"He has already arrived?"
A trace of surprise flashed across Borsalino's face. After pondering for a moment, he shook his head again while saying with a regretful tone: "That guy's reputation on the seas right now is no ordinary matter. Moreover, Marine Headquarters does not wish to declare war on the Whitebeard Pirates for the time being. Therefore, our objective is not to arrest him."
As he spoke, he looked meaningfully at Lucci. "I believe the higher-ups have already explained the situation to you, right?"
Lucci: "..."
As soon as these words fell, Lucci and the others immediately fell silent.
They had indeed received information from the World Government. But as agents of the World Government, to be honest, did a mere crew member of the Whitebeard Pirates really require so much trouble?
Not to mention just an ordinary crew member, even if it were one of the division commanders, if the World Government wanted to arrest them, they would simply do so!
If they wanted so-called blood and tissue, it would be better to just bind the person directly.
At that point, they could take as much blood and tissue as they wanted. For a mere pirate to sacrifice himself for the research of the World Government would be his honor.
And yet... Now, even an Admiral had personally come, only to tell them that they were merely supposed to find a way to draw blood from an ordinary Whitebeard Pirates crew member?
Lucci sighed inwardly. But as a member of CP9, since the World Government had already issued the order, they could only carry it out seriously. "I understand."
"Remember, if you can avoid being discovered, then avoid it."
Seeing that Lucci and the others truly understood the situation of the mission, Borsalino stretched lazily again and lay back down. "If the Whitebeard Pirates discover it, I would have quite a headache as well."
As he spoke, he waved his hand. "Then I'll wait here for your good news."
He believed that for a mere ordinary crew member of the Whitebeard Pirates, these CP9 members would be more than sufficient. Therefore, he did not plan to take action this time and instead prepared to wait here for Lucci and the others to return with the mission content.
Facing this, Lucci and the others did not say anything more.
After a brief silence, they responded: "Understood!"
Then, just as they were about to turn around and leave…
"Pururururu."
The ringing of a Den Den Mushi sounded. Borsalino did not pay it any mind and lazily answered the call. "Hello…"
After saying just one word, he seemed to hear something. He straightened up again, and even his previously lazy expression turned serious at this moment.
After a moment of silence, he said, "I understand!"
After he replied, the call was hung up, then he crossed his hands and rested them on his knees.
With a gloomy expression, he looked at the CP9 members who were about to leave and said in a solemn tone: "Mission change. Capture Teach directly. Dead or alive... It doesn't matter!"
…
"Achoo!"
After Teach rubbed his nose, his brows could not help but knit together.
He discovered that someone had been following him recently. For example, right now, on his left side, about one kilometer away, there was a long-nosed person wearing shipwright clothing who had been following him ever since he came out this morning.
Although that guy was hiding extremely well, he was still discovered by him.
But why exactly was he being followed? Or rather, who sent someone to follow him?
One must know that after leaving the East Blue, he had returned to his former low-profile lifestyle and had not caused any trouble.
He even paid for the cherry pie when eating at the restaurant.
And after arriving at Water 7, every day he either stayed in his temporary lodging or went to taverns to drink and incidentally gather information. He had not done anything else.
For the sake of the Dark-Dark Fruit, all he wanted now was to quietly wait for the Straw Hat crew to arrive. He really did not want to cause any disturbances at this time.
But what was going on now?
It seemed that ever since he landed on Water 7, he had felt eyes watching him. At first, he thought he was mistaken, but after these few days, he could be sure... He had indeed not sensed it wrong.
Could it also be for the Dark-Dark Fruit?
But that should not be the case!
After all, the Dark-Dark Fruit was not in his hands!
If someone wanted to watch anyone, they should be watching the Straw Hat crew.
Was it because of the matter stirred up earlier in the East Blue?
That should not be it either!
He had only become a bit famous; he had not actually done anything.
Or was it because he was being targeted due to his identity as a member of the Whitebeard Pirates?
But in the first half of the Grand Line, who would have the nerve to target a member of the Whitebeard Pirates?
The World Government? Marine Headquarters? Crews of the Emperor of the Sea?
Or was it Ian, the God of Sun, at the West Blue?
But then why target him?
Were they not afraid of provoking a war?
Could it be that something had happened to Pops over in the New World?
Teach frowned deeply and fell into contemplation, thinking through every possible scenario, yet still could not figure out who would, for no good reason, keep an eye on a mere ordinary crew member at Whitebeard's ship.
In the end, thinking of his upcoming plans, in order to avoid any accidents, he decided to temporarily act as if nothing had happened.
For him, any hardship now was all for the sake of his dream!
As long as he obtained the Dark-Dark Fruit, he believed... This era would definitely belong to him.
Therefore, right now, there was nothing more important than obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit from the Straw Hat crew.
And he was also very sure that the Straw Hat crew would definitely come to Water 7.
Back in the East Blue, he had already seen that the Straw Hat crew's broken ship simply could not support their adventure into the New World.