"Gurarararara!" Looking at the officers of the Beasts Pirates and their expressions of readiness to face death, Newgate roared with laughter. He then called out to Marco on the Moby Dick behind him. "Marco!"
"Right here, Pops!" Marco instantly transformed into his phoenix form and flew to Newgate's side, simultaneously pulling a Den Den Mushi from his chest.
Newgate took the Den Den Mushi and dialed a number directly.
Pururu Pururu Pururu... "Wororororo! Newgate, is it over?" The Den Den Mushi let out Kaido's signature booming laugh the moment the connection was made.
The members of the Beasts Pirates, who had been preparing for a fight to the death moments before, all looked at the Den Den Mushi in confusion.
"It's over. Two more guys awakened Haoshoku Haki!" Newgate said directly into the receiver.
"Two? Wororororo! King, you're one of those who awakened it, right?" The Kaido on the other end of the line immediately laughed heartily upon hearing that two had awakened Conqueror's Haki, which made Ginny, who was working on the pirate ship, curse him as a lunatic in her mind!
"Big Brother Kaido, it was me and Bullet," King said, now certain it was their captain, Kaido of the Beasts, on the other end.
"King, Newgate isn't an enemy right now. He's someone I hired to test your current strength," Kaido explained to King. "You didn't disappoint me, after all. Especially you, King, and you, Bullet. I never expected you both to awaken Haoshoku Haki."
...
Just as the Beasts Pirates' fleet had majestically sailed out of the port, Kaido, far away on a black pirate ship in the Calm Belt, stood on the deck gazing into the distance. The sea breeze swept over his powerful frame, making his black cape snap loudly. He had just hung up on the urgent call from King, a slight frown on his brow as if pondering something important.
"Big Brother Kaido, what's the situation now? Can King and the others hold off the man they call the World's Strongest?" Enel approached quickly, a glimmer of concern in his golden eyes. The golden staff in his hand tapped lightly on the deck with a crisp sound.
Hearing this, Kaido let out his signature, hearty laugh. "Wororororo! What kind of foolish talk is that? King and Bullet are still too green right now. There's no way they could stop that old bastard Newgate."
Enel frowned deeply. "Then should we order King and the others to retreat for now?"
"No need," Kaido waved his hand dismissively, pulling a uniquely designed Den Den Mushi from his breast pocket. The snail was pitch black with intricate golden patterns covering its shell, looking particularly mysterious. "I have my own method." As he spoke, he skillfully dialed a number.
The Den Den Mushi connected quickly, its face morphing into the rugged features of a man with a distinctive crescent-shaped white mustache. "Gurararara!" An ear-splitting laugh came from the other end. "Who are you? How did you get my private number?"
"Newgate, you old bastard. What do you think you're doing, barging into my territory?" Kaido demanded bluntly.
"Oh? So it's the Kaido brat," Whitebeard's voice held a note of sarcasm. "What, afraid I'll tear down your little hideout?"
Kaido let out a low chuckle. "Wororororo, Newgate, don't joke like that. Do you think you're the only one with a home base?"
Whitebeard's voice on the other end suddenly turned serious. "Kaido, are you threatening me?"
"It's not a threat," Kaido's tone shifted. "I just happen to know that all the money you've earned as a pirate over the years, you've been sending back to support your hometown. Honestly, it's quite admirable."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Whitebeard asked warily.
A glint flashed in Kaido's eyes. "Newgate... would you accept a job?"
"A job?" Whitebeard's voice was full of confusion.
"Because of your sudden visit, my base is now on full alert," Kaido explained. "But I have a better proposal."
"Want me to leave?" Whitebeard snorted coldly.
"Quite the opposite," Kaido grinned. "No. I want you to help me give my underlings a good beating. It's not easy to find someone who can easily defeat them at their current level. You happen to be perfect for the job, Newgate."
"Kaido! What kind of man do you take me for?!" Whitebeard was furious.
Not letting him finish, Kaido directly laid out his terms. "Five hundred million Berries. In exchange, you make a move. Let my subordinates see what true, world-class combat power looks like."
"A measly five hundred million Berries..." Whitebeard's voice was disdainful, but his tone had clearly softened.
"Stop pretending, Newgate," Kaido pressed his advantage. "Your Whitebeard Pirates have never made a living through plunder. Your finances have always been tight, haven't they? And..." He deliberately drew out the last word. "Several of my subordinates have the potential for Haoshoku Haki. For every one that awakens it, I'll add another five hundred million Berries. How about it?"
Silence hung on the other end for a moment, followed by Whitebeard's hearty laugh. "Gurararara! Deal!" Before the words had fully faded, the Den Den Mushi closed its eyes, cutting the call short.
Kaido put away the Den Den Mushi, a satisfied smile on his face.
Enel, who had been watching with his jaw practically on the deck, stammered, "Big Brother Kaido, you... what was that...?"
"Wororororo!" Kaido clapped Enel on the shoulder. "Just wait and watch the show. I've prepared quite a gift for those brats this time."
Meanwhile, on the inner sea of Wano Country, the Whitebeard Pirates' Moby Dick was cutting through the waves. On the deck, Whitebeard put down the Den Den Mushi and said to Marco beside him, "Notify everyone. Change of plans. We're going to play 'instructor' this time."
Marco looked utterly confused. "Pops, what's going on?"
Whitebeard laughed heartily. "Gurararara! Someone's paying me a hefty sum to go beat people up. How could I pass up a deal like that?" He raised his massive blade and pointed into the distance. "Full speed ahead! Let the little cubs of the Beasts Pirates learn what a real powerhouse looks like!"
The sea wind howled. Two legendary pirate crews were about to engage in a unique "special training session." And it all stemmed from that unexpected phone call from Kaido. On the vast, turbulent seas, the games between the powerful were always filled with unforeseen twists.
...
"Hey, Kaido brat, don't forget my payment," Newgate now said into the Den Den Mushi.
"I know, you pauper!" The Den Den Mushi shot Newgate a glance, then said to King, "King, have someone bring out gold equivalent to one and a half billion Berries and give it to the Whitebeard Pirates as payment for his services this time."
"Yes, Big Brother Kaido," King nodded.
"Also, the Whitebeard Pirates are permitted to enter Wano Country. Of course, if they break Wano's laws, you have my permission to arrest them on the spot," Kaido said.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!