How can I become the Pirate King if you don’t work hard?.

Chapter 372 The oriole is behind
Blackbeard was dumbfounded, feeling an indescribable sense of frustration.

His decision to leave the Navy Headquarters at this juncture was already extremely risky.

The war between the Marine Headquarters and Whitebeard gradually became more complex and unpredictable with the involvement of Roger's remnants and Redfield's forces.

But whatever the outcome, the navy will not collapse, and neither will the world government.

In other words.

Regardless of the outcome of Blackbeard's operation this time, he will inevitably become a key focus of the World Government after the war and will be pursued and intercepted by the Navy.

It's even possible that a high-ranking general would intervene and eliminate him outright.

His gamble was that he could free the prisoners in Impel Down in one fell swoop, build a strong enough crew, and then return to Marineford to reap the rewards, or even go further and seize Whitebeard's power.

In this way, the Four Emperors will have the fighting power, the crew, and even if they take over Whitebeard's territory, they will have the foundation!
But now, the most crucial part of the plan has collapsed.

Without a sufficiently strong force in Impel Down, he cannot play a decisive role in the subsequent battles. In fact, once he appears, he is very likely to be targeted by both the Navy and Whitebeard.

You won't even know how you died!
Without being able to intervene in the war at Marineford and seize Whitebeard's power, it's all just empty talk!
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

Blackbeard cursed under his breath, his rage reaching its peak.

Lafayette, equally displeased, began to speak:

"It's likely that the group that left just now took the serious criminals from the Infinite Hell with them."

"Captain, should we..."

Lafayette's voice trailed off halfway through his sentence.

This is because on that ship, besides the prisoners in the first map of Infinite One, there was also Roger's right-hand man, the Lone Red, who once dominated an era and had the strongest support.

These three, working together, might be qualified to directly attack the Marine Headquarters and confront a pirate crew of Yonko level!

At this point, it would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock for Blackbeard's crew to confront them.

"How to do?"

"captain!"

Lafayette's gaze fell on Blackbeard, as did Burgess and Doc Q beside him.

Their long journey had made them realize that the man before them possessed a spirit that could cope with any desperate situation.

This time...

No exception!
After counting the breaths.

Blackbeard's expression gradually darkened. He looked towards the deepest part of Infinite Hell, where a tall man sat quietly in his cell, staring back at him without backing down. His eyes revealed an undisguised madness!
"Lafayette!"

"A person's life is made up of a series of choices, and before making a choice, no one can predict what the outcome will be."

"In other words..."

"Every step I take is a gamble!"

"I infiltrated the Whitebeard Pirates for over thirty years for the Dark-Dark Fruit, and used Roger's bloodline to instigate a war between the Marine Headquarters and the Whitebeard Pirates. I've won again!"

"This time...I will win too!"

Lafayette paused for a moment, then followed Blackbeard's gaze into the depths of Infinite Hell.

Even though he was completely shrouded in darkness, the tall and strong figure still made him tremble from the depths of his soul!
"That guy is..."

"The Devil's Heir - Douglas Barrett?!"

"A madman who dares to challenge the whole world single-handedly?!"

Lafayette knew the name Barrett, and she knew even more that the man before her possessed a power that could shake the world, beyond his name!

"captain……"

“We might have other options. Even if you can defeat this guy, we won’t get away unscathed!”

"No!"

Blackbeard's lips curled into a smile, his gaze growing increasingly resolute.

"This guy alone is probably worth more than all the prisoners in the Infinite Hell except for the solitary red one!"

"If we can bring them under our control, we will still have a chance to return to the Navy Headquarters and continue our previous plans!"

"Seize Whitebeard's power and then dominate this sea!"

Accompanied by words.

Blackbeard walked step by step into the depths of endless hell.

Even watching this scene from afar, Burgess couldn't help but feel a chill for Blackbeard.

"Is it another battle that will decide our fate?!"

Lafayette raised his hand, adjusted his hat, twirled his cane on his fingertips, and slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

They had witnessed a similar scene not long ago, and Blackbeard had won that time.

……

boom!
Blackbeard placed one hand on the cell door, staring directly at Barrett inside, showing no sign of backing down.
"I'll let you out, we'll have a fight, if I win you'll come with me, and we'll challenge the world's strongest together!"

