Wright's expression twisted as he read the classified file delivered via the Lightforged Beacon.
After finishing his call with Vegapunk, Wright hadn't expected such a… surprise to arrive immediately afterward.
The file came from X Drake—a young man who had spent years embedded within Kaido's ranks, someone Kaido had placed immense hopes on.
Especially after Wright had taken down the All-Star "Drought" Jack, Drake's value in Kaido's eyes had only increased.
According to the intel Drake had gathered, twenty-four years ago, when Kaido first invaded Wano, the Beasts Pirates didn't even have "Drought" Jack yet—which made sense, considering that when Kouzuki Oden challenged Kaido nineteen years ago, Jack was still just an eight-year-old kid.
As for who the original three All-Stars were back then… that's unknown. In fact, no one's sure if there even were three.
Now, though—under the pressure of the Marines and the other two Emperors—Kaido was clearly rushing to reassemble his trio of "Calamities."
Drake, whom Kaido had poured significant resources into training, had shown remarkable growth. And now, after defeating all the competition and earning the recognition of both King and Queen, he had officially become one of the new All-Stars!
"Well… this is certainly something."
Wright recalled an old conversation he'd had with Smoker. He hadn't expected it to become reality so soon.
Drake had included other intel as well. With his promotion to All-Star, his access had expanded significantly, and the deeper secrets of the Beasts Pirates were gradually being revealed to him.
"Oh? That bloated bastard Queen and his 'Plague Bombs'... Hmph. Even if he was once a colleague of Judge, that kind of trash tech—"
"Interesting… Dressrosa…"
...
Wano Country — Onigashima.
"Drake-sama!"
As Drake made his way toward Kaido's chambers, the groveling praise of the lower-ranked Beasts Pirates flunkies followed him, nervous and sycophantic. Despite it all, it still felt surreal.
Has it really been over six years since I became a pirate…? And five since I joined the Beasts Pirates? Time flies…
He clenched his fists, feeling the power in his body—so far beyond what it once was. A small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Didn't expect Kaido to make this move… That idiot King—after all those assists, maybe I should start calling him "Aniki"… heh…
But the real danger… is Queen. That lunatic's "Plague Bombs– Ice Oni" have been perfected. That's the real game-changer in warfare.
From what we saw at Marineford, as long as Fleet Admiral Wright is present, these kinds of "plagues" pose no lasting threat… but they still cost him energy. Those things spread fast.
As he neared Kaido's quarters, Drake could already feel the monstrous presence of the "Strongest Creature in the World."
And the overwhelming stench of booze.
Grimacing slightly, Drake composed himself, slid open the door, and stepped in.
"Kaido-san. King-aniki. Queen-aniki."
Gulp gulp gulp gulp…
"HIC~ OHHH~ You're here, Drake!"
Kaido downed an entire jug of sake in one go and called out, tongue thick with drink:
"Heh! My brand-new All-Star! Not bad, not bad!"
"You didn't disappoint Kaido-san's expectations, Drake."
The voice came from "Wildfire" King. The eternal blaze on his back always made Drake wonder how the guy managed to sleep.
"I thought it would take longer, honestly. But you've surpassed expectations. Clearly more reliable than that idiot fatass."
"Oi~ You saying the newbies lit a fire under him or what, ya tight-assed pyromaniac freak?!"
"Plague" Queen puffed on a cigar while fiddling with some strange piece of machinery in his hand.
"Those new kids? Full of ambition, every last one of 'em! All drooling over the All-Star positions—what a headache, these little bastards!"
"Queen… you looking to die?"
"Huh~? Don't talk crap, you damn barbecue bird!"
"…King-aniki, Queen-aniki, Kaido-san—I heard there was a mission?"
Drake had no choice but to interrupt the squabbling. These two had been colleagues for decades, and though they never seemed to get along, they always agreed on one thing:
Jack's dead weight.
Drake smirked. Luckily, his own strengths lay in areas Jack didn't touch. He wasn't just raw muscle—so maybe he wouldn't get chewed out as often.
"HIC~ Heh heh heh!"
Kaido didn't seem fazed at all by his top commanders' constant bickering. While they squabbled, he was already halfway through another cask of sake.
"King! Tell me—hic! What was my 'Calamity of Arms'… 'ssignment again?"
With a massive yawn, Kaido flopped backward onto the floor—and promptly passed out.
"…"
Drake and King exchanged glances. King coughed lightly.
"…Don't worry about Kaido-san. The mission's simple. You're to head to Dressrosa and escort a certain 'treasure' being offered to Kaido-san by the Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo."
"Heh heh heh~ That idiot Jack was slaughtered in Dressrosa by your former boss, Wright~!"
Queen waddled closer, his massive sausage-like fingers nearly poking Drake in the face.
"But Wright's a Fleet Admiral now. He won't move lightly. Still… if he does decide to show up, well, you're in for a bad day, huh? Hahaha!"
"Shut it, dumbass!"
King shoved Queen's flabby face aside.
"Drake isn't like Jack—he doesn't charge in blindly. Even if Wright were there, at worst he could retreat to Dressrosa."
"Besides, Doflamingo is a Warlord. Even if the Marines suspect something, they won't just ignore him and go straight for Drake."
"Hah? I was just telling him to be careful, you damn flaming chicken!"
"More like trying to scare him, dumbass!"
"…You two really are exhausting," Drake muttered under his breath.
Being an All-Star in the Beasts Pirates… was exhausting.
...
Marine Headquarters – Marineford.
"Issho-san, I'm leaving this task in your hands."
In Marineford, Fleet Admiral Wright addressed the newly promoted Admiral "Fujitora" Issho. Watching the Justice coat draped over the man's imposing frame, Wright nodded in approval.
"That coat suits you well, Issho-san. How are you adjusting?"
"Heh heh… Fleet Admiral, this old man has long heard that Dr. Vegapunk's genius surpasses the world by 500 years. After working with him these past few weeks, I must say—it's been a most enlightening experience…"
Wright grinned.
Issho, Sakazuki, Borsalino… even Jinbe—lately, they'd all started referring to themselves as "this old man."
What the hell? None of you are even sixty yet. And Jinbe's only in his forties—why's he playing the elder monk routine already?
You're all making this thirty-something-year-old Fleet Admiral feel like a child bossing around retirees…
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