The mountains shook, and countless rocks rolled down the cliffs, crashing into the deep valley and kicking up dust everywhere.
Hearing this exaggerated noise, Queen, who was hiding in the laboratory, shrank his head.
He squeezed his round body behind the wall and hid, carefully poking his head out to look at the cliff in the distance from the window, his head covered in cold sweat.
"Kaidou-san really lost his temper... I wonder which unlucky guy it is."
He thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled maliciously.
"But what does this have to do with me..."
"Hehehe, luckily I can run fast!"
The fat man in suspenders turned around triumphantly, lit a cigar, and hung a napkin around his neck, leisurely savoring the freshly cooked red bean soup.
...
In the cave.
Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the cave walls, casting dust particles into the air.
Kaidou looked breathlessly at the little girl with tears in her eyes, and her pitiful appearance made him unable to continue.
At this moment, Yamato was sitting on the floor with several smoking bumps on her head, a band-aid on her nose, and a colorful picture book tightly clutched in her hands, looking very wronged.
"Give me that thing!"
Kaidou gritted his teeth and said.
"No!!"
Although she had been beaten up, Yamato stubbornly raised her childish little face, puffed out her cheeks, and said fiercely,
"This is Daren-san's picture! It's a rare edition that I worked so hard to get... He's the most handsome and powerful man in the sea! He's my idol!"
"I'm not giving it to you!"
She was clearly less than three years old, but was fierce and feisty, and as she spoke, the two red horns on her little head seemed to twitch with anger, making her look extremely cute.
Hearing this, the blue veins on Kaidou's forehead bulged even more, almost as if they were about to explode, causing the two pirates beside him to blink rapidly.
"Picture? Where did you get this!?"
Kaidou gritted his teeth, but in the end, he couldn't bring himself to take his anger out on his own daughter. He could only turn his head and glare at his two subordinates, shouting coldly.
The two pirates knelt down on the ground with a bang, their faces pale with fear, begging for mercy.
"Kaidou-sama, we are truly sorry!"
"The young master threatened to kill herself, so we had no choice but to ask the merchant caravan to buy it from overseas..."
Kaidou's expression froze, and his eyes were about to shoot fire.
He had seen that kind of picture before.
Today's Rogers Daren was no longer the green Marine who had just started out in the North Blue.
Especially after his surprise attack on Totto Land and the hunt for Shiki, his fame had spread throughout the seas.
The reputation of the "King of the North Blue" had become a source of fear for countless pirates around the world, and he was also an idol worshipped by thousands of Marines.
His powerful strength, legendary stories, and dazzling good looks and temperament made Daren the dream lover of countless noblewomen, ladies, wives, young girls, and princesses.
Men wanted to be him, and women wanted to be with him.
Because of this, a fan economy followed.
A large number of newspapers, news agencies, and commercial stores saw a business opportunity in this and continuously developed "Rogers Daren" related merchandise, like sharks smelling blood, frantically pushing the trend forward and earning huge profits.
The full-color picture book that his daughter was clutching tightly in her hands was one of these products.
"I brought you here... to take good care of her, not to help her chase after a celebrity!"
Kaidou stared red-eyed at his subordinates kneeling in front of him begging for mercy, purple lightning bursting uncontrollably from the kanabō in his hand as he walked toward them step by step.
"Kaidou-sama, we were wrong!"
"Please!"
The two pirates were so scared that they broke out in a cold sweat, bowing their heads repeatedly as they begged for mercy.
"If you want to fight, fight me! Don't hurt them! It was all my idea!"
Little Yamato ran over barefoot, blocking Kaidou's path with her arms outstretched, her childish face filled with courage.
Kaidou looked at Yamato, who stood before him with a determined look, his expression shifting unpredictably.
The father and daughter, both bearing devil horns, faced each other, locking eyes without either backing down.
The two pirates didn't dare breathe, lying on the ground trembling.
After a few seconds, Kaidou finally slowly released the kanabō.
He exhaled a long breath, looking at Yamato who bravely stood firm under his pressure, and suddenly burst into laughter.
