In the deepest, most hidden dark corner of this world, Blackbeard's figure stood silently like a shadow devouring light.
His eyes narrowed, flickering with an eerie light, as if capable of seeing through everything.
His broad back enveloped the entire room, and the air became heavy and dull as he softly hummed an out-of-tune melody.
This was an abandoned underground city, the dim firelight reflecting off the rough walls around.
The mottled cracks on the marble seemed to record the secrets of countless years.
This had become Blackbeard's most secret base—a hell erased from the map.
“Hee hee hee…”
Blackbeard chuckled, his voice hoarse and deep.
He stood before a long table, holding an ancient map seized from the World Government's treasury.
Every stroke on the map seemed to tell a long-sealed history.
“As long as there is light in this world, there will be darkness, and I—I am the embodiment of darkness!”
He looked up, his eyes revealing an undisguised fanaticism, then suddenly slammed his fist on the table, sending dust flying.
At the other end of the room, rows of figures stood motionless.
These were his newly recruited subordinates, each with cold eyes, bulging muscles, and filled with murderous intent.
They were the world's most heinous outlaws, yet they willingly submitted to Blackbeard's feet because he could give them everything they desired—wealth, power, and endless opportunities.
Wealth swept from the World Government's treasury piled up like mountains, the light of gold and jewels making the walls dazzling.
Blackbeard transformed these resources into tangible power.
His army had surpassed the scale of any single nation, even rivaling top-tier forces.
In a huge training ground, thousands of warriors were undergoing hellish training.
They wore uniform black armor, with a skull symbol representing Blackbeard embroidered on their chests.
The clanging of swords mixed with roars, the momentum like a volcano about to erupt.
“Hee hee hee… With this power, plus my Dark-Dark Fruit and Gum-Gum Fruit, who in this world can stop me?”
Blackbeard slowly walked to the edge of the training ground, watching all this with a grim smile on his face.
......
When night fell, Blackbeard summoned his core officers.
Surrounding the long table were his most trusted and capable subordinates.
Morphtler tapped the table with his fingers, his expression grim:
“Boss, where should we attack next?”
“Hee hee hee, don’t be impatient.”
Blackbeard casually tossed a grape into his mouth, chewed it, and spat the seeds on the ground,
“That Jin An, after the battle of Elbaf, his fame can be described as reaching the sky.
He is a trouble, but if we let the World Government and him fight to the death, wouldn’t that be better for us?”
Vander Decken raised a glass of wine and said softly:
“Sir, we have already grasped some secrets of Mary Geoise. If used properly, we can completely contain Imu.”
Blackbeard's eyes lit up slightly, then he waved his hand:
“Hee hee hee, don’t rush, wait until they bite hard enough, then we’ll pick up the ready-made ones.
As for Imu… sooner or later I will settle things with her.”
Blackbeard's laughter echoed in the room, his shadow projected on the wall, huge and distorted, as if the entire world could not bear his ambition.
He knew that he was just getting started. When the time was ripe, the order of the world would be completely overturned, and he—he would be the one standing on the dark throne.
“Hee hee hee… Be prepared, the truth of this world is about to be revealed.”
......
The palaces of Mary Geoise appeared particularly magnificent under the cover of night, with thousands of lights adorning this symbol of power like a heavenly court on earth.
In the spacious hall, the gold and jade decorations and snow-white stone pillars complemented each other, and the air was filled with subtle tension and anticipation.
The kings and nobles of the World Government's member states, as well as the overlords of the underworld, gathered in twos and threes, holding exquisite goblets in their hands, feigning conversation, but in fact everyone's eyes were quietly scanning the center of the palace.
“Dong… Dong… Dong~~~”
Suddenly, a deep bell rang out over the palace.
Accompanied by this solemn music, the door slowly opened.
The new Five Elders slowly walked out of the shadows, gradually appearing in everyone's view.
Each step they took on the smooth ground seemed to step on everyone's heart, making people involuntarily hold their breath.
“Whirr…”
Applause rang out the moment the Five Elders appeared, starting with a few scattered sounds, then sweeping through the entire palace like a tide.
The applause was filled with awe, as well as an inescapable fear.
Walking at the front was a slender man with white temples but a face as cold and sharp as a knife.
When his eyes swept around, all conversation stopped instantly.
His aura was like a sharp blade ready to be unleashed, and the slightest carelessness would shatter all attempts at disrespect.
Behind him, the other four were each dignified.
Some wore helmets and armor, their shoulders as broad as mountains, as if they were giants born for battle;
Some wore long robes, with a cold temperament, but their eyes were as sharp as hawks;
Others wore simple casual clothes, with smiles on their faces, but the smiles were chilling, like snakes staring at their prey.
The five stood side by side, like an insurmountable mountain, setting off the door behind them as small as an ephemera.
“Are they the new Five Elders?” A king standing in the corner whispered to his entourage, his voice trembling slightly.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the entourage leaned over and whispered, “I heard that their backgrounds are more unfathomable than the previous generation, and each of them has extraordinary strength.”
In the underworld circle, Morgans held a wine glass, his eyes darkly sizing up the Five Elders.
He lowered his voice and lightly smacked his lips: “This aura is even more frightening than those five old guys before.”
Stussy snorted coldly, a playful smile appearing on her beautiful face:
“It's just a group of old wolves in new clothes, still the World Government's old tricks.”
Despite her dismissive tone, her eyes never left the Five Elders' figures, and the deep meaning in her eyes was unfathomable.
The leader of the Five Elders walked to the center of the palace, where a huge emblem symbolizing the World Government hung on the high platform.
He raised his hand, and the applause stopped abruptly, silence shrouding the entire palace.
“Thank you all for coming.” His voice was deep but loud, echoing in the towering dome,
“A new era has arrived, the order of the world needs to be updated, and we are the ones who bring this order.”
His eyes swept over everyone, as if confirming who were allies and who were enemies. The silence of a few seconds made countless people break out in cold sweats.
Although Jin An's name was not mentioned in this speech, everyone present knew it.
His existence was like a sword hanging over Mary Geoise's head, no one dared to look directly at it, but no one could ignore it.
Piecklow took a sip of wine and whispered:
“The new Five Elders are here, it seems this game will be more interesting.”
Feld smiled slightly, stroking the wine glass in his hand:
“Yes, I'm afraid there will be a bigger storm next.”
...
