Carlo wasn't sure if Blackbeard knew the exact location of the Munch Munch Fruit. He couldn't give hints and had to rely on Blackbeard's intuition.
Seeing Blackbeard's determined look, Carlo had a feeling their next destination was the Drum Kingdom, near the beginning of the Grand Line. It made sense; this was about the time Blackbeard would have his four companions in the original timeline.
"We can't be certain yet, but my leads suggest it's in this area," Blackbeard said, pulling out a small map from inside his coat. "There are four or five islands here. We'll search them one by one. I need that fruit before our plan starts, to ensure its success!"
Carlo took the map and saw that Blackbeard had pointed to a region with few islands, mostly empty ocean. Drum Island was among them and was the largest.
"Alright, if you've decided, our next stop is this area," Carlo agreed, hiding his thoughts behind a calm exterior.
In the original story, Blackbeard knew the general area of the fruit but didn't go straight there. He explored the Grand Line, eventually sensing the fruit's presence on Drum Island. He avoided drawing attention from other pirates or the fruit's owner and enjoyed the adventure and exploration of the unknown.
This time, however, Carlo's boasting had pushed Blackbeard to act faster. Feeling the need to keep up with his strong first mate and new powerful recruits, Blackbeard couldn't afford to wait.
Unaware of Carlo's role in speeding things up, Blackbeard had decided to skip the usual exploration.
"Let's set sail for the beginning of the Grand Line!" Blackbeard announced. Everyone was ready, and the ship was stocked with supplies.
Burgess steered the ship towards the open sea, leaving the blood-soaked island behind.
After a night of partying, the crew knew each other well. The Blackbeard Pirates were now fully formed, with all key positions filled.
Burgess, the helmsman, navigated the ship. Carlo, as the Vice Caiptain, was the strategist. The crew also included the navigator Lafitte, the doctor Doc Q, and the sniper Van Augur.
Hancock and her followers were given no tasks, as everyone knew their reason for joining.
Once they left, Saraca Island fell silent, littered with bodies and damaged ships.
Hours later, pirate ships arrived, only to find the eerie, deserted island. Seeing the destruction and corpses, they quickly fled in terror.
Within two days, the "Saraca Island Massacre" became a widely spread rumor.
"Did you hear about Saraca Island? It's terrifying!"
"Was it sea monsters or some unknown demon that killed all those pirates?"
"People say the bodies were drained of blood, like something sucked them dry!"
"Nonsense! It's clearly a Navy plot to eliminate pirates."
The rumors and theories spread like wildfire, causing widespread panic. Conspiracy and ghost stories were everywhere.
The Blackbeard Pirates laughed at the absurd rumors. Even Carlo was amused by how the story had escalated.
The Navy couldn't ignore it. Initially indifferent, they were forced to investigate as the rumors targeted them.
Admiral Sengoku ordered the nearest Navy branch to investigate Saraca Island. Meanwhile, Morgan, the head of the World Economic Journal, sent reporters to uncover the truth.
Even the Whitebeard Pirates in the New World heard the news.
This saga had only just begun.
Five days after Blackbeard and his crew left Saraca Island, as the rumors about the shocking incident were spiraling out of control, the Navy finally issued a stern report:
"According to our investigation, the Saraca Island incident was caused by a clash between pirates."
"A large-scale battle broke out on the island for unknown reasons, with each pirate having different wounds and causes of death."
"There were many attackers, clearly pirates from different factions."
"The rumors of ghosts, drained corpses, and secret Navy involvement are all false. Everyone died at the hands of other 'people,' not some supernatural force."
"The disappearance of Celestial Dragon Saint Larcher is still under investigation. Anyone spreading false information about the Navy or World Government will be suspected of being involved in the Celestial Dragon incident."
Just as Carlo and Blackbeard predicted, the chaotic pirate recruitment led to pirates fighting each other. The official investigation could only conclude this way.
Even CP0 couldn't solve this mess!
The Navy's announcement highlighted the fact that the Celestial Dragon was still missing and warned against spreading false rumors. The Navy was serious, showing they wouldn't tolerate any more slander.
This tactic worked well. The conspiracy theories about the Navy decreased significantly, and the rumors subsided.
No one wanted to be falsely accused of the Celestial Dragon's disappearance. The pressure from the Navy and World Government, along with bounty hunters and rival pirates, was too great.
Although some continued to suggest the Navy staged the event, the situation was much calmer than before.
Meanwhile, in the New World, the Whitebeard Pirates were also paying attention to the two major incidents happening in the first half of the Grand Line.
In a secluded sea in the New World, the massive Moby Dick was anchored. This was Whitebeard Pirates' territory.
"Gurararara, those kids sure are causing trouble," Whitebeard laughed, sitting on his giant throne on the deck, drinking while connected to various IV drips.
He had just finished a call and now knew about the "Celestial Dragon Disappearance" and "Saraca Island Incident," relayed by his informants.
Though based in the New World, Whitebeard had a well-established intelligence network.
He didn't care much about these incidents. The Navy and World Government's troubles were a cause for celebration.
"Father!" a voice shouted from the sky. Marco descended with his blue flame wings, landing before Whitebeard.
"We have news about Ace!"
"About twenty days ago, Ace entered the first half of the Grand Line and went to Sabaody Archipelago, where the Celestial Dragon incident occurred."
"He was stuck there for over half a month but managed to hide from the Navy."
"Our informants found his trail just as the Navy lifted the blockade. He escaped again!"
Marco sighed, explaining the situation to Whitebeard. They had just found Ace, but he slipped away again.
"That stubborn kid…," Whitebeard sighed. "I have a bad feeling about this. Marco, do we know where Ace is heading next?"
"We didn't have any clues, but suddenly, the Saraca Island incident happened. It seems Ace might be heading there…"
"That's not good," Whitebeard muttered, his frown deepening. His bad feeling grew stronger.
"Since Teach escaped and Ace chased him, I've had a bad feeling. These recent events are too coincidental. Ace chased Teach to the Grand Line, and then the Celestial Dragon and Saraca incidents happened."
"There shouldn't be a connection, right…?"
"Father, you mean…?" Marco's eyes widened in disbelief. "Could all these events be Teach's doing?"
"How could he have such power? We've known him for years better than anyone!"