At the palace, Kaido and his group had already arrived before the grand palace gates. The resplendent, gilded palace stood in stark contrast to the city's shadowy black markets, showcasing the kingdom's wealth and power.
Dozens of fully armed guards stood on either side of the palace gates, clad in polished armor and holding sharp spears, yet they seemed so insignificant before Kaido and his men.
"Mr. Kaido, welcome to Lexter," a middle-aged man in opulent robes said from the top of the stairs, a shrewd, merchant-like smile on his face. He gave a slight bow, his right hand placed over his chest in a salute. "I am the King's Finance Minister, Rodriguez. His Majesty has prepared a banquet in the banquet hall and awaits your presence."
Kaido snorted and strode up the steps. With each step of his massive frame, the stone stairs beneath his feet groaned as if under immense strain. King, Bullet, and Urouge followed closely behind, the three of them vigilantly observing their surroundings. Though the palace guards were fully armed, they still seemed utterly defenseless before these powerful pirates.
Passing through a long corridor, Kaido finally met the King of Lexter—a portly, middle-aged man whose face was wreathed in smiles.
The King rose from his throne, spreading his arms wide in a show of warmth. "Welcome, welcome! The arrival of Mr. Kaido truly brings immense honor to our humble kingdom!" His voice was loud and ingratiating, the fat on his face bunching up with his smile.
Kaido ignored the King's pleasantries, getting straight to the point. "What do you want with me?" His voice rumbled like muffled thunder through the spacious hall, causing the surrounding candle flames to flicker faintly.
The King's smile faltered for a moment but quickly returned to its merchant-like shrewdness. "Mr. Kaido is indeed a man of few words. Actually, I wish to discuss a business deal with you..."
"A deal? You want to do business with me? Wororororo..." Kaido let out his trademark laugh, making the palace's glass windows tremble. "Are you trying to make me laugh?" So-called business deals only occur between parties of equal strength. This country could be wiped out by Kaido anytime he wished. For someone of such unequal strength to want to do business with him was a complete joke.
"Mr. Kaido, I know the Kingdom of Lexter is not strong enough to be your equal, but we are at least one of the most powerful nations in the West Blue, and we are a member nation of the World Government," the King said, wiping cold sweat from his brow and forcing himself to continue.
"Oh? Are you trying to threaten me with the World Government?" Kaido's gaze suddenly turned dangerous, an oppressive aura beginning to emanate from his body.
"N-No, no, Mr. Kaido! What I meant to say is that the Kingdom of Lexter does hold some influence in the West Blue, especially the goods available in our nation's underground black market. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come here to purchase supplies," the King hurriedly explained, his voice starting to quiver. "Since you have a need, Mr. Kaido, that gives us the premise for doing business."
Kaido narrowed his eyes, his thick fingers lightly tapping the armrest of the throne. "Wororororo... Interesting. Go on then. Tell me about this so-called deal, and what you can offer me."
The King took a deep breath, organizing his thoughts. "It's like this, Mr. Kaido. A year ago, in the waters near the Kingdom of Lexter, we discovered an island rich in mineral resources. We immediately prepared to develop the island's mineral deposits. Unfortunately, the Kingdom of Cridia from another sea also discovered the island at the same time. The two nations fought a small battle over it. Afterwards, the despicable Kingdom of Cridia bribed a high-ranking World Government official to have the island officially designated as part of Cridia's territory."
"So, what do you want me to do?" Kaido asked bluntly.
"I wish to hire you, Mr. Kaido, in your capacity as a pirate, to raid that island and kill all the soldiers of the Kingdom of Cridia stationed there," the King said, lowering his voice, a flash of viciousness in his eyes.
"Just kill them?!" Kaido raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, just eliminate everyone on the island. I will arrange everything else," the King said, rubbing his hands together.
"And what kind of reward are you prepared to pay me?!" Kaido's voice held a note of amusement.
"Mr. Kaido, if you can eliminate everyone on the island, I am willing to pay you a reward of one billion Berries. Additionally, there is a Devil Fruit I obtained by chance some time ago," the King said mysteriously.
"Oh? A Devil Fruit?" Hearing this, Kaido leaned forward slightly, his interest piqued.
"Indeed. According to our kingdom's Devil Fruit encyclopedia, that fruit is the Paramecia Type, Kage Kage no Mi," the King said.
A glint of interest flashed in Kaido's eyes. "The Shadow-Shadow Fruit? The one that grants the ability to manipulate shadows?"
"Precisely," the King nodded. "This fruit's power is quite formidable, allowing one to control the shadows of others for their own use. I believe for a powerful individual such as yourself, Mr. Kaido, this would be a fine addition to your collection."
Kaido pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Wororororo... Interesting! I'll take this job. However..." His gaze suddenly turned dangerous again. "If you dare try any tricks, I won't mind turning this palace into a pile of rubble."
Cold sweat beaded on the King's forehead, and he hastily waved his hands. "I wouldn't dare! You can rest assured, Mr. Kaido. We will absolutely honor our promise."
"Better be," Kaido said, turning to leave. "I'll set out tomorrow. Every last Cridian on that island will disappear. Have your reward ready, Your Majesty."
Watching Kaido's retreating back, the King let out a long sigh of relief, the shrewd, merchant-like smile returning to his face. He turned and whispered to the Finance Minister, "Immediately prepare the one billion Berries and that Devil Fruit. Also, inform our contacts in Cridia and have them make preparations."
The Finance Minister hesitated. "Your Majesty, are we truly going to do this? What if our true intentions are discovered..."
"Silence!" the King cut him off sharply. "This is our only chance. If the plan succeeds, we not only eliminate Cridia's greatest ally, but we also use Kaido's hand to wipe out Cridia's main military force. That way, Cridia will no longer pose a threat to Lexter's standing."
Meanwhile, having exited the palace, Kaido suddenly stopped and said to King, "King, tonight you will infiltrate the palace and take control of that fat pig. Find out what they're really planning. I used Kenbunshoku Haki to probe earlier; there's nothing in this country that can threaten you."
King nodded. "Understood, Big Brother Kaido. I have already memorized the scent of that fat pig's blood."
"Hmm," Kaido nodded.