Wano Country, Onigashima.
Onigashima, shaped like a giant demon horn, looked like a demon emerging from the deep abyss, its demon eyes staring intently at Wano Country.
Beasts Pirates headquarters.
After once again rescuing a bruised and unconscious Yamato from Kaido's hands, King quickly changed the subject.
"Big Brother Kaido, there are only six months left in the five-year promise with Oden."
The subtext: instead of spending time beating Yamato, it would be better to think about how to defeat Oden in six months and take over all of Wano Country.
Kaido grinned and set down his sake bowl.
"Wororororo~"
"Don't worry, King. Our Beasts Pirates are getting stronger every moment, while Oden..."
"...is still dancing naked in the Flower Capital."
"I've roamed the seas for many years and have never seen such a foolish person. It's simply laughably stupid."
The corners of King's mouth curled up, deeply agreeing with this.
"I haven't seen anyone like that either."
Clearly, four and a half years ago, Oden held a massive advantage; he only needed to raise his arm and call out—
He could have gathered the Daimyos of Kuri, Kibi, Udon, Ringo, and Hakumai, along with their samurai armies, to resist the invasion.
Yet Oden was tricked into a five-year promise by a thing like Orochi.
Orochi promised to leave Wano Country after five years.
The key was that Oden actually believed it!
Please, you are the ruler of a country.
Orochi and the entire Kurozumi Family were merely vassals of the Kozuki Family.
King didn't understand. Oden had followed powerhouses like the Emperor of the Sea Whitebeard and the Pirate King Roger, and had even reached the Final Island, Raftel.
He should have been more than familiar with the habits of pirates.
How could he so easily believe the promise of a usurper and a pirate?
Leaving after five years? What a joke.
Why would anyone let go of something they've already obtained?!
We are pirates!!!
Furthermore,
If Oden had just sent word to Whitebeard or called upon his comrades from the Roger Pirates, the Beasts Pirates would most likely have been driven out of Wano Country.
Especially in these last two years, Beelzebul, Oden's former comrade on Roger's ship, had risen powerfully.
Becoming an Emperor of the Sea after three years at sea, certified by two Marine Buster Calls, killing the great pirate Directly Ruling, and occupying the pirate paradise, Hachinosu Island.
Under his command are powerhouses like Golden Lion, Hawkeye Mihawk, Fujitora Issho, and Kuma.
The Morning Star Grand Fleet has also reorganized the former Giant Warrior Pirates and the former Flying Pirate Crew into the First and Second Divisions.
With such a lineup, Beelzebul alone would be enough to stop Big Brother Kaido, and Golden Lion... could probably wipe out the entire Beasts Pirates.
Mihawk and Fujitora would be responsible for finishing them off.
Or Fujitora could summon hundreds of meteors... No wonder the Morning Star Pirates are known as the "Monster Pirates" on the sea.
But Oden called no one; he neither sought help from Roger's old crew nor invited the Whitebeard Pirates to help in Wano Country.
Out of tens of thousands of paths to survival, he chose a dead end, stubbornly dancing naked in the Flower Capital for four and a half years.
"Stupid" doesn't even begin to describe it.
Using "stupid" to describe him is an insult to stupidity itself.
An incredibly absurd thought suddenly flashed through King's mind: The Lunarian Tribe back then... they couldn't have been defeated like this, could they?
It's quite possible!
"By the way, are there any interesting rookies on the sea lately?"
The Beasts Pirates' method of recruiting rookies was different from typical pirate crews; they didn't issue invitations, but rather, Kaido captured them alive.
As an All-Star, King naturally kept a constant eye on the situation at sea.
"There's a Buggy Pirates in the Paradise, Captain Buggy is a Chop-Chop Fruit user, and vice-captain Foxy is a Slow-Slow Fruit user."
"There's also the Fallen Monk Pirates; the Captain, 'Mad Monk' Urouge, is also quite capable."
After saying this, King added another comment.
"Among the crew members who have recently joined voluntarily, there are a few good prospects. With proper training, they will surely be able to hold their own in the future."
"Oh?" Kaido was slightly surprised.
"Joined voluntarily?"
King nodded: "Even with the Marine G-5 Base intercepting at the entrance of the New World, there are still many more pirates coming to the New World than before."
"And Beelzebul has high standards..."
Kaido finally understood. The pirates coming to join the Beasts Pirates were all the trash left over after being picked through by that kid Beelzebul?
Fine, I'll remember this grudge.
"Wororororo~"
"Take the rookies and train them more. Once we take Wano Country, we'll go find Beelzebul."
Kaido looked at King and changed the subject.
"Tell me, should we act early? Just in case—and I mean just in case—that idiot Oden suddenly realizes he should ask Beelzebul for help."
"We... would face a hard battle."
It wasn't that Kaido was afraid, but rather a conclusion reached after careful consideration based on strength levels.
Taking down Oden was no problem at all, and the resistance forces under the various Daimyos of Wano Country had already been nearly wiped out by the Beasts Pirates.
Only Beelzebul was the biggest variable.
Kaido was not so arrogant as to think he could defeat Beelzebul, Golden Lion, and Oden all at once.
To put it bluntly, even if Beelzebul didn't show up and just let Golden Lion lead the Morning Star Pirates, they would likely be evenly matched with the Beasts Pirates.
At that point, years of planning would all come to nothing.
He, Kaido, and the Beasts Pirates would become the laughingstock of the sea.
King hesitated for a moment and said.
"According to the intelligence received, six months ago Beelzebul boarded the east blue emperor and personally led executives like Mihawk and Golden Lion to Elbaf."
"There has been no news of their return yet."
"Judging from the Whitebeard Pirates' previous visit to Hachinosu Island for a banquet, neither side seems to have any intention of coming to Wano Country."
"In the past six months, except for the Shipping King's fleet frequently going to Hachinosu Island to deliver supplies..."
"...there has been almost no movement on Hachinosu Island."
"I think they will need some time to consolidate the newly occupied Hachinosu Island, and there shouldn't be any next steps in the short term."
"But, we must be on guard."
Kaido nodded with satisfaction. Leaving the thinking to King was indeed the right choice.
He, Kaido, was suited for charging ahead.
Once they took over all of Wano Country, he would not only charge ahead but also frequently roam the seas to build his name as the Strongest Creature in the World.
"Double the benefits and increase recruitment efforts."
"Pay attention to patrol and intelligence work as well. Don't be afraid to spend money. I have only one requirement: to know the movements of the Morning Star Pirates immediately."
"Also, notify Orochi that we will act three months early to avoid any complications."
Years of planning were now nearing success. At this critical period, Kaido did not want any accidents to occur; not even a little bit.
Recruiting more rookies was only a quantitative change for the Beasts Pirates, but taking over Wano Country was a qualitative change.
Land, population, resources... especially the Sea Stone that can only be produced and processed in Wano Country, will become the cornerstone for the Beasts Pirates to enter a period of rapid growth.
Emperor of the Sea? He, Kaido, could be one too!
"Yes, Mr. Kaido."
While chatting, he could call him Big Brother Kaido, but entering the work phase, King quickly switched the form of address.
And little Yamato, held in King's arms, seemed to hear her idol's name in her daze.
"Come and defeat Kaido quickly, idol!"