After the ceremony, Kaido clapped Gusion on the shoulder. "Good job. King will deliver the food tomorrow—distribute it well. I don't want my factories having problems."
"No worries. I'll win over the people and maybe even increase our production," Gusion replied, saying exactly what Kaido wanted to hear.
Kaido smiled and handed Gusion a box—a real Zoan Devil Fruit, not an artificial one.
[Ancient Zoan: Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Tyrannosaurus Rex]
Origin: One Piece
Rarity: Epic
Type: Bloodline
Use: Eat any part to activate
Effect: +5 Constitution, +5 Strength, +4 Agility. Can transform into a T-Rex. Further development increases stats and unlocks more abilities.
Score: 680/700
[]
A top-tier fruit—even among the Beast Pirates, few have better. Kaido was clearly grooming Gusion as Yamato's right hand, akin to King.
Gusion hesitated—while the fruit suited his style, turning into a T-Rex wasn't very stylish...
Kaido didn't force him to eat it on the spot.
"It's a Devil Fruit, but without an index, we can't be sure what it is. I suggest you wait before eating it," Yamato whispered. "Who knows what my father might give you? You only get one shot."
Gusion smiled at Yamato's suspicion. "I think it's fine, but becoming a Devil Fruit user means you can't swim—I still want to sail someday."
Yamato grabbed his shoulder seriously. "If you go to sea, shouldn't you take me with you?"
"Of course. If we make it through Wano, you're coming."
Yamato was delighted. She still dreamed of adventure, but knew she couldn't abandon her responsibilities.
"I'll take you, but I can't promise to always stay with you," Gusion warned, knowing he'd eventually have to leave this world.
He explained further, telling Yamato not to do anything reckless if he disappeared.
"No way! I'd never abandon a friend!" Yamato protested.
Gusion was touched but insisted she put her own safety first.
"Fine, fine. I won't mention it again."
…
The Next Day.
The streets were crowded as food convoys rolled through. Nobody dared approach, as the escort was none other than King the Wildfire—Kaido's right-hand man, with a 1.39 billion bounty.
Tall, imposing, and covered head-to-toe in black, with white hair, dark skin, and black wings—he was a fearsome sight.
When Gusion and Yamato heard of his arrival, they went out to greet him.
"Thank you, King, for delivering food and saving us in a crisis," Gusion said, looking up at the six-meter giant.
He knew from the original story that King was a Lunarian—the last of a superhuman race, able to control fire and survive in any environment.
"I've completed Kaido's orders. Do your job," King said bluntly, eyeing Gusion with suspicion.
King didn't trust this sudden new advisor, but if Gusion proved himself, he'd accept him.
"We'll show you results," Gusion replied calmly. With King, only results mattered.
King nodded and left immediately.
Once King was gone, Gusion called for the security force to help transport the food—60% to the main warehouse, the rest redistributed to famine-stricken cities as per his plan.
He'd already studied Wano's finances and famine statistics, and had a plan in place.