The Land of Wano.
While Caelan was enjoying himself, Kaido was in a foul mood.
"Caesar, it's been a week, and the artificial Devil Fruit still hasn't produced any results?"
Kaido walked up to Caesar and asked angrily.
A week had already passed since he had captured Caesar.
This so-called great scientist, whose auction price was 7.7 billion Berries, hadn't made the slightest bit of progress.
"Kaido-sama, without the raw materials cultivated by the Tontatta Tribe, I really can't create an artificial Devil Fruit!"
Caesar knelt on the ground, trembling as he spoke.
He was helpless. Forget not having the materials, even if he had them, producing artificial Devil Fruits within a week was still impossible.
"You idiot, didn't you boast about being the second greatest scientist in the world? Why can't you improve the technology? Why can't you develop alternative raw materials?"
Kaido's breath blasted down, burning a deep hole several feet wide in front of Caesar.
Caesar felt like he was dealing with an unreasonable client who only made demands without considering reality.
Simply replacing the main material of an advanced technology was as difficult as creating an entirely new one.
Besides, if he could improve it so easily, why wouldn't he have done it already?
But facing Kaido, Caesar didn't dare to say such things.
His life and everything else were in Kaido's hands. He couldn't appear incompetent.
"Kaido-sama, of course these things can be improved." Caesar forced a smile. "But it will take time, probably one or two years."
For now, the most important thing was to stabilize Kaido. When the time came, he could figure something else out.
"Trash!" Kaido frowned and roared. "I don't have that much time to wait!"
"Yes, yes, I'm trash!"
Caesar knelt even straighter, practically ready to kiss Kaido's shoes.
"Kaido-sama, how about making a deal with Caelan and buying some raw materials from him?"
"With the raw materials, I can promise results quickly!"
Caesar suggested cautiously.
"I still have to buy raw materials from him? Isn't that the same as before?"
Kaido snorted heavily and rejected Caesar's idea outright.
In the past, he had been strangled by Doflamingo. Now, he was being strangled by Caelan. Wasn't Caesar's theft completely in vain?
"Don't worry about this anymore. I'll get the materials myself. If you still can't produce results then, you'll die!"
Kaido threw down his words and stormed off.
Inside the lab, Caesar wiped the sweat from his forehead and muttered, "Are these two monsters really going to fight?"
He didn't know whether Kaido or Caelan would win. To be honest, he hoped Kaido would. After all, Caelan treated him with complete disdain.
…
Kaido returned to Onigashima, still seething.
At that time, the Three Calamities and the Tobiroppo were gathered in the main hall, discussing an attack on Whitebeard's territory.
"Forget Whitebeard. Let's fight Caelan!"
Kaido cut everyone off angrily.
He had originally wanted to seize Whitebeard's territory while Whitebeard was occupied with rescuing Ace.
But after what happened with Caesar, he no longer cared about territory. The artificial Devil Fruit was more important.
"Why suddenly fight Caelan?"
King asked, confused.
It was obvious that the Whitebeard Pirates were preparing to move out to rescue Ace. This was the best opportunity to seize land.
"That Caelan tricked us all! We need his raw materials for the artificial Devil Fruit technology he sold us!"
Kaido slammed the table in anger.
"There was actually a backdoor in the stuff he sold?"
"What a scammer!"
"He deserves to be beaten!"
Queen the Plague and Jack the Drought shouted in shock.
Doflamingo, who had traded with them before, had always been straightforward. How could Caelan, who supposedly had an even better reputation, be such a dishonest businessman?
As the two clamored for Caelan's blood, King frowned. This was not the right time to start a war with him.
"Abandon your plan to attack Whitebeard's territory and declare war on that profiteer instead!"
"If I'd known it would come to this, I should have just attacked him outright!"
Kaido slammed his mace down in frustration.
When he had stolen the artificial Devil Fruit technology before, he had considered fighting Caelan directly.
But in order to snatch Caesar without risk, he had hidden in Dressrosa for two days.
If he had known this would be the result, he would never have held back.
The thought of being unable to use something he had fought so hard to steal only enraged him further.
"Kaido-sama, should we reconsider?"
King said carefully. "Now is the critical moment, with the Navy about to execute the Pirate King's bloodline. We should conserve our strength."
The Navy's execution of Roger's son would shake the entire Great Pirate Era.
The Whitebeard Pirates, who were going to rescue him, had almost no chance of survival.
Starting a war with Caelan at this time was inappropriate.
If they suffered too much damage, they would inevitably become the Navy's next target.
"No need to say more. I just want to kill Caelan and take back the raw materials for the artificial Devil Fruits!"
Kaido brushed off King's concern. His decision was already made.
Caelan stood in his way of building a legion of Zoan users. He was also a powerful opponent Kaido longed to fight.
A battle with Caelan was inevitable.
"Yes, Kaido-sama."
Seeing Kaido's resolve, King had no choice but to obey.
It wasn't the worst timing. At least the Navy wouldn't intervene.
Although Caelan's rise had been recent, the power under his control was formidable. They could end up in real trouble.
"Hahaha! A God Slayer? Then kill me if you can!"
Kaido roared with laughter, his whole body shaking with excitement.
This monster that even two admirals and Garp couldn't defeat was finally an opponent worth anticipating.
…
The next morning, after replenishing Robin, Nami, and the others with magic, Caelan left the room and received the news.
"Kaido wants to go to war with me?"
(To be continued.)