Sengoku shook his head. "Fine. We caught one atleast. Since Teach ran off to join forces with Mock, then send him to Impel Down. Lock him in-"
He paused, as he frowned.
The man was a Whitebeard crew member, but he had no reputation. Still, Sakazuki had put it that way...
"Level Four-"
*Purupurupuru!*
The Den Den Mushi on the desk rang sharply.
Still frowning, Sengoku snatched it up. "What is it?"
Whatever he heard next made him shoot to his feet. His brows lifted. Rage simmered behind his voice. "What?! He's broadcasting again? You've got to be kidding me! Can't that bastard keep quiet for five minutes? Declaring war on the Marines? Didn't he do that ages ago? Fine. I'll watch it myself right now!"
He slammed the receiver down, grabbed the remote, and ignored Garp and the Admirals watching him. He switched on the office's projection dial.
A moment later, the screen lit up. A familiar figure appeared.
Hargon D. Mock.
Everyone's gaze sharpened instantly.
On the screen, Mock stood with his arms folded, eyes blazing, face set with unyielding authority. He looked ready to vent pure fury as he bellowed, "I'll say it one more time. Marine HQ, listen up. Release my nakama. He's my important family member. If you don't, I don't mind playing your game!"
"If you don't let him go, I'll start a war without question. Think twice before you act!"
"I'm giving you a chance right now. I don't want to spill blood, but for Teach, I'll see this through to the end!"
"Teach, I'm definitely coming for you!"
*Bzzzt.* The screen went dark.
"Bwahaha! Now this is interesting!" Garp howled in laughter.
"That's it?"
"Ooh, how terrifying~!"
"We absolutely cannot let him get away with this!" Sakazuki snarled.
*BANG!*
A thunderous slam shook the room.
"What is he trying to pull?!" Sengoku's palm crashed onto the desk. He glared at the blackened screen. "He threatened the Marines?! Does he think we're terrified of him?!"
And right in front of the entire world? Was this meant to humiliate Marine HQ?
His face cycled from green to red, but just as quickly, an idea crossed his mind. His expression steadied. He dropped back into his chair, looked down at the file, and he muttered under his breath, "Marshall D. Teach."
His head snapped up again, and his voice took on a measured, icy edge. "Inform Impel Down. Lock Marshall Teach in Level 6, Infinite Hell. Maximum security. No accidents. On a day to be chosen soon-"
He paused. His voice went hard.
"Marine HQ will execute him publicly, before the eyes of the entire world."
A little earlier.
Impel Down.
"Idiot, get moving! Keep your head down and behave."
The jailer's bark snapped Teach back to the present. He suppressed fury from his face, but he quickly plastered on that simple, fawning grin. "I'll behave! I'll behave! I'll be good, I swear!"
The jailer's tone was vicious. Teach showed no anger at all. He looked like he had stepped straight back onto the Whitebeard ship, good old honest Teach, just like before.
Shackles heavy on his wrists and ankles, a smile on his face, he followed the guard without a word.
He knew exactly what kind of situation he was in.
Him. Marshall D. Teach.
Decades he had spent on the Moby Dick, playing the honest fool. Burying his ambition. Hiding his dream. A nobody drifting across the sea. He had even made up his mind: if he never found the Dark-Dark Fruit, he would just live out his days quietly.
And then, he never saw this coming.
Decades of lying low, no reputation to speak of, and the moment he crossed paths with the Son of the Pirate King, Marine HQ locked onto him.
He thought about it and wanted to slap himself senseless.
Wasn't it good enough to just stay put on the ship? Why did he have to think the Pirate King's two sons could lead him to that fruit? Why did he think they might be useful? Those dumb bastards weren't even useful to themselves, how would they have been useful to him? He had told himself over and over: don't take risks until you find the prize!
And now look. Decades playing the fool, no fruit to show for it, and he had landed himself in Impel Down.
Thinking back, Teach grimaced and let out a silent sigh.
