"Ryuuto, can you hand Teach over to me?"
Ace, covered in wounds, stood beside Ryuuto and spoke in a low voice.
Taking Teach's head back to the Moby Dick was Ace's obsession. Seeing Teach lying quietly on the ground now, how could his heart not be moved?
But Ace also understood…
Without Ryuuto, forget about taking down Teach; he might not have even survived.
Ryuuto rubbed his nose, his gaze turning to Ace as he spoke seriously. "Ah, Ace, I think you've misunderstood."
"I still have a use for Blackbeard. I can't give him to you."
The scene fell silent for a moment. Nami's eyes darted back and forth between Ryuuto and Ace.
She had learned about the purpose of Ace's journey from their conversations. So, faced with Ryuuto's refusal, Nami felt a pang of worry for Ace.
But more than that…
Our navigator小姐 supported her captain unconditionally.
Hancock raised a delicate eyebrow at Ace, curious to see how the man would react.
"…"
Ace's gaze flickered, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
When he'd heard Ryuuto invite Teach to join him earlier, Ace had guessed their goals were not aligned.
Of course, the main issue was that in his weakened state, Ace was in no position to make demands.
A wave of frustration washed over him.
After this battle, Ace couldn't help but think that perhaps, in a way, Blackbeard and Ryuuto were the same kind of people.
They both possessed powerful ambitions.
To achieve their goals, they constantly grew stronger, ready to cut down any obstacle that stood in their way.
But wasn't he the same?
It was just that his goal had shifted from becoming the Pirate King himself to making Whitebeard the Pirate King.
After all, who could truly understand? It was Whitebeard who had given him the warmth of a family. All he ever wanted was the Moby Dick.
Ace pressed down on his hat, his eyes lowered as he said in a heavy voice, "No matter what, Ryuuto, thank you for saving me."
"As for Teach, the next time we meet, I'll finish him with my own hands."
Ace was still his same straightforward self.
The possibility that Blackbeard might join Ryuuto's faction didn't change his objective.
Of course, this time, he truly had no reason to press the issue.
Ace's gaze swept over Ryuuto, Hancock, and Nami. The corner of his mouth lifted into a wide grin, and he said, "This has been a pretty great journey! Thanks for taking care of me all this time."
"Ace! I'll be waiting for you next time we meet!"
Seeing that Ace had come to terms with it, Ryuuto's face broke into a wide smile as he spoke earnestly.
Ryuuto gave Ace a hug…
Ace exuded a personal charm—he was direct and passionate, just like his Devil Fruit ability.
Flames represented warmth and purity.
If he didn't know that Ace was destined to never leave the Whitebeard Pirates, Ryuuto would have been tempted to try and recruit him.
"Alright, I should be heading back."
"Being out here for so long must have worried everyone in the Whitebeard Pirates."
Ace broke free from Ryuuto's embrace and looked at the three of them.
"Ace, I hope we get the chance to meet again," Nami said, stepping forward.
Beneath her orange hair, her expression was sincere.
With that, Ace put on his cowboy hat and slowly walked away, his steps carrying him toward the docks.
He left only a profound silhouette behind for them to watch.
Ace's plan was to find a small boat at the docks, then modify it with his flame propulsion ability. That way, he could set sail on his new flame-powered skiff.
As for Ryuuto's group, they watched Ace leave…
Only after he had completely disappeared from sight did the three of them turn their attention back to the two stone statues on the ground.
Seeing the two women's gazes return to him, Ryuuto spoke slowly. "Hancock, go ahead and undo Blackbeard's petrification."
Hearing this, Hancock, dressed in her purple cheongsam, took a graceful step. Her high heels clicked as she walked over to Blackbeard Teach's side.
Then, she planted one of her impossibly long legs right on top of him.
Her legs, easily over a meter long, were flawless and white as jade, without a trace of excess fat. They flickered in and out of view beneath the slit of her dress with every movement.
The sight made Ryuuto recall a certain wild experience.
His expression shifted for a moment.
As Hancock's foot rested on Blackbeard, a halo of light appeared…
The stone began to recede from Blackbeard's body.
Hancock then moved away, and Ryuuto placed Yubashiri against Blackbeard's neck, waiting for him to fully recover.
A sea breeze blew in, brushing against their faces. With the battle over, small insects that had hidden in the sand began to cautiously emerge from the ground.
"Ryuuto!" Blackbeard's eyes slowly opened. The first thing he felt was a sharp pain coursing through his body. The first thing he saw was Ryuuto standing before him. He was so startled that he scrambled backward.
"I surrender, I surrender!"
A quick glance was all it took for Blackbeard to grasp his situation. He threw his hands high in the air, signaling his complete submission.
Blackbeard was severely injured. His bandana was gone, and his messy hair was splayed across his face. His entire body was covered in wounds.
Every slight movement sent a fresh wave of agony through him as his injuries were aggravated.
"Blackbeard, it seems you understand your situation well, don't you?" Ryuuto said, looking at him with satisfaction.
"As long as you don't kill me, I'm at your mercy! I'll do anything you ask!" Teach pleaded desperately, terrified that the sword at his neck might slip.
"Zehahahahaha!"
Ryuuto was very pleased with Blackbeard's performance. Although he knew it wasn't sincere, who could refuse an obedient puppet that had fallen into their hands?
Hancock looked at the filthy man with disdain.
From the inside out, he radiated a nauseating aura.
Nami also shot Blackbeard a contemptuous glare.
"Then let me see your loyalty," Ryuuto said, sheathing his sword as he watched Blackbeard.
"I'll do anything you ask!" Overjoyed, Blackbeard knelt and clutched at the corner of Ryuuto's coat. At this moment, survival was his only priority.
He mentally filed away the contempt from Hancock and Nami. He maintained a subservient expression, but if Blackbeard kept a list of grievances, Hancock's name would have filled several pages by now.
"In that case, first prove that you're useful."
A corner of Ryuuto's mouth twitched as he looked at Blackbeard with a teasing glint in his eyes.
Seeing that look, Blackbeard's heart tightened. He didn't know what was about to happen, but a terrible premonition washed over him.
"Hancock, release that Doc Q from his petrification as well."
Hancock didn't understand Ryuuto's plan, but she would do as he asked without question.
Stepping forward in her high heels, she repeated the process and undid the petrification on Doc Q.
…