After several days of sailing, the Beasts Pirates, led by Kaido, finally arrived at the legendary sky island of Birkans.
As their massive pirate ship slowly entered the harbor, the dock was already crowded with two to three hundred fully armed soldiers who had formed up in a state of readiness. Each gripped their weapons tightly, staring nervously at the obviously hostile pirate vessel.
A middle-aged man dressed in ornate Priest robes stood at the forefront of the group. He raised the scepter in his hand, shouting toward the approaching pirate ship, "This is the sacred sky island of Birkans! We do not welcome any outsiders! Please depart immediately! Otherwise, we will resort to force expulsion!" His voice echoed over the port, carrying unquestionable authority.
Hearing this warning, Queen, standing on the deck, couldn't help but roar with laughter. "Muahahaha! Boss Kaido, this is the first time someone has dared to so blatantly refuse our landing!" His signature laugh reverberated across the deck, causing other crew members to join in the raucous laughter, completely dismissing the other side's warning.
Kaido's tall figure stood at the ship's bow. He crossed his arms, looking down at the heavily guarded soldiers on the dock, a ferocious smile curling his lips. "Wororororo... Since they don't welcome us, we'll use a pirate's way to make them change their minds!" With his command, the pirates aboard the ship immediately erupted into deafening battle cries, grabbing their weapons and preparing for combat.
Among this excited pirate crew, only Urouge seemed out of place.
The young man who had been forcibly taken aboard just days earlier bore bruises all over his face, clearly having just experienced the "special treatment" from King, Bullet, Queen, and the others. He stood at the edge of the deck, watching the imminent battle with a complicated expression.
"Muahahaha! Boys, follow me!" Queen brandished his longsword and was the first to leap from the deck onto the dock.
At almost the same moment, King and Bullet had already charged into the enemy ranks like lightning. Their agile figures weaved through the soldiers, leaving chaos and toppled bodies in their wake. The pirates followed close behind, surging onto the dock like a tide, battle cries instantly filling the entire port.
Faced with this sudden assault, Birkans' defenders hastily tried to organize their defense, but it was already too late.
Kaido stood at the bow, watching with satisfaction as his subordinates wreaked havoc on the dock. This "welcome ceremony" was proceeding exactly as he had envisioned.
"Urouge, get down there and help, or do you want another taste of my Hassaikai?" Kaido turned his head, speaking to Urouge, who still stood on the deck. His tone carried an unrefusable threat.
Hearing Kaido's words, Urouge could only sigh in resignation and jump down from the ship to assist. After all, he had no desire to sample Kaido's kanabo again; that experience was truly not something an ordinary person could endure.
The battle concluded in an extremely short time.
The Beasts Pirates members, led by Bullet and the others, achieved victory with overwhelming advantage. The fight had been devoid of suspense from the very beginning; faced with the power of the Beasts Pirates, Birkans' guard forces were simply no match.
Gavin escorted a middle-aged man dressed in ornate Priest robes as he slowly walked toward Kaido.
This once-lofty ruler now walked with faltering steps, the carefully maintained hem of his long robe stained with dirt, fine beads of sweat on his forehead. Trembling, he knelt on both knees, head bowed low, not daring to look directly at the demon-god-like figure towering before him.
"Are you the ruler of Birkans?" Kaido's low voice exploded in the air like muffled thunder, carrying unquestionable authority. He looked down imperiously at the kneeling man, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
"Y-yes, sir. I am the God of Birkans... Federico Zo." Zo's voice was full of fear. He answered cautiously, his forehead almost touching the ground. He could feel the terrifying, oppressive aura emanating from Kaido, like an invisible mountain crushing him, making it hard to breathe.
Kaido snorted coldly, cutting straight to the point. "Listen well. I'm only here to find one thing."
Hearing this, Zo's taut nerves relaxed slightly. He secretly rejoiced that the other party didn't seem to be here to destroy Birkans, and so mustered the courage to ask, "M-may I ask what it is you seek, sir?"
Instead of answering directly, Kaido shot back a question. "First, answer me. Is there a temple or similar place on this island?" He remembered the original storyline didn't explicitly mention the Goro Goro no Mi's precise location; he'd only seen in some fan fiction that it might be within a temple on Birkans. Kaido calculated privately: if there really was no temple here, he'd probably have to order his men to turn the entire island upside down.
Zo immediately replied upon hearing this. "Yes, sir. There is indeed a temple behind the royal palace of Birkans. It's said to enshrine a sacred object of Birkans. However..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "According to Birkans' rules, no one except the High Priest is allowed to enter the temple, so I don't know what's inside specifically."
A glint of delight flashed in Kaido's eyes. He said gravely, "Good. Lead the way."
"Sir, you wish to go to the temple?" Zo looked up in surprise, a troubled expression appearing on his face. This action seemed to violate some taboo, making him instinctively want to dissuade Kaido.
"Hmm?" Kaido glared, his body radiating a suffocating pressure. Zo immediately felt dizzy, as if an invisible force had seized his throat. Only then did he realize that in the face of absolute power, any rules or traditions were utterly worthless.
"Y-yes, sir! I'll lead the way immediately!" Zo hastily complied, not daring to show any further hesitation. Trembling, he stood up and led the way for Kaido.
The group passed through the gardens behind the royal palace, arriving before an ancient and mysterious temple. The temple's architectural style was simple yet solemn, its mottled stone walls covered in the marks of age. Intricate patterns were carved into the walls, their lines and symbols seeming to narrate a lost ancient legend.
"What's this?" Queen suddenly stopped, carefully examining the wall murals before letting out his signature laugh. "Muahahaha, Boss Kaido, these seem to be records of some Ark technology."
Kaido continued walking forward without turning his head, simply instructing, "If you think it's useful, arrange for someone to record these murals."
"Understood!" Queen immediately turned around, barking orders at several pirates behind him. "You lot! Immediately photograph every single mural here for me! If you miss even one, you'll see how I deal with you!"
"Yes, sir!" several pirates hurriedly responded, scrambling to pull out cameras and begin work. They moved carefully along the walls, afraid of missing any detail. Queen stood to the side supervising, letting out dissatisfied grunts from time to time.