The opera house was a world of its own, strictly ruled, elegantly restrained. Guards stood at every corner, ensuring that no one disturbed the performance. The audience was composed of nobles and wealthy elites, each one sitting with refined posture, captivated by the art before them.
Anyone foolish enough to make a sound louder than a whisper would be seized and thrown out without ceremony.
The stage itself was small, yet the actors' skill and the orchestra's music filled it with grandeur. The story of a prince defeating his rival and winning the heart of a fair maiden was hardly original, but the passion of the performers brought it to life.
Teach, sitting among the audience, watched with mild amusement. The tale was predictable, but he found himself genuinely entertained by the performance's artistry.
When the three-hour opera finally ended in thunderous applause, the crowd began to disperse. A few admirers tried to catch another glimpse of the lead actor, but the guards blocked them at every turn.
Teach, however, wasn't looking toward the exit. His gaze was fixed on the backstage corridor, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Baccarat noticed the expression and raised an eyebrow.
"You go on ahead," Teach said, standing up. "I've got something to take care of."
Backstage, the hallway was empty and silent except for the faint presence Teach could sense at the far end.
The young actor stood there, still in costume, his every movement graceful and deliberate. Under the dim light, he truly looked like a prince stepped out of a fairy tale.
"Excuse me," Pouf said, eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What business do you have with me?"
Even without turning on his Observation Haki, Teach could feel the tension in the air. The man was wary, rightfully so.
"Pouf," Teach said with an easy grin, "I came to invite you to join my crew."
He extended a hand as his illusion faded, revealing his true face. "The Nightfall Pirates."
Pouf's eyes widened in shock. He had heard the name countless times. The rulers of the East Blue. The crew that crushed Marine outposts and rival pirates alike. And their captain, Marshall D. Teach.
"Are you joking?" Pouf demanded, his perfect features twisting into disbelief. "A man as flawless as I could never stoop to piracy!"
Yet as he spoke, his hand instinctively reached for the mirror at his waist. He held it up, admiring his reflection even while preparing for a fight.
Teach couldn't help smirking. "So you stop to check your face before a battle? That's... new."
He waved off the thought and continued, voice steady. "I'm serious. Join us, Pouf. I want you as our dancer and as the crew's all-around performer."
Pouf tilted his head slightly, eyes gleaming with mockery. "And why, pray tell, would I ever consider such a ridiculous offer?"
Teach met his gaze, smile fading into something firm. "Because the East Blue, and even the Four Seas, are just fishponds. No matter how brightly you shine here, you'll never become a world-class star. But with me..."
He took a step closer, his voice deep and certain. "With me, I'll build you the largest stage in the world. That's my promise. Within five years."
Pouf stared at him, the words echoing in his mind. The confidence in Teach's eyes was unshakable. For a moment, his heart wavered.
"I'll be in the Bocaboca Kingdom for two more days," Teach said at last. "If you decide to join, find me on the east coast. Pirates are the freest people on the sea. That freedom doesn't have to clash with your dreams."
And with that, Teach turned and left him standing alone in the dim corridor.
Outside, Baccarat was waiting by the entrance. "Did he accept your invitation?" she asked.
"Not yet," Teach said with a faint grin. "But he's thinking about it."
"Then what now?"
"My work here's done. You want to keep shopping?"
Baccarat smiled. "I haven't had time to explore this kingdom yet. Come with me?"
"Shopping with a woman?" Teach snorted. "I'd rather wrestle a Sea King."
By nightfall, the east coast of the Bocaboca Kingdom was alive with noise and laughter. The Nightfall Pirates feasted under the stars, barrels of wine and crates of food stacked high. Teach's orders had been clear, no trouble in the kingdom, so most had simply bought supplies and returned early.
Opera tickets, after all, cost thirty thousand berries. Few pirates were cultured enough to sit through three hours of singing and romance.
Meanwhile, far away atop the royal castle's spire, Pouf sat alone, the wind ruffling his platinum-blond hair. Moonlight painted him silver as he stared at the file in his hands, a dossier on the Nightfall Pirates.
The pages listed their members, their battles, their victories. He flipped through images captured by visual Den Den Mushi, Teach's commanding presence at the banquet in Marrow Town, the brutal clashes on Sakhalin and Soba Islands, the daring trade deals at Bar Harbor.
Each scene showed something Pouf had never seen before: strength without fear, ambition without limits.
His heart tightened. Teach's words replayed in his head, fishponds, freedom, the world's biggest stage.
A quiet laugh escaped his lips. "Can you really lead me to greater heights?"
He rose, stepping into the moonlight. Blue and pink wings unfurled from his back like butterfly petals, shimmering with soft luminescence. Two silver antennae curved forward from his hair as he floated upward.
"The biggest stage in the world..." he whispered. "How exciting."
He danced in the air, alone under the moonlight, his movements elegant and free.
"Then let me see the future you spoke of, Teach."
With a single stroke of invisible wind, he cut his long hair short, letting the golden strands scatter into the night. He gathered a few and tucked them into a small box, sealing away the man he once was.
"Even as a pirate," he murmured, gazing at the moon, "I'll remain the most perfect."
The next morning, Teach stood on the deck of his ship, staring toward the shore.
"Captain, aren't we leaving?" Nelson asked, puzzled.
Baccarat smirked knowingly. "He's waiting for someone."
Wallace chuckled. "Don't tell me your charm finally failed, Captain. Maybe he's not coming at all."
Nelson shrugged. "Someone the Captain personally invited must be strong. No harm in waiting."
Teach didn't answer. His Observation Haki had already stretched across the coast and then, suddenly, he felt it.
A familiar presence approached from the sky.
"There he is," Teach said with a grin.
Every pirate turned to look as a radiant figure descended from above, butterfly wings glimmering blue and pink in the sunlight. Pouf landed gracefully, his wings folding away, revealing his refined face and newly cropped hair.
"Then let me stay on your ship for a while," he said, smiling faintly. "If your promised 'future' fails to impress me, I'll leave."
Teach grinned. "You won't be disappointed."
"Hey, new guy," one of the pirates called out, frowning. "You sound pretty full of yourself. Think you can just join the Captain's crew without proving your worth?"
Weapons scraped free of scabbards as others joined in.
Teach didn't intervene. "Show them," he said calmly. "Strength is the only thing they respect."
Pouf chuckled, pulling out his mirror. "Then allow the perfect me to demonstrate true beauty."
He admired his reflection before sheathing the mirror and rising into the air once more, wings spreading wide.
"Is this guy serious?" one pirate muttered.
"Mentally unstable, maybe," another whispered.
A noble-style rapier gleamed at Pouf's hip as he hovered above the sand. "Come, then. The beautiful me doesn't need full power to handle you."
That line alone was enough to ignite the pirates' fury.
"Go get him!"
"Teach him some humility!"
"Damn it, I can't stand his face!"
Teach chuckled under his breath. He knew who would step forward, Miles, a former bounty hunter worth over thirty million berries. Strong, loyal, and simple-minded. The perfect test.
"Let's see," Teach murmured. "Show us what kind of performance you're capable of, Pouf."
The air between them shimmered as the duel began.