Kaido narrowed his eyes, his thick fingers unconsciously tightening around the Hassaikai in his grip. The wrinkled, old-woman's face simulated by the Den Den Mushi filled him with disgust, but he knew this woman, Kurozumi Higurashi, wouldn't contact him for no reason.
Then Kaido recalled that in the original story, it seemed to be this very woman, Kurozumi Higurashi, who had invited him, proposing a collaboration with Kurozumi Orochi, after which Kaido began his invasion of Wano Country. In this life, due to his strength and notoriety, Kurozumi Higurashi had contacted him several years earlier. It seemed the scheme for Wano was about to begin ahead of schedule.
"Help me?" Kaido then deliberately let out a derisive snort. "Kurozumi Higurashi, you think you're qualified to help me?" His tone was full of contempt.
The Den Den Mushi immediately transmitted that signature eerie laugh. "Yihihihihi, don't be so quick to refuse. While my strength is indeed inferior to yours, I'm quite adept at gathering intelligence." Kurozumi Higurashi's voice suddenly lowered. "There's a perfect strategic location in the New World, easily defended and hard to attack. No major pirate has set their sights on it yet. It would be ideal for your main base."
The lazy look in Kaido's eyes suddenly sharpened. He set down his sake gourd and asked in a low voice, "Specific location?" The brief question betrayed unconcealable anticipation.
"Wano Country." Kurozumi Higurashi enunciated the name, syllable by syllable, a note of hidden excitement in her voice.
"Wano Country?" A meaningful smile appeared on Kaido's face as he lightly tapped the tabletop with a finger. "If I recall correctly, that's your country. You'd invite an outsider to invade your own homeland?"
Silence briefly reigned on the other end before Kurozumi Higurashi's low, raspy voice came through. "Precisely. I wish to borrow your strength to overthrow the Kozuki Clan's rule and help the Kurozumi Clan regain control of Wano Country. In return, we can cede part of the territory to you as your main base."
"You think that's enough to buy me?" Kaido issued a cold laugh. "Are you looking down on me?"
Kurozumi Higurashi emphasized his tone. "Wano Country is rich in Seastone. All of that can belong to you. You understand the strategic value of Seastone on the Grand Line better than anyone."
"Wororororo, Seastone is good, but it's far from enough." Kaido's voice suddenly took on a dangerous edge. "If you want me to deal with the Kozuki Clan, you'll need to offer a more substantial bargaining chip. You know as well as I do that Wano isn't an easy place to assault. Those samurai are notoriously troublesome."
"What else do you want?" Kurozumi Higurashi pressed urgently.
A glint of greed flashed in Kaido's eyes. "The Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi. That Devil Fruit should still be in your possession, shouldn't it?"
The Den Den Mushi's expression instantly froze. Kurozumi Higurashi's laughter cut off abruptly. After a moment, her voice turned icy cold. "Kaido... how do you know about this Devil Fruit?"
"Wororororo. Kurozumi Higurashi, don't take everyone for fools. Back during the God Valley incident, with your Mane Mane no Mi's mimicry abilities, I don't believe you didn't manage to snatch something good for yourself." Kaido bluntly pierced the other's pretense.
Kurozumi Higurashi took a deep breath. "Kaido, though I don't know how you learned it was me who obtained that fruit... that Devil Fruit has already been consumed."
"Consumed?" Kaido wasn't particularly surprised by this. After all, in the original story, it seemed that as soon as the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Kurozumi Higurashi returned to Wano, found Kurozumi Orochi, and fed him the Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi.
"Fine. If the Yamata no Orochi fruit is gone, it's gone." Kaido's voice abruptly rose. "However, I imagine that Wano Country, as an ancient nation, must still have some other Devil Fruits within its borders, yes?! In that case, from now on, any Devil Fruits or Devil Fruit users in Wano Country will belong to the Beasts Pirates."
Kaido stated it directly. Wano Country was his target anyway. Setting aside the hidden Ancient Weapon Pluton and its easily defensible terrain, the several Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruits this country possessed were reason enough for Kaido to seize it.
"Agreed. When can you return to the New World?" Kurozumi Higurashi showed little hesitation regarding Kaido's demand. Her current goal was the revival of the Kurozumi Clan; she didn't care much for Devil Fruits.
"I'm currently in the West Blue. I can cross the Calm Belt directly back to the New World." Kaido thought for a moment. "Alright. One month from now, we'll meet at Korija Island in the New World. To discuss how to assault Wano."
After hanging up, Kaido stood on the deck, gazing at the turbulent sea as he fell into deep thought.
This move against Wano was several years ahead of his original schedule. However, his current strength was also incomparable to his strength in the original timeline. Still, Kurozumi Higurashi's invitation had indeed disrupted his initial plans.
Originally, he intended to sail through all Four Blues, recruiting more promising subordinates. After that, he planned to find a place to train in seclusion for a year or two, and then use absolute power to directly bring Wano Country under his control. Now it seemed he needed to alter his plan. First, invade Wano together with those fools from the Kurozumi Clan and secure the several Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits there. Then, after King, Queen, and Bullet had improved their strength further, he could make his next move.
Meanwhile, in the dilapidated mansion of the Kurozumi family in Wano Country, Kurozumi Higurashi slowly set down the Den Den Mushi. She stood in the dust-covered corridor, looking through the broken lattice of a window towards the brightly lit Flower Capital in the distance. A light of pure hatred flickered in her eyes.
The Kozuki Clan's rule had lasted far too long. And now, the opportunity for vengeance that the Kurozumi Clan had awaited for decades had finally arrived.
"Kaido..." she murmured the name under her breath, her withered fingers clutching tightly at the hem of her kimono. "I hope you will become the sharpest blade of vengeance for the Kurozumi Clan."
"One month from now..." A cold, cruel smile curved Kurozumi Higurashi's lips. "...the political landscape of Wano, unchanged for centuries, is due for a complete transformation. And the Kurozumi Clan's debt of vengeance... will finally be repaid."
Moonlight from outside the window filtered through the clouds, casting dappled shadows on the worn tatami mats. Kurozumi Higurashi's figure looked exceptionally gaunt in the moonlight, yet it radiated a chilling, resolute determination. She knew this deal would utterly alter Wano Country's destiny. And the moment of revenge the Kurozumi Clan had awaited for decades was finally approaching. After hanging up, Kaido stood on the deck, watching the churning waves as he sank into thought. This operation would completely reshape the balance of power in the New World.
***
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