The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

His plan to seize the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was a move he had meticulously planned for a long time.

His top-tier destructive power and speed among Logia-type Devil Fruit users, if combined with his already mastered Tremor-Tremor Fruit and Dark-Dark Fruit...

His pirate crew's power will truly reach an unparalleled level.

At that time, the Four Emperors' power structure and the Navy's independence will all be shattered by the absolute power of thunder and shock.

Unfortunately, at the most crucial moment, all their efforts were in vain.

Not only did he fail to succeed, but he also completely exposed his intention to take advantage of the chaos, thus creating a deadly feud with the navy led by Gern.

The thought of that man's cold gaze and the formidable reputation of "Tianzhen" sent a shiver of fear through even the arrogant Blackbeard.

"Hehe, Captain Teach."

A calm, slightly feminine voice broke the suffocating silence.

The speaker was a man sitting to the right of Blackbeard.

He was tall and thin, wearing a dark purple robe with intricate patterns, and half of his face was painted with twisted fungal designs.

Only his chin and a pair of eyes with an eerie green luster were visible.

His left hand rested casually on the armrest of the chair, his slender, pale fingers holding countless tiny...

Vibrant mycelium seeped from my fingertips, slowly meandering along the handrail as if alive, growing and quietly withering away.

The cycle repeats itself, exuding a strange aura that blends decay and rebirth.

This man was none other than "The Cursed Doctor" Samuel Kronos, a legendary pirate with a bounty of 1.14 billion.

After being defeated by Gern, he went through several twists and turns before finally finding a new place with Blackbeard.

He replaced the late "Big Barrel" Basque Jolt and became the core ship doctor and combat force of the Blackbeard Pirates.

“It’s no use being upset now.” Samuel’s voice came through the mask, carrying a calming rhythm.

"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit is good, but if I can't get my hands on it, then I'm out of luck."

The most urgent task is to consider how to deal with the situation that is about to unfold.

Our attempt to ambush Enel failed, and instead, our actions and intentions were exposed.

Given Gern Reginald Sigmar's current modus operandi and the Navy's independent stance... retaliation will likely come very soon.

After saying that, he gently raised his left hand, and the active mycelium instantly retracted into his fingertips.

"What we should be thinking about is how to survive this storm, and even... find new opportunities."

Samuel Kronos, the "cursed doctor," was genuinely afraid of Guern, who had beaten him like a dog when he was still a brigadier general.

Upon hearing this, Blackbeard fell silent.

Samuel's words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing some of his anger and allowing reason to regain its advantage.

Then he looked around at the cadres present:

To his left is Shiryu of the Rain, his face stern, quietly wiping his famous sword "Thunderstorm".

This former Impel Down warden is undoubtedly strong, possessing superb swordsmanship and ruthlessness, making him one of the most reliable combatants in the crew.

To Shiliu's right, besides Samuel, was Katrin Demi, the "Crescent Moon Hunter," dressed in a flamboyant manner and touching up her makeup in front of a small mirror.

Seemingly nonchalant, but far from simple on the surface, it possesses the power of a Zoan-type Inu Inu Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Nine-Tailed Fox.

It is extremely threatening in terms of change and deception.

She herself was a notorious pirate who required Kuzan's personal intervention to capture back then.

Further down are the other captains and senior officers, such as "King of Evil" Pissaro, and the wolf with the severed hand...

Other notable figures include "Fighting Champion" Gizas Bages, "Sound Over" Van Oka, and "Death" Doc Q.

The lineup may seem impressive, but Blackbeard knows that the quality and quantity of high-end combat power remains a major concern for him.

He himself is a dual Devil Fruit user, and his strength is such that he can stand at the top of the ocean.

Samuel Kronos has a mysterious origin, unpredictable and bizarre abilities, and his true strength is unfathomable.

Shiryu is a top-tier fighter, on par with great swordsmen.

The wolf is incredibly strong, but its agility and intelligence are its weaknesses.

Butterfly has special abilities, but direct confrontation is not her forte.

The other officers, while capable enough for the New World, are no match for opponents of the caliber of "Cataclysm," let alone admirals.

Even if they encountered a lieutenant general from headquarters, they would probably be outmatched.

Especially now, they've offended the rising star, Gern.

That man commands forces including "God" Enel, "Hawk Eye" Mihawk, "Devil" Barrett, "Gold" Tesoro, and "Snake Princess" Toritoma, among other calamities.

Not to mention Gern himself.

Chapter 584 The Bitter Cold

“Samuel is right…” Blackbeard spoke slowly, his voice low, “The Navy… that guy Gern won’t let us go.”

He needed to establish his authority and show the world the consequences of provoking the new navy.

And we are the perfect target.

After saying that, Blackbeard touched the crisscrossing scars on his chest, his eyes flashing with a fierce light: "But I'm not one to be trifled with either!"

Beehive Island is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Pizarro's Island-Island Fruit can bring the entire island to life, turning it into the strongest fortress and trap.

Lao Tzu's Tremor-Tremor Fruit can trigger tsunamis and earthquakes, while his Dark-Dark Fruit can devour all attacks.

Even with a top-class general leading the team, a defensive strategy here might not yield favorable results!

