"I've merely heard of you. As a Marine, I naturally keep an eye on some of the more well-known masters on the seas."
Faced with Issho's question, Atlas answered readily, without a trace of awkwardness.
"The Marines... their intelligence network is indeed unparalleled on the seas. I have heard as much. Seeing it today, it truly lives up to its reputation."
Issho stopped walking. His closed eyes turned in Atlas's direction as he continued, "I wonder, which of the Admiral candidates might you be?"
In Issho's Observation Haki, the life signature of the Marine beside him was just as dazzling and piercing.
Ever since he blinded himself, he had relied solely on his keen Observation Haki for daily life and movement.
Moreover, his Observation Haki not only had an extremely wide range, but it could also read people's emotions. But that was its limit; he couldn't read minds.
Malice or goodwill —nothing could escape his perception!!
"Codename: White Tiger!!"
Issho was stunned. "To think you are the Marines' youngest Admiral candidate?"
Clearly, he had heard of Atlas's reputation.
"I have heard of your deeds in the Sabaody Archipelago. A pity that it only treated the symptoms, not the root cause..." Issho said with a look of regret.
"Oh? Sir Issho has been to Sabaody?"
"Indeed. I'm sure you've guessed... I have no other hobbies in this life..."
As he spoke, a shy smile appeared on Issho's large face.
"The vice of gambling... is truly one I cannot quit. I must have made a fool of myself."
"Just now, Sir Issho, you said that the world is full of such shameless, despicable people. And you must also understand my character. So, I will be direct."
"I wonder, Sir Issho, if you would be willing to join the Marines? To join me in purging the evil of this world?"
That's right. Atlas wanted to recruit Issho.
As a future Marine Admiral, Issho's dedication to justice was beyond question.
His inclination toward the Marines was naturally not small. His current strength was certainly no less than any of the four Admiral candidates, and he would be a great help to what Atlas planned to do in the future.
Issho was silent for a moment, then said, "Please allow me to refuse. I am but a humble wanderer. I fear I cannot shoulder such a heavy responsibility!"
"Why? If a capable person sees evil and does not stop it, is that not an evil in itself?"
Atlas asked, confused.
Issho shook his head slightly, his voice strained. "There are some things the World Government does that I simply cannot accept."
Although he had witnessed the evil deeds of many pirates on his travels, the wickedness hidden beneath the World Government's glamorous exterior was just as prevalent.
Although his impression of the Marines was decent, as a subordinate organization of the World Government, the two were the same. Naturally, they shared in both glory and disgrace!
"Hehe~ I see."
Hearing Atlas's words, Issho thought the other had given up on recruiting him.
He picked up his cane-sword and slowly walked forward.
"But what if I said that in the future, the Marines will only represent the Marines? What would Sir Issho think then?"
The moment he spoke, Issho's leg, which had just stepped forward, froze. He mulled over Atlas's words, his mind carefully dissecting them.
"The Marines...Only represent the Marines? Sir... what do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said."
...
Pleasure District, in a dark alley. A burly, fat man walked by, cursing, his face hidden in the shadows.
"Damn it, I was tricked!!"
Blackbeard thought of the scene at the auction, and he wanted to strangle the newspaper that had advertised it.
Are they that poor?
Would it kill them to buy a camera that takes colour photos?
He had arrived at the auction full of anticipation.
Of course, it was anticipation, not treasure.
As a pirate, wouldn't it be easier to steal the fruit? Being polite... is not what a pirate should do!
As long as he got the Dark-Dark Fruit, he could proceed with the next step of his plan. As for his strength being exposed, that no longer mattered.
But.
The moment he arrived, he was dumbfounded.
Although the patterns on that Devil Fruit were similar to the Dark-Dark Fruit's, the colour was completely different!
Yellow!!
It was the Paramecia-type, Poop-Poop Fruit!
When the auctioneer pulled back the curtain and a poop-yellow fruit was placed before him, his face looked as if he had just eaten ten pounds of crap.
He had carefully fabricated a lie, painstakingly found the Pleasure District's location, and travelled thousands of miles to get here.
He thought he was about to receive the foundation stone for his future as a ruler of the seas.
He never expected fate to play such a cruel joke on him.
The Poop-Poop Fruit!
And a Paramecia, at that!
If he weren't still trying to lay low, Blackbeard would have flipped the entire auction hall right then and there.
The Pleasure District was not like other places. It was a chaotic mix. If word got out that he'd caused a scene here...
Never mind offending the Queen of the Pleasure District...
Just the suspicion from the Whitebeard crew would be enough to make it impossible for him to stay on the ship.
His plan to get the Dark-Dark Fruit would be ruined!
Blackbeard was clear-headed, not letting his anger get the best of him. He was, without a doubt, worthy of the title of the pirate world's greatest schemer.
That patience... It's a good thing he didn't have a wife. Otherwise, if someone cheated on him, he'd probably laugh it off.
"Forget it. Since I'm already at the Pleasure District, I might as well blow off some steam here!!"
Blackbeard angrily kicked a stone at his feet, a lecherous glint in his eyes. He subconsciously licked his chapped lips.
With this thought, Blackbeard strode toward the end of the alley.
He had long heard of the... wonders... of the Pleasure District.
All the stress he'd hidden while on Whitebeard's ship could be unleashed today!!
...
"Hahaha! Good thing I was fast. I finally dodged Beckman's questions."
