Chapter 24: Are All the Members of This Guild Monsters?

It wasn't just Sachi who realized what was happening.

Such a massive commotion woke up every single captain of the Bai Hu Zi Fleet aboard the Moby Dick.

"Papa, what's going on?!" Flames erupted across his body as Ace burst into Sachi's room, wrapped in fire, his voice sharp and urgent.

"Blackbeard Tich, planning to assassinate Sachi, the Fourth Division Captain, while he's drunk, steal the Devil Fruit he obtained, and defect from the Bai Hu Zi Fleet."

Bai Hu Zi spoke slowly, expressionless: "I gave Tich a chance. But he betrayed my trust. Therefore, Tich is no longer my son!"

He gripped his naginata tightly as black Armament Haki slowly spread over his body. His Observation Haki extended outward, and the instant Blackbeard was blasted away, Bai Hu Zi locked onto him with unyielding Observation Haki.

Bai Hu Zi, aware of the events before the Summit War, held no underestimation for Tich. He was a creature as cunning as a fox. Upon realizing his exposure, Blackbeard did only one thing: seize every possible chance to escape.

Bai Hu Zi even understood clearly that Blackbeard had been so easily knocked flying earlier—likely because he intended to use Bai Hu Zi's punch to escape more effectively.

"Can you run away, Tich?!"

Bai Hu Zi let out a low roar, stomped his legs, and shot out of the Moby Dick, his body enveloped in Armament Haki.

"Tich… planning to assassinate the Fourth Division Captain Sachi? How could this be…?"

Ace stared blankly at Bai Hu Zi's retreating back, his spirit shattered. Tich was a member of Ace's own Second Division, and they had been close. Sachi, too, was a good friend of Ace's.

Ace also knew that Sachi and Tich had gotten along well. Yet now Tich wanted to kill Sachi for a single Devil Fruit and defect from the Bai Hu Zi Pirates. This didn't just leave Ace hollow—it ignited a spark of fury within him.

For Tich's actions were a complete violation of the Bai Hu Zi Pirates' code, severing all bonds of friendship with its members.

"Tich." Ace forced those two words out through clenched teeth.

Sachi sat motionless. After hearing Bai Hu Zi's words, he understood what had happened. He turned slowly to look at the strange, misshapen Devil Fruit beside him, his expression deeply troubled. His body trembled slightly.

"... Tich... why did you do this? If you wanted this Devil Fruit, you could've just asked me! Do you think I'd ever refuse to give it to you?"

In the guild live stream.

Everyone saw Bai Hu Zi move. His attacks were overwhelmingly oppressive—each slash split the sea open, each punch, even a mere fraction of its force, shattered the clouds above.

He unleashed the full power of his Gura Gura no Mi; cracks spread densely through the air.

Tony Isn't the Richest: "Can't take it, can't take it… too insane! One punch equals a nuclear explosion. Fuck, are all the top guys in this world this terrifying?!"

Fallen Angel Twelve-Winged Black Cat Clan: "... Bai Hu Zi is known as the man who can destroy the world! Do you think 'destroy the world' is just empty talk? And this is only the power he can muster now, weakened by age. If he were at his peak, his strength would be far greater."

My Sister Is Way Too Unlikable: "From today on… we're all Bai Hu Zi fans!"

Symbol of Peace: "... This old man named Bai Hu Zi is terrifyingly strong. Even at my peak, I wouldn't have had full confidence to defeat him."

Miss Xia Shizi: "..."

Xia Shizi, usually so sharp-tongued, suddenly felt a flicker of unease. Holy shit, is this attack and destruction power really normal? One punch = one nuclear explosion?

What kind of guild did she join? Do people in this guild even count as human beings if they have this kind of destructive power?

Xia Shizi recalled her past snarky remarks toward the guild's big shots—and suddenly realized how unbelievable it was that she was still alive.

My Sister Is Way Too Unlikable: "Wait, wait a minute. @Symbol of Peace... you're telling me you could also achieve this kind of one-punch-nuclear-explosion power at your peak? Are you one of these monsters too...? Are there too many monsters in this guild?"

Symbol of Peace: "..."

Symbol of Peace: "I'm strong, sure. But no need to call me a monster. I still count as human."

I Am the Hou Jue: "Is this level of destruction hard? My divine power can achieve similar effects too! Though I lack the power to destroy the world, destroying a top-tier modern technological nation is no problem."

True Person Zhang Sanfeng: "Such divine power—aside from aging and the inability to achieve immortality, he's no different from a celestial immortal."

Su Xiao Xiao: "You're all focused on Bai Hu Zi's power. I'm focused on the fact that Bai Hu Zi hasn't killed Blackbeard yet!"

Fallen Angel Twelve-Winged Black Cat Clan: "..."

Tony Isn't the Richest: "..."

I Am the Hou Jue: "..."

True Person Zhang Sanfeng: "..."

With Su Han's remark, everyone's attention shifted to Blackbeard, who was now directly confronting Bai Hu Zi.

After being blasted away by Bai Hu Zi's punch, Blackbeard's first instinct was indeed to use that terrifying force to escape—seeing Bai Hu Zi's rage, he knew his plan was completely exposed, and all hope of侥幸 was gone.

If he'd been discovered by ordinary crewmen of the Bai Hu Zi Pirates, he might've been able to feign innocence, since he'd always been popular among them.

Probably, if it were just ordinary crewmen, the division captains—or even Bai Hu Zi himself—might've believed him.

But being caught red-handed by Bai Hu Zi himself? What's there to explain? Escape was the only priority.