Teach spoke in a hushed tone, outlining his pn i detail. His voice carried a hint of excitement as he id everything out.

  "Once we have a hostage in our hands, we gain the upper hand.

  With the old man's personality, he won't abandon his crew.

  Even if he knows it's a trap, he'll still charge in headfirst. As long as we set things up properly…

  The Whitebeard Pirates will be finished!"

  Teach's excitement was evident as he shared his thoughts.

  Cudius, sipping his tea, nodded occasionally, giving the impression that he agreed with Teach's pn.

  Standing nearby, Nia, the head maid, couldn't help but feel fused.

  "Why is His Highness even asking this? Isn't this exactly what he and Fleet Admiral Sengoku discussed before?"

  Cudius notiia's puzzled expression but didn't bother expining.

  Participation, it was all about making Teach feel like he was an important part of the pn. Cudius kly what kind of person Teach was—an ungrateful, backstabbing wolf. There was no way Teach would genuinely work for someone else without thinking he was using them iurn.

  So, the best way to handle him? Let him believe he was the one in trol.

  Cudius had already predicted that Teach would propose a pn like this, which was why he allowed Teach to speak freely. If there were any differences, Cudius could subtly "suggest" some adjustments to steer things in the right dire.

  Wheime came and everything unfolded as peach would look at the situation and think, "Damn, Cudius really trusts me. Everything is goily as I pnned!"

  That sense of self-importance would make Teach feel more secure and more reckless.

  Teach was ing, adaptable, and good at judging situations, but he had a fatal fw: arrogance.

  When the operation began and he saw things pying out just as he envisioned, he would iably grow overfident.

  And that, in itself, was another yer of trol.

  If Cudius ever decided Teach was no longer useful, his arrogance would make him easy to deal with. But if Teach still had value, allowing him to bee pt would only make him more reliant on Cudius.

  A pawn was most useful when it believed it could reach the other side of the board.

  After all, a piece that thought it was winning would struggle harder to stay in the game.

  Teach tinued presenting his pn, his words filled with fidence. Cudius nodded, pretending to be deep in thought. After a while, he finally spoke.

  "What you're saying makes sehe pn is solid, and the strategy is feasible. But Teach, Whitebeard's division anders aren't easy targets.

  The Wover has attempted simir operations before. The Marines have put siderable effort into this kind of p nothing has ever e of it."

  Hearing Cudius aowledge his strategy, Teach couldn't help but puff up with pride.

  "Ze hahahaha! Yhness, that's only because I wasn't there!"

  Cudius ughed. "I see. So, you're willing to take on this mission?"

  Teach suddenly realized he might have gotten too carried away.

  Quickly adjusting his demeanor, he adopted a more humble tone. "Of course, Yhness. I am more than willing to serve you. Not only does my identity make me the perfect fit for this pn, but I also coordih you from the inside, setting up the perfect opportunity to eliminate one of Whitebeard's division anders."

  Cudius tapped his fingers against the table, as if sidering Teach's words. Then, he smiled and said, "You're bold, Teach. I admire people like you. Very well—let's go with your pn."

  Teach was thrilled, but before he could speak, Cudius added,

  "But don't be too hasty."

  Teach immediately calmed down.

  "If we're going up against e, we 't afford to be reckless.

  The Wover will o make proper preparations on its end. You, oher hand, should return and y low for now. Wait for the right moment.

  Once everything is in pce, I'll tact you."

  As soon as Cudius finished speaking, Nia produced a Den Den Mushi from seemingly nowhere and ha to Teach.

  "Take this. His Highness will tact you wheime es."

  Of course, Cudius wasn't about to give Teach his personal Den Den Mushi signal, who knew what kind of trouble this guy might cause? Instead, he provided him with a "VIP line", ensuring trolled unication.

  Teaderstood the reasoning. The key to this pn was catg Whitebeard off guard. If everything was set up properly, they could strike before he had any time to react.

  He had waited decades for his moment. What was another year or two?

  Teaodded without hesitation. "Yes, Yhness. I will follow your instrus and remain undercover within the Whitebeard Pirates."

  Cudius acted as if he valued Teach immensely, nodding in satisfa.

  "Good. I won't fet your tributions to this pn.

  And ohings are in motion, I will arrange for you to bee a Warlord of the Sea."

  Teach had already suspected that killing Moria would earn him a Warlord title, just as Cudius had hinted before. With that in mind, he had been scheming on the journey bad forth.

  Teach had no iion of serving under Cudius forever. This was merely a temporary alliance, a way to seize more power before eventually going his own way.

  But before that, he o extract every possible be from this arra.

  A Warlord title would be useful, a perfect cover to protect himself while gathering strength.

  So, the moment Cudius made the offer, Teach eagerly responded, "Thank you, Yhness!"

  Cudius remained calm. "You've been away from the New World for a while now. If you don't return sooe might grow suspicious.

  Now that you have the Dark-Dark Fruit, go bad resume your role.

  Wait for my signal."

  Teaderstood, this was his cue to leave.

  He bowed deeply and said, "Yes, Yhness."

  Turning to leave, he suddenly paused, as if remembering something. Then, with a hesitant expression, he gnced back at Cudius.

  Cudius smirked.

  "Hah. You're really selling this act, aren't you? No wonder you pyed dumb under Whitebeard for so long."

  Feigning mild fusion, Cudius raised an eyebrow. "Something wrong?"

  Teach coughed awkwardly. "Ahem… Pardon my boldness, but… does Yhness possess one of the Road Poneglyphs?"

  A wicked smile pyed on Cudius' lips. He gave Teach a meaningful look before replying,

  "Quite knowledgeable, aren't you? Most people don't even know those exist.

  Yes, I do.

  I took one from Whole Cake Isnd ba the day."

  Of course, it was actually Dragon who had acquired it, but there was no way Cudius would tell Teach that.

  Hearing this firmation, Teach's heart burned with greed.

  "Yhness… what do you pn to do with it?"

  Cudius chuckled.

  "You certainly have ambition, Teach.

  Enel, Dofmingo—many pirates serve under me. If a Pirate King must rise, it's far better for him to be secretly trolled by the Woverhan to allow the seas to desd into endless chaos."

  "In this world, pirates ever be pletely eradicated. I uand that much.

  But if you prove yourself, who knows? You might just get a ce."

  Teach was stunned.

  "Damn… This guy really thinks big."

  It wasn't enough for Cudius to trol the Warlords. Now, he wao create a Wover-approved Pirate King?

  At that point, Marines would be under gover trol… and pirates would be, too.

  Wouldn't that make the entire world his?

  Teawardly marveled at the sheer audacity of the idea.

  But outwardly, he smiled and said, "I will do my best to prove my worth to Yhness!"

  Cudius waved a hand dismissively.

  "Good. Now go."

  ***

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