"it is good!"

Barrett's lips curled up, and an invisible Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted, creating a gray-black light screen. Everything around the room, including Burgess and the other two, couldn't help but feel a shiver!
They suddenly realized that the legends they had heard about Barrett were not unfounded.

Even after being imprisoned for twenty years, this man's strength had not diminished in the slightest.

Compared to the aging Redfield, he is still young and still powerful!
Is Blackbeard strong?!

powerful!
Undoubtedly strong!

The Logia-type Dark-Dark Fruit, which has an inexplicable suppressive power over its users, is one of the most powerful Devil Fruits, even among the vast sea of ​​Devil Fruits. This is why Fire Fist Ace was defeated by it.

But few people know that Blackbeard also possesses formidable physical skills.

That was the capital that allowed him to gain a foothold in the Whitebeard Pirates and even leave a scar on Shanks' face!
The combination of the two created one of the strongest monsters conceived in this era.

But this time he was facing a monster who was on par with Rayleigh at the age of fifteen and who fought the Buster Call alone, and who was still honorable even in defeat!
Even the rest of Blackbeard's crew lacked confidence in this battle.

"Dark acupoint!"

Endless black smoke spread outwards from Blackbeard's center, completely engulfing the prison cells in the Infinite Hell!
A gloomy and oppressive aura emanated from him!

A powerful aura wafts over you!

Endless darkness spread toward Barrett's cell, but there was not a trace of fear in his eyes, only confusion and bewilderment!

A sharp, almost overwhelming aura suddenly erupted from Blackbeard!

To everyone's astonishment.

A gold coin leaped from Blackbeard's arms and then transformed into a doorway in mid-air, slowly opening!

Several figures emerged from the doorway.

call--!
Their clothes fluttered without wind, and as they stood in the midst of endless hell, they instantly attracted everyone's attention.

"Ability users? But these guys are..." Lafayette frowned:
"Hundred Plans - Kuro, Sound Leap - Van Augur, Surgeon of Death - Trafalgar Law, Eagle Rider - Beville... the second-in-command and his crew of the Gawain Pirates?!"

"These guys actually have their eyes on Impel Down too?!"

"Trouble!"

If facing Barrett only made him nervous for Blackbeard, then when the opponent changed to Gawain's crew, all that remained was awe.

After all, just a few days ago, Blackbeard was severely injured by Gawain the Knight!

Although Blackbeard's wounds have healed thanks to his powerful physique, they still ache from time to time.

And standing before them now was Hyakuji Kuro, who also had a formidable record of defeating the great pirate king of the old era.

You should know that Wang Zhi was once on the same level as Whitebeard and Golden Lion, both of whom were Rocks' crew members. Not to mention the aura that Kuro is exuding right now, which is in no way weaker than Blackbeard's!
But what puzzled Lafayette even more was Gawain's question: when exactly did he tamper with Blackbeard's plans...?

and many more!

Lafayette turned sharply to look at Blackbeard, only to see the latter's face, which was as black as charcoal.

"That guy, Knight Gawain, attacked me first at the Marine Headquarters meeting, so he must have already sabotaged me?!"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah~"

"Was this a complete setup?!"

Blackbeard's expression was solemn.

He tried to force a smile, instinctively wanting to make a ferocious grin, but found that he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Of course he couldn't laugh.

When he realized that all his schemes had been seen through by Gawain, and that Gawain had even used him to invade Impel Down to achieve his own goals, all that remained was endless fear.

Just how much did Gawain see through?
How much do they actually know?!
Does he even know his own follow-up plans, or even...?

Do not!
impossible!
This is Lao Tzu's biggest secret, which he has never told anyone.

In addition, for the past few decades, I have been hiding in the Whitebeard Pirates, wearing the mask of a nice guy, so I shouldn't have been seen through.

Unless Knight Gawain possesses the ability to foresee the future, there is absolutely no way he could know my secret directly.

"and many more!"

"That old fellow!"

Blackbeard's pupils suddenly contracted.

He had heard the legend of Redfield from the white-bearded man.

