Chapter 444: Teach’s True Intentions


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    What Ian didnt know was that at the moment he swung his de to chop off Teachs arm, a figure was watching the scene from the sky above the port.


    This figure wore an open-necked floral shirt, a tall top hat, and held a cane in his hand. He had soft and feminine features, who else could it be but Lafitte of the ckbeard Pirates?


    Although he was flying in the sky with his arms that turned into wings, strangely, in the eyes of Ian and hispanions, all five members of the ckbeard Pirates were lying on the ground, injured and helpless.


    What on earth was going on?


    Upon seeing Ian ruthlessly swing his sword, Lafitte shuddered and whispered, Captain was rightthis ck Dragon Ian truly hates him to the bone! Luckily, Ive already nted the seeds of our n, they wont suspect a thing. Now, its time for me toplete my mission.


    After speaking, Lafitte spread his wings without looking back and flew towards the distance.


    As Ian and Ace tied up the members of the ckbeard Pirates with ropes, Doc Q, despite his lifeless appearance, weakly lifted his head and muttered, Fate is the measure of a persons worth. For now, fate may be on your side, but it doesnt mean we have lost our value


    Ian didnt quite understand what this guy was trying to say and just thought he was rambling, so he simply gave him a punch in the face and knocked him down, then tied up him, along with his sickly horse, upside down.


    Burgess, too, attempted to resist when Doroni attempted to tie him up. However, the mans defiance was cut short when Doroni swiftly pped him down.


    Both of them were strong monsters, but Burgess was severely injured now and clearly no match for Doroni


    As for Van Augur, he wanted to resist too, but Robin used her Hana Hana no Mi powers to lock his hands and feet and then he was tied up by Matthew.


    When they were tying up Lafitte, they surprisingly didnt encounter any resistance. Reiju thought he was too injured from Ians previous blow, so she didnt think much of it. After tying him up, she brought him over. All five members of the ckbeard Pirates were put together, and only then did Reiju say to Ian, Arent you going to stop Teachs bleeding? He might bleed to death if you leave him like this!


    Ian thought for a moment, drew out the Senbonzakura, and ck mes surged onto the de. He then pressed the de against Teachs broken arm, using fire to cauterize the wound and stop the bleeding.


    It goes without saying that Teach let out another heart-wrenching scream


    After doing all of this, Ian still felt uneasy, so he said to Reiju, You can use poison abilities, right? Give them some toxins, just dont kill them!


    (T/N: the f*ck, I just thought of something why didnt he kill the other members of the ckbeard crew and just leave Teach! Wtf! The whitebeard has no use for them, and their existence would only raise the chances of Teach escaping!)


    Reiju nodded, crossed her arms in front of her chest, and suddenly her butterfly-shaped cloak behind her expanded and fluttered. A pink mist immediately enveloped her entire body, and then she manipted the pink mist, which floated towards the five members of the ckbeard Pirates, shrouding them within it.


    Soon, Teach and the others began to show symptoms of poisoning, just like Ace had before.


    Seeing this, Ian was satisfied and asked Reiju curiously, Is this a Devil Fruit ability?


    Reiju nodded and said, Yes, I am a Devil Fruit user, the Bug-Bug Fruit Model: Butterfly!


    Ian suddenly understood. Although butterflies are not poisonous, such poison can be produced by consuming poisonous nts. In other words, Reiju does not produce poison on her own, but she can gain poison abilities by ingesting toxins. This could exin why she previously kissed him to extract the poison.


    The port of Nanohana City had been virtually destroyed by the battle between Ian and the ckbeard Pirates. Therefore, Ian and his group had to take Teach and the others into the city. Ace has already contacted Marco and the others through the Den Den Mushi, but they will need some time to arrive.


    In the following week, Ian and his group stayed in this city. At this point, the Straw Hat Pirates had already arrived at the capital of basta. However, the rebellion in this country has be increasingly serious, and Ian and his group could hear people discussing anxiously about the battles between the rebels and the royal army.


    Ian and Ace both know that Luffy and Zoro have probably already fought against the people of Baroque Works by now, so they are worried about them. However, as older brothers, they know that they cannot always protect them. Regardless of whether its Luffy or Zoro, they both need to grow. Therefore, besides paying attention to the news from the Alubarna, they just waited for Marco to arrive, without taking any further action.


