#19 The World Notices

"Uh... This one won't do. Too ugly. Doesn't match my style!"

"This one is okay, but it's a bit small. Not fitting for someone like me!"

"This one..."

At 4:40 in the morning, the sky was starting to get light. At the port of Groove No. 8 in the Sabaody Archipelago, Carlo and Blackbeard were wandering around, each carrying a wooden crate.

One of the crates held the foolish Saint Larcher.

To avoid being noticed by any residents or pirates who were either still awake or just getting up, they disguised themselves as pirates transporting supplies to a ship.

To avoid leaving any traces, they went straight from Groove No. 1 to the port of Groove No. 8, planning to depart from there.

They needed to avoid the troublesome areas of Groove No. 1 and No. 3!

You have to understand, the World Government's hounds have incredible noses. They can sniff out events from over twenty years ago!

Regarding the huge raft they used to get here, Carlo insisted they leave it behind.

This time, it wasn't just about being low-class. It was just too inconvenient to travel with a Celestial Dragon in tow!

Having him tied to a raft for all to see? That would be absurd!

So, they decided to steal a ship from the port and leave immediately!

After all, pirates need to do what pirates do...

But before they could start their heist, something unexpected happened.

Blackbeard, that guy, started being picky right at the port!

One moment, the ship didn't match his style. The next, it didn't suit his status. Anyone who knew him would think he was here to shop!

"Enough, Teach, or I'll kick you in the face!"

Carlo couldn't take it anymore. After a quick complaint, he picked a pirate ship at random and jumped on board without waiting for Blackbeard.

"Zehahaha, this one will do. It's big enough. I guess I can manage with it!"

"Who are you... and what are you doing on our ship!?"

Of course, the gangplank wouldn't just be left down, so they had to board the ship forcefully.

This was a large sailboat, and from the pirate flag and symbols on the sails, it was clear it belonged to a sizable pirate crew.

Even though it was early morning and most of the crew was on the island, some people were still guarding the ship.

Carlo and Blackbeard didn't hold back. Climbing aboard with such noise naturally woke the guards.

"What are we doing? Borrowing your ship!"

Carlo didn't waste any time. He immediately disappeared from his spot and punched the pirate who had spoken!

"Intruders..."

The pirate panicked and tried to run and shout to alert his comrades.

But he was too slow!

Now that Carlo had undergone a complete transformation, his enhanced physique brought him incredible speed.

In a flash, he was in front of the pirate!

Just as the pirate started to shout, Carlo punched through his chest, killing him instantly!

In the two weeks they had been traveling together, this was the first time Blackbeard had seen Caro in action. His performance made Blackbeard's eyes light up!

Even though he only took out a low-level pirate, his speed alone showed that his first mate was no weakling!

"Zehahaha, as expected! Someone with Conqueror's Haki is never weak!"

Blackbeard laughed heartily, then followed Carlo's lead.

In less than a minute, the two of them had cleared the ship of all remaining guards.

With Blackbeard's Observation Haki, not a single person on the ship could escape. They were all killed and thrown into the sea!

This efficiency was impressive but not surprising.

After all, this was just a pirate crew from the first half of the Grand Line. No matter how big they were, they couldn't be that big.

Against Carlo in his current state, and Blackbeard fresh from the New World, the entire crew would have been wiped out, let alone just the guards!

"Carlo, you've got some skills! Zehahaha, hard to imagine how someone as strong as you was so miserable when we first met!"

After clearing everything up, the two got to work.

Raising the sails, steering the ship, and pulling up the anchor.

Blackbeard couldn't keep his mouth shut, teasing Caro while they worked.

Carlo, not one to take such jabs, retorted, "Back then, you weren't doing that well either. Sailing the New World on a raft? really?"

He gave a thumbs-up, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Uh... let's not bring that up again..."

Despite the banter, Carlo felt pretty comfortable with the current situation.

Since joining Blackbeard's crew, they hadn't really shown their true strength. This allowed Carlo to keep his abilities under wraps.

Blackbeard wouldn't know how strong Carlo really was, so he could keep enhancing his skills through system tasks without worry!

"I just wonder how powerful Teach will become once he gets the Munch-Munch Fruit..."

"Darkness and Munch powers combined."

This question lingered in Caro's mind.

In the original series, Blackbeard let Wapol escape and didn't complete his ultimate plan!

So, Caro was particularly curious about this.

"Teach, set sail! It's time to go!"

After pulling up the anchor, Caro called to Blackbeard above.

The two then sailed the large ship away from the port of Island No. 8, heading out to the deep sea.

...

"No... no! Saint Larcher is missing!"

Around eight in the morning, a terrified scream echoed through the Celestial Dragon's palace!

That's when Larcher's subordinates finally realized their master had vanished!

The news quickly spread across Groove No. 3!

Within five minutes of the report, the entire Sabaody Archipelago was sealed off!

No one was allowed in or out except for the Navy and World Government agents!

Groove No. 3, in particular, was under the tightest security!

Even ordinary residents were confined to their homes, waiting for door-to-door searches.

Pirates had it even worse. Almost immediately, they were all captured, including some outsiders like merchants...

Protesting was useless. The stationed troops in Sabaody didn't care about complaints.

The World Government had issued a strict order: it's better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one criminal go!

"How dare they attack the offspring of a god? No matter who you are, what your background, support, or strength is, you will face judgment!"

This was the message from Mary Geoise. The World Government was utterly furious!