Standing outside the door, Teach was already overwhelmed by the sheer luxury of the corridor leading to the library. The entire space felt like a seamless masterpiece of opulence.

  This corridor had no windows, yet every three meters, a mpstand made of pure sterling silver was mounted on the walls. But instead of dles, each mp held a night pearl the size of a ched fist, illuminating the entire corridor with a soft, radiant glow.

  Even without additional lighting, the passage was bright as day.

  Beyond that, the walls on both sides were adorned with priceless paintings and inscriptions. Teach, being a pirate, couldn't reize the artists or calligraphers behind them, but he knew ohing for certain, these were treasures beyond measure.

  Above the grand double doors leading into the library hung a rge calligraphiscription. Though Teach had no deep appreciation for art, he could tell that the writing carried a powerful and imposing presence.

  Even with his limited education, he could still read the words:

  "Books are the dder of human progress."

  The signature at the bottom read: "Donquixote. Cudius."

  It seemed to be the personal handwriting of this so-called Celestial Dragon.

  Just as Teach rocessing all these extravagaails, the maid named Nia knocked on the door. From within, a calm ale voice responded, inviting them inside.

  However, after opening the door, Nia did not step in. That left Teao choice but to move forward on his own.

  The momeepped inside, he was met with the distinct st of books—a faint, refreshing fragrahat immediately cleared his mind. There was also another subtle aroma in the air, something soothing that made him feel unusually fortable.

  The room was vast, far more spacious than he had expected. It extended upward across three floors, each lined with t bookshelves packed with an overwhelming number of books.

  But even that wasn't the most shog thing to Teach.

  What truly left him astounded was the presence of several massive Poneglyphs sitting on the ground floor of the library.

  One of them was even crimson red.

  Teach had spent years aboard Whitebeard's ship, he kly what these were. He had heard stories about the Poneglyphs, but more importantly, he uood what a crimson Poneglyph represented.

  It was one of the four Road Poneglyphs that led to Laugh Tale.

  tless pirates scoured the seas in search of these legendary stones, yet here he was, staring at oting right inside a Celestial Dragon's library.

  "This… this is an opportunity," Teach thought, his heart pounding.

  The other Poneglyphs didn't i him much. He had no desire to learn about the past or decipher lost history. But a Road Poneglyph? That was a different story.

  ing here was already worthwhile. Not only did he have a ce to obtain the Dark-Dark Fruit, but he had also discovered one of the keys to Laugh Tale.

  If I somehow get my hands on this…

  Teach could barely tain his excitement.

  Beyond the books and Poneglyphs, he noticed two figures ihe library.

  One was a woman sitting quietly oeps of the third floor, a book in her hands. Her curious gaze lingered on him.

  She looked to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Even Teach had to admit—she was a rare beauty. The intellectual aura she exuded, bined with her refined demeanor, made her practically fwless.

  The ure was seated at a modest desk. This man hadn't even looked up sieatered, remaining absorbed in his book as if nothing else existed.

  Blond hair. Bck-rimmed gsses. Tall but not bulky. A pristine white suit, with a bck pen clipped to his chest. His handsome face carried an air of nobility, ohat came naturally, not forced.

  Teach reized him instantly. There was no doubt.

  This was Donquixote Cudius, the mysterious Celestial Dragon.

  Teach had already prepared himself mentally for this meeting. He had discarded all sense of pride the moment he decided to e here.

  Without hesitation, he hurried forward, dropped to his knees, and pressed his forehead to the floor.

  With the utmost respect, he decred, "Marshall D. Teach greets Saint Cudius!"

  This was standard etiquette. Teaew the rules of the Celestial Dragons. Wheing them, you had to kneel and bow your head. That wasn't even up for debate.

  More importantly, he needed something from this man.

  For the sake of his ambition, Teach was willing to endure anything.

  Kowtowing? That was nothing. If he had to do it ten times, he would. If he had to act subservient for years, he wouldn't hesitate.

