Chapter 16: Annie (1)

Seth Island, a prosperous business and renowned tourist destination in the New World, is a large island known for its pleasant and warm climate throughout the year.

Teach strolled alone on the street, feeling a sense of boredom. It had been fifteen days since he departed from White Sand Island, passing by several other islands along the way, including Gem Island, Grand Island, Kuku Island, and Yellow Island. Gem Island was abundant in valuable gems, causing power struggles among numerous pirate and underground factions. The island was characterized by chaos, with no established ruler. Each day, intense battles would erupt as these factions fought for their share of the coveted benefits.

Although Teach had a relatively uneventful stay on Gem Island, he did not leave empty-handed. He admired the emerald bracelet adorning his right wrist. While the gem's dark green color may not be eye-catching during the day, it emitted a subtle glow at night. Teach cherished the bracelet, crafted with skillful precision into skull-shaped emeralds, each with perforated edges, connected by elastic ropes.

Additionally, a thin silver chain adorned his neck, holding an obsidian necklace featuring a skilled crafted small sword made entirely of obsidian. Teach had purchased this unique accessory for half a million Baileys from a small shop.

Grand Island, known as a plant-rich land, housed a diverse range of flora, some of which were highly dangerous, capable of consuming humans. The island's dominant forces were the plants themselves, often serving as hosts for venomous insects and snakes. Large and small creatures had become extinct on this island, making its primitive and distinctive ecosystem a sanctuary for rare and precious herbs. Unfortunately, the number of people who disappeared on the island each year remained unknown.

Kuku Island, a volcanic landmass, presented an ominous sight with its large volcano seemingly on the brink of eruption. A breathtaking view from above revealed a crater filled with red-gold magma. The ground itself appeared deep red, emanating temperatures comparable to flames, reaching up to three hundred degrees. While vegetation was scarce, the island's unique environment had led to the evolution of fire scorpions, salamanders, fire snakes, and other organisms resistant to the harsh conditions.

While Kuku Island was inhospitable for human habitation, its strategic location made it a vital hub connecting the five islands. Over time, towns with thriving populations emerged on the island's edge. These settlements were constructed using wood, minerals, plastics, and other high-temperature insulation materials, with the ground elevated up to three meters in height.

Due to Kuku Island's unoccupied status, any attempt to attack or claim the island would provoke the anger of other island factions, leading to a united front against the intruders.

In contrast to Gem Island, Yellow Island boasted a wealth of ores. It had fallen under the control of a powerful pirate with a bounty of 700 million berry, who reaped substantial profits by exporting the ores

As Teach continued his solitary walk through the streets of Seth Island, he contemplated his next adventure and the potential treasures that awaited him in this new location.

"Hey there! Would you like to come and try our freshly baked desserts?" A dessert shop stood before Teach, where a beautifully dressed girl warmly greeted guests at the entrance. Spotting Teach, her eyes sparkled, and she waved enthusiastically with a smile on her face.

"Mhmm not a dessert fan myself, but if there's cherry pie, I won't hesitate to spend some Berry!" Teach replied, catching the girl's attention. "Yes, we do have cherry pie. Come on in. Would you prefer a sweet or savory one?" She beckoned Teach to enter, her eyes fixed on him. Teach seemed like a well-off customer, and she didn't want to miss out on such a opportunity.

"Let's start with 4 servings, both flavors" Teach found a spot by the window and sat down without delay. He took out a tissue and carefully placed it on his clothing, displaying a seriousness of a gourmet's eagerness to savor the food.

In the past, on another island, someone had relied on false advertising, claiming their cherry pie was delicious. The staff they recruited had average skills, their products were overpriced. The taste wasn't up to his standards at all, not worth the price! Such scams!

When Teach ate the pies from that place, it infuriated him. So he did what anyone else would, he vented his anger in the shop, leaving it in ruins. The staff behind the shop met their demise, their bodies strewn in pools of blood, their faces filled with extreme fear.

"Alright, here's your cherry pie, sir." The girl efficiently served Teach without delay. Four servings of cherry pie, steaming and fragrant, were placed in front of him.

"Give it a try. How does it taste?" The girl sat in front of Teah, her chin resting on her hands, gazing at him with curiosity.

Teach, already enticed by the enticing aroma, put on a transparent glove and took a piece of cherry pie from the table. "Mmm, it's absolutely delicious! This cherry pie is amazing, absolutely delightful!" Teach savored the cherry pie, relishing each bite. Within moments, the pie vanished from his hand and made its way into his belly.

Observing his satisfied expression, the girl felt happy by her culinary skills. It brought her immense joy, causing her big eyes to form crescent-shaped smiles. Though it did confuse her why he had to wear gloves but oh well..

"Salty pie crust with sour cherry sauce. It would be perfect with a cup of black tea." Teach enjoyed drinking tea, especially when indulging in cherry pie.

"Here you go!" The girl promptly poured a generous bowl of black tea for Teach.

"Annie, don't neglect the other customers! I'm overwhelmed here!" A mature, beautiful woman wearing a plain floral dress emerged from the back kitchen, holding a plate filled with desserts for the guests. Spotting Annie, she called out to her.

"Sure, Mom!" Annie responded, standing up. "Sorry, we're quite busy at the moment. I'll be back when things calm down. Afternoon should be easier," Annie assured Teach before hurrying to assist her mother.

Teach had a smile on his face as he picked up another slice of cherry pie, savoring it slowly.

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Soon, every piece of cherry pie on the table had been devoured. "Annie, I'll take 30 more servings of cherry pie—half sweet and half savory!" Teach said out to Annie, who had returned.