“That’s right, Captain Teach!” Burgess grumbled, waving his muscular arm. “Let them come! It’ll be a good opportunity to try out my new moves!”

“However, we still need to plan our retreat route in advance.” Van Oka calmly wiped his sniper rifle, the “Thousand Six,” and said slowly.

"The navy's fleet firepower should not be underestimated."

Poison Q lay weakly on the back of his sick horse "Zhuangzhuang," coughing twice: "Cough... Death... The Navy is coming, we can't beat them..."

The cadres expressed their opinions one after another, some passionate, some somber, and some calculating.

Blackbeard looked at them, and his unease eased slightly.

Beehive Island has been operating for many years and is now as solid as a rock.

As long as he doesn't blindly go to sea to fight the main naval force, he is confident that, relying on the terrain, he can make any invading enemy pay a heavy price.

At this moment, Samuel Kronos spoke again, his voice still calm, but he posed a more profound question:

"Defense is certainly feasible, but passively taking hits is not a long-term solution."

Captain Teach, the Navy's independence, the World Government's silence—a new world order has been drastically altered.

The Beasts Pirates have been unusually quiet since the Jack the Drought incident, the Big Mom Pirates have also shrunk their territory, and Shanks' whereabouts are unknown...

A much bigger storm is brewing over this vast ocean.

As he spoke, his eerie green eyes turned to Blackbeard: "Should we... proactively seek some 'variables,' or... 'allies'?"

"Allies?" Blackbeard scoffed. "Who else on this vast ocean is worthy of being my ally?"

Kaido? Big Mom? Or that pretentious Shanks?

Which one of them doesn't want to devour me?

“It might not be one of the Four Emperors.” Samuel shook his head slightly. “Would the World Government really be willing to remain silent?”

The Five Elders, the Knights of God, CP0... the power they wield remains terrifying.

And what they fear most right now is undoubtedly Gern.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend..."

Blackbeard's gaze sharpened.

“And then there’s… the Revolutionary Army,” Samuel continued. “That Dragon guy has been operating in the shadows all along.”

The independence of the navy weakened the direct control of the world government to some extent, but it also brought new and more powerful order maintainers.

The revolutionary army's living space may be further squeezed.

They also need 'variables'.

“Even…” Samuel lowered his voice, carrying a hint of seduction.

“Those forces hidden in the shadows of history… are not just us remnants.”

"Captain, you possess the Dark-Dark Fruit, which allows you to steal abilities... that in itself is a huge 'attraction'."

Blackbeard fell into deep thought.

Samuel's words opened up a new avenue for him.

Holding onto Beehive Island is merely a stopgap measure; to truly rise in the new era and realize his ambitions...

We must take the initiative, stir up trouble, and seize the greatest benefits amidst the chaos.

The World Government, the Revolutionary Army, the hidden great pirates... and even the other four emperors, under sufficient interests and pressure, may well engage in limited cooperation or exploitation.

The key is how to seize the opportunity and how to snatch chestnuts from the fire.

“Guhahaha…” Blackbeard suddenly laughed, his initial low voice gradually turning into a flamboyant and ambitious laugh. “Interesting! Samuel, you’re right!”

Hahaha... Zhehahahaha!!!

The new era has arrived! Hiding here like a coward is not the style of Marshall D. Teach!

He stood up, his massive body exuding a strong sense of oppression, the "X" scar on his chest particularly glaring under the light.

"Pass down the order!" Blackbeard's booming voice echoed throughout the hall, "Strengthen the island's defenses, and put all personnel on high alert!"

At the same time... let our intelligence network operate at full capacity!

I need to know everything about the Navy's movements, every unusual activity of the World Government, and the latest intelligence on all forces in the New World!

“Also…” he looked at Samuel, “see if any of our ‘old friends’ in the Holy Land Mary Geoise want to contact us, and… try to get in touch with the Revolutionary Army.”

Find those 'mice' or... 'guests' that might be useful to us.

"A new era of storms?" Blackbeard grinned, revealing a toothless smile, his eyes burning with greed and madness.

"Then let the storm rage on!"

Let's see who stands atop the ruins and laughs last!

"Guhahaha... Zehahahaha!!!"

……

Blackbeard's wild laughter still echoed in the hall, the last notes not yet completely fading away...

"call!!!"

Suddenly, the heavy oak door was flung open by a gust of wind!

A wave of icy cold air surged in instantly, washing away the previously hot and stuffy air in the hall.

Instead, there was a chilling, bone-deep coldness.

"what?!"

Everyone in the hall was taken aback and instinctively looked towards the door.

The once bustling and chaotic town scene outside the gate, filled with the style of One Piece, had completely disappeared.

As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast expanse of white.

The crystal-clear ice covered every inch of the ground, every building, and every street.

Thick icicles hung from the eaves of the houses, and bottles of wine, playing cards, and even the astonished expressions of the pirates, all frozen in mid-air, became part of the ice sculpture.

The whole world seemed to be instantly put on pause, crammed into an eternal ice cave.

Silence reigned, utter stillness.

Even more chilling is that the giant skull mountain, which was the embodiment of the "Evil King" Avaro Pizarro, has completely lost its vitality at the direction of the town entrance.