[A Few Days Later]
At the harbor, Otohi and Rosse parted reluctantly.
In the past few days, Otohi had experienced a happiness she had never felt before.
"Next ti you co, I'll make sure you see a completely different rmaid kingdom," Otohi let go of Rosse's embrace with poise and gave her promise.
She wanted to prove to Rosse that the trust he had placed in her would definitely be rewarded.
"Then next ti, I'll be sure to take a good look," Rosse smiled in response. Seeing Otohi slowly grow into soone in his image was exactly what he most wanted to witness.
Everything was now on the right track. Also exactly what he most wanted to see.
The Jaygar set sail once more, heading deeper into the New World.
———
At the very mont Rosse set sail again, the Land of Wano, temporarily under Kaido's rule, seed to sense so kind of tidal stirring. Undercurrents began to surge.
[Flower Capital]
"Hahaha! The pirate hero is finally back, is he?"
With a massive body like a moving mountain, Kaido lounged carelessly half-reclined on a huge beast-pelt-covered throne, a jug of liquor swaying in his hand.
His thunderous laughter, carrying a tone of unrestrained mockery, echoed through the vast hall.
He had taken no part at all in this recent Holy Land incident, but that didn't an he didn't know the details.
The powerful figures who had gone to the Holy Land were all old acquaintances of his.
Not far in front of him, King stood silent like a statue, draped in black wings, his face hidden behind mask and hood, revealing only the line of his jaw, making him seem especially solemn. In those dark red eyes, a faint, barely perceptible flicker moved.
"Kaido-san, they truly do deserve to be called heroes," King's voice was low and respectful, yet sincere.
He himself had suffered persecution at the hands of the World Governnt; that deep-seated hatred gave him a natural respect for those who dared resist authority.
"Looks like they did a hero's work. But in truth, they've crushed all hope for pirates," Kaido gave a derisive snort, his tone full of scorn, "If they'd really won a great victory, why hide out for two months before coming back to Wano?"
"What do you an, Kaido-san?", A hint of puzzlent appeared between King's brows, but his absolute trust in Kaido made him choose to keep listening.
Kaido grinned, a few shrewd lines appearing on his rugged face. Casually shifting to sit cross-legged, his towering fra lood like a small mountain. He raised the jug, took a deep swig, then spoke slowly, "The Holy Land's full of pigs, that's every strong man's consensus. But tell , why do you think no one attacks the Celestial Dragons?"
"Why? Because of the Celestial Dragons' status?", King frowned slightly, fixing his gaze on Kaido's rough features.
He knew Kaido better than almost anyone. Don't be fooled by Kaido's daily air of carelessness. In reality, the man was coarse on the outside but sharp within.
"Because even if you gather a crew to slaughter people in the Holy Land, all you can do is kill a bunch of pigs. It doesn't touch the lions that lead the herd," Kaido gave a cold snort.
He had once been imprisoned in the Holy Land; no one knew better than him how deep the waters there ran.
That ragtag bunch roaming the seas couldn't pose any real threat to the Holy Land's strongest. Even if you lumped them all together.
This ti was a perfect example.
It might look like everyone in the Holy Land was wiped out, but the Celestial Dragons' real fighters hadn't suffered much loss at all.
The seas were still in the sa state, maybe even a bit worse than before.
Anyone daring to speak the slightest ill of the Celestial Dragons could find their whole family dead the very next day.
As for those pirates shouting about killing Celestial Dragons, Kaido didn't take them seriously at all.
If just "waking up" to the truth could make things happen, then what would be the point of strength?
"But this ti, they joined forces to kill one of the Five Elders," King's voice held a note of hesitation, attempting to refute him.
"Then… what was the price?", Kaido suddenly split his mouth in a wide grin, those pitch-black pupils erupting with a gaze of crushing force, like two searing flas stabbing straight into King's heart, pressing an invisible weight upon him.
Without waiting for King to reply, he went on. His voice like a massive bronze bell, each word pounding in King's chest, "To kill one Elder, never mind that more than half the great pirates died, three remnants of Roger's crew fell, Kozuki Oden and his people are hunted like dogs, and now if they dare to show their faces, the World Governnt will hunt them down."
"Now I could take Wano without even lifting a finger. Just tip off the World Governnt, and I'd not only pocket several billion in bounties, but also have Kozuki Oden taken care of for free."
"Kaido-san, that… doesn't seem right…", King's body tensed slightly. His unwavering loyalty was now faintly shaken by an inexpressible unease.
They had been persecuted by the World Governnt. And now they'd be helping it by providing Oden's whereabouts.
King couldn't reconcile it in his heart.
"I'm just giving an example. How'd you manage to latch onto only that part?", Kaido glared at King. Seeing the man still looking confused, he nearly wished he could smash him over the head with a club.
'Damn it!'
It was because his subordinates and comrades were too stupid that he'd lost all desire for proper conversation.
Spending too much ti with them made him feel like he really was turning into a brainless brute.
Thinking of his forr confidante Big Mom, Kaido felt as disgusted as if he'd swallowed a fly.
'That w*man is also an idiot. No long-term planning at all, clinging every day to her dream of birthing a world of all races, even dumber than King.'
"Forget it, forget it, enough talk," A trace of impatience edged Kaido's rough voice. He picked up the jug again, took another huge swig, liquor dribbling from the corner of his mouth and soaking the hair on his chest.
"You just need to understand this. Even though the Holy Land paid a price, Kozuki Oden and his lot have turned into rats on the street, and the pirates gained basically nothing," He tossed out this summary, clearly with no interest in delving deeper.
"Oh, right, go fetch Orochi for ," Kaido seed to rember sothing, his tone casual yet allowing no refusal.
"Yes, Kaido-san!"
King answered respectfully. Beneath the hood that shadowed his face, a faint, embarrassed expression flitted across.
He knew he was slow when it ca to matters like this, but he was certain Kaido was right.
If he couldn't fully grasp it, then he'd just follow Kaido's lead. That way, he couldn't go wrong.
Turning, his tall figure quickly disappeared beyond the hall doors.
The hall fell silent again, except for Kaido's occasional gulp of liquor.
It wasn't long before the doors swung open once more.
A short, fat figure scurried in with hasty, ingratiating steps.
The mont Kurozumi Orochi entered, he bowed low, face creased into a fawning smile, and sidled up to Kaido to ask with utmost deference, "Lord Kaido, what is it you need from ?"
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