Sengoku was processing the information he'd just received.
It really was the Blackbeard Pirates who attacked Impel Down!
And they broke out a large number of prisoners!
Did this man become a Shichibukai solely to use that title as a way into Impel Down—and recruit the most ruthless criminals to his crew?
What a cunning man.
"Admiral… I saw it—God of Death Doc Q is carrying the sword Raiu on his back!" Magellan relayed this extremely important news to Sengoku.
Now, the attack by that desperate, mysterious swordsman became even more puzzling. The legendary sword Raiu, the Blackbeard Pirates, Alabasta—is there some connection tying it all together?
Goosebumps ran down Sengoku's arms; even Vice Admiral Tsuru felt a chill at her back.
There's an enormous secret here.
"The newly-minted Shichibukai, Blackbeard, has already turned against the World Government and attacked Impel Down!"
"Impel Down's prisoners have rioted, and Blackbeard has led off hundreds of criminals!"
"Blackbeard's meteoric rise—will he now challenge Whitebeard for the title of Emperor?!"
The explosive news of Blackbeard's surprise assault on Impel Down soon thundered across the seas. This time, even if the World Government wanted to bury the story, there was no way to hide it. After all, so many prisoners had been taken away, and sooner or later, they would make their presence known.
The sea was calm and windless.
Perched atop the head of a gigantic Sea King, hundreds of prisoners followed Blackbeard through the mirror-shuttle, and at the other end of the mirror lay a mysterious, independent mirror world. Of all the escapees, transporting the enormous Sanjuan Wolf to Alabasta proved to be the most difficult. Finding a mirror big enough to get him through was no easy task.
"Captain! Where are we headed? Let's turn the world upside down!" shouted a prisoner, now intoxicated by the air of freedom.
Blackbeard turned to look at him, then burst out laughing.
"Hah, you'll understand once we get there."
"Captain, if you don't have the guts to challenge the Four Emperors and claim the One Piece, we won't follow you," said Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon coolly.
"Only the strong deserve to be my captain. And besides, you need to give me the sword first!" Shiryu waved both hands. "What's that?!" he suddenly exclaimed, pointing at the swordsman's back.
The shuttle's entrance had already sealed. The super-giant stood behind Teach, while the other members of the Blackbeard Pirates silently surrounded the crowd, unconcerned.
Blackbeard himself just kept grinning, scratching the back of his head as he replied with loaded meaning
"I'm not about to answer to you, but if you think you can challenge the Four Emperors and become King of the Pirates, you're out of luck!"
Everyone felt something indescribable, and then were stunned to see the faces of Blackbeard's crew completely transform!
Samurai Fujitora, sword drawn!
An unknown swordsman in a white kimono!
Robin, the Devil Child—a tall woman with long hair, flipping through her notebook!
And the Mane Mane no Mi user from Alabasta—Kuro of a Hundred Plans!
But even this couldn't compare to the shock of seeing Blackbeard himself…
Even the ruthless Shiryu couldn't help but be awed by the figure before them. Everyone in the mirror world was so stunned they wanted to call out his name, but in the end, the words caught in their throats.
This man…
The one who possessed the One Piece—Gol D. Roger!!!
"Because I've already done it!" Roger swept back his luxurious red cloak, casually tossed aside his pirate hat, clenched his fists, and looked out at the crowd. "Forgive me, but now, by order of my Emperor, I must ask you all to go to Alabasta's Desert Black Prison. After all, as His Majesty Wilcis Nefertari says: it makes no difference to you which prison you're in!"
Roger grinned, and his Conqueror's Haki flashed through the room in an instant!
...….
Ezekiel, in Alabasta's palace, ended his call with Robin as soon as he realized his plan had succeeded.
The problem of the powerful prisoners in Desert Black had been solved, and now he would be able to acquire many useful Devil Fruit abilities.
And on top of that, Ezekiel had given Blackbeard a legendary reputation—which wouldn't harm him at all.
After all, rumors were already swirling across the seas that he now had enough power to become an Emperor.
Blackbeard, now being compared to the Four Emperors, attacked a Marine Patrol base and kidnapped the super scientist Vegapunk.
Such a terrifying figure—Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach—now appeared on the stage of the War of the Best. His identity had become far too significant and well-known; wasn't this all too much?
But in reality, Blackbeard was locked up and rendered powerless with seastone in Alabasta's prison. He felt an unexplainable chill, and his swollen face with a bluish nose showed a vague sense of an even greater crisis looming.