【Chapter 15】：Van Auger and Burgess Join, Vivi's Request!
Night.
In the center of Asuka Island village, on the first half of the Grand Line.
The elderly hunchbacked priestess, now holding a glass of alcohol, stood on a high stone platform and shouted to the crowd sitting around the bonfire:
"We survived today thanks to Mr. Blackbeard. Everyone, raise your glasses with this old one and thank Mr. Blackbeard for his life-saving grace! To Blackbeard————"
"To Blackbeard!!!"
Hearing this, the people around the bonfire all laughed happily and raised their glasses.
Seeing this scene, Teach, who was sitting to the side, couldn't help but roar with laughter and also raised his glass to drink.
On the contrary, the group of Marines who had just walked to the village entrance looked at each other upon witnessing this scene, then each sighed and turned to leave.
The merriment belonged to others, not to them.
No, it should be said that they were unworthy!
Only three Marine officers, Duma, Bismarck, and Bocconghe, stared at the people laughing together with pirates in the village center plaza for a long time without speaking.
The words spoken by Teach earlier had simply been too shocking for these Marines.
If what that pirate called Blackbeard said was true, not only did the Celestial Dragons destroy a country every three years, but they also held killing contests within them... What chilled them the most was that the Marines were their protective umbrella!
Thinking about how the Celestial Dragons had ruled the world for over 800 years, just how many countries had they annihilated and how many people had they killed...
Duma, Bismarck, and Bocconghe didn't dare think too much. Just thinking about it sent chills down their spines!
Hell is empty, and all the devils are here!
"Bismarck, Bocconghe, I will get to the bottom of this matter!"
Duma raised his hand to grip the long sword at his waist, his youthful face filled with solemnity as he said:
"I will not allow the justice of the Marines to be tarnished!"
"Duma, we believe in you!"
Hearing this, Bismarck and Bocconghe both trembled, then roared in unison:
"Let's go! Back to base!"
Duma took one last look at the joyous Asuka Village, then led the group of Marines away.
Inside Asuka Village.
At this time, the survivors of this incident began toasting Teach one after another, expressing their gratitude.
Only after the villagers and merchants surrounding Teach to thank him had left did Van Auger and Jesus Burgess, who had been sitting in the corner silently drinking, look at each other and simultaneously stand up to walk over to Teach.
Seeing the two approaching, Teach couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Before he could speak, the two bowed to him and said:
"Thank you for saving our lives, Lord Teach!"
Hearing this, Teach took a swig of alcohol and laughed:
"You two aren't just here to thank me, are you?"
The two glanced at each other, then Burgess grinned and said:
"Wihahahaha————, that's right. As expected of Lord Teach. Auger and I want to become your subordinates. We wonder if Lord Teach would agree to let us follow you?"
Although Van Auger didn't speak, his eyes behind his glasses also betrayed a hint of nervousness.
Teach pointed at the two and said:
"You should know that I am a division commander under the Yonko Whitebeard. If you follow me, the battles you'll face in the future will be far more dangerous than today. Are you prepared to die in battle?"
Hearing this, the two were instantly so excited that their bodies trembled as they roared:
"Of course, Captain Teach!"
Teach waved his hand and said:
"Good. Then rest for the night. We set sail tomorrow!"
"Yes, captain!"
Van Auger and Burgess were extremely excited. They never imagined that he would actually agree to let them follow him.
Although they had never heard of such a big shot before, they believed that a captain as powerful as him would one day become world-renowned!
The three of them then continued to chat and drink until the end of the feast.
Van Auger and Burgess also learned from Teach about the current situation in the New World and their future adventure plans.
Only then did they realize that the two of them were actually the first two crew members their captain had recruited after setting sail, and their ship was still docked in Water 7.
This made Van Auger and Burgess even more excited.
Especially when they heard that their captain would teach them Haki after they boarded the ship to enhance their strength, it made them feel the urge to die for his cause.
In their excitement, the two of them got drunk and passed out snoring on the side.
Just as Teach was about to lie down and rest, his brow suddenly twitched, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth:
"Since you're here, just come over directly.
After all, you've been waiting for so long.
Is there something you want from me, Princess Vivi of Alabasta?"
As Teach's words fell, the two people who had been hiding behind a nearby stone pillar, secretly observing, trembled.
Although they didn't understand how their identities had been exposed, they also knew that in the face of such a powerful person, they had no chance of escaping.
Moreover, they had their own thoughts. Therefore, after exchanging a glance, the two stepped out from the darkness behind the stone pillar.
The person who emerged was none other than Princess Vivi with her aqua blue long hair.
She currently had her hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a light green jacket and blue and white spaghetti strap top, with white tight shorts and white high-heeled short boots on her lower body.
This outfit made her, who should have been quite youthful, seem a few years more mature. Coupled with her exquisite and alluring figure, she didn't look like a teenage girl at all.
Following behind her was her guard, Icarium.
Vivi looked at the tall and imposing man in the distance, sighed, and said:
"Mr. Teach, I thought I had hidden quite well and didn't seem to have exposed my identity since coming to this island.
I'm very curious, how did you know my identity?
Could it be the power of a Devil Fruit?"
Icarium behind her also looked at Teach with a wary expression.
Teach grinned and said:
"How should I put this?
As people from the first half of Paradise, you probably aren't aware that in this world, besides Devil Fruits, there is another power called Haki!
And I used Observation Haki to cover nearly half the island when I first arrived, and overheard your conversation with your guard Icarium.
It's that simple."
"What!"
Vivi and Icarium exclaimed in shock upon hearing this.
They never imagined that this man was not only immensely powerful but also possessed such an ability!
They didn't doubt Teach's words, as in their eyes, such a powerful man had no need to deceive them.
Whoosh————
After taking a deep breath, Vivi's eyes gradually filled with determination. She knelt on both knees with her hands on her knees, bending her slender waist as she solemnly said:
"Mr. Teach, I want to ask you to save Alabasta. For this, I am willing to pay any price!"