The Grand Line clouds hovered in the sky, and the sunset was beautiful.
The red sun was about to sink into the horizon, and the gentle sea breeze that blew through the mountains made people feel relaxed and calm.
Kaos carried the elk down the mountain. Over the past three years, he had grown familiar with the town and its neighbors.
He never exposed his abilities, nor did he dig up the gold hidden in the mountains. He lived simply by hunting for daily necessities. His wooden house stood halfway up the mountain, more than ten minutes away from the town below.
"Yo! Kaos caught another elk, it's a big one!"
Walking into the streets of the town, several villagers called out to him.
"Got lucky today. Looks like I'll be living well again," Kaos replied with a hearty smile.
Everyone knew him. He didn't bring in prey every day—sometimes he went two or three days with nothing, sometimes only catching a pheasant or hare. He maintained the persona of an ordinary hunter.
He was cautious, blending perfectly with ordinary folk.
The truth was, with his abilities and his three companions—the liger, the crocodile, and the tiger—he could easily hunt massive beasts.
Along the way, he exchanged smiles. These people had helped him more than once, offering vegetables, soy sauce, vinegar, rice, and other daily necessities. In return, Kaos often provided wood or medicinal herbs. Life was peaceful in their mutual support.
He carried the elk to the butcher's house. In town, all butchering was handled by the local butcher, who also ran a meat stall. Almost all the prey Kaos caught was sold through him, and the prices were always fair.
The butcher looked fierce, but he was a kind man at heart.
After the sale, Kaos headed to the udon restaurant owned by an elderly couple, where he often ate on credit.
"Uncle Tist, same as always! Extra spice and green onions!" Kaos shouted as he sat on a stool.
"No problem!" came the reply from the kitchen. Tist didn't even need to check—he knew Kaos's voice immediately.
"There's fresh news today," someone said.
Kaos reached for the newspaper on the table and began reading.
For three years, he had relied on newspapers to learn about the outside world.
The news birds in this world were extraordinary—wherever people lived, the birds would come, selling papers.
"'Red the Aloof' Patrick Redfield fought Admiral Sengoku the Buddha for five days and nights. Redfield fled after destroying a medium-sized island in the New World. The battle's result remains unknown."[1]
"Edward Newgate, 'Whitebeard,' has appeared in the New World and clashed with Golden Lion Shiki of the Flying Pirates."
"Marshal Kong personally captured Kaido, but Kaido managed to escape."
"Totto Land, established by Charlotte Linlin, is expanding rapidly."
"'World Destroyer' Byrnndi World wiped out a Marine branch, forcing Admiral 'Black Arm' Zephyr to intervene personally!"
"The three rising stars of the Navy—Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan—have captured several pirates with bounties worth hundreds of millions across the Grand Line."
The paper contained even more.
Besides the names destined to become legends in the future, there were countless other powerful pirates, many with bounties in the hundreds of millions.
In this era, a bounty in the hundreds of millions carried real weight. In Luffy's time, three or four hundred million was common, often inflated. But now, bounties were tied directly to strength. The stronger the pirate, the higher the bounty.
In the coming era, bounties would measure crimes more than power—massacres, destruction, and sin. But here, in 1496 of the Sea Calendar, strength was the only currency.
"It's dangerous out there," Kaos muttered.
Most of the reports were already a month old, some even older.
The seas beyond were full of monsters, legends in the making.
Though only a few would go on to make history, in this age, countless figures with bounties in the hundreds of millions roamed free.
If Kaos could survive long enough to reach Luffy's era, he too would be a legend.
Already, Kaido and Big Mom had debuted. Roger, Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Redfield, Garp, Zephyr, Sengoku, and Byrnndi World were carving their legends. Even Sakazuki, Borsalino, and Kuzan—still "rookies" were making names for themselves.
The future balance of the Four Emperors, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Marines, the Revolutionary Army, and the Underground Kings had not yet formed. The World Government stood as unquestioned overlord.
The Celestial Dragons in the Holy Land still wasted away in luxury and ignorance.
The Great Pirate Era had not yet begun.
"I've lived quietly for three years. It's time to see the world."
In his past life, he was nobody. An Invisible man.
On Earth, when he saw glamorous stars on TV, rich heirs flaunting their cars and beauties, or men of power commanding respect wherever they went, he had longed for that life.
High-profile. Arrogant. Untouchable.
Now, fate had handed him the script of the protagonist. If he didn't throw this world into chaos, then what was the point?
Even if his legs broke or he died in the attempt, he would go through with it. Not quietly—but arrogantly, in full view of the world.
"B must be installed! Arrogance is non-negotiable."
He clenched his fists.
He was the man who would become King B.
After finishing his udon, Kaos returned to his wooden house halfway up the mountain.
This was the Island of the Goat, on the Grand Line.
Every six months or so, merchant ships stopped here to trade. Sometimes, unlucky pirate crews also drifted ashore.
The next merchant ship was expected in three to four months.
Kaos planned to leave with it. He had no fixed destination yet, but the core was simple: become stronger.
Strength was the foundation. With it, he could guard his wealth. With it, he could become the richest man in the world.
The title of "Pirate King" wasn't as loud as his name would be.
After all, Roger's era was built on the dream of ONE PIECE—treasure, power, fame. But the richest man in the world already had all three.
Perhaps Roger would need some new temptation to ignite the Great Pirate Era.
As for Kaos? He had side quests to amuse himself: toppling the future Four Emperors and dismantling the Shichibukai.
"To say, 'I'm not interested in money. I've never touched money'—that's the kind of arrogant line I want to deliver. I'm still a long way from that."
He laughed quietly. Even double standards could be cool.
Night fell. With no entertainment on the island, Kaos resumed training.
He was tired, but when he thought of the dangers awaiting at sea, his fighting spirit rose again.
Suffering now was an investment in the future.
When he imagined his future life—arrogant, powerful, this hardship felt like nothing.
Three to four months remained. In that time, he aimed to master at least one of the Rokushiki techniques, or awaken Observation Haki or Armament Haki.
One way or another, he would step into the seas prepared.
[1] Patrick Redfield, better known as Red the Aloof and known as "Pato" in his starting days, is the main antagonist of One Piece: Unlimited World Red. He was designed by Oda. According to Sengoku, Red was powerful enough to single-handedly rival the Pirate King Gold Roger and Emperor Edward Newgate during his prime.