Who the hell would keep fighting at a time like this?
Did he think they were idiots?
Jokes weren't meant to be told this way.
The moment Luo Xing, Jack, and Who's-Who appeared, every person present was shaken to the core.
Blackbeard's eyes widened.
For someone who prided himself on scheming against others, this was the first time he realized—
he had been outplayed.
And by someone he never expected.
Crocodile, too, had completely lost the arrogance he'd worn at the start.
The cigar clenched between his teeth couldn't hide how ugly his expression had become.
Blackbeard.
The Fifth Emperor, Luo Xing.
Every single one of them was here to fight over Pluton, wasn't that right?
Especially the Beasts Pirates.
Their current influence was even greater than the Whitebeard Pirates back when Crocodile had been utterly crushed.
Even the Monster Cell he had consumed earlier was a Beasts Pirates product—
a creation of the man now standing before him.
Nico Robin's pupils contracted, her face draining of color.
The situation had completely spiraled beyond her expectations—and beyond her control.
What was worse was this:
Even if she escaped Crocodile's grasp, she would simply fall into the hands of someone far more terrifying.
There was no doubt about it.
The Beasts Pirates would want her just as much as Blackbeard did.
After all—
She was the only person alive who could read the Poneglyphs.
Robin no longer had any room to maneuver.
Her plan—to slip away amid Blackbeard and Crocodile's clash and take Cobra to find the Poneglyph—was now impossible.
Vivi, whose hand was still being held by Luo Xing, and the men behind her—
Captain Igaram of the Royal Guard and rebel leader Koza—were equally stunned.
Luo Xing's name now carried more weight than even the Yonko.
Monster Cells.
Senzu Beans.
Fusion Earrings.
The mysterious Cybertron warriors that had crushed the Navy's secret weapon, the Pacifistas.
Every single invention was world-shaking—enough to trigger industrial revolutions on their own.
If it's this man…
Then he really can make the rain fall over Alabasta.
Koza's heart pounded with excitement.
If Luo Xing could create such impossible things, then altering the weather itself wasn't some fantasy at all.
Vivi clutched Luo Xing's hand tightly.
She was shaking—
from excitement, from relief, from disbelief.
She had never dared imagine that the person who pulled her from the abyss of despair would be someone so far beyond Crocodile.
Yes, Luo Xing was a pirate.
But the warmth in his palm told her something else.
He's a good person.
He would never destroy Alabasta the way Crocodile did.
Vivi didn't know that Luo Xing truly had no intention of harming Alabasta.
But as for her—
That was a different matter entirely.
That, however, was a story for later.
Luo Xing swept his gaze across the terrified Blackbeard Pirates and Baroque Works members, then sighed lightly.
"So you're not going to keep fighting?"
"What a shame. I was hoping to enjoy a good dog-eat-dog show."
"Jack—this is on you."
Just moments ago, Jack the Drought had arrogantly challenged both Blackbeard and Crocodile at once.
Now, he lowered his head like a scolded child.
"S-Sorry, Young Master."
The sight sent another wave of shock through everyone present.
This was Jack—
the man who had once charged head-on against Admiral Akainu.
And yet before Luo Xing, he was obedient beyond belief.
Terrifying.
Utterly terrifying.
That alone proved how dreadful Luo Xing truly was.
"Since you're done fighting," Luo Xing continued calmly,
"you can all get out of Alabasta."
"From today onward, this land belongs to the Beasts Pirates."
"Of course—"
He raised a finger and pointed at Nico Robin.
"This woman belongs to me as well."
His tone was flat, casual—
as though stating an obvious fact.
Yet beneath that calmness lay an oppressive authority that made it hard to breathe.
That pressure came not only from the Beasts Pirates' reputation—
but from the terrifying Conqueror's Haki faintly leaking from Luo Xing himself.
Blackbeard's expression shifted again and again.
He exchanged glances with Burgess, Lafitte, and the others.
Finally, he broke into a grin.
"Zehahahaha! To think I'd meet the legendary Fifth Emperor today—this trip was worth it!"
"We're all pirates. Our real enemies are the Navy and the World Government."
"No need for infighting. Let's go!"
And just like that—
Blackbeard ran.
Decisive. Shameless. Fast.
Talking about unity and avoiding conflict—
even though he'd had no problem fighting Crocodile moments earlier.
The Blackbeard Pirates vanished in no time.
Burgess protested angrily,
"Captain! Why run?! There are five of us and only three of them!"
"We had the advantage!"
"If we caught Luo Xing, we could force him to make Monster Cells and Senzu Beans for us—wouldn't that be perfect?!"
Blackbeard's smile vanished.
His face darkened with irritation and fear.
"Shut up!"
"Fights aren't decided by numbers. If they were, Baroque Works would've killed us already."
"And our real goal is to provoke a war between Whitebeard and the Navy."
"There's no reason to provoke the Beasts Pirates right now!"
That was the excuse.
The truth was simpler.
Luo Xing terrified him.
That man gave him the same feeling Whitebeard once had—
a bone-deep sense of dread.
Before acquiring the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, Blackbeard neither wanted nor dared to clash with Luo Xing.
Of course, he'd never admit that to Burgess.
Burgess asked again,
"Then what about Crocodile? Aren't we supposed to replace him as a Shichibukai?"
Blackbeard let out a low, sinister chuckle.
"We won't need to handle him ourselves."
"That sand crocodile has worked in Alabasta for years."
"He was so close to success—there's no way he'll willingly hand it over to the Beasts Pirates."
"He'll resist to the very end."
"Heh… even if he survives, he'll be crippled."
"There's no way he keeps his Shichibukai seat."
Burgess clapped excitedly.
"Amazing, Captain! You planned all of this in advance?!"
Blackbeard puffed up proudly.
Yet deep inside, unease lingered.
Why had the Beasts Pirates come to Alabasta?
What exactly did Luo Xing want?
Did he know Blackbeard's plans?
And why…
had he let them leave so easily?
Blackbeard buried those questions.
He wasn't brave enough to go back and ask.
Throwing his worries aside, he burst into laughter and waved his hand.
"Move it, you idiots!"
"Ace is still tied up on the ship. Don't let him escape!"
"The moment Crocodile falls, we hand Ace over to the Navy!"
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