One Piece: New Century Hextech Warriors

Chapter 102 The Dark-Dark Fruit Will Be Mine Sooner or Later

More than a dozen black plumes of smoke floated in the air, and the acrid smell of burning grass permeated the air.

Sphinx Island is now a wasteland.

On the scorched and cracked earth, a fat, dark-skinned man was carrying large and small bags, walking with heavy breathing.

"Hey sir, please don't put that broken wardrobe on me."

"Get away from me, kid! I told you there's no place to put your toys!"

"Hey, don't throw your worn underwear on my head!"

Teach grumbled as he helped the villagers of the Sphinx carry the things that hadn't been destroyed, slowly moving them to the white-hulled boat on the shore.

"Teach is a kind and honest man."

Not far away, Marco, who witnessed this scene, smiled with admiration.

"Luckily, I wasn't late."

Marco still feels lingering fear when he thinks about his rescue operation.

While Kaido was tied up by the Sith, he desperately flew to Sphinx Island and used a pre-prepared transport ship to evacuate the villagers.

At first, the villagers were terrified when they saw him. After all, anyone would be afraid of a great pirate who could fly down from the sky.

Fortunately, after Marco told them about his relationship with his father, someone quickly remembered the old neighbor, Whitebeard, and ultimately chose to believe him.

Less than an hour after everyone left, Kaido flew over and turned Sphinx Island into wasteland with a fire.

Sphinx Island has been exposed, and the environment here is no longer suitable for habitation. Next, the Whitebeard Pirates will pick up the villagers and take them to other safe islands.

Of course, Newgate would not refuse any villagers who wanted to join the White Party.

Marco, bound like a mummy, was unable to help the villagers move their belongings and was lost in thought when he suddenly heard someone approaching from behind.

"Dad."

Seeing that figure, more reliable than the green hills, Marco smiled proudly.

He had at least completed his mission; if he had failed to protect the people of Sphinx Island this time, he would have felt guilty for the rest of his life.

The white-bearded man patted his shoulder and laughed, "Gulala, son, your old man owes you a huge favor!"

Marco scratched his head, smiling shyly, and said, "What are you saying, Dad? Anything you care about, I'll protect with my life!"

The white-bearded man sat cross-legged beside him, grabbed a handful of scorched soil, and sighed, "It's a pity that this place was ultimately destroyed because of me."

The world's strongest man rarely showed a vulnerable side.

Since he set sail to become a pirate, he has never returned to his hometown, nor has he let the people of his hometown know about his profession. However, every time he harvests treasure, he will secretly send his share back so that the poor island can survive.

The reason he did this was because Whitebeard felt that being a pirate was a shameful thing and didn't want the villagers to know that the well-behaved little boy they loved had turned into a terrible monster.

He also worried that revealing his connection to Sphinx Island would bring about its destruction.

Despite all the precautions, we still ended up implicating everyone.

Marco remained silent for a moment, pondering how to comfort his father, when a frail voice suddenly came from beside him.

"Newgate, don't look so dejected."

A flicker of fear suddenly crossed the white-bearded man's invincible face, and he cried out, "Teacher!"

When Marco saw the white-haired old woman walking towards him with a cane, he quickly bowed respectfully.

He had heard that there was a school on Sphinx Island back then. Although there was only one teacher and a dozen or so students, it was more like an orphanage than a school. But it was because of that school that his father had many wonderful childhood memories and prevented his father from becoming a guy like Kaido or Big Mom.

This old lady was the principal and teacher back then, and the person Whitebeard least wanted to face.

His teacher used to invite him to his home for meals every day, teaching him to become a strong person who protects the weak.

But he ended up becoming a pirate himself!

The teacher, with a hunched back, looked up at the student who had traversed the vast ocean, and gently took his arm.

"Newgate, I just chatted with some of your lads and found out what you've been up to all these years."

"Although you're a pirate, you don't seem to have done anything truly heinous. On the contrary, you've protected many vulnerable areas. Your teacher is very pleased!"

Upon hearing this, the white-bearded man felt a long-lost tingling in his nose.

"As for the destruction of Sphinx Island, that's not your fault."

"We are all so grateful for your silent care over the past few days, and we were even saved by your people. You are our pride!"

A gentle smile bloomed on the teacher's weathered face, and the white-bearded man felt as if he had been transported back decades, being gently encouraged by the teacher.

"Thank you, teacher!"

"Don't worry, I will find a safer place for everyone from now on, and I will never allow anyone to harm you again!"

Whitebeard swore an oath.

Before long, all the people of Sphinx Island boarded the ship and headed towards their new home as the sun set.

As for the Kingdom of Prometheus, although it is impossible for it to be included as a member state of the World Government, Whitebeard has already left his crew flag there, and no pirates have dared to raid it since.