While his strength alone was enough to rival that of Whitebeard Roger, what truly set him apart was his Observation Haki, which allowed him to directly read his opponents' memories.

If he merely suspected Gao Wen, or even rejected that slight possibility after some thought, then...

Redfield's ability to read other people's memories truly puts him at risk of being exposed!

"He must die!"

"Let's go, let's go now!"

Say it.

Blackbeard, exuding murderous intent, turned and sped towards the outskirts of the city.

He didn't know whether Redfield had actually seen what was in his mind, nor was he sure if the other's abilities were effective against him.

But this time bomb must die!
Although Lafayette and his two companions did not know what had happened, they instinctively followed the captain's steps and soon disappeared from the Infinite Hell.

Barrett watched Blackbeard turn and leave, his fighting spirit completely gone, and for a moment he felt utterly bored. He slightly pursed his lips and then turned to look at the group of Crowe who had suddenly appeared.

"So... you've become the one who needs to please me?!"

Kuro glanced indifferently at Blackbeard's retreating figure, then lost interest in him, turning instead to look at Barrett, who had just escaped his predicament:

"As expected of a monster who once rivaled Rayleigh, the King of Darkness, his domineering aura even made me feel a sense of threat."

"Gawain has his eye on your abilities, how about joining us?!"

"There is a place for you in Britannias."

Barrett ignored him and stretched his body as if nothing had happened.

Feeling the power of his return, he felt that his condition was better than ever before. More than 20 years had passed and he had not declined in the slightest. In fact, he had become even stronger!
click!
click!
click!
Barrett's entire body emitted a series of popping sounds, like popping beans.

His chest bulged high, and he exhaled a breath of stale air, making him appear several times taller.

That aura, like that of a prehistoric beast, was unleashed at this moment!

call--!
The howling and raging Conqueror's Haki nearly filled the entire Infinite Hell!

"This guy... is very strong!"

Bevel reached for his longsword at his waist and looked warily at Barrett. Law, Van Augur, and the others beside him also felt the pressure and assumed a defensive posture.

Barrett ignored the three men's actions, focusing his gaze on Kro, and couldn't help but lick his lips, his fighting spirit rising at that moment!

"What if I say no?!"

Kro pursed his lips, seemingly somewhat helpless:
"So it really isn't that simple after all?!"

He reached up and took off his glasses, then took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped his eyes, and only then slowly answered Barrett's question:
"Then I'll have no choice but to break your legs and take you back!"

"Ah……"

"Then let's see just how far you can go!"

Barrett's lips curled into a smile, his muscles suddenly bulged, and he stomped his foot heavily, the immense force shattering the floorboards. A seemingly ordinary but powerful punch slammed down towards Kro!

An explosive sense of power filled my entire body, and even the most ordinary actions brought a sense of oppression like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing!
It almost reminded everyone present of the oppressive feeling they had when facing the Golden Lion a few years ago!

Do not!
The golden lion is old. Although his old injuries have healed, he can only approach his peak and is far from being able to compare with himself when he roamed the seas!
But Barrett is still around, or rather, he hasn't reached his peak yet, but he already has the aura to dominate the ocean!

A single, purely physical blow was enough to move everyone present. Kro, who was at the center of the attack, couldn't even smile; he only felt the pressure bearing down on him!

Since reaching the legendary level, he has either faced overwhelming odds or been completely outmatched by opponents like Gao Wen.

This is the first time I've faced an opponent whose strength is close to mine, or even a cut above mine!
His eyes were filled with nothing but the excitement of seeing a prey!
"That's it!"

"A monster that once fought Rayleigh to a draw deserves to have such power; only then does it deserve to be defeated!"

boom--!
The turbulent air currents gathered in front of Kro, causing the air density several meters in front of him to surge dramatically, becoming comparable to metal in just a few breaths!

Barrett's fist slammed into it, creating a deafening roar like clashing steel!

when--!
The deafening metallic sound caused Beville and the others to experience ringing in their ears. When they came to their senses, they heard Barrett's excited voice:

"Feel sorry."

"Having just regained your freedom, you're still a bit unfamiliar with my power. Next punch..."

"I told you to lie down!"

(End of this chapter)