Shanks, having run onto the Pleasure District ship, adjusted the straw hat on his head. Seeing that no one from the Red-Haired Pirates had followed, he let out a sigh of relief.
"But the Captain really was unreliable... The prophecy he left wasn't clear at all. What did you guys even see on that final island?"
He then thought of Roger's parting words to him, and Shanks couldn't help but frown.
He had already lingered in the East Blue for two years, but he still hadn't found the person from his captain's prophecy, the so-called "Joy Boy"!
"It doesn't matter. It's time to focus on the adventure ahead."
"Maybe I can rely on my own crew to conquer the final island that the captain reached."
In just a second, a smile returned to Shanks's face, and he looked around, carefree.
"By the way, where is this place?"
Looking at the massive, bustling entertainment city, Shanks's face was full of curiosity.
Although he had followed Roger and seen many magical things on the sea as a child, he had never really set foot in a place like this. Roger usually forbade the children on the ship from entering.
Moreover, a place like the Pleasure District hadn't been around for very long.
Perhaps in the past, scattered flower ships were drifting on the sea, but there had never been a leader to unite them.
"Ah, forget it. Too lazy to think. I should have brought Beckman with me. He'd probably know what this place is."
Without thinking much more, Shanks stepped into a nearby alley.
Clearly, these were two separate areas.
The street he was on had a thick, perfumed scent. From the houses on both sides, colorfully dressed young women would occasionally pop out, looking pitifully lovely.
Shanks glanced over, saw the women on the street waving at him, and gave a scornful laugh.
Women...
They just slow down the speed of my sword-drawing.
...
Elsewhere.
Issho, holding his cane-sword, walked forward while muttering to the empty air beside him.
The people around him dodged, clearing a path.
After all, to them, he was just a crazy blind man talking to himself.
"In that case, sir, may I ask your opinion of the Seven Warlords of the Sea system?"
"I have heard... that you arrested one of the Warlords back when you were a rookie?"
Finally, Issho couldn't hold back his questions.
Although he had not yet seen the Warlords committing evil, the idea of pirates being given the "legal right to plunder," being recognised and recruited by the World Government, and becoming official pirates...
This was something Issho, with his own strong sense of justice, could not accept.
"The Warlords do serve to balance the powers on the sea, however..."
"The Marines do not need this kind of stability. The Marines, myself included, do not approve of this system!"
Atlas stated his view unequivocally. This was what he truly believed.
"But, as you know, the Marines cannot yet make their own voice fully heard."
"So, Sir Issho, would you be willing to join me in forging the Marines into the kind of organization we wish it to be?"
Atlas extended the olive branch once more.
"Your vision is one I naturally yearn for, but..."
"Teach! Why are you here?!"
Before Issho could finish, a serious voice came from a distance.
"..."
Atlas and Issho looked at each other (Can a blind man look? (✘_✘)). They stopped their conversation and quietly moved toward the source of the voice.
"Hey! Why did you suddenly come here after hiding on Whitebeard's ship for so long?"
"...Teach!"
Shanks looked at the dangerous man before him, subconsciously touching the scars over his eye, which seemed to ache faintly.
"Zehahaha! Well, if it isn't Shanks! Long time no see!"
Blackbeard, who had just walked out of the alley, was also stunned. He sized up the man, who was even stronger than before, and grinned, revealing his gap-toothed mouth in a wild laugh.
"Heh, I'm not the same man I was back then. If you're thinking of... giving me another scar, like last time... the price will be much higher than a few of my teeth!!"
Shanks quietly placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, Gryphon. His coat fluttered in a non-existent wind as a terrifying aura began to emanate from him.
Unlike Teach, who had been hiding on Whitebeard's ship, Shanks had been travelling the world. The progress in their strength was worlds apart.
Teach was not a "natural talent" like Big Mom, who could do nothing but eat sweets and have children, and still naturally grow to the pinnacle of world power!!
Blackbeard, who didn't even dare to train at full strength, had long since been left in the dust by Shanks!!
"Zehahaha! That's not for certain! If I could give you one scar, I could give you a second."
Blackbeard's gaze hardened. He could feel the aggressive aura from the other man, but he forced himself to remain calm and meet Shanks's gaze.
"And besides..."
"If you attack me, are you prepared to face the wrath of the World's Strongest Man?"
Blackbeard looked at Shanks, who was poised to strike, his face calm, a clear threat in his words.
He was gambling.
Gambling that Shanks would not attack him over a small incident from years ago!!
And that he did not want to face Whitebeard's anger!!
"..."
Shanks fell silent. He slowly released his grip on Gryphon. The terrifying aura around him gradually subsided. He turned his body slightly to the side, but his sharp gaze remained fixed on Blackbeard.
He could tell Blackbeard was bluffing, but he still didn't dare to take the risk.
His current crew could not withstand Whitebeard's anger.
Moreover, Whitebeard had no idea of Teach's true nature. It was not his place to overstep.
"Are you two done? How about I play with you?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind Shanks. Atlas, who had cancelled his Snake Talisman's power, walked out, followed by Issho.
"——?!!"
"Byakko?!"
Shanks and Blackbeard were both startled, their muscles tensing.
Their attention had been so focused on each other that they hadn't even noticed someone approaching.
"One of these guys is from Whitebeard's crew, the other is a famous rookie pirate. You take one, I'll take the other? Old man Issho?"
Ignoring their surprise, Atlas spoke casually to Issho beside him.
"...Since you've offered, it would be rude of me to refuse." Issho bowed slightly and readily agreed.