What did he do to deserve this?
In his head, he cursed Mock up and down. And he cursed the Marine Admirals too, for good measure. Were those bastards blind?
Mock was right there! And they ignored him to chase down some no-name pirate? And they sent two Admirals after him! Who was he to warrant that kind of firepower?
The moment he had spotted that lineup on those warships, his face had gone ashen. That force could take on the Whitebeard Pirates! He immediately proposed they split up and run.
It went without saying, that main Marine force was there for Mock. Against opposition like that, Teach never even considered fighting back.
Running was the only sane option. And Mock had agreed with his suggestion.
Though, come to think of it, that guy sure acted like he owned the ocean. Stirred up plenty of chaos too. But something about him always felt off to Teach. Almost like the guy wasn't as bold as he made himself out to be.
Not that Teach said anything. The man was confirmed as the Son of the Pirate King, unafraid of the World Government, spilling secrets left and right, how could someone like that be a coward?
And with the persona Teach had built up, he couldn't exactly go telling Whitebeard anything. So he let it slide.
Teach had figured at least two Admirals would go after Mock. Then he and Ace would only have to deal with the remaining forces. Sure, the Marines had numbers, but compared to facing Admirals, he would take the rank-and-file any day.
As for Garp... a nuisance, but nothing he couldn't handle. He fully believed that teaming up with Ace would let them escape easily.
But he never expected that while one Admiral went after Mock, another would be left behind to capture him. And Garp went after Ace.
Against one Admiral, he was still confident he could get away. Just a little extra trouble, that was all. Once he got far enough away, the Marine wouldn't keep chasing a no-name pirate like him for long.
But again, he never expected 'another' Admiral to show up!
What was he supposed to do against that? So after a brief exchange, he surrendered outright.
He wasn't surrendering blindly. If he gave up fast enough, Mock wouldn't have time to escape either. They would send that extra Admiral after him, and Mock would be captured too.
And then, once they were both thrown into Impel Down, even if no one came to rescue him, someone would definitely come for the Son of the Pirate King. With all eyes on Mock, Teach could find a way to slip out in the chaos.
However, yet again, he did not expect the Admiral who went after Mock to come back alone. And the Marine Hero who went after Ace came back empty-handed too!
And so, here he was all alone.
Teach stared bleakly at the gloomy, sweltering depths of Impel Down before him, a string of vicious curses lodged in his throat.
So he was the only one who got caught?! Were the Admirals and Garp all useless? Forget Mock, he didn't know the man's true strength. But Ace?! Ace had talent, but not to that ridiculous extent! The man who captured the Pirate King couldn't even catch a rookie?
As Teach was cussing them out in his head, a voice barked.
"Oi, you'd better keep up! If you make me late for lunch, don't blame me for what happens! Get moving to Level 4, now!"
"Sorry, sorry!" Teach snapped back to attention, chuckling. "I got spooked by this place. Zoned out for a sec."
He ducked his head and followed obediently, mentally noting down all the things he would do to this jailor after escaping.
He hadn't given up yet. Captured and thrown into the world's greatest prison, he still wasn't worried. Given his lack of global reputation, the Marines wouldn't lock him up too deep. Escaping was brutal no matter the level, but with his hidden strength, it was quite possible he could break out on his own.
And he still had a trump card. The Pirate King had two children. That card, however, he would not play unless it came down to a critical, life-or-death moment.
Just as Teach had resolved internally to lie low, lull the guards into complacency, and quietly wait for a chance to escape...
The moment he stepped into Level 4, a familiar voice echoed from a communication terminal beside the passage.
"Teach, wait for me! I, Hargon D. Mock, will definitely come back to save you!"
Right after that, the transmission cut out.
Teach froze in sheer bewilderment.
What just happened? He stood paralyzed, staring blankly at the silent Den Den Mushi.
A moment later, his heart jolted. But not from joy.
What the hell is that bastard trying to do?
===============
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