Chapter 415: Blackbeard Escapes the Cage

Petre Saint reached out to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then lifted the wine glass on the table, gazing at the slowly swirling crimson liquid within as he sneered coldly:

"So what if he truly is manufacturing an Ancient Weapon?!"

"The only Mother Flame capable of driving an Ancient Weapon is in our hands; even if Pluton is constructed, it will be nothing but an empty shell, possessing only a false appearance."

"It might even serve to suppress Britannia's expansion speed, which may not be a bad thing for us."

Mars Saint nodded, expressing agreement with this:

"That is correct."

"The scale of Britannia is unprecedented; it now possesses the capability to truly threaten the World Government's rule."

"Once the Four Seas are pacified and the Grand Line is brought back under control, the next step will be to address the chaos of Britannia, no matter how immense the cost."

"After all, the events concerning Rocks from over thirty years ago remain vividly clear."

"These madmen who call themselves pirates are ungrateful wolves that cannot be tamed; once they seize an opportunity, they will not hesitate to turn and tear a large chunk of flesh from their master."

"Yet they fail to realize that being allowed to prostrate before us is already the greatest grace bestowed upon them!"

Inside the office, silence reigned, with only the gazes of the Five Elders growing increasingly icy.

The atmosphere was solemn, nearly freezing the very air.

Both Gao Wen and Britannia had already approached the upper limit of what they could accept.

Even though Gao Wen currently still bore the title of Warlord of the Sea and was nominally an affiliated force of the World Government, he was no exception.

After all, anyone could see that the title and privileges of the Warlords of the Sea were fundamentally incapable of restraining the world's strongest monster.

"Should this matter be reported to Lord Im?!"

Xia Mu Luo Ke asked aloud, while Warcury Saint, standing nearby, shook his head:

"That individual is currently not in Mary Geoise; regarding matters concerning Britannia, I will personally report them after his return."

"Just in case."

"Dispatch members of the CP organization to investigate Britannia's construction of Pluton."

"If they truly possess the capability to construct Pluton, then even at the risk of total collapse, we must eradicate this threat while it is still in the cradle."

"Even if... it means accelerating the speed at which the world sinks, we will not hesitate!"

"In that case, I have no objections."

Xia Mu Luo Ke performed a perfunctory bow before turning and departing.

Saturn Saint watched Xia Mu Luo's retreating figure until it had completely vanished, then turned to look at Warcury Saint and reminded him:

"That group led by Roubo Luqi returned to Mary Geoise a few days ago; should we find an opportunity to eliminate them, or..."

Warcury Saint shook his head:

"Do not act rashly; this might provoke Knight Gao Wen."

"After all, according to the intelligence we previously obtained, the reason Knight Gao Wen intervened in the Pluton Supremacy Battle in Water Seven two years ago was precisely because of Roubo Luqi."

"By the way."

"Isn't the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament about to begin?!"

"Let Roubo Luqi go there."

"If he dies on the arena floor, it will have nothing to do with us."

"Heh~"

Several cold sneers echoed within the office as the lights gradually dimmed into darkness.

At the same time.

Impel Down.

Infinite Hell.

Located at the very bottom of Impel Down, this place lies hundreds of meters beneath the sea.

For those imprisoned here, the only things visible to evildoers are darkness, darkness, and more darkness!

Amidst the endless waiting, countless pirates who once dominated the seas could not endure, their minds collapsing until they became living corpses.

Naturally, this did not include Blackbeard.

Originally, the only thing sustaining him was the notion of seizing Whitebeard's power and thereby becoming the King of the World.

But after the Summit War, revenge against Xiang Gaowen had become the motivation sustaining him through this imprisonment devoid of light.

The more painful it was, the more agonizing, the more irritated he became by the endless darkness, the more that hatred in his heart would grow.

"Gao Wen—!"

A suppressed, muffled shout was squeezed out from Blackbeard's mouth, causing his entire face to twist with hatred.

"Do not do such pointless things."

Shiryu glanced at him before withdrawing his gaze:

"Conserve enough stamina, accumulate more strength, and wait for that sliver of hope for escape."

"That is the only way out."

Having said this.

Shiryu closed his eyes to feign sleep.

Yet his gradually heavy breathing, along with the killing intent growing ever thicker throughout his body, still betrayed that his inner state was not as calm as he claimed.

Blackbeard naturally sensed this and suddenly took interest:

"Unable to even control your own killing intent; it seems you are in no position to criticize me?!"

"Ah."

Shiryu opened his eyes, recalling Roubo Luqi's contemptuous gaze, and felt a surge of fury:

"No matter what... I must personally slay that fellow!"

"I too have an enemy I must avenge, another exceedingly arrogant fellow, yet his strength is undeniably formidable."

Blackbeard curled the corner of his mouth into a slight smile, slowly sat up, gazed at Shiryu in the cage nearby, and extended his hand:

"Hey~"

"I can feel that thick, unsettling killing intent emanating from you."

"Become my companion."

"On the day we break out, let us make this entire sea boil together."

Shiryu glanced at him, then turned his head to look at the tightly shut gate in the distance, saying nothing.

The pirate who had long been imprisoned here sneered contemptuously at Blackbeard's words.

"Don't speak such foolishness."

"Ever since the last Impel Down invasion incident, that bastard Magellan has intensified the defenses."

"Escaping is nothing but a delusion."

Yet just as this pirate's voice fell, a sound erupted from the distance.

Crash—!

The gates of Infinite Hell opened.

Blinding Bai Guang streamed in from outside; a slender girl wrapped entirely in bandages walked slowly inward against the glare.

Countless fully armed guards clustered around her, fearing any mishap.

Blackbeard narrowed his eyes, gradually making out the newcomer's figure:

"This is..."

"Has some extraordinary big shot arrived?!"

"Wait, you are..."

Blackbeard's pupils shook violently.

For within the perception conveyed by his Observation Haki, the one standing before him was not a person, but a marionette under control.

No!

There truly existed some entity manipulating this woman from behind!

Blackbeard had once witnessed Doflamingo use the abilities of the String-String Fruit to manipulate an opponent's body, but all of that was incomparable to what was unfolding before his eyes now.

What this fellow controlled... was the soul!

"Did you feel it?!"

The girl raised her eyes; her pupils dilated then contracted in an instant, and her aura changed drastically in that same moment.

Jet-black wings unfurled behind her, and a slender black tail extended from her tailbone.

Swathed in black flames, she took the form of a demon from legend.

In her eyes lay an indescribable arrogance and aloofness, like a god enthroned in the heavens looking down upon the crawling insects below.

Even though not a shred of aura leaked from the figure before him, in that instant Blackbeard felt a terror akin to facing Gao Wen directly!

No!

It was even a fraction stronger than Gao Wen had been back then.

Could there truly be another such monster?!

Blackbeard was both shocked and terrified, yet his expression grew even uglier in the next instant.