Kaidou turned his gaze to the tall Fish-Man Executive, his booming voice echoing through the banquet hall: "Sebastian."
"Captain." The Fish-Man Warrior stepped forward steadily, his blue skin glowing with health under the lights, muscle lines clearly defined. He stood straight, his gaze fixed firmly on Kaidou.
Kaidou nodded with satisfaction: "You were the warrior I personally recruited at Fish-Man Island. Since joining the Beasts Pirates, you've remained loyal and devoted. Every mission has been completed meticulously, never disappointing me." He paused briefly before continuing: "I originally intended to grant you a Devil Fruit, but you refused this power."
Sebastian lowered his head slightly, recalling that conversation. Kaidou had indeed offered him a Devil Fruit back then, but considering his position as commander of the Fish-Man forces, losing his swimming ability would make it difficult to command operations underwater, so he had politely declined the offer.
Kaidou turned and took a pair of gleaming Meteor Hammers from an attendant: "These weapons were forged by a master craftsman from Wano Country using their specialty Wine Iron Ore. Each weighs eight hundred jin." He solemnly handed the weapons to Sebastian: "May they achieve their maximum potential in your hands."
Sebastian respectfully accepted the Meteor Hammers, feeling their substantial weight in his hands: "It's my honor to serve the Captain." He understood that maintaining his Fish-Man identity would allow him to better command the Fish-Man forces - this choice was most beneficial for the entire pirate crew.
"Commodore Gavin." Kaidou's deep voice resonated through the hall as his gaze shifted to the next Executive.
"Captain." Gavin stepped before Kaidou and spoke respectfully.
"Gavin, since you joined the pirate crew, you've performed excellently in various missions. I hope you'll continue your efforts. This Dragon-Dragon Fruit-Ancient Zoan-Brachiosaurus Model Devil Fruit is now entrusted to you." As Kaidou spoke, he handed Gavin the very Brachiosaurus Fruit that Queen had consumed in the original story.
"Thank you for your cultivation, Captain!" Gavin accepted the fruit with both hands and bit into it without hesitation. As the fruit flesh passed his throat, his body began to transform dramatically - his skin gradually turned orange, his neck continuously elongated, eventually transforming into a giant Brachiosaurus standing fifteen meters tall.
"ROAR—!" Gavin in his Brachiosaurus form roared toward the sky, his thick tail sweeping across the ground and causing the hall to tremble slightly. Moments later, he returned to human form and bowed deeply to Kaidou.
Kaidou's gaze moved to the final Executive - the young swordsman Nur Morris. This newest member stood straight, his eyes beneath black long hair shining with determination.
"Morris."
The young swordsman immediately stepped forward, standing respectfully before his captain. "Captain." His voice was steady and firm.
"Though you're the most recent Executive to join," Kaidou said slowly, his eyes burning like torches, "your performance has been no less impressive than the others." He paused briefly, accepting the famous sword handed to him by a maid. "I originally planned to grant you a Devil Fruit, but since you've chosen the pure path of swordsmanship..."
The Heavenly Feather Cutter gleamed coldly in the candlelight as Kaidou solemnly offered it to Morris. "This blade, I entrust to you."
The Heavenly Feather Cutter was solemnly presented to Morris. Taking a deep breath, Morris received the treasured blade with both hands, his fingertips trembling slightly from excitement. As he slowly drew the sword from its scabbard, the clear whisper of the blade slicing through the air resonated throughout the hall.
With this, all eight official Executives of the Beasts Pirates had received their rewards. Kaidou then waved his hand toward the two remaining attendants, who hurriedly brought forward the trays they were carrying.
"Urorororo! My men!"
Kaidou's boisterous laughter echoed through the banquet hall. His towering figure stood on the central platform like an unshakable mountain. His dragon-like vertical pupils scanned the faces of every pirate below, a meaningful smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
"You all saw the rewards the Executives just received, didn't you?" Kaidou addressed all the pirates present. "Now tell me, do you want them too?"
"We do!"
The roar of hundreds of pirates thundered like a storm, shaking the hall's chandeliers. Their eyes burned with desire, firmly fixed on the final two Devil Fruits on the platform. These were the powers they dreamed of, the opportunity to change their destinies.
Kaidou nodded with satisfaction. "Today's Fire Festival is to make you understand that in the Beasts Pirates, loyalty is the best currency!" His voice suddenly lowered, taking on a seductive tone. "The Executives' rewards have been distributed, but there are still two Devil Fruits here... Do you know who these are for?"
"We know!"
The pirates' response grew even more fervent, with many unable to restrain themselves from standing up. Compared to those seemingly unreachable powerful abilities, these two ordinary-type Devil Fruits felt more tangible to them—an opportunity within their grasp, a gift from fate.
