Shanks and Buggy both turned to look at Reid.
"Reid's really become famous... I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing,"
Shanks thought to himself, feeling a little conflicted for Reid.
"I'm so jealous of Reid. Even Whitebeard's paying attention to him. If only I could be that well-known too,"
Buggy was feeling a strong desire to become a king in his own right.
"No, no, no, this is too high-profile. Forget it, I don't want that kind of attention."
Buggy shook his head vigorously, changing his mind again.
"Oh? Whitebeard, are you also interested in Reid? Is that why you came here this time?"
Roger's expression turned serious, his eyes coldly fixed on Whitebeard. If Whitebeard really had his eyes on Reid, Roger wouldn't allow it.
"Hmph! Roger, do you think I'm like you? You promised to take my little brother for a year, and then turned around and told me his life was in danger!"
Whitebeard's face remained calm, but his tone carried visible anger, showing Roger no courtesy.
As the two captains exchanged words, the crew members around them—though itching to speak—remained silent and listened.
Meanwhile, one man was scanning the area—Marshall D. Teach.
"Where is Reid? Weird… I don't see the guy from the picture."
Teach looked around but couldn't spot Reid anywhere, which confused him.
"Could he not be here? No way. Roger and Pops are clashing—who wouldn't show up to this? Hmph! Doesn't appreciate my presence. I came all this way—am I supposed to leave empty-handed?"
Although Teach appeared the same as the others on the surface, he had no interest in the clash between the two captains. His mind was only focused on finding Reid.
"Hey, Shanks."
"Hm? What's up, Buggy?"
"You see that guy over there? Isn't that the same guy who didn't sleep for three days and nights back in the day?"
Buggy pointed at a member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Shanks glanced over and nodded.
"Yeah, that's him. Looks like he's doing pretty well these past few years. He's a lot taller and bulkier now—but damn, he's gotten uglier."
"Three days and nights without sleep? That sounds oddly familiar..."
Reid followed their gaze and suddenly tensed up. A wave of discomfort hit him.
"That guy looks familiar... Could it be...?"
"System, open and identify!"
Reid had previously paused the system's auto-introduction. Now, the system voice resumed in his head:
[Marshall D. Teach: Member of the Whitebeard Pirates]
"So it is Blackbeard! But wait... that's it? That's all the system says? No mention of the Dark-Dark Fruit? Or founding the Blackbeard Pirates?"
Reid was baffled—this was the first time the system had been so brief.
"Shanks, I always thought that guy was weird. The feeling's even stronger now,"
Buggy said seriously, hand on his chin. Years ago, on an unnamed island, he'd been observing Teach closely. Though Buggy often argued and fooled around with Shanks, he wasn't dumb—he kept an eye on suspicious people.
"You're overthinking it, Buggy. He looks totally normal to me—just like everyone else."
"Well, I think there's something wrong with him. Don't you think he hasn't slept in years?"
"Hasn't slept in years?"
Reid immediately understood Buggy's meaning—after all, Buggy had stared at Blackbeard for three straight days and nights. That kind of suspicion made sense.
"Hahaha, Buggy, what nonsense are you spouting now? There's no such freak who could stay awake for years without collapsing!"
Shanks grinned widely.
"Whatever, I still think there's something off about that guy. He just doesn't fit in with everyone else. Something feels wrong."
Buggy frowned. Every time he saw Teach, he felt uneasy.
"Hahaha, then just ignore him. We've got nothing to do with him anyway."
Shanks crossed his arms and laughed it off.
"Buggy's not wrong," Reid thought. "Teach is really good at hiding his ambitions."
At that moment, Roger finished exchanging pleasantries with Whitebeard and turned to gesture at Elio.
"Get the wine ready! I want to have a good drink with my old friend!"
"Hehe, leave it to me, Captain!"
Elio pressed his index and middle fingers together and gave a playful wave as he jogged off.
"Hahaha! Elio, I'm coming with you this time. I'm definitely getting Jozu drunk!"
Nozdon laughed heartily as he followed.
"Hey, Roger, what are your plans moving forward?"
Whitebeard sat cross-legged on the ground, Murakumogiri resting beside him.
Roger also sat down, a deep look in his eyes and a grin on his face.
"You mean the One Piece, Whitebeard?"
"Ah~ The things you told me back then… even I found it hard to believe."
"Hehehe, what do you say we team up? Whitebeard, don't you want a world full of joy and freedom?"
Roger leaned slightly forward, one hand casually resting on his knee, wearing an expression like he was trying to rope Whitebeard in.
"No, that would cause too much bloodshed. I won't risk my family for that."
Whitebeard shook his head. He understood Roger's grand dream, but he couldn't bring himself to drag his family into a war with the World Government.
"Yeah? Hahaha, I knew you'd say that."
Roger traced random lines on the ground with his finger.
"Whitebeard, I, Gol D. Roger, will fulfill Joy Boy's will. I've got a strong feeling—I will succeed."
Whitebeard stared into Roger's eyes with a serious expression. As the first man to reach Laugh Tale, Roger had Whitebeard's deep respect. His conviction was beyond what ordinary men could comprehend.
With a mix of emotions, Whitebeard crossed his arms and looked at Roger.
"Roger, last time you told me the meaning of the 'D'. One of the reasons I came this time was to let you meet someone."
"Oh? You mean the guy on your ship who also has a 'D' in his name?"
Roger's eyes lit up slightly.
"Yeah. His name is Marshall D. Teach. I want you to take a look at him."
Whitebeard looked Roger in the eye.
Roger nodded. As longtime rivals and friends, he understood what Whitebeard meant instantly.
Whitebeard turned his head.
"Teach."
"Yes, Pops." Teach jogged over with a respectful expression.
"Sit."
"Yes, Pops."
Teach sat casually next to Whitebeard, his face revealing no emotion.
"I'm starving. I'm definitely gonna drink a lot and eat tons of meat, hehehe…"
Teach was secretly excited, looking forward to the feast.
"Young man, what's your name?"
Roger's sharp gaze pierced into Teach, a hint of probing in his tone. At the same time, he subtly activated his Observation Haki.
"Teach."
"Why are they taking so long with the drinks? This is too slow…"
Teach thought to himself, while putting on an eager face.
"What's your full name?"
"Marshall D. Teach."
"Ugh, still not back? I'm starving to death over here!" Teach grumbled in his heart again.
Roger's brow furrowed slightly, and he tapped his fingers on his knee.
"What a messy mind this kid has. And that belly… Definitely a glutton."
Roger glanced at Teach's large belly and silently judged.