Chapter 238: Kaido's Visit!
Over time, Ryuunosuke had gathered quite the collection of Devil Fruits—over thirty, according to Chrollo. Yet despite the allure of such rare power, most members of the Dragon Hunter Pirates chose to walk a different path. They didn't want to rely on shortcuts. They wanted strength earned through discipline, mastery, and sheer will. The kind Ryuunosuke respected.
If someone truly needed a reward, Ryuunosuke would give it. But simply handing out Devil Fruits like candy? That felt wrong—too random, too undeserved.
So, for now, the stockpile of Devil Fruits would remain untouched. As far as raw materials went, they had enough. The next item on Ryuunosuke's mind was something even rarer—pure gold, or anything with a similar energy signature.
Pure gold wasn't just valuable—it was powerful. Its energy was so intense it could even manipulate the flow of time around it. But naturally, something that powerful wasn't easy to come by. Only a handful of individuals or organizations were known to possess it.
First, there was Heracles—real name Rolando—now a member of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. When they met, he had a chunk of semi-refined pure gold. Not the real deal, but close enough.
Then came Olga and her father, Dr. Mischina Assiai. Unlike Heracles, Mischina had managed to fully purify the gold, making it genuinely potent.
There was also the Lantern Fish, a massive island-swallowing Sea King. The glowing orb hanging from its head? Packed full of pure gold. Dangerous, but promising.
And of course, the World Government. No one knew exactly what they used pure gold for, but it was clear they understood its potential. They not only wanted it—they already had it. It was no coincidence that the CP organization captured Olga right after she let slip details about pure gold's existence.
Lastly, Ryuunosuke thought of the man known as the Golden Emperor—Gild Tesoro. With his Gold-Gold Fruit, Tesoro could produce endless quantities of the precious metal. While not pure gold by default, with enough raw gold in hand, Ryuunosuke believed it could be transformed.
All those leads would be worth pursuing. But that was for later.
Right now, Ryuunosuke had one goal in mind—finding the Valley of the Gods.
Once he claimed the treasures left behind by the Rocks Pirates, he would finally be ready to challenge the World Government head-on. No more waiting.
"Captain, are we setting sail?"
Najenda approached, her voice low but firm. She had waited half an hour beside him without speaking, sensing he was lost in thought.
Ryuunosuke nodded. "Yeah. If everyone's ready, let's move."
With that, the Dragon Hunter Pirates departed.
As for the G-5 Marine branch, it had been emptied of civilians. While it made for a decent port, Ryuunosuke wasn't interested in managing it personally. He left that responsibility to the officials of Wallowells Island—a simple delegation of power.
Ever since Ryuunosuke declared war on the World Government, his reputation had grown monstrous. His enemies called the Dragon Hunter Pirates insane, reckless, dangerous—and none dared provoke them. Not anymore.
That suited Ryuunosuke just fine. Let them call his crew "crazy." They couldn't think of anything better anyway.
---
At the same time the Dragon Hunter Pirates set sail, Kaido arrived in Dressrosa.
There, he met Doflamingo, ruler of the island and—now—officially under the banner of the Dragon Hunter Pirates. Despite his own might and pride, Kaido tread carefully.
Even he didn't want to provoke Ryuunosuke just yet.
Still, he was skeptical. Challenging the World Government wasn't some minor gamble—it was suicide, in Kaido's eyes. He'd seen more of the world's true power than most pirates ever would.
If taking down the World Government were that easy, someone would've done it already.
Take Fisher Tiger, for instance. That fish-man prodigy had infiltrated Marijoa itself and freed countless slaves. And yet… he died shortly after, wounds from that mission never fully healed. A once-in-a-generation warrior, gone like smoke in the wind.
No, Kaido didn't believe Ryuunosuke could pull it off. Not alone.
That's why he came—to speak with Doflamingo.
Dressrosa had been declared Dragon Hunter territory, but Kaido still had an interest here. His artificial Zoan Devil Fruit trade depended heavily on Doflamingo's underground empire.
If the Dragon Hunter Pirates failed—and Kaido believed they would—he wanted Doflamingo back in his camp.
---
"Captain Kaido… what brings the Beast King to my Dressrosa?"
Doflamingo descended into the underground hall, his flamboyant coat trailing behind him like a banner of pride.
Kaido sat at a wide stone table, drinking. His massive frame filled the room with tension. Doflamingo had dealt with beasts before—but Kaido was something else entirely.
Kaido set down his cup. "Doflamingo. If the Dragon Hunters fall in their war with the World Government, come back. Join the Beast Pirates."
He didn't sugarcoat it. No politics. Just raw intent.
Doflamingo tilted his head slightly, a wry smirk forming. He hadn't expected that.
Kaido—inviting someone? Since when?
But Doflamingo didn't need to think twice.
"I refuse."
Kaido's brow twitched. "What?"
"If the Dragon Hunter Pirates fall, then so does my Donquixote Family. We live and die together."
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious. I appreciate the offer, Governor-General, but I'm not a two-faced rat."
To Kaido, this was lunacy. "You've been brainwashed or something?"
Doflamingo laughed—mocking, but cool. "No. I just know a real king when I see one."
Just then, the Dragon Hunting Order in Doflamingo's coat buzzed.
A voice echoed from the device—calm, commanding.
"Tell Kaido this—We're heading to the Valley of the Gods. If he's interested, he can come. I'll be waiting."
It was Ryuunosuke. Direct, unshaken. Doflamingo relayed the message.
"Our captain has invited you personally, Kaido. Valley of the Gods. If you've got something to say, say it to him yourself."
There was no fear in his tone. In fact, his presence seemed to radiate new strength.
Kaido narrowed his eyes. This wasn't the same Doflamingo he'd known. Something had changed.
Doflamingo's aura had become sharper, heavier—stronger.
During his time under Ryuunosuke, his power had grown exponentially. Not just his Devil Fruit mastery, but his base attributes, too. His Observation and Armament Haki had both reached new levels. It was as if Doflamingo had been reborn.
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