### **Chapter: The Greatest Surprise**
Blackbeard had waited **years** for this moment. With Ace captured, he immediately contacted the World Government. Using the **Door-Door Fruit's** power, they whisked the Fire Fist away, finally granting Teach his coveted **Warlord title**.
*"My first step to supremacy!"*
Yet something nagged at him as he watched the dimensional door close:
*"Why so easy? Ace is just a Whitebeard Division Commander... Unless..."*
He shrugged. *"Who cares? I got what I wanted!"*
**"Captain, where to next?"** Doc Q wheezed.
Teach grinned. Most kingdoms lived in fear of pirates—except those under **Emperor protection**. But one nation defied all norms:
**Alabasta.**
Enemy to pirates, Marines, and World Government alike—yet **untouchable**. The same nation where Teach had nearly died gathering intel. Now, with his crew assembled, **payback time had come**.
**"Desert Black Prison!"**
Intel from the World Government revealed how **Aokiji** had once breached it single-handedly. While not as infamous as Impel Down, it housed **powerful prisoners** and lacked oceanic defenses.
What Teach **didn't** know:
Marine HQ was in **turmoil** over Ace's identity.
**"Roger's son?!"**
Garp dropped his donuts. Sengoku's face twisted. The Five Elders convened an emergency midnight meeting. The entire World Government tensed.
...
**Desert Black Prison Gates**
Guards spotted four figures approaching:
1. **Jesus Burgess**
2. **Laffitte**
3. **Doc Q**
4. **Van Augur**
Alarms blared. **Hundreds of Kuja-level warriors** mobilized.
Chaka—now **Deputy Warden** after recovering—watched closely. His near-death experience had boosted his potential from **50 GB to 70 GB**, proving Ezekiel's theory: **Extreme stress unlocks latent power.**
The Blackbeard Pirates **held back**, seemingly buying time...
...
**Alubarna Palace**
Ezekiel received the prison alert and frowned. *"Revenge for Impel Down?"*
Then the report clarified: **Blackbeard Pirates.**
His brow furrowed deeper.
*"Was it Teach that Oars chased? And now he's attacking after capturing Ace?"*
A pitying smile crossed Ezekiel's face.
*"You think my prison is as easy to breach as your black holes? That I wouldn't reinforce defenses?"*
He dismissed the concern. **Desert Black wouldn't fall.**
...
**Inside Desert Black**
**"ZEHAHAHA!"**
Teach emerged from a self-dug tunnel, covered in grime. The **Dark-Dark Fruit** made excavation effortless.
*"Where are the guards? After Oars... this feels too easy!"*
Chest puffed out, he swaggered deeper, guns clinking at his waist.
*"First floor's empty—normal for low-risk prisoners."*
At the **elegant wooden gate** to the lower levels, Teach sneered and **kicked it open**, arms raised triumphantly:
**"BLACKBEARD'S HERE! COME GET YOUR SURPRISE!"**
Then—**his grin died**.
The dim lighting revealed a **lanky man** in red captain's garb, feet on the table, gnawing a drumstick.
At the noise, the man looked up—**flashing a smile so bright it hurt Teach's eyes.**
**"Teach? Long time no see! You brought me a present?"**
Blackbeard's jaw dropped.
**Before him sat Gol D. Roger.**