In a noisy corner, Cedric was focused on devouring a piece of charred roasted beast meat. The medium-built young man's body was covered with scars, each one proof of his frontline battles. Not far from him, Nixon remained silent as usual, meticulously polishing the sword that never left his side. The blade gleamed coldly in the firelight, reflecting his resolute face.
"Urorororo!" Kaidou's booming laughter suddenly cut through the banquet hall's noise. "Now announcing the recipients of these two fruits—" He deliberately drew out his words, his eyes searching through the crowd. "Cedric, and Nixon!"
The entire hall fell into momentary silence before erupting into even greater uproar. Pirates looked around, searching for the figures of these two fortunate men. The piece of meat in Cedric's hand fell to the ground with a splat, sauce splattering on his boots. He stared wide-eyed, unable to believe his ears.
Nixon's polishing motion froze mid-air, the cloth hovering above the blade.
"Hey, Cedric, what are you standing there for, you bastard?" A companion nearby shoved him hard, voice filled with envy. "Hurry up and go!"
Only then did Cedric snap out of his daze, stumbling through the crowd. Nixon also came to his senses, walking steadily toward the platform. When they stood before Kaidou, both could hear their own hearts pounding violently, as if about to burst from their chests.
Kaidou looked down upon them, his booming voice echoing through the hall: "My men, you must be wondering why it's these two, and not those stronger captains?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued: "Cedric always charges at the forefront in every battle—every scar on his body is his medal! Nixon never cuts corners on missions—I trust him most with any task I assign! Doesn't such loyalty deserve a reward?"
A wave of enlightened exclamations rose from the crowd below.
Cedric felt his eyes grow warm; he hadn't expected Kaidou-sama to notice every time he led the charge.
Nixon straightened his back, a rare smile breaking through his perpetually stern expression.
"These two are ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruits," Kaidou pointed at the two exquisite wooden boxes on the table. "The Zoan-Horse-Horse Fruit and the Zoan-Gray Wolf-Gray Wolf Fruit—choose between yourselves."
Cedric and Nixon exchanged a glance, both reading the same thought in each other's eyes—the Gray Wolf Fruit was clearly more offensive. Cedric moved swiftly, snatching the box containing the Gray Wolf Fruit. Nixon shrugged and calmly picked up the remaining Horse-Horse Fruit.
Without hesitation, they bit into the fruits. Instantly, miraculous transformations began.
Cedric's body swelled and distorted, gray fur flooding over him like a tide until he became a massive wolf two meters long and one meter tall. Nixon transformed into a tall, robust steed with a shoulder height of 1.5 meters, his muscular contours strikingly distinct in the firelight.
"Awooo—" Cedric howled at the sky, his cry brimming with primal power. Nixon reared up, emitting a clear whinny, his hooves tapping crisp rhythms on the floor.
Though their transformations weren't as earth-shattering as the Executives' earlier displays, the pirates below felt no less envy—if anything, it burned hotter for its tangibility.
Standing on the high platform, Kaidou raised a massive gourd of liquor with his brawny arms, amber liquid glinting temptingly in the bonfire's glow. "See? This is the reward for loyalty!" his thunderous voice carried on the sea breeze. "From today onward, the Fire Festival will be a tradition of our Beasts Pirates! Every year, we'll present precious Devil Fruits to our most loyal warriors! If you work hard enough, any one of you could be standing here next year! Wororororo! Now tell me—do you want this glory?"
"Yes!" hundreds of pirates roared in unison, the soundwave making surrounding bonfires flicker.
Satisfied, Kaidou gulped down strong liquor, droplets tracing paths through his beard. "I know you followed me to sea for fame and fortune!" he wiped his mouth. "Today I declare this—if you're loyal enough, I'll give you whatever you want!"
With a sweep of his large hand, a dozen burly men emerged from behind the stage, carrying heavy chests in pairs. When the lids were thrown open simultaneously, dazzling golden light illuminated the entire venue—stacked within were over a dozen chests filled with gold ingots!
The pirates below immediately erupted into commotion. The few old-timers who had once followed Kaidou to the City of Gold remained relatively calm, but the vast majority began breathing heavily, their eyes fixed intently on the gleaming golden treasures.
"Now," Kaidou declared boldly, "let the Executives distribute this gold to everyone!" His laughter carried far across the sea, "Tonight, we shall celebrate the glory of the Beasts Pirates with fine wine and gold! Wororororo!"
Before Kaidou's laughter had even faded, the pirates could no longer contain their excitement. Cheers erupted wave after wave through the crowd, with some even leaping up in exhilaration. Eight Executives began distributing the gold bricks, and each time a name was called, it sparked waves of envious gasps.
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