Chapter 427: Blackbeard Club

“The Mantis Fruit?” Blackbeard pursed his lips and slapped Lu Bianyi on the shoulder.

“Not bad… Animal-type Devil Fruits boost power quickly, and awakening is easier to achieve.”

Actually, Blackbeard had hoped Lu Bianyi would swallow a Paramecia-type Sound Sound Fruit, or at least a Melt-Melt Fruit—perfectly matching Wapol’s Gulp-Gulp Fruit…

Only then did Blackbeard realize something was off.

“What do they want with Wapol?”

Lafitte shook his head.

“Before leaving, Admiral Kizaru warned us not to break the law. I suspect someone reported Wapol missing.”

In truth, Lafitte had already guessed the reason: the Captain needed the Gulp-Gulp Fruit.

Who else could command both Admiral Kizaru and the royal-power-level Loki?

Admiral Sakazuki?

Kizaru would surely respect Sakazuki’s face, but Loki the Giant Prince would never—only Barzab Seven could command Loki.

Blackbeard frowned, sensing the situation was more complicated than it seemed, but his attention was quickly drawn to the Queen’s Pride, its hull cracked and shattered.

“Those bastards—my ship!”

My new ship! My brand-new ship, barely a day in my hands, already destroyed!

Damn Loki, your father and mine were brothers! You won’t even help me, yet you work for the United Kingdom?!

And damn that white-haired brat—why can’t you properly rein in Loki and Kizaru?

Do you think it’s easy for me to get a new ship?!

At that moment, a merchant vessel passed by the Queen’s Pride; the merchant, wearing the Eight Treasures Club emblem on his bow, shouted toward Blackbeard.

“Mr. Tichi, the bosses have ordered all of you to return—they’ve decided to increase investment in the Black Crew.”

“What?!” Blackbeard’s eyes sparkled with surprise. Had those old-era nobles finally recognized his strength?

So, taking Loki’s hammer blow in exchange for increased investment from the old nobility…

That blow was worth it.

Blackbeard forced calm, determined not to let those old-era remnants discover he was severely wounded.

As Blackbeard suspected, the arrival of Admiral Kizaru and Giant Prince Loki had nearly terrified the old nobles of the West Sea.

Yet upon learning Blackbeard had taken Loki’s world-shattering blow unharmed, the old nobles erupted in excitement.

Across the entire sea, nearly every renowned top-tier powerhouse was under the United Kingdom’s command.

Only Blackbeard possessed both strength and a mission to overthrow the United Kingdom, and he wished to return the sea to its former freedom.

He was practically the nobles’ chosen spokesperson.

They must increase investment massively!

And recommend Blackbeard to the noble alliances of the South and North Seas, fully fund the Black Crew, and wait for the day the United Kingdom falls.

Why not approach the East Sea Noble Alliance?

Because East Sea people are insane—they all take pride in being Barzab Seven’s countrymen, and nearly everyone is a fanatic fan of Barzab Seven.

Not long after, inside the Eight Treasures Club.

“Mr. Tichi, we’ve decided to increase sponsorship by ten billion Berries, plus the Island Fruit, Wine Fruit, and Mythical Zoan-type Pegasus Form.”

“Also, the North Sea Rose Alliance hopes Mr. Tichi will lead the Black Crew to meet them in the North Sea.”

Hearing this, Blackbeard’s pain vanished—he felt like gulping ice-cold cola on a scorching summer day, every pore sighing with delight.

“Blackbeard will not disappoint you.”

Three days later, the repaired Queen’s Pride set sail again, cutting through the waves toward the North Sea.

Though Kizaru had taken the Sound Sound Fruit and Melt-Melt Fruit, he had gained two additional Paramecia-type and one Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

Plus a full ten billion Berries in sponsorship—roughly equal to two white-haired brats’ bounties.

On the Queen’s Pride’s deck, Blackbeard was no longer the man of despair—he radiated the unmistakable aura of a newly rich man.

“Brothers,

our Black Crew has finally taken its crucial step—now we’ll have full meals and endless liquor… and when we reach the North Sea, we’ll throw a feast.”

With that, Blackbeard pulled out ten million Berries in cash, handing five million each to Lafitte and Lu Bianyi.

“Thank you, Captain.”

Lafitte took the Berries with a grin, silently cursing inside.

This fat black bastard is truly stingy.

He’s got eleven billion Berries in his pocket, yet gives us only five million.

What the hell can five million even buy?

Lafitte was merely an intern of the Morning Star Crew, yet his captain casually handed out two billion Berries as pocket money.

The gap between people is truly vast.

The only silver lining: the Black Crew now had funding—Lafitte no longer had to survive on black bread.

“Captain, we still lack a cook, a doctor, a shipwright… and trainees for chores. Also, we can’t call ourselves a pirate crew anymore.”

Speaking of this, Blackbeard grew angry.

You, white-haired brat, were a pirate yourself—yet after founding the United Kingdom, you banned pirate crews? Heartless bastard.

A man must never forget his roots.

“Has the United Kingdom officially banned it?”

“Not officially,” Lafitte shook his head.

“But according to the United Kingdom’s Public Security Regulations, all private armed groups are strictly forbidden.”

“If we don’t want the Marines to check us at every port, we should operate as a registered merchant club.”

Blackbeard paused.

“Fine—Blackbeard Club it is. We can’t fight the Marines head-on yet. We’ll endure a few more years until we overthrow the United Kingdom—then we’ll be free.”

Just as the World Government’s rule had made Barzab Seven feel unfree,

Blackbeard now felt: the United Kingdom’s rule made the sea profoundly unfree.

Alongside his dream of becoming King of the World, Blackbeard had gained a new one—to restore freedom to this sea.

“Captain, I just had a great idea.”

Before Blackbeard could ask, Lafitte continued: “Think—wasn’t it only after you took Loki’s blow that the bosses suddenly decided to increase investment in the Black Crew?”

Blackbeard nodded. “And?”

Lafitte smiled faintly.

“I heard Admiral Aokiji is patrolling the North Sea. Why not challenge him? Prove your strength and win the North Sea bosses’ approval—gain even more investment for the Black Crew?”

“Hssss…” Blackbeard sucked in a sharp breath.

Lafitte’s idea sounded absurd, yet it wasn’t without merit as a way to prove himself.

“Nah, forget it.”

Though tempted, Blackbeard ultimately shook his head and rejected the suggestion.

If he drew the white-haired brat’s attention, he’d have nowhere to cry.

Yet for some reason, thinking of the extra ten billion Berries and three Devil Fruits, he felt a sudden surge of eagerness.

He’d never been this rich in his life.

Besides, the United Kingdom hadn’t issued a bounty on him—after all, all his crimes occurred under the World Government’s rule.

Recently, Admiral Kizaru had merely taken Wapol away—he never truly intended to arrest him.

According to Lafitte’s analysis, Loki attacked because his father, Rocks, had once casually beaten him during a visit to Elbaf.

In other words,

as long as Blackbeard doesn’t commit crimes under the United Kingdom’s rule, he’s a model citizen.

“Maybe… I should try?”

Lafitte nodded firmly.

“Absolutely! Captain, we’re model citizens now—and the Four Seas are holding a Martial Arts Tournament.”

“You challenge Aokiji out of admiration for his strength—no one can find fault with that.”

You stingy fat bastard—you’re in for it!