While Kai was on the phone with Kaido, on the other side of the world, another group was also discussing them.
Above the Red Line at Mary Geoise, within Pangaea Castle...
This was the center of world power.
"Natural Disaster... Kai?"
A man in a black suit with white curly hair, a fluffy white beard, and wearing a black flat cap, Warrior God of Science and Defense Saint Saturn, spoke indifferently: "What a greedy fellow."
"That kind of thing doesn't matter. We have plenty of resources to fill their bellies. Their impoverished brains can't even imagine how wealthy we are after ruling the world for eight hundred years."
A man in white robes, bald and wearing glasses, the Warrior God of Finance Saint Nasujuro stood by the window gazing at the distant scenery, gripping the famous sword Shodai Kitetsu in his hand:
"My only concern is that the boy's Devil Fruit has never been recorded in any fruit encyclopedia."
Since the World Government's formation, they had been tirelessly recording Devil Fruits that appeared on the seas.
The internal Celestial Dragon archives even contained records from eight hundred years ago.
No one understood Devil Fruits better than they did.
Yet Kai's fruit ability seemed to appear out of nowhere.
The unknown meant risk.
"Let's observe for now. Although the abilities Kai displayed in that battle were formidable, they didn't exceed our imagination."
The man in a dark green suit, bald with a distinctive mustache, Warrior God of Justice Saint Warcury concluded: "In eight hundred years, geniuses on the seas have been as numerous as fish crossing a river, but in the end, aren't we the ones who achieved victory?"
"Even someone as strong as Rocks... we still managed to extinguish his lamp of life."
At Onigashima...
"Huff! W-why do I have to train too! I'm supposed to be the lookout!"
Violet wore specially made weighted clothing as she ran along the dirt road at Onigashima's edge, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath, her throat feeling like it was on fire.
Such high intensity right from the start was too painful for a princess who had been pampered since childhood.
"If you're too weak, I'd be quite troubled. Don't forget, you're now a member of an Emperor's pirate crew! Your opponents are all renowned figures on the seas."
Kai, wearing special seastone bracelets on his wrists and dragging a special steel ingot behind him, had lapped Violet twice and caught up, breathing heavily: "You're my companion. I'd be very sad if someone killed you."
The officers on his ship had to have a certain level of strength.
Even Nami, the combat weakling of the Straw Hat crew, could compete with Cracker and Ulti in the future.
Behind Kai, Yamato in similar gear charged past with great momentum, overtaking Kai.
"Hahahaha! Kai, I'm going to win!"
"It's still too early for that!"
Kai quickened his pace to catch up, leaving behind a thoughtful Violet.
Companions?
At that moment, Komurasaki, also wearing weighted clothing, caught up from behind.
Her face was pale, but her steps didn't stop as she passed Violet: "Keep it up."
Violet quickened her pace to run alongside Komurasaki. Looking at the determined woman beside her, she asked curiously: "And why are you doing this? Aren't you Kai's personal attendant?"
"Me? I suppose I want to be someone useful to Lord Kai."
Komurasaki smiled slightly, her mind drifting to last night's conversation with Kai.
"Komurasaki, want to fight alongside me?"
"Me? Fighting? Is that possible?"
"Why not try? I think your physical condition is quite excellent."
Thinking of this, a suspicious blush appeared on Komurasaki's pretty face.
The words were innocent enough, but the context of their conversation wasn't exactly wholesome.
After running three laps around Onigashima, Violet and Komurasaki found Kai and Yamato in Onigashima's dining hall, having already completed ten laps.
"This time, I'm definitely going to eat more food than you!"
Yamato's cheeks bulged like a hamster hoarding nuts.
"You're even challenging me at this?""
Kai shook his head and sighed. Though he complained verbally, his hands moved just as quickly: "But I won't lose!"
The mountain of food beside them disappeared at a visible rate.
However, beside Kai's regular food was also a plate of meteor fragments.
Half an hour later, Kai and Yamato finished their food almost simultaneously, patting their full bellies and sighing: "Phew! So full!"
"Next is the next activity! Challenging Kaido!"
Yamato raised her hand and cheered.
Yes, Kaido had finally decided to fulfill his promise to Kai.
Teaching Haki!
This time, Violet and Komurasaki didn't need to participate.
Only Kai and Yamato qualified for Teacher Kaido's small class.
Leaving the dining hall, a green light blazed as Kai instantly transformed into a massive emerald dragon.
Without Kai needing to speak, Yamato leaped up skillfully and landed on Kai's head.
"Depart! Dragon Express!"
Are you trying to be a tour guide, Yamato?
Kai flew upward and, in just two minutes, arrived at the central area of the skull dome.
Here, Kaido sat cross-legged on the ground, pouring alcohol from a gourd into his mouth, looking like he'd been waiting for a while.
"Wororororo! You're here."
Kaido stood up unsteadily and burped: "The quality and quantity of Haki require your own training, but mastering the techniques has shortcuts."
Kai nodded silently. Strictly speaking, Armament Haki's flowing, hardening, and internal destruction and Observation Haki's future sight, including Conqueror's Haki infusion and other skills, were just techniques with no inherent hierarchy.
Even if you'd just awakened Haki, you could still use those skills. It was just a matter of power and duration.
Kaido's explanation continued.
Whether from being drunk or because it was his first time teaching, Kaido unusually patiently gave a long speech.
But from Kai's perspective, there was far too much useless content.
What did he mean by "Think about making your Haki penetrate inside the enemy, and the Haki will do it by itself!"
"Oh oh! So that's how it is."
Yamato treasured every word, nodding repeatedly with an expression of having learned something profound.
"..."
Kai fell silent and sighed.
Should he say they were truly father and daughter?
He was starting to suspect there was some code language in that explanation that only the two of them understood.
"To master Haki techniques, the most effective teaching is battle!"
Kaido drained his alcohol in one gulp and pulled out his kanabo from the cloak behind him: "Come on! Attack me with the resolve to kill!"
"I'm coming!"
Yamato, who'd been getting beaten since childhood, was already familiar with the routine.
She dragged her kanabo and charged forward, then leaped up: "Thunder Bagua!"
The kanabo mixed with Haki and lightning struck Kaido heavily.
However, Kaido just swayed slightly and steadily received the attack.
Is the gap this enormous?
Kai was shocked.