At Onigashima's Banquet Hall...
Completely unaware his reputation had been damaged, Kaido sat cross-legged in the main seat, enjoying the dancing geishas while pouring alcohol into his mouth.
"Father, is your illegitimate child my little brother or sister!"
Having learned the news, Yamato burst through the doors with obvious excitement.
PFFT!
Kaido, who had just raised his gourd to take a drink, instantly became a spray warrior, spitting alcohol all over Yamato's face.
"What the hell are you talking about, you stupid girl! Besides you, where would I have any other children!"
Kaido's eyes widened as his left hand reached into his cloak to grab Hassaikai.
When children don't listen, they probably need a beating.
Yamato pitifully wiped the alcohol from her face and explained everything: "Everyone outside is saying your illegitimate child has arrived."
"Nonsense!"
Kaido angrily stood up. You could insult him, but you couldn't spread ridiculous rumors!
"Sir, it's something Kai caused."
King walked in at the right time and explained: "The cause was a dragon appearing on Onigashima that looks exactly like you, sir, but pink in color. Now the pink dragon has left Onigashima with Kai, flying toward Udon in Wano Country."
Without waiting for Kaido's orders, King continued: "Regarding public opinion, I've already explained things clearly to those pirates. No one will discuss this ridiculous rumor anymore."
"Wororororo! I see. That kid Kai didn't lie to me."
Kaido, having gained another top-tier Mythical Zoan user, laughed heartily. But the next second, his mouth twitched and his smile suddenly became fierce: "That brat dared cause me this trouble. Seems the pressure I've been giving him is still too little."
Since Kai had helped him so much, he should help Kai quickly master those Haki techniques...
Far away in Udon, completely unaware of the tragic future approaching, Kai stood on a platform announcing new policies to the prisoners.
Of course, on the way here, he had already obtained Kaido's consent.
"Except for those prisoners I want to recruit, you can kill everyone in Udon for all I care."
That's what Kaido had said.
"Rejoice! This is a blessing from Kaido-san!"
Babanuki, serving as warden of Udon's prisoner quarry, raised both hands and shouted loudly.
The prisoners looked at each other uncertainly, unsure if this was one of Kaido's schemes.
Under the intimidating pressure of the surrounding Beast Pirates, only a few prisoners symbolically clapped.
Many prisoners actively gathered around a small, elderly man, asking: "Old man Hyo, what's that bastard Kaido selling in his gourd?"
"Let's wait and see. If it's a fox, it'll show its tail eventually."
Hyogoro was equally confused. From what he knew of Kaido, if he wanted to harm them, he wouldn't bother with such unnecessary theatrics.
It couldn't really be to improve their living conditions.
Looking at the prisoners discussing below, Kai didn't care about their thoughts.
Once someone successfully redeemed a reward, the rest would naturally embrace this system and become the Beast Pirates' most diligent workers.
On the other side, Queen buzzed around Komurasaki like a fat bumblebee around a flower.
"Listen to me, Komurasaki! Following that kid Kai has no future. In terms of seniority, when I was working for Kaido-aniki, he was still wearing split-crotch pants."
Queen's mouth moved as fast as rap, his cigar dancing up and down with his opening and closing mouth.
Facing one of the Beast Pirates' All-Stars, Komurasaki didn't dare offend him easily and could only respond half-heartedly, which still made Queen extremely happy.
Simp!
Kai looked speechlessly at the beaming Queen.
He definitely hadn't heard this saying: The forest path you yearn for is actually already full of traffic.
"Ah, Lord Kai!"
Noticing Kai's gaze, Komurasaki's expressionless face instantly bloomed with a smile as she ran toward him.
"No, no, no!"
Queen stretched out his right hand trying to stop her but only caught air, forced to watch helplessly as Komurasaki threw herself into Kai's arms.
BGM seemed to play in the air:
"My funk may be strong, but my heart is weak, when beauty sails away..."
Damn it!
What do I lack compared to that kid Kai?
In terms of height, looks, and bounty, in which aspect wasn't he better than Kai?
Kai revealed another piece of news that shocked Komurasaki: "Want to meet your benefactor Kawamatsu?"
Komurasaki gasped in surprise, covering her mouth with both hands, tears welling in her eyes: "Kawamatsu is here too?"
Kai nodded: "He was caught after his whereabouts were exposed when he entered the capital to steal fried tofu."
Komurasaki gripped Kai's arm tightly, pleading: "Please let me see him just once."
Kai had no objection. Bringing Komurasaki here was exactly his intention.
Kawamatsu had a resilient character and was kind-hearted, and as one of the Nine Red Scabbards with decent strength, he was worth recruiting.
He was also a fishman.
Kai might need him for future dealings with Fish-Man Island.
Babanuki led Kai and Komurasaki slowly into the depths of the quarry prison.
"Be careful, Lord Kai. That fishman is rebellious by nature and killed several of our brothers with fish bones, so now we only feed him poisonous fish with the bones removed."
As Babanuki was advising, there was a "whoosh" sound as a black shadow attacked from the darkness.
Without even looking, Kai raised his hand and caught it steadily between two fingers.
"Seems your work still isn't careful enough." Kai smiled slightly and released the pristine white fishbone from his fingertips.
"I'm sorry, Lord Kai! It was our oversight." Babanuki quickly bowed in apology.
Kai waved his hand dismissively: "Alright, give me the key. I'll have a chat with him."
After sending Babanuki away, Komurasaki couldn't hold back anymore.
With tears in her voice, Komurasaki called toward the depths of the cell: "Kawamatsu, is that you?"
"Pri... Princess?"
Kawamatsu's puzzled voice rang out, then his tone changed as he shouted sternly: "No, Beast Pirates! Don't think you can fool me. There's no way you could have captured Princess Hiyori."
"Kawamatsu, it's really me."
Komurasaki choked back tears, proving herself: "Do you remember that day you rescued me from Kuri Castle? When you saw I was unhappy, you did the kappa dance for me?"
Hearing this, a black shadow instantly appeared at the cell door.
He gripped the bars, staring intently at Komurasaki's face, trying to connect the young woman before him with the little girl in his memory.
Komurasaki mentioned several more details that only she and Kawamatsu knew.
Finally, Kawamatsu confirmed Komurasaki's identity.
"Princess, you're alive! That's wonderful!"
Kawamatsu cried and laughed at the same time.
All his suffering these years hadn't been in vain.
Komurasaki also began crying.
After a while, Kawamatsu gradually stopped crying and suddenly realized something was wrong: "Princess, how did you get in here?"
"Of course I brought her in."
Kai walked up to Kawamatsu and spoke: "Let me introduce myself. I'm the behind-the-scenes controller of Wano Country and an All-Star of the Beast Pirates, Kai."
Now, it was his turn.