Kaido's eyes gleamed with delight as he roared, "Since that's the case, immediately contact the remnants of the Donquixote Family and have them deliver Caesar to me!"
Learning that SMILE production could continue as long as Caesar was in his hands, Kaido no longer cared about Joker's life or death. As long as he could mass-produce SMILEs, everything else was secondary. Having Caesar meant endless SMILE production without spending a single Berry—a massive profit.
"Already done, Lord Kaido," one subordinate reported. "They said Caesar was taken, but they don't know by whom."
Kaido's expression hardened, and he bellowed, "Who's Who!"
The massive subordinate immediately sprinted over, transponder snail in hand. "Lord Kaido…"
"Contact Marco for me, immediately," Kaido commanded.
"Yes, Lord Kaido."
---
Meanwhile, aboard the Octopus, the Phoenix Pirates sailed back toward port. Marco reclined on a chair, basking in the sunlight, savoring a rare moment of leisure.
He opened his status panel. With Doflamingo defeated, he now possessed a full 8,000 attribute points. His other stats remained steady, though his Soru (Shave) skill among the Six Powers had advanced from intermediate to advanced.
In his quest log, four quests remained:
1. Revenge – Eliminate the Blackbeard Pirates to avenge my old man. Reward: 10,000 attribute points.
Bounty: Captain Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach: 3,000 points; Crew: Shiliew, Jesus Burgess, Doc Q, Buster Call, and others: 500 points each.
2. Establish Authority – Confront the Beasts Pirates and teach them a lesson. Reward: 1,500 points.
3. Challenge a Four Emperors – Challenge Kaido. Remain undefeated for one day: 1,000 points; three days: 2,000 points; five days: 3,000 points. If defeated: 10,000 points.
4. Surpass the Old Era – Reach a bounty of over 5.5648 billion Berries and inherit Whitebeard's title as the 'Strongest Man in the World.' Reward: 10,000 points.
At that moment, Karma, captain of the Karma Pirates, approached with Sak. "Captain Marco, Kaido is calling."
Marco took the transponder snail calmly, his expression unreadable. Perhaps Kaido's capture of Caesar was meant to lure him out. After all, the Challenge a Four Emperors quest was still active, and with Caesar in hand, it could be completed easily—even if Kaido himself could not be defeated yet.
"Finally, he called," Marco quipped, voice edged with amusement. "I've been waiting, Kaido."
On the other end, Kaido's tone was icy. "Marco, Caesar is in your hands, isn't he! Give him to me, and I won't pursue revenge for Joker's death."
Marco laughed, tinged with irritation. Kaido, like Big Mom, carried the same Four Emperors arrogance. "That Kaido… thinking he can look down on us?"
Nearby, Ace's fists clenched, but he held back, letting Marco handle the situation. Marco's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with Kaido's aggression.
"I didn't capture Caesar for profit," Marco said coldly, voice unwavering. "I know he can produce SMILEs. That's why I have him."
Kaido raised an eyebrow. "You're interested in SMILEs too?"
"Not at all. I'm interested in you, Kaido," Marco replied, eyes narrowing. "I knew capturing Caesar would draw you out of Wano. That's all."
Kaido's gaze turned sharp. "Marco… are you trying to start a war?"
"If it comes to that, I won't hesitate," Marco said evenly. His strength had reached Strong General Emperor Level, and with 8,000 attribute points, he had no fear of Kaido.
Kaido's laughter rumbled through the transponder snail. "How arrogant! Just over three months since Marineford… your crew has recovered quickly. Even when Whitebeard was alive, he didn't dare face me. And now you, Marco? Is it because you defeated Linlin?"
Marco chuckled. "You're well-informed."
Kaido continued coldly, "I'm not seeking war for its own sake. You made the first move. It's only natural I retaliate. Don't claim hypocrisy; you hit me first. Why should I not respond?"
Marco's lips curved into a confident smile. "Fair enough. You're frank, I respect that. But I'll be frank too—you don't deserve the title of 'Strongest in the World.' As Whitebeard's successor, I naturally inherit it. And I intend to take it from you."
A tense silence followed over the transponder snail. Then Kaido erupted into wild laughter. "So that's it! You want my title? Marco, do you really believe defeating that old hag qualifies you to defeat me? Alright, I'll give you a fair fight. Don't cry foul—you choose the time and place."
Marco grinned. "Refreshing! Half a month from now, Nanku Island. Bring Jack with you. If you lose, his life is mine."
Kaido sneered with absolute confidence. "And if I win?"
"I'll give you Caesar and call off the matter of Jack attacking Nanku Island," Marco said, unflinching.
"Agreed," Kaido said coldly, immediately sealing the arrangement.
___
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