Wano – The New World
Deep within the isolated land of Wano Country, thunderclouds rolled endlessly above jagged mountains.
Inside the stronghold of Onigashima, a massive figure sat upon a heavy throne-like chair, a gigantic bowl of sake in his hand.
The man known as the Strongest Creature in the World.
Kaido.
He tilted the bowl back and drank deeply, sake spilling down the side of his mouth as he exhaled in satisfaction.
The doors slid open.
A towering man with slicked-back yellow hair and a black-and-white striped jumpsuit stepped inside.
Queen.
"Kaido-sama," Queen said with a bow, though his tone carried its usual laziness. "The situation with Yamato has been sorted."
Kaido rubbed his temple with one thick finger and grunted.
"Good," he muttered. "My son is quite the hard one to crack… but I will eventually."
He took another drink.
"He will be the one to inherit my legacy."
Behind him, standing silently like a dark shadow with burning eyes, was King.
Kaido turned his gaze toward him.
"King. What's the update on Oden?"
King's voice was calm and measured.
"Kaido-sama. He is still dancing in the Flower Capital. Just as agreed."
For a moment there was silence.
Then Kaido burst into laughter.
"Worororororo!"
"To think," he said, wiping his mouth, "that such a great samurai would be reduced to nothing more than a joke."
He leaned back in his seat.
"That fool Kurozumi Orochi does come up with interesting ideas sometimes."
Queen crossed his arms.
"Kaido-sama… what exactly is the end goal here?"
Kaido glanced at him but said nothing.
Queen continued, "Orochi said if Oden danced for five years, he would release the prisoner civilians. But Orochi has been killing them off instead."
He tilted his head.
"You don't actually plan on keeping that promise, do you?"
Kaido snorted.
"What happens to those civilians is none of my concern. That is Orochi's doing."
He drank again.
"I don't care."
His eyes sharpened slightly.
"I'm focused on my weapons. My army and my goals."
He set the empty bowl down with a heavy thud.
"What happens to the people of Wano… I couldn't care less."
Queen chuckled nervously.
"But Kaido-sama… if Oden ever found out the truth… aren't you worried he might retaliate? I mean, he is very powerful."
The air shifted.
King's gaze slid toward Queen.
"And what," King said slowly, "is that question supposed to mean?"
Queen blinked.
King's voice remained calm but sharp.
"Are you suggesting Kaido-sama should be afraid?"
Queen's eyes popped open as he waved his hands frantically.
"N-No! That's not what I'm saying at all! I'm just asking a question!"
"Enough!"
Kaido's voice boomed through the hall.
The room went silent instantly.
He poured more sake.
"I don't care what that samurai thinks."
He drank.
"It's useless anyway."
A dangerous grin spread across his face.
"He wouldn't even be able to cut me."
"I could kill him anytime I want," Kaido continued dismissively. "But Orochi insists on torturing him and humiliating him instead."
He scoffed.
"So stupid."
Queen leaned forward slightly.
"Kaido-sama… why don't we just kill Orochi anyway? I don't see why he needs to remain alive."
King sighed softly.
"Queen," he said flatly, "for a scientist… you are rather dumb."
Queen's jaw dropped.
"What did you say?!"
King did not even look at him.
"We need Orochi."
He spoke as if explaining something obvious.
"He is a useful, compliant puppet ruler. He manages the day-to-day administration of Wano, allowing Kaido-sama to focus on expanding our military strength."
His eyes gleamed faintly.
"And turning this country into a weapons factory."
Queen was left speechless for a moment.
Then he turned away with a huff.
"I know that," he muttered. "I was just testing you, King."
King's tone remained cool.
"Sure you were."
Outside, thunder roared over Wano.
And somewhere in the Flower Capital, a once-proud daimyo continued to dance.
Kaido let out a long sigh, the sound rumbling like distant thunder.
"Forget about all that," he said, rolling his shoulders. "Right now… I want to start an elite unit for my Beast Pirates."
King's masked face tilted slightly.
"An elite unit? You've never mentioned this before, Kaido-sama."
Kaido snorted.
"That's because I only thought of it yesterday."
He leaned back, cracking his neck.