    However, what made Ian more and more uneasy was that Teach had been behaving very obediently during this time and had not attempted to escape. This should be a good thing, but for Ian, who knew the real him, he felt that this guy was acting strangely and that something was off


    He had fought against him before, and the first time was on the Whitebeard Pirates ship. Although Teachs possible reason for being cornered leading to desperation was a factor, he had to admit that he had extraordinary physical abilities. When Teachs final punchnded on Ians body, he had felt the immense power behind it.


    Especially considering that Ace, whom Ian knew well, was also extremely skilled in hand-to-handbat. It was well known that Ace had tried to apprehend Teach on his own before (in the original story), and had been defeated by him. Aside from Teachs devil fruit ability to manipte others physical bodies, this was likely due to Teachs superiorbat skills.


    And yet, Ian couldnt shake off the feeling that something wasnt quite right


    Because of Teachs unusual behavior, Ian became more and more wary of him, sometimes even thinking about killing him directly without considering Aces mission.


    Teach obviously felt Ians killing intent towards him, so during this period of time, he didnt dare to let Ian guard him alone. He kept on demanding that Ace must stay around.


    With Ace present, Ian couldnt rashly kill Teach, so he was forced to bide his time.


    Meanwhile, the real Lafitte had already flown to a location that Ian was quite familiar with.


    This is the location of Marine Headquarters in the Red Line, the Marineford!


    When Lafitte appeared, the marine guards immediately noticed him, so countless guns were aimed at him.


    But Lafittended calmly and said to the colonel who approached him, If possible, please grant me an audience with the Fleet Admiral, Sengoku!


    The Marine colonel stared at Lafitte warily and looked him over a few times before saying, Thats impossible! How can a pirate of unknown origin meet the Fleet Admiral! Soldiers, arrest him!


    Just as the soldiers were about to swarm him, Lafitte smiled and said, Wouldnt it matter even if its rted to the Whitebeard Pirates?


    The Marine colonel was taken aback and stopped his men from arresting Lafitte. He couldnt believe his ears and asked, Youwhat did you just say!?


    Before Lafitte could respond, a voice suddenly came from above, saying, Let hime over!


    Turning around, the colonel saw Sengoku overlooking them from the top of the tower, so he had to let him pass.


    Lafitte finally got the opportunity to meet with Sengoku, of course, under the surveince of the marine Admiral, Akainu


    Well, tell me, who are you? Sengoku asked Lafitte.


    Let me introduce myself. Im Lafitte, the navigator of the ckbeard Pirates! Lafitte lifted his top hat with his orchid finger and bowed to the Fleet Admiral. I came here to rmend a candidate who can fill the vacant position of the Shichibukai for the marines.


    You dont need to rmend anyone! Sengoku waved his hand impatiently. The marines have its own considerations when ites to filling the Shichibukai positions. You, a pirate, neednt bother yourself with that.


    However, Lafitte calmly said, Dont be so hasty, sir. The candidate I want to rmend is my captain, Marshall D. Teach, also known as ckbeard! Im sure youve heard of him.


    At this moment, Sakazuki next to him spoke up. He sneered, Ah, so it turns out to be the little punk pirate who defected from the Whitebeard Pirates. And you actually want to rmend him to be a Shichibukai? Are you out of your mind?


    Lafitte justughed it off, twirling his cane. Hahaha! Trust me, this candidate is a sure bet, because soon, our captain will make a name for himself throughout the world!


    Sengoku and Sakazuki looked at Lafittes confident expression and asked with a furrowed brow, What do you mean?


    Now, my captain, the ckbeard has been captured! Lafitte said calmly. By none other than the infamous duo, the ck Dragon Ian and Portgas D. Ace!


    Sengoku and Sakazuki were stunned when they heard this, not understanding what Lafitte meant by saying this.


    However, before they could ask, Lafitte continued, Although he was captured, what I want to say is that my captain did it on purpose! Because next, he will be sent back to the Whitebeard Pirates by Ace, which is also a part of his n!


    Damn it, what on earth are you trying to tell us!? Sengokus patience was wearing thin by this point.


    Why you ask!? And why did my captain send me here? Lafitte asked rhetorically. To offer the marines a deal they couldnt refuse! The ckbeard Pirates will aid the marines in eliminating the Whitebeard Pirates. And in return, the marines promise to induct our captain into their prestigious ranks as one of the Seven Warlords.


    Oh!? An opportunity to crush the Whitebeard Pirates? Sengoku and Sakazuki looked at each other, finally showing some interest. They asked Lafitte, What do you n to do exactly?