"You are truly my blood... such courage and spirit..."
"Wororororo!"
His laughter grew louder and louder, like muffled thunder shaking the cave walls, causing dirt to fall. His gaze at Yamato was filled with undisguised pride and admiration.
After laughing for a while, Kaidou suddenly plopped down on the ground.
"Yamato, you're still young... there are many things you don't understand yet."
He pulled out a wine flask from his waist and took a hearty swig of liquor.
"Daren isn't worth your admiration. He's just a cunning and deceitful little brat."
"Compared to a sneaky punk like him, your father... is a true hero!"
At this point, Kaidou looked proudly at his precious daughter.
"That's not true!" Yamato said incredulously.
Kaidou widened his eyes and roared angrily,
"How is that not true!?"
"You saw it yourself last time! Your Oyaji... I beat him to a pulp!"
Yamato's little face flushed red as she retorted,
"That's because Daren-san is still very young!"
"In a few years, he'll definitely beat you to a pulp!"
Kaidou: ...
He covered his chest with his hand, his breathing turning ragged from anger.
You're my daughter!
Are you really wishing for your father to be beaten down!?
"Your old man has an Indestructible Body! How could he possibly be beaten to a pulp!?"
He growled viciously.
Yamato said proudly,
"Daren-san also has an Indestructible Body!"
Pfft!
Kaidou spat out a mouthful of wine, gasping for air.
That brat's Indestructible Body... was taught by me!
No, wait, I didn't teach him!
But he learned it anyway!
Damn it!
Did I teach him or not!?
"No matter what, he can't beat your old man!!"
Faced with his precious daughter, Kaidou refused to admit defeat, clenching his fists tightly in anger.
Yamato lifted her head, her eyes sparkling, and began proudly counting on her fingers:
"Daren-san destroyed our headquarters."
Kaidou: "..."
"Daren-san easily invaded Wano Country."
"..."
"And... Daren-san defeated Shiki the Golden Lion, whom even you couldn't beat!"
"..."
Listening to his daughter's endless list of "examples," Kaidou's face turned a mix of red and purple.
Finally unable to endure it, he gritted his teeth and growled,
"So what!?"
"You are my daughter! You can't become a Marine!"
Yamato froze, her eyes quickly turning red as tears welled up in her eyes.
"Then... then... I don't care! I don't want to be a pirate! I want to be a Marine!"
She waved her little fists fiercely.
"I want the pirates dead!!"
Kaidou's eye twitched violently, his rage reaching a boiling point.
"You are destined to be a pirate for life!!"
He punched the floor heavily, leaning forward with bloodshot eyes locked onto Yamato.
"Even if I let you set sail, the Marines would never recruit you!"
Yamato's face turned bright red, and she slammed her small, pink fist against the floor.
She raised her head, her smooth forehead pressing against her father's, her stubbornness surging up as she shouted back fiercely,
"Then I'll work hard, grow up, and marry Daren-san!"
"Become his wife!!"
The moment these words left her mouth, Kaidou froze as if struck by lightning.
A fatal blow.
In his mind, the image of Rogers Daren's smug face appeared, and he could almost hear that damn brat's mocking voice.
"Kaidou-sensei, I'll take good care of Yamato."
Pfft!
Kaidou suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, startling Yamato.
Under the stunned stares of the two pirates, he staggered to his feet and wandered out of the cave with lifeless eyes.
His back looked unbelievably lonely and desolate.
"Kaidou-sama, are you all right?"
"Uh..."
A few seconds later—
"Queen!! Where are you!!??"
A furious roar that shook the heavens exploded outside the cave, as if a storm of thunder and lightning was ripping through the skies.
The two pirates shivered uncontrollably.
"Yeah, he's fine."
"Y-yes, he's fine."
...
In the laboratory.
The fat man in suspenders, who had been happily drinking red bean soup, instantly turned pale when he heard the roar like thunder.
"It's over..."
He said miserably, his face twisted with despair.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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