West Blue, Yangpu Bay.
On the azure sea, a large sailing ship flying the Beasts Pirates' Jolly Roger was slowly making its way towards the docks of an island.
As the vessel drew closer, the dockworkers, who had been busy moments before, stopped their tasks one by one, gazing in fear at this behemoth. A few of the more timid ones had already slipped into warehouses, daring only to peek through cracks in the doors. While pirates frequently visited this island, it was the first time a major pirate crew like the Beasts Pirates had come calling.
"Finally, land!" The seven-year-old Enel stood by the ship's rail, shouting excitedly towards the docks below. This little boy with lightning-bolt blond hair was the youngest member of the crew. His voice was clear and bright, echoing over the docks and causing several workers hauling cargo to look up.
Ever since Kaido's world-shaking battle with Garp, they had been sailing through various seas of the West Blue. Now, a full twenty days had passed since their last landing. The long voyage had left everyone exhausted. Setting foot on land now, none could hide their excitement. The sea breeze, carrying the scent of earth, blew against their faces—a stark contrast to the ever-present salty, fishy odor of the ship.
It wasn't just Enel. The other core members on board also showed long-awaited smiles. King stood on the deck, his black wings gleaming with a metallic sheen in the sunlight. He squinted slightly, savoring the long-missed scent of land. Bullet stretched his thick arms, his joints emitting crisp pops, a look of satisfaction on his face. Urouge piously pressed his palms together, murmuring under his breath, seemingly giving thanks for the safe voyage. They stood on the docks, greedily breathing in the salt-tinged sea breeze, feeling the long-absent solidity beneath their feet.
Only Queen was an exception. The portly scientist had built a simple laboratory on the ship after procuring the necessary materials in the West Blue. Aside from his fixed daily training time, he had thrown himself almost entirely into his experiments and research. At this moment, he was carefully cradling a test tube filled with green liquid, completely deaf to the commotion ashore. His glasses reflected the eerie green glow from the tube, his face wearing an expression of obsession.
"Alright. King, you handle distributing two hundred thousand Berries to each officer and twenty thousand to each regular crew member. Let everyone have a good rest on the island. Bullet, you arrange for people to procure supplies on the island." Kaido stood at the prow, issuing instructions to his two capable lieutenants. His voice was low and powerful, reverberating over the docks.
Ever since Queen had buried himself in research, Kaido had gradually begun entrusting many shipboard matters to King and Bullet. Though both were still young, the world of pirates never judged heroes by age—strength was the only true currency. King's black wings shimmered with a cold light under the sun, while Bullet's robust physique radiated a sense of power not to be underestimated.
"Hooray! Long live the Captain!" Upon hearing Kaido's words, everyone on board cheered with joy. The crew began disembarking in an orderly fashion, each face brimming with anticipation. In this era of scarce resources, twenty thousand Berries was no small fortune for an ordinary pirate. They left in twos and threes, discussing where to go to unwind.
"Captain, what about me?" Enel ran up to Kaido's side at this point, looking up to ask. This lively little fellow, though the youngest, had already shown astonishing potential. His blond hair shone in the sunlight, his eyes sparkling with expectation.
"Oh. Apprentices get one hundred thousand Berries." Kaido looked down at Enel, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly—a rare expression on his fierce face.
"Great! Thank you, Captain!" Enel jumped for joy, hopping around the deck like a cheerful little bird. His bright, pleasant laughter added a touch of childish innocence to the ship brimming with ferocity.
Amidst this happy atmosphere, a "Bururu bururu bururu" suddenly rang out. Kaido pulled a peculiarly shaped, small Den Den Mushi from his chest, his brow furrowing slightly. This custom black Den Den Mushi's number was known to only a handful of people. Who could be calling? The shell of the Den Den Mushi bore special patterns, making it seem particularly mysterious.
Kaido glanced around and spoke to the gathered officers and crew behind him. "Everyone is free to go now. Remember, don't cause trouble for me on the island." His voice wasn't loud, but it carried unquestionable authority. The crew immediately quieted down, nodding respectfully in acknowledgment.
From the very beginning of their voyage, Kaido had laid down strict rules: unless it was a combat mission, no one was to engage in plunder or deliberately cause trouble upon landing on any island. Of course, if anyone dared to provoke the Beasts Pirates, they were to strike back without hesitation. As for the crew's financial resources, the gold they had obtained in the City of Gold alone was enough for the entire pirate crew to live lavishly for decades. In the future, once the Beasts Pirates established a firm foothold in the New World, the territories they controlled would also provide them with vast funds.
In truth, the Four Emperor crews in the original story didn't really survive on plunder. They were less like pirate crews and more like powerful military warlords.
Kaido understood this well. He aimed not only to forge a powerful pirate crew but to build an empire of his own. At this moment, holding the mysterious Den Den Mushi, a thoughtful glint flashed in his eyes.
The sea wind howled as Kaido stood alone on the deck, his cape flapping loudly. He slowly pressed the answer button on the Den Den Mushi, his deep voice echoing across the empty deck. "Speak. Not many know this Den Den Mushi's number. Who are you?"
The Den Den Mushi suddenly adopted a sinister grin, letting out an eerie chuckle. "Yihihihihi... Kaido, remember me?" The Den Den Mushi's expression twisted, its eyes narrowing to slits, its mouth curling upwards in an exaggerated smirk. It was a look that sent chills down one's spine.
Kaido's lips curled into a cold smile. "Wororororo. So it's Kurozumi Higurashi." He named the other party without hesitation. This woman, who had once served alongside him on the Rocks Pirates, had left a deep impression.
"Yihihihihi, after not seeing you for a few years, you've grown strong enough that even the Marine Hero Garp can't do anything to you." Kurozumi Higurashi's voice held clear flattery.
"Cut the nonsense. What do you want with me?" Kaido interrupted her impatiently. He'd always hated roundabout conversation.
"With such immense power, yet you're still wandering the Four Blues... It seems you haven't found a suitable foothold in the New World!" Kurozumi Higurashi's tone suddenly turned serious. "Kaido, I'm here to help you."
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