrance to the New World, it was once one of the islands under the protection of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Later, the Navy Headquarters took notice, seized the island, and established the G-14 Branch there, using it as a base point to slowly and steadily increase their control over the New World.
And the base commander is Vice Admiral Dor, who once faced off against the Endgame.
Realizing this, Shano frowned slightly.
Blackbeard, a pirate who just betrayed the Four Emperors Team, what is he doing at the Navy base?
Just passing by, a mere coincidence?
Or... is there another plot?
Shano pondered for a moment, then quickly shrugged it off, closed the Living Map, and twisted the motorcycle's throttle.
No matter what the possibility, it didn't matter.
The person he wanted to kill, no one could stop him!
————
The next morning.
Colombia Island.
The morning fog had not yet dissipated, and the G-14 Branch's base fortress loomed faintly in the mist.
The pure white stone walls were eroded by the sea breeze, leaving mottled traces, exuding a cold, fierce aura.
At this moment, at the top of the fortress, inside the base commander's office.
"Zehahaha, Vice Admiral Dor, I gave you all night to report, analyze, and such... you should have thought it over by now, right?"
Blackbeard sat sprawled on the sofa with his legs crossed, his toothless mouth grinning into a smile.
Across from him, behind the desk.
Vice Admiral Dor, clad in the Navy Cloak of Justice, was smoking a cigarette, her brows tightly furrowed, her fingers gently tapping the desktop.
A pile of documents lay open before her, black and white words dense with the intelligence information provided by Blackbeard.
"To be honest, the deal you propose is quite tempting."
Dor slowly opened her mouth:
"The personnel configuration within the Whitebeard Pirates, the distribution of forces in core territories... this information is invaluable to the Navy."
"But..."
She raised her head, examining this so-called veteran member of the Whitebeard Pirates, but who remained obscure, and sighed:
"I don't trust you."
"Hmm?"
Blackbeard's smile froze for a moment, a shadow passing through his eyes, but soon he returned to his carefree demeanor:
"Zehahaha, so it's this concern, yet with a deal of this level, can you, a Vice Admiral, make the call? Shouldn't it still require your Headquarters to..."
"Marshal Sengoku personally listened to my report last night."
Dor interrupted Blackbeard, exhaling a smoke ring, and said indifferently: "His opinion aligns with mine."
"Marshall D. Teach, a 'son' who followed Whitebeard for over twenty years, suddenly betrays for no reason? And even voluntarily hands important intelligence to the Navy?"
"This is too bizarre, it's hard not to suspect you're a double agent. By comparison, if Mr. Borsalino suddenly became Whitebeard's son, it would be less surprising."
"Hey, hey, you sure hold my integrity in high regard!"
Blackbeard spread his arms and laughed freely, "Listening to you, I'm rather pleased, but truth be told, your attitude seems to be asking for a pledge?"
"Indeed, precisely so."
At this moment, a steady voice came from outside the door.
Then, the door creaked open.
"Marshal Sengoku?!"
Vice Admiral Dor widened her eyes, looking incredulously at the visitor, "You... you were still at Headquarters yesterday, how come you're here?"
"Worked overnight to come here."
Sengoku had a tired expression, deep dark circles, implying several consecutive sleepless nights:
"The G-1 Branch's surveillance ship reported urgently yesterday that Whitebeard met with Shano, and I feared some change, so I came to the New World to oversee things for a few days."
The latter part of Sengoku's words remained unsaid.
Yet Dor still reacted immediately.
Logically, such matters usually dispatch a Grand Admiral, yet the one who came was the Marshal himself.
It seems the Three Great Admirals are currently handling field duties and are not at Headquarters...
"Please sit, Marshal."
She quickly stood up, offering the armchair to Sengoku, herself standing behind him.
"Marshall D. Teach."
Sengoku was not courteous, after sitting he took off the seagull hat, rubbing his temples, "According to Dor, your aim is to seek a position among the Seven Warlords of the Sea, is that correct?"
"Zehahaha, exactly!"
Blackbeard grinned, "Didn't your Navy lose a Seven Warlord again at the end of last year? There's just an opening for this thing, right? Speaking of which, ever since that kid went out to sea, your Navy seems to have been busy recruiting for the Seven Warlords."
Sengoku's motion of rubbing his temples froze instantly.
"That's none of your concern."
After a moment of silence, Sengoku raised his head, his face stern:
"In any case, let me be clear with you, at the end of the day, you're just a nobody. Whether you've truly betrayed Whitebeard is yet to be determined, and whether you possess the capability to become a Seven Warlord is also in doubt."
"Therefore, to secure a slot among the Seven Warlords, a pledge is essential; at the very least, you need to provide a notable member under Whitebeard to the Navy, preferably of captain rank, alive or dead, also..."
At this point.
Sengoku focused on Blackbeard's face, finding it increasingly familiar, his eyes narrowing slightly:
"Your appearance seems familiar, have we met before?"
Blackbeard's pupils contracted sharply, his body instinctively tensed.
"Perhaps."
He immediately resumed a nonchalant demeanor, arms crossing over his chest: