Pirate of Darkness (si)

Ah! Really comfortable. Those navy stalkers are like dogs, but they've finally left." The air was thick with steam as a pirate sank into the hot water, exposing only his head and outstretched arms. Outside, members of the Whitebeard Pirates milled around the area.

"Three months! They hounded us for three months, interrupting our voyage. Next time we meet, we must teach those navies a lesson."

Teach closed his eyes, lying back in the hot spring to relax. Ever since their failed operation, the navy, led by the Warring States, had pursued the Whitebeard Pirates relentlessly for three months, determined to restore their reputation. The Whitebeard Pirates had clashed with the navy nearly a hundred times, only to escape—just to be pursued again shortly after.

The entire New World had turned its attention to the Whitebeard Pirates and the navy. During this time, large-scale battles had diminished significantly. As they traversed the territories of other powerful pirates, they encountered three-way and even four-way skirmishes. The Golden Lion, Big Mom, Kaido—various pirate crews took their chances, further exhausting the Whitebeard Pirates. Eventually, they abandoned their parade plan and returned to their own territory.

In their absence, problems had arisen. Without the main force present, the Whitebeard Pirates' subordinate crews struggled to maintain control. Opportunistic rivals had set their sights on Whitebeard's territory, forcing them into another battle. After three months of pursuit and nearly a month of skirmishes to stabilize the region—eliminating two enemy pirate groups—the situation was finally under control.

Teach, though not as prominent as some, felt the weariness of these months and needed to unwind.

They had stopped at a hot spring island under Whitebeard's jurisdiction, a well-known retreat in the New World. The island, home to several dormant volcanoes that hadn't erupted for decades, attracted countless visitors each year. Today, it was reserved exclusively for the Whitebeard Pirates. Even their usually boastful allies and rival pirates tread cautiously, not daring to cause trouble in Whitebeard's presence.

As Teach soaked, he pondered the two Devil Fruits he had recently acquired aboard Whitebeard's ship. The Whitebeard Pirates, like all major forces, possessed a Devil Fruit compendium, though incomplete. Many fruits had names and known abilities, while others remained mysteries.

Titch had obtained the Thorn-Thorn Fruit and the Elastic-Elastic Fruit. The Thorn-Thorn Fruit allowed the user to control thorns, while the Elastic-Elastic Fruit granted extreme elasticity but lacked the ability to reflect attacks. In this world, there was no designated plant-based category, so such abilities fell under the Paramecia classification, unlike Zoan types that transformed users into animals.

Most of Whitebeard's main crew was present. Even the old man himself was tired. Today was a rare moment of peace—a day to relax before the evening banquet.

However, duty called. The Whitebeard Pirates' territory, though not enormous, required careful management. As their power grew, so too would their domain. Expanding their influence meant patrolling the seas, ensuring no intruders encroached upon their lands. Guarding a territory was no simple task.

Over the past four months, Teach had made remarkable progress in swordsmanship, Armament Haki, and Observation Haki. He could now control his Armament Haki with precision and had developed his Observation Haki's range. However, fine-tuned control—such as selectively targeting enemies while avoiding allies—remained beyond his grasp and required more training.

With his twin pistols, his marksmanship had also improved dramatically. In his past life, he had heard the saying, "Guns are a man's romance." Now, he could finally experience that thrill. Firearms in this world were technologically behind, but their power far surpassed those of his previous life. The combination of firearms with Armament Haki made them terrifyingly effective. Thanks to Observation Haki, his accuracy had become top-tier.

Unlike Armament Haki, which had structured advanced techniques like "Ryuo," Observation Haki's growth was less defined. Expanding its range required constant practice, while foreseeing the future depended on battle experience and personal enlightenment. Teach was steadily working toward that goal.

Time flew by. Teach glanced toward a nearby hot spring pool, where Whitebeard and the others were gathered. Oden was laughing heartily.

In two years, they would have an unexpected encounter with the Roger Pirates. At that time, Oden would leave Whitebeard's crew to join Roger, ultimately helping him reach the fabled One Piece and claim the Pirate King's throne.

The title of Pirate King was symbolic, commanding respect but not obedience. Pirates were inherently unruly.

By now, Kozuki Momonosuke had been born. The future most beautiful woman of Wano, Hiyori—also known as Komurasaki—had also been born not long ago.

The more time Teach spent with Oden, the more he was drawn to his charisma. Oden had an immense heart, capable of accepting everything. His monstrous strength made his eventual fate all the more tragic. He had placed too much trust in his enemies. Through treachery, both internal and external, a hero had been framed and executed under the scorn of his people.

At this moment, Wano was already in turmoil. Kurozumi Orochi had usurped the position of shogun, orchestrating the assassination of Oden's father. Two powerful allies backed him—Kurozumi Semimaru, who wielded the Barrier-Barrier Fruit, and Kurozumi Higurashi, who had the Clone-Clone Fruit. With the latter's ability, Orochi had deceived Wano's daimyos and seized power.

Among Oden's retainers, Kanjuro was secretly a spy for Orochi, siphoning wealth from Kuri and leading it into poverty.

Teach had a deep respect for Oden. Though he himself leaned toward evil, he did not see himself as entirely wicked. Helping Oden would be a fulfilling way to alter history. Kaido had allied with Orochi to take control of Wano, exploiting its resources while turning the land into a wasteland. His brute-force approach disgusted Teach.

However, intervening at this moment was difficult. He had never set foot in Wano before. How could he explain his knowledge of its current state? The longer he waited, the worse Oden's situation would become.

Such a man should not die so easily. Changing history could be quite satisfying.

With that thought, Teach stood up and walked over to the others.

"Hey, Teach, come soak with us!" Jozu called, waving. Future Diamond Jozu, already a powerhouse, was naturally gifted with monstrous strength.

"Haha, I've had enough." Teach grinned, then turned to Whitebeard. "Father, we don't have any major plans coming up, do we?"

"No, we'll be resting for a while. Why?" Whitebeard asked, already suspecting that Teach had something in mind.

Teach smirked, glancing at Oden. "I want to visit Wano to find the best craftsmen to repair my swords—and perhaps see the legendary 'Ryuo' firsthand."

Oden's eyes lit up. "Haha! Thanks, Teach! I have much to ask about Wano. I'll write a letter for you to take back. It's been three years since I left—I wonder how my homeland is now!"

"Teach, are you sure you'll be okay alone?" Marco asked, concerned.

"Haha, don't underestimate me, Marco. Unlike you, I'm not a land duck. I can use Moonwalk now—I'll fly up the waterfall."

Marco had recently eaten the Phoenix Fruit, an extremely rare Mythical Zoan. The entire crew had been stunned by his luck. His newfound ability had skyrocketed him to one of the strongest on the ship.

"Gurarara! Go, Teach. This will be good experience for you." Whitebeard laughed.

That night, the crew celebrated. Amid the drinking and feasting, Titch snapped photos of Marco and Jozu drunkenly dancing. "These will be valuable in the future!" he mused wickedly.

The joyous banquet continued long into the night.