The front of the bar was filled with rowdy pirates, drinks in their hands and laughter echoing off the glass walls. But all noise drained from their faces the moment they saw Kaito walking toward them. Expressions paled instantly. Cold sweat poured down their temples as chairs scraped hurriedly across the floor.
Two seats were cleared in an instant.
"P please sit, Sir!" one pirate stuttered, bowing deeply.
"Thank you," Kaito replied calmly as he and Issho took their seats.
Shakky leaned on the counter with her cheek resting on her palm. "Well well, if it isn't Kaito, the man who killed the Golden Lion. What brings you to my little bar?"
Kaito laughed softly. "Since when did Shakky San start joking like this?"
Shakky smirked, then her gaze shifted. "And who's this?"
"This is Issho, one of my crew."
"Issho, the blind swordsman with the Gravity Fruit?" Shakky asked, eyes narrowing with recognition.
Issho bowed politely, though momentarily surprised she knew so much. Inwardly, he admired Kaito's connections. "As expected of Captain Kaito's friend," he thought.
But Shakky's expression shifted again. "Wait… Kaito, you said you're forming a pirate crew?"
"Yes. Why? Something wrong?" Kaito asked with mild confusion.
Shakky clicked her tongue. "With your power, forming a pirate crew means one thing. You plan to become a future Emperor of the Sea. The fifth one."
As the two spoke, pirates quietly paid their tabs and fled the bar, one group after another. When the conversation ended, only Kaito, Issho, and Shakky were left.
Shakky sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Look at what you've done, Kaito. Because of you, I get to close early again."
Kaito laughed loudly. "Think of it as me giving you a break."
"Speaking of breaks, Rayleigh isn't here," Shakky added.
"Where'd he go?"
"He heard a rumor that the eternal Log Pose to Laugh Tale resurfaced. He left to check it out."
Kaito coughed lightly. "You could've asked me. I know a thing or two about that."
Shakky blinked, her gaze sharpening. "Don't tell me you're the one behind the Expo."
"If I wanted to lie, I would. But unfortunately, the mastermind behind the scenes really is related to me" Kaito sighed helplessly.
The Expo was created by Bullet, and since Kaito was Bullet's captain, the connection was obvious.
The Expo, Bullet, Kaito.
All of it lined up perfectly.
Shakky exhaled slowly, smoke curling around her face. "Explain."
Kaito did, recounting everything involving Bullet.
Shakky nearly dropped her cigarette. "You… you released Bullet? And you made him your subordinate? And the Red Earl too?"
As an old-generation pirate, she knew exactly how terrifying those names were. Yet both now followed Kaito. Even Issho, a powerhouse in his own right, stood calmly behind him.
"If news of this comes out, you'll officially become the fifth Emperor," Shakky said, eyes wide with disbelief.
"So you're heading to the Expo island now?" she asked.
Kaito nodded. "Bullet attracts strong people too quickly. I need to make sure he doesn't cause unnecessary trouble."
"Then hurry. And if Rayleigh brings him back, I'll tell him you stopped by."
"Got it."
After a simple meal of fried rice and replenishing supplies, Kaito and Issho headed toward the port.
As soon as they arrived, they saw crowds of pirates gathering, pointing excitedly toward a nearby branch of the harbor.
"I saw her! It's her ship!"
"Lady Empress! Boa Hancock is here!"
"Another Shichibukai is attending the Expo?"
"This Expo is insane!"
Kaito's lips curled. "Boa Hancock, huh?"
Issho asked, "Captain, should we approach them?"
"What for? We're going back to the ship," Kaito said dryly.
The port at Sabaody was structured like a massive cluster of bubble branches, each able to hold several ships. Hundreds of branches spread across the cove, so overcrowding was never an issue.
Coincidentally, Hancock's ship was docked on the same branch as Kaito's merchant ship.
As they approached, every pirate nearby stopped what they were doing and stared.
"That's him!"
"Kaito! The man who captured Akainu alive and killed the Golden Lion!"
"A bounty of 1.5 billion Berries!"
"If he clashes with the Empress, it'll be chaos!"
"Clash? Don't be stupid," one pirate scoffed. "Hancock is the most beautiful woman in the world. Kaito will kneel at her feet."
Meanwhile, on the Kuja ship, Hancock's sisters exchanged tense glances.
"His strength is no joke," Sandersonia muttered.
Just as Kaito reached the branch, Sandersonia jumped forward, blocking his path.
"Sorry! This area has been reserved by the Kuja Pirates. Please find another docking spot."
"Reserved?" Kaito's expression darkened. "You know my ship is docked here. Are you telling me the owner of the ship can't return?"
"Your ship? Was that merchant ship, yours?" Sandersonia's face tightened with dread.
Because earlier… her sister didn't want to be docked beside an ordinary vessel. So she destroyed it on the spot.
A ship to a pirate was more than transport. It was a home. Destroying someone's ship was equivalent to declaring war.
And this wasn't just any pirate. This was Kaito.
Sandersonia felt cold sweat roll down her back.
Kaito stepped closer, voice icy. "Unless you're blind, you should know exactly what you're saying. Move. Now. Don't force me to repeat myself."
Sandersonia swallowed hard. A normal pirate would already be dead for speaking like that, but Kaito… if she made a move, she feared the one dying would be her.
A second figure landed in front of them. Marigold.
"Kaito-san. This area is held by the Kuja Pirates. Leave immediately."
Kaito smiled, but it was a dangerous smile that chilled the air. "You think being one of the Seven Warlords gives you the right to do whatever you want?" His voice dropped sharply. "I'll say it one more time. Move. If you stand in my way again, You'll die, I won't mind removing another Shichibukai's crew."
He leaned forward slightly.
"I've already destroyed two. One more won't matter."
Both sisters trembled.
"Sandersonia! What is going on? Why is it so noisy?"
A cold, melodious voice drifted from the Kuja ship as a tall figure stepped out, casting a long shadow over the branch.
________
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