"What's that old hag Linlin calling me for now?"
Grumbling under his breath, Kaido reached for the Den Den Mushi.
The moment he lifted it, that shrill, cackling laugh burst through the line.
"Mamama~ma! Kaido, you old beast, still breathing?"
"You're still kicking too, Linlin!"
The two Yonko greeted each other the only way they knew how—by trading insults that sounded like death threats.
"Don't forget, Kaido, you still owe me a massive favor!" Big Mom barked.
Kaido spread his hands innocently.
"Eh? Do I? You sure you're not just sugar-high again, Linlin? Too many cream puffs finally rotted your brain?"
From the corner, Luo Xing nearly burst out laughing.
His usually fearsome father-in-law was shamelessly playing dumb like a street con artist.
Of course, Luo Xing—being a man from another world—knew exactly what Big Mom meant.
That "favor" was none other than the Mythical Zoan: Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon, which Kaido had eaten thanks to her.
Big Mom was fuming now.
"Kaido, you bastard! Back when we sailed under Rocks, I should've beaten you senseless a few more times!"
"Cut the crap, Linlin," Kaido replied lazily. "What do you want this time?"
At last, Big Mom got to the point.
"I heard you've come across something called Mutant Cells. They can double your crew's power! Don't play dumb—send me a few hundred, pronto!"
"Mutant Cells? Never heard of them." Kaido denied it instantly, straight-faced.
"Hah! You think you can fool me?" Big Mom's voice rose to a furious shriek.
"I've already got confirmed intel from the Marines! You can't lie to me!"
Kaido's face twitched.
So the news had leaked from Marine HQ… those damn dogs!
"Even if I did have Mutant Cells," he growled, "why the hell should I give you any?"
"Because if you don't, I'll come to Wano and take them!"
"If you dare set foot in Wano, I'll kill you!"
BOOM!
Kaido's Conqueror's Haki exploded like a thunderclap, shaking the hall and splitting the sky.
Luo Xing just smirked.
Yeah, keep acting tough…
We all saw the original timeline—Queen literally dragged Big Mom to your feet in chains, and you still let her walk free.
And then you two were all smiles and shoulder-slaps. Don't tell me there wasn't something going on…
He sighed inwardly.
If Yamato hadn't inherited her mother's looks, Luo Xing might've started questioning her bloodline.
"Ahem."
Luo Xing stepped forward before Kaido could shout again.
"Father-in-law, calm down. Since Big Mom wants Mutant Cells, there's no need to refuse her outright."
Kaido covered the Den Den Mushi's mouthpiece and leaned closer, whispering:
"You don't get it, kid. Linlin's got way more troops than I do—and eighty-something kids!
If she gets her hands on the cells, she'll outnumber and outpower me in no time!"
Luo Xing smiled faintly.
"No need to worry. We'll only sell her low-grade Mutant Cells. And—"
He raised a single finger.
"—each one costs one billion Berries."
Kaido's eyes bulged.
King's jaw dropped behind his mask.
Queen's grin nearly split his face.
Jack blinked dumbly, trying to do the math.
Low-grade cells cost about 300,000 to make… and he's selling them for a billion? That's robbery!
But Luo Xing didn't see it that way.
Only he could produce Mutant Cells. They were rarer than Devil Fruits—and far more stable.
A billion per piece? That was generous.
Kaido's grin slowly widened, and he gave Luo Xing a massive thumbs-up.
Then he uncovered the Den Den Mushi and spoke again, his tone suddenly all honey and warmth.
"Linlin, my dear, you're right—I do owe you a favor.
Tell you what, I'll send you some Mutant Cells after all.
But they're not free—one billion Berries per piece. How's that sound?"
On the other end, Big Mom's eyes gleamed.
She had no clue what they actually cost to make.
To her, Mutant Cells were as valuable as Devil Fruits—or maybe more.
"Mamama~! Finally, you're showing some sense, Kaido!
Fine, I'll take fifty of them! Send them right away!"
And with that, the deal was struck.
Big Mom, thinking she'd scored a bargain, wired over 50 billion Berries for fifty Tiger-Class Mutant Cells.
Cost to produce: 10 million Berries.
Profit: 49.99 billion.
Even after Kaido took his cut for the crew, Luo Xing's personal take was staggering.
Later that evening, Luo Xing strolled home in high spirits.
He was already planning how to spend his new fortune when a familiar round figure waddled up beside him.
"Heh-heh, Lord Consort!" crooned Queen, his face slick with grease and mischief.
"You made a killing this time. How about sharing a little of that wealth, eh?"
Luo Xing arched a brow.
"And what would you even do with it?"
"Research, of course! I've got this new gas bomb prototype, but I'm running low on funding…"
Ah yes—Queen, the mad plague doctor of the Beasts Pirates.
Toxic fumes, biochemical weapons, viruses—anything grotesque was his specialty.
Luo Xing had half a mind to dismiss him.
But then, a thought struck him.
If he was going to reform Wano and deal with both Orochi's remnants and the Kozuki loyalists hiding in the shadows,
he could use a little… plague assistance.
He smiled thinly.
"Fine. You'll get your funding—on one condition."
Queen perked up.
"Anything, Lord Consort!"
"For a while, you'll be working under my command."
Queen's grin faltered—but only for a moment.
Then he nodded quickly.
"You got it, boss!"
Luo Xing smirked.
Perfect.
Let the scientist spread some chaos while I reshape Wano in peace.
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