On the Moby Dick.

"Cheers!"

The white-bearded man raised the bowl of wine, which was the size of a washbasin, and gulped down the clear, cool liquor.

The spacious deck was already packed with people, who, along with him, raised their wine bowls and grilled meats, enjoying the feast to the fullest.

It's a pity that Kaido wasn't killed in this Wano Country war, but it dealt an unprecedented blow to the Beasts Pirates. It will probably take Kaido many years to recover, which can be considered as giving Oden an explanation.

Not only that, they did something that would absolutely infuriate Kaido.

"Gurararara, Yamato, don't hide in the back, come here!"

The white-bearded man looked at the white-haired girl standing at the back of the crowd and laughed heartily.

"Huh? Oh!"

With a flushed face, Yamato approached Whitebeard amidst the enthusiastic laughter of the Whitebeard members.

After parting ways with Qi Tong, she immediately found a member of the White Beard and told them that she had been recommended by Qi Tong and wanted to join White Beard's team.

The members of the White Team didn't know who she was at the time, but they all knew that Seven Tongs had helped their father a lot. Since it was he who recommended her, there wouldn't be any problems!

It wasn't until after the battle that Whitebeard personally inquired and learned that this girl was actually Kaido's only daughter!

If he hadn't seen the demon horns on Yamato's head and heard Yamato tell his story, he would never have believed that Kaido would have such a cute child!

Whitebeard didn't hesitate for long before readily agreeing to Yamato's request to join the group.

He always treats people separately. Kaido may be a bastard, but Yamato is innocent.

Besides, Yamato and Oden had some connection, so he had even less reason to refuse.

Since he had spoken, the other members of the White Team wouldn't object even if they had some opinions. Besides, the sunny, enthusiastic, and powerful Yamato quickly became friends with everyone, and the matter was decided happily just like that.

Even Izang didn't say anything.

This cross-dressing man did dream of killing Kaido, but he also knew that it was basically impossible, and the current outcome was already very good.

As for Yamato, he fought so hard in the battle, what more can be said?

"Yamato, you'll stay in the Second Division from now on."

Whitebeard made a decision that surprised everyone.

Since Oden's death, the Second Division has been without anyone. Now that Whitebeard has brought Yamato into the Second Division, doesn't that mean he's planning to rebuild it?

Furthermore, Whitebeard didn't force Yamato to call him "father" or anything like that; you could say he gave her the same treatment Oden received back then.

"Okay, boss, I'll try my best!"

Yamato clenched his small fist in agreement, then said, "So, are we going to find Mr. Seven of Bamboo?"

Without that mysterious Seven of Bamboo, Yamato would never have been able to gain his freedom.

The white-bearded man nodded solemnly: "Of course!"

"Seven of Bamboo, and that Uriel Sith, I owe them a huge favor."

It's no exaggeration to say that the White Team was able to escape unscathed and even save the people of Sphinx Island entirely thanks to those two guys.

Whitebeard is a man who always repays kindness, so he would never forget to repay a debt, even if the recipient is a member of the Navy.

"Don't worry, Yamato. That Seven of Bamboo looks pretty strong. Dad might even want to take him in as his son!"

Teach, with a steak in his left hand and a beer in his right, laughed heartily, revealing his missing front tooth.

The white-bearded man laughed and cursed, "Teach, you idiot! I don't just adopt everyone I see as my son!"

Everyone burst into laughter, unfazed by Teach's antics.

Amidst the joyful atmosphere, no one noticed the sly glint in Teach's eyes.

"Damn it, that guy took the Dark-Dark Fruit!"

His heart pounded wildly at the thought of it.

During the battle in Wano Country, he heard many Beast Pirates shouting that their treasure vault had been stolen, so Teach secretly interrogated a member of the Beast Pirates.

He remembered that when the Seven-Tailed Fox came to the ship and encouraged Whitebeard to attack Wano Country, he mentioned that Kaido's treasure trove might contain a powerful Logia-type Devil Fruit, and he had kept that in mind ever since.

After some questioning, Teach indeed obtained an important clue—

When that Seven-Tube was escaping from the treasure vault, he said, "I'll take the Dark-Dark Fruit!"

Upon hearing this news, Teach was both surprised and delighted. On the one hand, he was happy that he had finally found the Dark-Dark Fruit, but on the other hand, he was afraid that the fruit would be eaten by the Seven Tunes.

But it's not a big problem. Even if that guy eats the Dark-Dark Fruit, I have a way to snatch it back!

"Seven of Bamboo, the Dark Fruit will be mine sooner or later."

Teach licked the juice from the corner of his mouth and rejoined the banquet.