  Right now, he'd bow his head first and think ter.

  Besides… if pying humble could help him get the Road Poneglyph as well, then hell, he'd lick this guy's boots if necessary.

  Pressing his forehead firmly against the ground, Teach waited.

  But Cudius didn't respht away.

  The only sound that reached Teach's ears was the soft rustling of pages turning.

  Teaew how to py the game. He wasn't in a hurry.

  He uood his position, he was just a lowly pirate. Even as part of Whitebeard's crew, he was nowhere he level of the man sitting before him.

  This was someone who had captured Roger. Someone who had defeated Golden Lion Shiki.

  This was a man whose list of victories included hat even Whitebeard had to respect.

  pared to that, Teach was nothing.

  Cudius had no reason to grant him an audience, yet here he was. That meant Enel must have spoken well of him.

  So, Teach remained on his knees, patiently waiting for Cudius to finish reading.

  Finally, after flipping through a few more pages, Cudius lifted his gaze and looked at Teach.

  Seeing the pirate still kneeling in a perfect dispy of submission, Cudius felt an odd sense of amusement.

  "This guy really is something else. He knows how to discard his pride when necessary. He'll do whatever it takes to reach his goal."

  Cudius didn't find Teach's behavior pathetic. If anything, he respected it.

  Many of history's greatest figures had endured humiliation for the sake of their ambitions.

  Teach was no different.

  He was the kind of man who could endure anything if it meaing what he wanted.

  Still, Cudius saw o rush.

  He casually turned ane, took his time finishing the curreion of his book, then slowly closed it a aside.

  Hearing the book shut, Teach tensed. He khis was the moment.

  He immediately pressed his forehead even lower to the ground, ensuring his posture was as respectful as possible.

  Cudius picked up his cup of warm tea, took a slow sip, then finally spoke.

  "Rise."

  "Thank you for yrace, Yhness Cudius!" Teach responded instantly, bowing his head o time before standing up.

  As he stood, he couldn't help but feel surprised.

  In his mind, Donquixote Cudius was supposed to be a ruthless warlord, a man with a terrifying presence, like a living storm. The photos he had seen from Whole Cake Isnd suggested a massive, muscur brute akin to Big Mom.

  Yet the man before him was nothing like that.

  Cudius carried himself with an air of refi, exuding a and posed temperament.

  "This guy… he's nothing like what I imagined. So this is what a true Celestial Dragon is like?"

  Teach didn't dare to stare directly at him. He knew better than to uimate someone of this caliber.

  Cudius, still holding his teacup, g him.

  "Teach," he murmured.

  Teach immediately straightened. "Yes, Yhness."

  "I hear from Ehat you were part of e's crew. He spoke quite highly of you… But why is it that I've never heard of you before?"

  Teach quickly lowered his head. "A lowly figure like me wouldn't be worthy of Yhness's attention."

  Cudius chuckled. "Is that so?"

  He set down his teacup and leaned back slightly.

  "A pirate from e's ship… yet you've e to see me. Why?"

  Teach forced a humble smile.

  "I inally thought I was ing to meet some powerful pirate… Who knew I'd end up in front of a Celestial Dragon instead?"

  But he didn't let any of that show.

  At this moment, he only had one objective:

  Ftter. Praise.

  "I have long admired Yhness's greatness," Teach said with absolute siy. "I hought I'd have the honor of meeting you in this lifetime. When I learhat Enel's master was her than yourself, I was… overjoyed."

  Cudius ughed.

  Then, after a pause, he took a slow breath.

  Just as Teach was trying to gauge his rea, Cudius suddenly asked:

  "Tell me, Teach… you guess what I smell right now?"

  Teach froze.

  Smell?

  Panic flickered in his mind. Did I fet to bathe?

  Keeping his posure, he responded respectfully, "How could I possibly guess Yhness's thoughts?"

  Cudius smiled.

  "Heh. Ambition."

  His voice was light, but his words carried weight.

  "The st of ambition is thi you, Teach."

  ***

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