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

The ice on the table cracked from the shock, and the glass of frozen juice bounced.

Then, to Blackbeard's astonishment, Kuzan reached out with his right hand and grabbed the area below his right knee.

"Snap!!!"

A crisp sound!

He actually managed to break his right calf off at the calf muscle!

The broken surface was not flesh and bone, but a smooth, gleaming ice crystal cut.

The "lower leg" he was holding was actually a meticulously crafted ice prosthesis that was almost indistinguishable from a real leg!

Kuzan threw the icy leg onto the table with a thud. The leg rolled a few times before stopping in front of Blackbeard, radiating a chilling aura.

“My leg…” Kuzan’s voice lowered, “was broken by that bastard Sakazuki in Punk Hazard…”

He lifted up his actual right leg stump, revealing the empty space below the knee and the scars on his body.

“That guy…” Kuzan’s teeth seemed to clench for a moment, “Back then, he really fought with the mindset of ‘I don’t care if you kill me!’”

After speaking, he leaned back in his chair, resuming his languid posture, but the coldness in his words remained undiminished.

"Go back to that navy that was once Sakazuki's subordinate, and now it's following Gern to seek 'independence'?"

"Heh..." He chuckled, shook his head, and didn't continue, but the meaning was self-evident.

The grudge of losing his leg and the ideological conflict prevented him from returning.

Blackbeard narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze sweeping back and forth across Kuzan's face, the severed leg, and the piece of iced leg on the table.

His brain raced, analyzing the truth or falsehood in Kuzan's words.

He had heard about the broken leg. Although the details of the earth-shattering battle between the generals of Punk Hazard were covered up, the result was known to all.

Kuzan was defeated by Akainu, lost a leg, and left the Navy.

This hatred and estrangement seem reasonable.

Kuzan's indifference, and even subtle rejection, of the current state of the navy seems to be understandable.

When he left, the Navy was still under the World Government's control, and Gorn had not yet risen to power.

Although the navy is now independent, it is estimated that Kuzan's original faction in the high command has switched to other factions.

It is said that Gern himself also has a complicated relationship with Akainu.

After all, it could make a powerful competitor suddenly run back to the first half of the Grand Line and stay there quietly.

Blackbeard doesn't believe there was any underhanded dealing involved!

Therefore, given Kuzan's personality and his irreconcilable feud with Akainu, it is entirely possible that he would be unwilling to be subordinate to his future colleague.

More importantly... Kuzan demonstrated strength and attitude.

The overwhelming power that instantly froze the outer perimeter of Beehive Island and annihilated the three key officials, "Evil King," "Evil Wolf," and "Cursed Doctor," was truly immense.

He stormed into the heart of the matter, using the lives of Blackbeard's men as leverage to negotiate.

It also perfectly fits the image of a top-tier powerhouse who has lost his sense of belonging and whose actions gradually become more self-centered and extreme.

A former admiral who broke with the Navy, possesses terrifying strength, and may harbor resentment towards both the World Government and the Navy...

Blackbeard's heart began to pound uncontrollably.

Although he had many powerful men under his command, as Samuel said, almost none of them were truly loyal; they were all gathered together for profit or fear.

If someone like Kuzan could join us, even if it's just temporary cooperation or utilization, his value would be immeasurable!

Not only can it greatly make up for the lack of high-end combat power, but its symbolic significance and deterrence on all forces are also unimaginable!

As for the risks...

Blackbeard licked his lips.

When has Marshall D. Teach ever been afraid of risk?

Trying to negotiate with a tiger for its skin or snatch chestnuts from a fire is exactly what he excels at!

"Hahaha..." The gloom on Blackbeard's face slowly faded, replaced by an exaggerated smile.

"I see! I see, Kuzan!"

He strode back to his seat, sat down heavily, and stared intently at Kuzan.

"The hatred of a broken leg is irreconcilable! That magma bastard Sakazuki, and the Navy that favors him... you really don't deserve to go back!"

Blackbeard seemed to instantly become Kuzan's confidant, and said indignantly.

Then, he changed the subject, his smile becoming meaningful:

“I think… I understand what you want to talk about, Kuzan.”

Blackbeard leaned forward, his hands resting on his knees, exuding an extremely imposing and inviting posture.

"Look, you are all alone now, possessing top-notch power, yet you have nowhere to unleash your 'inner potential'."

The navy can't go back, and the World Government probably doesn't want to bother with you either.

And this vast ocean can provide you with a stage, and give you opportunities...

"A place to reclaim something from Sakazuki, from those guys you don't like..."

"Hahahaha!!" Blackbeard's grin widened to its maximum, revealing the black hole where his teeth were missing.

"Isn't this right here?"

"Honeycomb Island is easy to defend and difficult to attack! My dual Devil Fruit abilities are enough to rival any Admiral!"

“And my men…” Blackbeard glanced at the ice sculpture Samuel and outside, his eyelids twitching, “cough cough, they are all top-notch fighters!”