"For a pirate crew of this scale, only me, you, and Queen possess sufficient combat ability to stand at the very top."
Queen puffed his chest proudly.
"Hehehe, that's true—"
Kaido ignored him.
"With only the three of us… creating the greatest war in history…"
His eyes gleamed with wild anticipation.
"And finding someone strong enough to defeat me in a spectacular, world-shaking battle so I can die a glorious death…"
A grin stretched across his face.
"…will be impossible."
The air felt heavier just from his desire alone.
Queen blinked.
"Then Kaido-sama… do you have people in mind for this elite unit?"
Kaido scratched his chin.
"No. Not yet."
He clicked his tongue.
"Uzuki Tempura… Fugetsu Omusubi… and Shimotsuki Ushimaru would have been great candidates."
His expression darkened.
"But every one of them turned me down."
Queen muttered under his breath, "Samurai pride nonsense…"
King stepped forward slightly.
"Kaido-sama. I have a suggestion."
Kaido's eyebrow lifted.
"Oh? Let's hear it."
King reached into his coat and pulled out a folded newspaper. He laid it carefully in front of Kaido.
The bold headline stretched across the front page.
Kaido picked it up.
King spoke evenly.
"Shanks. Benn Beckman. And Giovanni."
He tapped the page.
"These three have created headlines recently. They are said to have potential equal to future Emperors."
Kaido read silently for a moment.
The room was quiet, until suddenly—
"WORORORORORO!!"
Kaido burst into booming laughter.
"A brat from Roger's crew, huh?!"
His grin widened dangerously.
"This is perfect."
He looked toward King.
"King. Can I trust you with recruiting these kids?"
King bowed slightly.
"Leave it to me, Kaido-sama."
Queen immediately shot his hand into the air.
"What about me, Kaido-sama?! Is there anything I can do?!"
Kaido didn't even look at him.
"You keep watching over the weapons factory, Queen."
His tone turned cold.
"If even one thing goes wrong… I'll kill you."
Queen swallowed loudly.
"W-Why do you treat me like trash and King so well, Kaido-sama? It's not fair…"
The temperature in the room shifted instantly.
"Huh?"
Kaido slowly stood up.
His massive frame cast a suffocating shadow across the chamber.
He reached down and picked up his kanabo.
CRACK.
Black lightning split through the air as his Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, filling the room with violent pressure.
The walls trembled.
The air cracked.
Queen's legs began shaking uncontrollably.
Kaido stepped forward.
"Do you have a problem, Queen?"
Queen shrieked.
"N-NO KAIDO-SAMA!! FORGIVE ME!!"
He spun around and bolted out of the room at full speed, crashing through the sliding doors in his panic.
Silence returned.
Kaido snorted and sat back down.
King remained unmoved, as steady as ever.
"I'll depart immediately," King said calmly.
Kaido waved his hand lazily.
"Bring them to me. If they refuse…"
His grin returned.
"…I'll break them."
---
Sabaody Archipelago – Grove 12
In contrast to the tension of Wano, the air in Sabaody Archipelago felt light and breezy.
Under the shade of a massive mangrove tree, a tall Marine officer lay flat on his back, lazily digging his nose.
Tokikake, Vice Admiral of the Marines.
A Den Den Mushi rested beside him, its tiny face frowning seriously.
Through it, a woman's voice echoed.
"Tokikake. Take this seriously, okay?"
It was Gion.
"If these criminals make it past here, they could grow into something the Marines can't handle."
Tokikake yawned loudly.
"Okay, okay, Gion. You don't need to lecture me."
He rolled onto his side lazily.
"Focus on your grove. I'll focus on mine."
Gion's voice sharpened.
"Fine. But remember, do not engage them. If you see them, contact everyone immediately. Don't underestimate these kids."
Tokikake waved a hand dismissively, even though she couldn't see him.
"I got it."
He hung up the Den Den Mushi.
For a moment, he stared up at the floating bubbles drifting through the air.
He yawned again.
"It's probably going to be a while before they get here…"
He folded his arms behind his head.
"I should take a little nap."
And just like that—
The Vice Admiral of the Marines closed his eyes and began snoring lightly beneath the mangrove tree.
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