North Sea, evening.
Ten immense warships that had come from the headquarters gathered at an island in front of the entrance to Mount Competing Peaks. The ships from the North Sea local branch had already begun their return journeys one by one.
Sakazuki, standing at the port, glanced at the sky and said to Barrett and Enel beside him,
"Rest for two days."
"We've been on the move for months. Let the soldiers relax properly."
Enel stretched lazily,
"Alright~"
"Just in time, I have something I need to go out for."
Barrett, on the other hand, called out to his subordinates to pass down the order, and immediately, a huge cheer echoed across the port.
Amidst the cheers filling the sky, Sakazuki asked with some curiosity,
"Oh?"
"Where are you going?"
Enel grinned slyly,
"Uncle, do you still remember the first time you met Professor Vegapunk?"
"Professor Vegapunk said that some scientists had left."
"So we didn't capture them at that time."
Sakazuki understood,
"Vinsmoke Judge, right?"
Enel nodded,
"Yes. During the sweep operation this time, I saw him."
"I went over and observed him secretly."
"He's been replicating and modifying lineage factors."
"Ninety-nine percent of the entire country is men, and they are all clone soldiers."
"The technology is already very mature."
Sakazuki's brow twitched,
"You mean to...?"
Enel said,
"Exactly."
"Teacher's research has hit a bottleneck."
"It would be great if some external technology could provide inspiration."
Sakazuki nodded,
"Indeed."
"However, after all this time, he's still researching lineage factors?"
Enel sighed,
"Yes."
"The government has done a lot of such experiments over the years."
"But those fellows before were too stupid."
"They were completely wasting materials."
"Now that a teacher has finally appeared."
"How could I let him go so easily?"
"All the cell materials collected, such as those from Oni, Giants, Lunarians, and so on, those named and unnamed."
"Were all sent to Teacher. For him to analyze, but for the past half year, he's been stuck, with no progress."
"It just so happens that this time I discovered Vinsmoke Judge's clone modifications."
"He and Teacher are researching lineage factors from two different directions. Let's see if there's anything we can learn from."
Sakazuki nodded,
"Alright, go ahead."
"If anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
Enel said with a grin,
"Don't worry."
"I've already prepared the arrest warrant."
"After all, that guy has committed many wrongdoings before."
"We'll arrest him with proper justification."
Sakazuki shook his head,
"That's probably not going to work."
"Vinsmoke Judge previously used his clone soldiers to annihilate four North Sea kingdoms in one battle."
"He's quite famous."
"The 'Four Kings Slayer Incident'."
"He became a government allied nation. Although he has no territory, he's allowed to participate in the World Conference by the government."
Enel blinked,
"Huh?"
"Then what should we do?"
Sakazuki chuckled,
"Rob him."
"Otherwise, why would I say I'll take responsibility if something happens?"
Enel's mind hadn't quite caught up,
"This... isn't that a bit too much?"
Although he wanted to use coercion and enticement, outright blatant robbery... still.
Sakazuki said,
"This technology is too dangerous."
"They can't handle it."
"It's best that the government keeps it."
"Understand?"
He was using a pretext, but then shook his head,
"Forget it. Barrett, you accompany him."
"Don't kill him."
"After all, he's still a king."
A sinister grin appeared on Barrett's lips,
"Understood."
All villains...
----
New World, Land of Wano.
The sun had just set, with a sliver of its glow remaining.
A group of nine people, swords at their waists, walked towards the location of Onigashima as if clad in flames.
"Subjugate Kaido..."
----
Land of Wano, Onigashima.
Bright moonlight illuminated the land. The group, having accumulated their momentum, arrived at Onigashima late at night.
The moment they set foot on Onigashima.
Dark clouds gathered from nowhere, covering the sky above Onigashima.
Rumble—
Distant thunder could be heard. In the mist, countless figures appeared, their eyes glowing red.
On a towering mountain in the distance, a colossal being was coiled.
Boom!
The clouds and mist dispersed.
The dragon coiled around the entire mountain, and the pirates filling the horizon, appeared before them.
The samurai behind Oden stared in shock at the pirates covering the mountainside,
"This is truly unexpected."
"Are all these people Kaido's subordinates...?"
Whoosh—
Two red lasers shot past above their heads, dispersing the smoke.
Kaido, transformed into a blue dragon, appeared before them,
"Baa-la-la-la."
Looking at Kaido's immense figure and the pirates covering the mountainside, Oden said solemnly,
"I didn't expect there to be any opposition."
"How thoughtful."
"How did you know we were coming?"
Kaido's deafening voice boomed,
"Perhaps there's a spy in your castle."
"Olo-ro-ro-ro."
"I don't want my newly built house to become a battlefield."
"So I came out to greet you."
Oden's face darkened, his fists clenched,
"That day five years ago, the promise we made with you."
"All of that... was a lie, Kaido!"
Kaido, coiled on the mountain as a blue dragon, spoke,
"That's right, all of it was a lie."
"Olo-ro-ro-ro."
"At that time, we thought the situation was unfavorable. If you, who returned to the country, and Hyogoro had joined forces."
"We would have had to fight against all the samurai and heroes of Wano."
"We had fewer subordinates back then."
"If you were truly as rumored, unyielding to any sacrifice, a madman."
"It might have been a tough battle."
"But you actually believed Orochi's words."
"And chose a path where no one would get hurt."
"Truly unexpectedly foolish."
"Olo-ro-ro-ro."
"But it's understandable. After all, Whitebeard and Roger were also that kind of man."
"Though very strong, they always had a touch of naivety."
"And you are a fool of the same kind."
"Dancing naked, having lost all your dignity."
Countless laughter echoed, reaching Oden and his nine companions.
Oden closed his eyes tightly. After a moment, he suddenly opened them,
"That judgment from that day is in the past."
"Let's talk about the future, Kaido!!!"
He raised the long sword in his hand.
Crimson Haki flowed around him, covering his entire body.
A fiery figure charged towards Kaido.
Kaido also let out a roar and charged towards Kozuki Oden, his heart involuntarily filled with excitement.
"Are you the one I've been waiting for..."
"The one who can defeat me... Joy Boy."
ROAR—
----
Several days later...
In a burning attic where Oden resided,
Kaido held Toki's son, Momonosuke, who was weeping uncontrollably, by the neck and said,
"What is your name."
Momonosuke's face was full of terror,
"Momo... Momo...."
"Aaaahhh!!"
"Father! Please save me!!!"
Looking at the weeping Momonosuke, and thinking of how the descendant of the innocent and heroic Oden was so pathetic.
Kaido suddenly lost interest.
He turned and casually threw Momonosuke into the fire.
He then turned and leaped out of the attic, transformed into a giant dragon, and flew into the sky, disappearing...
"That was Oden's son... boring."
"Let it burn along with the castle."