More importantly, I'm not afraid of causing big trouble; I just love to make things worse!

What do you want? Revenge? To destabilize the Navy and the World Government?

Looking for new opportunities to practice? Or simply wanting to find a place that offers enough challenge and freedom?

He opened his arms, making a hugging gesture.

“I, Marshall D. Teach, have it all!”

"Join my pirate crew! No, with your strength and status, we can be 'collaborators'!"

On equal footing! Sharing this sea area, sharing the future's 'treasure'!

Blackbeard's voice was full of seductive power: "Think about it, Kuzan!"

Together, we can shake up the landscape of the new world!

"At that time, naval independence, the balance of power among the Four Emperors, the World Government... all will be trampled under our feet!"

"And your lost leg, the humiliation you suffered... we will repay you a hundredfold!"

Chapter 587 The Fall of a General

Inside the hall, only Blackbeard's ambitious and seductive words echoed.

Other cadres, such as Shiryu and Démi, held their breath and watched Kuzan with tension.

They understood that if Kuzan actually agreed, the Blackbeard Pirates' strength and intimidation would instantly surge to a whole new level.

But it also means unpredictable risks and dramatic changes in the internal power structure.

Kuzan listened quietly to Blackbeard's impassioned speech, his face expressionless, only his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the ice on the table.

After several seconds, he slowly spoke, his voice still calm.

"A collaborator? An equal?"

He raised his eyes, and his gaze, seemingly piercing through the lenses of his small sunglasses, landed on the expectant face of the black-bearded man.

"sounds good."

Blackbeard was secretly delighted.

But Kuzan's next words caused his smile to freeze slightly.

"But Marshall D. Teach, why should I believe you?"

Kuzan tilted his head slightly, his tone tinged with amusement:

"A person who can betray even his own father (Whitebeard) and steal his powers."

A man who would sacrifice his comrades for personal gain (he glanced at Samuel's ice sculpture)... how much is your promise worth?

Blackbeard's expression changed slightly, but he quickly put on a smile again: "That's because they're not strong enough! They're not qualified to share the future with me!"

But you're different, Kuzan! You are 'Aokiji'! Your strength is enough to earn my respect and... my fear.

Partnering with us is the most beneficial choice for both of us!

"Oh?" Kuzan remained noncommittal. "The most advantageous option..."

He paused for a moment, as if seriously considering it.

"It's not impossible for me to join or cooperate."

Blackbeard's spirits lifted.

“But,” Kuzan held up one finger, “I have conditions.”

"First, I possess the highest level of freedom, second only to you. I don't want to be locked up in my 'collaborator's' house one day."

"Secondly, you can't control me; I act according to my mood."

“Third, and most importantly…” Kuzan’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

"I need to know about you and the World Government, especially..."

What connection do they have with the 'Five Elders' or even higher?

What makes you think that after your attack on Enel and your complete antagonism of Guern, the World Government will still be a potential 'ally' or 'tool' for you?"

He leaned forward slightly, and a chill unconsciously emanated from him.

"Don't tell me that you just mentioned the World Government offhand."

Marshall D. Teach, you're a gambler, but you never gamble without a chance of winning. What cards are you still holding?

“Tell me this,” Kuzan leaned back in his chair, resuming his languid posture, “and perhaps then we can truly begin… ‘talking’.”

The pressure instantly shifted from Blackbeard's side to the three conditions proposed by Kuzan, especially the last one.

It involves Blackbeard's deepest secrets.

Blackbeard's smile slowly faded, his eyes becoming unfathomable, but the emotion vanished in an instant.

"No problem, welcome to the team!!"

...............

The news of Aokiji and Kuzan joining the Blackbeard Pirates has caused chaos in the New World, and the Navy has dropped another bombshell.

Although the details are vague, the core facts are shocking.

Former Marine Admiral "Aokiji" Kuzan has officially become a new core member of the Blackbeard Pirates!

A figure at the peak of his power joined a pirate crew led by Blackbeard, a user of two Devil Fruits, which already included many vicious criminals.

The Blackbeard Pirates' strength was instantly elevated to a chilling level by all parties.

Its threat level has quietly shifted from "a force that needs to be wary of among the Four Emperors" to "a dangerous variable that could trigger a dramatic change in the power structure" within many factions.

Cross Guild, Kalai Bali.

"This is really...unexpected." Bucky the Clown held the newspaper, his hands trembling, his blue nose twitching, whether from fear or excitement, it was hard to tell.

Beside him, Crocodile, with a cigar in his mouth, stared at the report with a gloomy expression, tapping his gold hook lightly on the table, without saying a word.

“Tsk tsk tsk…” Barolorik Redfield, the solitary red, elegantly swirled his red wine. “The tides of time are getting more and more interesting.”

The Red-Haired Pirates, Red Voss.

Ben Beckman's lit cigarette remained unlit for a long time, with a long trail of ash accumulated.

Raki Lu stopped eating the meat.