Time rewinds.
A Marine battleship was sailing at top speed in the New World.
Inside the cabin, a man in a white suit and mask stared intently at a nearby box, not daring to relax for a moment.
He was the officer in charge of this escort mission.
And in this box, a divine Devil Fruit was stored—the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi.
As for how powerful this Devil Fruit was, Shiki had already demonstrated it to the world.
The agent couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Fortunately, the Devil Fruit wasn't discovered in Shiki's former territory.
Now, all the pirates in the New World were scrambling for Shiki's territory. Other areas were relatively safe.
He only needed to deliver the Devil Fruit back into the hands of the World Government, and his mission would be complete.
And because of this merit, he would most likely be promoted.
If it were anyone else, it would be difficult to resist the temptation of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, but a CP0 agent, brainwashed since childhood, was different.
He only considered how to safely transport it to the World Government. His only small ambition was whether he would be promoted afterward.
The climate of the New World was always unpredictable. A storm suddenly erupted on the sea.
The agent frowned, looking out the window, unable to help but complain, "What bad luck."
A storm in the New World could capsize even an experienced navigator's ship.
Before he could make any move, he heard an explosion from the deck.
An ominous premonition surged in his heart. Had he inadvertently set some kind of trap just now?
The agent quickly ran out of the cabin, asking, "What happened?"
An agent in a black suit, holding a telescope, his expression solemn, replied, "Suspicious ships have been spotted behind us."
In the distance, on the sea, Englar Alaric was also observing with a telescope, reporting to Kaido beside him, "Captain, it seems to be a CP0 ship."
Normal pirates wouldn't attack World Government ships. Slapping the World Government's face was far more serious than slapping the Marines' face.
And it was the World Government's elite agents, CP0. Ordinary pirates were no match for them.
But Kaido was clearly no ordinary pirate!
This guy was pure brute force!
Kaido grinned, a savage smile on his face. "Doesn't matter. Let's go."
"Understood."
The Beasts Pirates were now rolling in wealth. They didn't need to plunder anything.
But how did that saying go: A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a stolen one.
Plundering a World Government battleship would give Kaido a thrill.
Even with the storm raging now, it couldn't conceal the massive hull of the Azure Dragon.
Looking at the Beasts Pirates' Jolly Roger fluttering in the wind, the CP0 agent's mentality completely collapsed:
"Why would the Beasts Pirates' ship appear here? Shouldn't they be scrambling for Shiki's territory?"
No one could answer why. What responded to him was only the increasingly approaching Azure Dragon.
The CP0 agent made a decisive decision, immediately calling the World Government and Marines for help, and at the same time, ordered everyone to be on high alert, preparing to meet the enemy.
The battleships' turrets all turned towards the Azure Dragon. Their muzzles spat flames, and cannonballs rained down on the Azure Dragon.
Facing the howling cannonballs, Kaido stood at the dragon's head, unmoving. His captains stepped forward to block these cannonballs.
In the storm, the Azure Dragon charged towards the battleship like a giant beast. The Beasts Pirates members all had cruel smiles on their faces.
Like captain, like crew. They were all pure brutes, just like their captain.
The CP0 agent knew he couldn't avoid this battle. He gritted his teeth, shouting, "Hold on! World Government and Marine reinforcements will arrive soon!"
Kaido stood at the bow of the ship, exuding a terrifying aura. He took a step, and in the next second, he was already on the battleship's deck.
"Quite confident, to think you can hold out against me until reinforcements arrive."
The CP0 agent didn't reply, his eyes fixed on Kaido with a solemn expression. This was probably the strongest enemy he had faced since taking on missions.
Kaido didn't care, his eyes filled with curiosity, asking with a knowing smile:
"Entering the New World at this time, and it's the World Government's elite agents, CP0. What good thing is on this battleship that makes you treat it so cautiously?"
Kaido didn't need the CP0 agent to answer. His lips curled into a savage grin. "Well, it doesn't matter. If I kill you, I'll just find it myself."
"Thunder Bagua!"
…
Marine Headquarters.
Kong, holding the Den Den Mushi, could no longer maintain his usual respectful demeanor, loudly questioning the Five Elders on the other end of the Den Den Mushi:
"Why wasn't the Marines informed about such an important matter beforehand?"
The Den Den Mushi paused for a moment, then a cold, authoritative voice came through. "Watch your tone, Kong."
"The Marines are merely the facade of the World Government. When do we need to explain our actions to you?"
Kong gritted his teeth, desperately suppressing his inner rage. "I understand."
After speaking, he hung up the phone without waiting for the Five Elders to say anything more.
Ignoring his temper, Kong immediately dialed Sengoku.
Then, still uneasy, Kong picked up the phone again and dialed Garp.
"I hope they can make it in time!" Kong slumped into his chair, exhausted, muttering to himself.
In the Room of Authority, Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, whose call had been cut off, was still reeling.
As one of the World Government's apparent supreme rulers, this was the first time he had been hung up on by a subordinate agency.
Moments later, a furious curse erupted. "Bastard! The Marines are becoming more and more undisciplined!"
Kong's shout just now had made him doubt himself.
The other four Elders also thought the same.
The purpose of the Marines' existence was not to uphold so-called justice, but to obey their commands and maintain the Celestial Dragons' rule.
Then, after deliberation among the five old men, they decided to cut a portion of the Marines' budget next year.
On Sengoku's battleship, Sengoku ordered a Marine soldier exuding a lazy aura, "Borsalino, you're fast. Go ahead first."
Borsalino frowned exaggeratedly. "Admiral Sengoku, please spare me. The opponent is the Captain of the Beasts Pirates."
Sengoku patted Borsalino's shoulder, saying solemnly, "Do not engage Kaido in direct combat. Try your best to stall him until I arrive. If you really can't stall him, just follow from a distance."
…
On the battleship, the CP0 agent did not manage to hold out against Kaido until reinforcements arrived.
His head had already been smashed by Kaido's Hassaikai.
Not everyone could come with a famous sword and a plot armor.
Raja searched the battleship's cabin and found a treasure chest, which he handed to Kaido.
Kaido opened the box, his eyes lighting up.
He couldn't be mistaken. This was the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi that the Vice-Captain had been longing for.
Kaido couldn't wait a moment longer. He immediately pulled out his Den Den Mushi and called Noro.
"Hey, Noro, guess what I snatched?"
Without waiting for Noro's reply, Kaido proudly gave the answer:
"It's the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi!"
===
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