Annie was momentarily taken aback when Teach called her by name, but quickly recovered. "Thirty servings? Alright, right away!" Her infectious and kind smile lit up the room. Annie dashed to the back, bustling with regular customers. Not only were the desserts delicious, but her warm greetings made the shop even more popular.

"Haha, thirty servings is a bit excessive. Let's start with ten servings for now. You can enjoy them while I get the rest prepared. I've already asked my mother to make them. I'll bring them over later," Annie returned, holding the stacked cherry pies alone. She placed the tall stack on the table in front of Teach and said, "You won't have to wait long!"

"No worries. You can deliver the other customers' desserts first. I'll be patient." Teach waved and smiled.

"Alright, thank you," Annie responded, grateful for his understanding.

Teach savored each cherry pie slowly. After a while, Annie returned with an even taller stack of cherry pies. "Here are your cherry pies." Sitting in front of Teach, she stretched out and wiped the sweat from her forehead with a tissue. "Phew, I'm finally done."

Annie glanced at Teach, seemingly wanting to say something, but hesitated. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively covered her mouth. "Oh, sorry. I realized I still don't know your name!" She finally spoke up. "I been talking to you for a while and I don't even know your name." Her face blushed, feeling a bit shy and embarrassed.

"Annie, are you always this cautious? You easily approached a stranger like me. How do you know I'm not a bad person?" Teach smiled when he saw Annie's reaction. He took a bite of cherry pie, his smile widening.

"Hmm, human traffickers, for example, specialize in kidnapping lovely girls like you," Teach suddenly wore a wicked and menacing expression, causing Annie to instinctively shrink back.

"Hmph! You can't scare me!" Annie regained her composure and saw the smile on Teach's face. She realized he was just teasing her again.

"I can sense that you're a good..." Annie started to speak but paused, realizing something was amiss. She wanted to say that Teach was a good person, but how could she know that? She didn't know him for long.

After pondering for a moment, her face reddened. "Well, in any case, I know you won't harm me." Annie's appearance was incredibly adorable, and Teach couldn't help but smile. The towering stack of cherry pies partially blocked her face, forcing her to sit to the side and lean forward to talk to Teach. It was quite amusing for Teach to see her in that position. Annie pushed the boxes of cherry pies aside so she could face Teach directly.

"Alright, what's your name?" Annie asked curiously.

"Marshall D. Teach. I'm confident that this name become renowned sooner or later, be on the lookout!" Teach smiled, exuding an air of confidence. His eyes were filled with determination, emanating an aura of absolute self-assurance.

"Okay, Teach it is then," Annie nodded, her eyes brimming with curiosity. "Teach, you must be a pirate?"

"Indeed, you're right," Teach took another bite of cherry pie and nodded.

"Have you formed your own pirate crew? Do you have a pirate ship?" Annie asked eagerly. "Not really, is a work in process." Teach replied.

Annie felt a twinge of disappointment, but quickly recovered. "I've heard that forming a pirate crew isn't that easy, right? You need to find reliable companions and build a pirate ship capable of sailing the seas."

"Yep!, you're quite knowledgeable!" Teach smiled and grabbed another piece of cherry pie, devouring it.

"Hey, Teach!" Annie suddenly grew excited. "We can come up with a name for your pirate crew and even a name for your pirate ship."

Annie laughed excitedly, her big eyes fixed on Teach, who felt his scalp tingle under her gaze. "Do you want my help with the names, I'm quite good at it."

"How about something like the Devil from Hell or the Satan Pirates?" she suggested. "And Teach, what are you skilled at?" Annie adopted a more serious demeanor, resembling a staff officer, as she inquired about Teach's abilities.

"Skills? Swordsmanship and claw techniques," Teach replied.

"How about the Demon Sword Pirate Crew? Or the Blood Claw Pirate Crew? The Demon Claw Pirate Crew?" Annie continued, growing more enthusiastic.

Teach furrowed his brows. "Listen," he said, extending his hand to interrupt the girl's imaginative suggestions.

"What's wrong?" Annie looked a little puzzled.

"Do I really give off such an evil aura? Why does everything revolve around demons, blood, and the like? Can't it be something a bit more normal?" Teach was at a loss for words.

"Haha! Don't you think it sounds cool? Pirates should strike fear into the hearts of others. Doesn't it make people tremble when they hear those names?" Annie said with a smile.

"While the names you mentioned for pirate crews are indeed cool, the name of a pirate group is a serious matter. I've already made up my mind about it," Teach interrupted her, speaking in a serious tone. "Furthermore, if you want to instill fear in others, it's not just about a fierce name. It's about demonstrating strength."

Annie was taken aback. Though she was still a young girl, she possessed wisdom beyond her years. Upon hearing Teach's words, she grasped their meaning. It made sense when she thought about it.

"In that case, what will be the name of your pirate crew?" Annie asked, curious to know his decision.

"The Dark Night Pirates," Teach replied with a smile. His eyes couldn't help but reflect the memories of his past when he first got to this world, of the time when he had embarked on the path of becoming a new person, in a new world. He had to work hard from scratch, shedding tears in solitude during countless nights. The pain he endured in those sleepless hours, the weight of his loneliness, and the companionship he found in darkness—they were all part of his journey.

Suddenly he remembered someone. A figure with blond hair, Monica, held a special place in his heart. She cared for him during his most agonizing moments, guiding him out of the hardships and inspiring him to grow stronger.

Teach was now a completely transformed individual, no longer treading the same path as before. He hadn't followed the original plan of spending over 20 years on Whitebeard's ship, scheming. That path wasn't suited for him. He firmly believed that the right opportunity would come to him one day. And when that time came, you bet he will take it. Darkness would engulf everything in his path for his goal.