The shifting tides of the pirate world are always unpredictable. On the docks of Shells Town, the bustling crowd suddenly fell into an eerie silence. All eyes converged on the massive pirate ship slowly approaching the shore.
"Hey, hey, hey, you gotta be kidding me. Why would such a big shot suddenly come to Shells Town?" a fisherman in a tattered straw hat whispered, his fishing net slipping from his hands.
"Maybe they want to coat the ship at Shells Town to go to Fish-Man Island?" the owner of a nearby tavern mumbled, his hands trembling slightly as he wiped a glass, causing it to clink against the counter.
"What kind of day is this? One big shot just left, and now another arrives immediately," a young man in a Navy uniform hid in the shadows, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"That's right. Could something big be happening again lately?" a few merchants gathered, whispering among themselves. One suddenly lowered his voice. "It couldn't be related to that incident before, could it?"
With the sound of heavy footsteps, Kaido's burly figure appeared on the deck. Sunlight reflected off his bronze skin with a metallic sheen. His signature dragon horns cast menacing shadows in the sunlight, causing the crowd on the dock to instinctively take a few steps back.
Kaido ignored the surrounding commotion; he was long accustomed to such reactions. Ever since gaining the epithet "The Fierce Beast," he caused this kind of stir wherever he went. He strode down the gangplank with steady steps, each one making the wooden dock groan under the strain.
"Wait, white hair, brown skin, and black wings... this couldn't be...?" a scholar wearing a monocle suddenly widened his eyes, his notebook clattering to the ground.
"No mistake, it's that race!" a pirate with a face full of scars licked his lips excitedly, his right hand instinctively moving toward the flintlock pistol at his waist.
"Haha, information on him alone is worth a fortune in Berries!" several bounty hunters exchanged greedy glances; one had already started quietly dialing a Den Den Mushi.
"If we could capture him and sell him to the World Government, we'd be set for life," a slaver in lavish clothing had the glint of gold coins in his eyes.
King stood behind Kaido, his black wings slightly folded. He keenly sensed the greedy gazes directed his way from all sides, like countless blades trying to skin him alive. His expression darkened, and his right hand unconsciously tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Hmph—!
Kaido snorted coldly. A torrential wave of Haoshoku Haki washed over the entire dock. The air seemed to condense with tangible pressure. Those with ill intentions rolled their eyes and collapsed one after another. Nails on wooden crates groaned under the strain; several wine barrels suddenly burst, red wine flowing across the planks like blood.
"King, pay no mind to these people. If you want, you can just execute them directly," Kaido's voice was low and powerful, like distant thunder rolling in the clouds.
King took a deep breath, his black wings relaxing slightly. "Thank you, Big Brother Kaido, but it's unnecessary. A bunch of trash isn't worth my effort!"
Kaido nodded in satisfaction, his thick arm patting King's shoulder. "You must understand, you are my brother. I'll back you up in handling anything."
A flicker of warmth passed through King's eyes, and he nodded solemnly. This simple action made his black feathers quiver slightly, refracting a strange luster in the sunlight.
The group continued toward the town center. The streets of Shells Town were narrow and winding, flanked by wooden buildings of varying heights. The air was thick with the mingled smells of sea salt and alcohol, with an occasional whiff of gunpowder.
"Look! That's...!" A drunken pirate stumbled out of a tavern, but before he could finish his sentence, his eyes rolled back and he fell to the ground.
Kaido controlled his Haoshoku Haki with precision. This technique of targeted intimidation was something he had idly perfected during the voyage. Now, within a range of dozens of meters, he could precisely render a target unconscious.
"Number thirty-seven," King counted softly, a hint of resignation in his tone. The greed on this island exceeded his imagination. In just a few hundred meters, so many people had tried to target him, one after another.
At that moment, a burly pirate suddenly jumped down from a second-floor window, a giant axe gleaming coldly in his hand. Surprisingly, he withstood Kaido's Haoshoku Haki.
"Hahaha! A Lunarian..." The pirate's manic laughter was cut short. Without even turning his head, Kaido backhanded him away. The unfortunate soul flew out like a cannonball, crashing through three walls before finally embedding himself in the signboard of a weapons shop, unconscious with his eyes rolled back.
"Boss Kaido, big trouble!" Queen's distinctive voice suddenly rang out from a street corner. He came running, panting heavily, his round body bouncing on the cobblestones like a ball. In his hand, he waved a newspaper.
Kaido stopped, his immense shadow engulfing Queen. "What's got you so flustered?"
Queen wiped the sweat from his brow, his glasses fogged up. "Boss Kaido, look at this newspaper. The news says the wife and child of Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr, the one you fought before, were killed in retaliation by pirates a few days ago!"
A sharp gleam flashed in Kaido's eyes as he took the newspaper. The front page bore a striking headline: SHOCKING! Admiral's Family Brutally Slaughtered by Pirates on Costar Island! The accompanying picture was of Zephyr's resolute face, though now his eyes were filled with grief.
"Wororororo..." Kaido suddenly laughed heartily, the sound causing nearby windows to vibrate. "The World Government cripples its own hand. The Navy has lost another Admiral!"
Queen adjusted his glasses, asking in confusion, "Boss Kaido, are you saying the incident with 'Black Arm' Zephyr was done by the World Government?"
Kaido stopped laughing, a cold glint in his eyes. "Even if it wasn't directly orchestrated by the World Government's people, they are certainly involved. Otherwise, how could a mere pirate obtain information on an Admiral's family?"
King nodded thoughtfully. "Indeed, an Admiral's whereabouts and family information are top secrets."
"Oh right!" Queen suddenly slapped his forehead. "Boss Kaido, there's more. Your latest bounty is in the back. Because we escaped from 'Black Arm' Zephyr's grasp, your bounty has increased significantly!"
Kaido flipped to the back page. A brand-new wanted poster came into view:
[THE FIERCE BEAST KAIDO, BOUNTY: 540,000,000 BERRIES, DEAD OR ALIVE]
"Wororororo..." Kaido laughed again, the sound wave making the roof tiles clatter. "540 million Berries, not bad!"
The surrounding pirates gathered to offer congratulations, their eyes shining with admiration. While this number might not be top-tier in the New World, in the first half of the Grand Line, it was definitely a figure to inspire terror.
"Queen, how are the coating arrangements coming along?" Kaido asked, putting away the wanted poster.
Queen thumped his chest. "Don't worry, Big Brother Kaido, I've already arranged for the ship's coating. We should be able to set off in about two days."
Two days later, as the sunset dyed the sea gold, the Beasts Pirates' ship had completed its coating. A giant bubble enveloped the entire vessel, refracting a spectrum of colors in the sunset's light.
King stood on the deck. He was now clad in a full-body black outfit that carefully contained his wings within special fabric. He had ordered this custom-made at a tailor shop on the island. While it was slightly restrictive for movement, it was better than constantly dealing with greedy stares along the way.
"Still not used to it?" Kaido walked up to him, his massive frame casting a long shadow on the deck.
King shook his head. "It's just a bit ridiculous. These people are as weak as ants, yet they always crave what they shouldn't have."
Kaido looked at the receding silhouette of Shells Town, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "When your name resounds across the seas, these ants will naturally learn fear."
The pirate ship slowly descended. The coating made faint crackling sounds under the water pressure. As the last ray of sunlight vanished below the horizon, the entire ship was fully submerged, heading in the direction of Fish-Man Island.
The sea surface was left with only a few ripples, soon smoothed over by the surging waves. Shells Town returned to its usual hustle and bustle, though the dock now had a few dozen unconscious people and several walls in need of repair.