In the New World, on a certain winter island.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
Inside a giant cave, Kaido tilted his head back, taking huge swigs of strong liquor from a gourd. His massive body, the horns atop his head, the scale tattoos on his left arm, and his explosive muscles all contributed to a ferocious and terrifying presence.
"Kaido-sama! Joker has arrived!"
Suddenly, a pirate rushed into the enormous cave.
Kaido paused his drinking, then resumed his loud "Gulp. Gulp. Gulp."
"Fuffuffuffufu~"
Before the man himself appeared, a familiar laugh preceded him.
A moment later, Doflamingo strode in with his characteristic swagger, wearing his eye-catching pink feather coat. His right hand was in his pocket, and his left hand balanced a redwood box.
"Joker, what are you doing here?" Kaido set down his large gourd, leaned forward, and looked at Doflamingo.
"Gulp…"
Hearing Kaido's deep query, the surrounding members of the Beasts Pirates shivered, inwardly muttering, "He's drinking heavily today, I hope he isn't angry."
"Naturally, for the very thing you desire!" Doflamingo spread his hands and laughed playfully.
"Oh~ Did someone finally manage to kill me?" Kaido asked, interested.
"No, no, no!"
Doflamingo shook his outstretched index finger, grinning. "Creating an army of Zoan ability users is also something you've desired, isn't it?"
Hearing Doflamingo's denial, Kaido was initially disappointed, but his eyes lit up at the following words. He quickly asked, "Oh! How many genuine Zoan Devil Fruits have you found?"
"As for genuine Zoan Devil Fruits, I don't have any at the moment, but..." Doflamingo's lips curled up, and he changed the subject meaningfully. "Artificial Zoan Devil Fruits... interested?"
"Artificial Zoan Devil Fruits?"
Kaido and the surrounding members of the Beast Pirates were slightly confused. Could Devil Fruits actually be created by people?
Clack!
The redwood box was opened, and resting inside were two strange, identical red apples with yellow swirling patterns, looking quite eerie.
…
In the Clifford Kingdom, the Royal Capital of Nakor.
Palace Entertainment City's VIP Hot Spring Resort.
"Arara~ This is comfortable!"
Steam rose, creating a thick white mist. Kuzan was naked save for a pair of shorts, soaking in the hot spring with a look of pure enjoyment.
After a long while, Kuzan turned his head and said to himself, "This place is really suitable for recuperation. Let me stay for a while, alright?"
Not far from him, a figure was faintly visible in the white mist, and a lazy voice responded.
"You can, as long as you have the money."
Hearing this, Kuzan grimaced. "Hey, hey~ I resigned from my position as a Marine Admiral; I have no income now. Do you have to be so heartless?"
"Spare me. You're holding the Gold Card I gave you—a fifty percent discount. Don't dream of getting anything for free," the mist dissipated slightly, revealing Aeridar's relaxed face.
"Arara~ What a headache. Where am I supposed to find that much money?" Kuzan seemed troubled, muttering to himself, "Maybe I should become a bounty hunter or a pirate hunter."
As he spoke, Kuzan's gaze slowly shifted to Aeridar, as if contemplating how to "handle" him.
"That's enough!"
Aeridar's mouth twitched slightly.
An ex-Marine Admiral of his standing having no money to afford a hot spring? Who would believe that?
"Stop thinking about such ridiculous things," Aeridar snapped good-naturedly, then looked at the wounds on Kuzan's body, teasingly saying, "Speaking of which, you played things pretty roughly this time."
"This? Yeah, it got a little too rough," Kuzan said, touching the still-healing burns on his right arm, his tone unconcerned.
"So, what do you plan to do next? What is your new standing?" Aeridar asked gravely.
"I plan to travel and see the world. As for my standing... now that you ask, I wonder what the standing of Kuzan, who resigned as Admiral, is."
"A 'Friend of Justice'?"
"No."
"Then what is my standing?"
Kuzan questioned himself, then shook his head in denial, finally looking at Aeridar with a lost expression.
"Why not come work for me?" Aeridar tilted his head, smiling. "I might even be able to regrow that leg for you, or perhaps install a metal one that will be absolutely reliable."
"I truly appreciate the offer, but it would feel strange for me to join a pirate just after resigning from the Marines," Kuzan shook his head nonchalantly, saying lazily, "Let me finish my travels first. Maybe then I'll find my standing and my future purpose."
"Tch, suit yourself." Aeridar glanced at him, then closed his eyes.
…
Holy Land of Mariejois, Aldrich Estate, residence of the Celestial Dragons.
"Damn it! That guy's progress is too fast!" Saint Gustav paced back and forth furiously, having lost his usual composure.
"According to our assessments, while the Blackbeard Pirates possess great strength, they still fall short compared to the Chris Pirates," Malha nonchalantly flicked some invisible dust off his trench coat. "Therefore, if the Chris Pirates unleash their full power to seize the Yonko title, the Blackbeard Pirates will have a difficult time competing with them."
"I didn't call you here to praise how he's going to become a Yonko! I called you here to figure out how to eliminate him!" Saint Gustav exclaimed in a frenzy of frustration.
"While the Blackbeard Pirates are wreaking havoc in the New World, fighting for Whitebeard's territory and expanding their power, the Chris Pirates mostly stay on Brady Island. Aside from killing Redfield, they have made no other moves," Malha continued, seemingly ignoring the other man's exasperation. "This suggests only two possibilities: either they genuinely have no interest in the Yonko title, or they are harboring a secret plot, preparing to crush the Blackbeard Pirates in a single strike and claim the Yonko throne."
"Are you suggesting..." Saint Gustav gradually calmed down, seemingly beginning to understand.
"Whether there's a conspiracy or not, the fact remains that the Chris Pirates' power base is superior to the Blackbeard Pirates', and superior to ours, too!" Malha said savagely. "Therefore, by allying with the Blackbeard Pirates, we may be able to eliminate that fellow."
"Ally with the Blackbeard Pirates…" Saint Gustav frowned, his golden scepter tapping lightly on the palm of his left hand.
He was considering the risk: if they allied with a pirate of that caliber, would they be betrayed if the pirate claimed the Yonko position? Furthermore, if word of an alliance with a Yonko-level pirate got out, even as a Celestial Dragon and the head of the Aldrich family, he would have to answer to the World Government and the Gorosei. He was not one of those mindless Celestial Dragons; he needed to understand the complexities involved.
After a long pause, while Malha waited quietly, Gustav finally spoke.
"This matter is entrusted to you. I will arrange for Cipher Pol to assist."