Kaido and Blackbeard didn't kill Weevil outright.
After tossing him into the dungeons of Thunder God Island under heavy guard, Blackbeard followed Kaido to a vast hall.
There, seated around a massive round table, were several figures already waiting.
"Ze-hahaha! Looks like you're all more eager than I am!" Blackbeard laughed, eyeing those gathered around the table.
"Wang Zhi of Hachinosu, the Lizard King Hanafuda… arent we all old acquaintances?"
"Who's an old acquaintance of yours?" Wang Zhi snorted coldly, crossing his arms as his dangerous gaze lingered on Blackbeard.
"Kaido, don't forget—I'm only cooperating with you so I can keep sailing these seas as a carefree pirate… not to waste my time with a bunch of fools obsessed with making headlines."
"Wang Zhi… still the same temper, but you don't have a choice, do you?" Kaido sneered. "After your clash with Shiki's new Flying Pirate Fleet, Hachinosu suffered heavy losses… If you don't ally with me, it won't be long before the Marines' most dangerous forces set their sights on you."
Wang Zhi opened his mouth but said nothing in response.
Because he knew Kaido was right.
At present, he was all show with no substance.
Once targeted by those lunatics from the SWORD Classified Special Forces, his life would surely be forfeited!
Meanwhile, the Lizard King Hanafuda said nothing more, merely nodding at the others before turning back to gaze obsessively at the... Devil Fruit in his hand.
It appeared to be an Ancient Zoan-type fruit, shaped like a sharp claw.
Had Michael been here, he would have recognized it instantly.
This man called Hanafuda was none other than the former Warlord defeated by Ace in the original story.
"Our alliance can't just consist of us few, can it?"
Blackbeard surveyed the atmosphere before taking a seat at the empty spot around the round table.
"We're going up against Michael. Of course I need more allies."
As Kaido finished speaking, several more figures emerged from the shadows of the hall.
Looking up, even Blackbeard's eyes flashed with shock.
"Kishishishi! Seems that Michael guy has really pissed off a lot of people over the years!"
The first to let out strange laughter was a man nearly as tall as Kaido, his onion-like hairstyle bizarre beyond measure.
It was none other than one of the Seven Warlords—Gekko Moria.
"Gekko Moria? Weren't you Michael's lapdog? Barking obediently for scraps of meat... Oh wait, Michael left the Marines years ago. Life hasn't been kind to you lately, has it?" Wang Zhi mocked openly.
"And now... you'd collaborate with your former rivals and enemies?"
"Because I realized Michael granting me the title of Warlord was just raising me like livestock, waiting to see if I'd be replaced by stronger contenders... So I'd rather team up with Kaido to kill the real... demon."
Clap clap clap clap
A round of applause sounded.
The ones clapping were three other individuals.
And these three were likely the people present who understood the current Michael best.
Demon Heir, Douglas Bullet.
World Destroyer, Bryndy World.
Lone Red, Patrick Redfield.
The three formidable men formerly by Shiki's side.
Now, they had joined Kaido's alliance of villains as collaborators.
Notably, Redfield no longer look old.
Presumably, with Bullet and World's help, he had obtained the legendary fruit.
Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire—a Mythical Zoan.
Yet despite his restored youth, Lone Red retained the calm demeanor cultivated over decades.
"How amusing. Though you'd all love to kill each other, that blade named 'Michael' hanging over your heads forces you to cooperate despite mutual loathing... Bullet, you made the right choice. Where else could we witness such entertaining drama?"
Redfield chuckled.
Blackbeard had gradually regained his composure, the earlier shock merely momentary excitement.
Originally, he had only been in contact with Kaido...
Now, it seems Kaido's hatred for Michael...
Could be described as utterly bone-deep resentment.
After everyone had taken their seats, Blackbeard noticed an empty spot.
"This... is someone missing?"
The moment the question was voiced, the Den Den Mushi on the vacant seat, which had been tightly Shut, suddenly awoke.
"Fufufufufu! How could such a gathering of villains be complete without me, Doflamingo?"
"As long as you wish to kill Michael... then we are the strongest alliance!"
"The betrayer of the Whitebeard Pirates, the remnant of the Rocks Pirates, the tyrannical ruler of the Beast Pirates, the avenger of the Moonlight Pirates, the collector of Ancient Zoan fruits, the madman known as the Demon's Heir, the solitary red outcast, the savage world destroyer..."
"And me, the purest embodiment of evil!"
"We will surely make that guy with angelic wings..."
"Fall from the sky..."
"Never to rise again!"
...
"Achoo!"
Michael suddenly sneezed, then rubbed his nose.
At this moment, he stood on the deck of the Seraphim Ship.
Beside him, along with the ever-present Jack and Yamato, was a person whose beauty was so androgynous it blurred gender lines.
It was Izo, the 16th Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Michael sighed as he looked at Izo's face and shook his head.
Michael's own face was already quite perfect, certainly topping the charts in the realm of handsomeness...
But he lacked Izo's feminine charm.
"Izo, tell me, are you really a man?"
"Michael-san... I know of your strength, but please stop joking about my face."
Izo smiled wryly.
He was well aware of the gossip his face invited.
Back in Wano, he had suffered no shortage of hardships because of it.
But among the Whitebeard Pirates, no one ever mocked his appearance.
To them, no matter how beautiful or ugly, they were all children of the same father...
Family.
So, when Oden chose to board Roger's ship, Izo, as his retainer, for the first time did not follow Kozuki Oden but stayed with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Until today.
"Well, I've just never seen someone with your kind of charm before."
Michael said, looking toward the distant country shrouded in clouds.
"Look, we're arriving at your homeland..."
"May I ask what brings you to Wano?"
"Simple."
Michael wore a relaxed expression.
"To collect a debt."