"Do you really have any choice left?"
Kai's sharp counter-question silenced Judge completely, the words hitting him like a physical blow.
Yes, did he still possess any meaningful choice in this matter?
His lifelong dream and the World Government existed in a zero-sum relationship where only one could emerge victorious.
"I understand the situation perfectly. I will do everything within my power to strengthen our combined forces."
Judge's weathered expression transformed, becoming absolutely resolute with newfound determination.
Kai smiled with obvious satisfaction. "Pleasant cooperation, then."
After successfully overthrowing the World Government, dividing North Blue to Judge wasn't merely empty diplomatic talk.
As long as Judge remained willing to follow his strategic leadership, Kai wouldn't stoop to the petty tactic of destroying bridges after crossing rivers.
Besides, Judge would eventually grow old and die from natural causes.
When that inevitable time arrived, having a loyal North Blue Queen didn't seem like such a terrible arrangement, did it?
When Reiju finally finished settling her seriously injured brothers and walked gracefully into the ornate hall, she discovered Kai and her father chatting and laughing together with surprisingly harmonious ease.
"I have one additional important matter to address." Kai pointed directly at Reiju with authority and declared: "Remove the genetic restriction preventing Reiju from disobeying your direct commands."
He absolutely didn't want any future situation where Reiju might turn against him due to one of Judge's contradictory orders.
Hearing this specific demand, Judge's face visibly stiffened with obvious tension and growing alarm.
This particular matter should only be known to him and Reiju personally. How did Kai somehow know about this closely guarded secret too?
Reiju shouldn't have had sufficient time to tell Kai about this classified information.
But he couldn't openly oppose the request either without facing severe consequences.
"Of course, absolutely no problem whatsoever." Judge flashed a brilliant smile that clearly didn't reach his worried eyes.
The following day, Kai took the newly modified Reiju and his other loyal companions back to the impressive Rayquaza.
This time, they were finally going to start their own independent adventure.
As for Judge, he would travel directly to Wano Country first for additional preparations.
Fortunately, with the specialized snail ships' unique help, crossing the massive Red Line wouldn't prove particularly difficult for their group.
"Henshin!"
On the Rayquaza's spacious deck, Yamato excitedly pulled out a gleaming white metal canister, spun it with flashy theatrical rotation in her hand, then forcefully placed the device at her waist with dramatic flair.
BUZZ!
Dazzling white light instantly enveloped her entire form like divine radiance!
When the brilliant light finally faded away, a sleek, snow-white combat suit had materialized perfectly on her athletic body.
Yamato touched her amazing new equipment everywhere with childlike wonder, her eyes sparkling like brilliant stars in the night sky.
"Sugoi! So incredibly cool and awesome!"
Yamato acted exactly like an excited child eager to show off a brand new toy, shouting loudly with unbridled enthusiasm: "Kai, let's have an epic fight right now!"
"You absolute idiot! Do you seriously want to destroy this entire ship?"
Kai curtly refused without the slightest hesitation.
Only a complete fool would abandon the luxurious warmth of soft feminine companionship to engage in sweaty, brutal combat.
He lazily stretched across a comfortable beach chair, wearing a relaxed blue-green shirt decorated with dark blue palm tree patterns and bright orange beach shorts. A huge colorful parasol effectively blocked the vicious tropical sunlight from reaching his skin.
On both sides lounged Violet and Reiju, while Kozuki Hiyori sat gracefully across from him with perfect posture.
All three stunning women wore incredibly sexy bikinis that generously displayed their ample cleavage, their snow-white skin glistening beautifully in the warm sunlight like polished marble.
Violet and Reiju stood attendant on either side like devoted personal servants. One smilingly offered freshly cut tropical fruit, the other elegantly presented perfectly chilled drinks.
Kozuki Hiyori knelt on a soft velvet cushion, outlining graceful curves that could inspire poetry, holding a traditional shamisen in her arms as she played a newly learned tune with masterful skill.
At this absolutely perfect moment, personal secretary Speed approached respectfully to report: "Lord Kai, we're approaching the massive Red Line very soon."
Actually, she didn't need to announce this obvious fact. Anyone with properly functioning eyes could easily see the colossal barrier ahead.
Because the legendary Red Line was ridiculously tall, often stretching thousands or even tens of thousands of meters into the sky. Even from tremendous distances, people could easily spot its absolutely imposing existence dominating the horizon.
Reiju asked with obvious curiosity and genuine confusion: "Lord Kai, aren't we planning to use Reverse Mountain?"
In her technical understanding, without the specialized climbing ability of advanced snail ships, the Rayquaza seemed to possess only one viable path from North Blue to East Blue.
Namely, crossing the dangerous Reverse Mountain and going against East Blue's powerful ascending current to reach their final destination safely.
Kai casually ate a perfectly sweet apple Violet fed him and mumbled with complete confidence: "That route is far too slow and tedious. I have a much faster method available."
"What kind of method?" Reiju didn't understand at all.
But Kai had already stood up gracefully from his comfortable beach chair. He leaped upward with fluid motion, brilliant green light emanating from his body as his human form suddenly expanded dramatically.
In the blink of an eye, an absolutely majestic hundred-meter emerald dragon was coiled majestically in mid-air above them.
"Hold tight, everyone! We're taking off immediately!"
Two incredibly powerful dragon claws gripped both sides of the Rayquaza securely as pitch-black Haki spread outward like a protective tide, reinforcing the ship's entire structure.
"Fly... we're actually flying through the air!"
The newly boarded Reiju widened her beautiful eyes in complete amazement, watching in total shock as the sea surface rapidly receded far below their soaring vessel.
This was truly godlike power that transcended human comprehension entirely.
Kai showed absolutely no pride, stating matter-of-factly: "This is nothing particularly special. Kaido-san is someone who can effortlessly move entire islands."
"Drag... drag entire islands?!" Reiju turned pale with overwhelming shock: "There are such impossible monsters existing in this world?"
Compared to these living legends of unimaginable power, the Vinsmoke family's proudest achievements throughout the Four Blues were like children playing house.
Kai's flight speed wasn't slow by any measure. In just one efficient hour, he successfully crossed the entire Red Line with the Rayquaza securely in tow.
"We're landing right now!"
Kai displayed a mischievous smile and directly released his dragon claws when still dozens of meters above the churning sea surface.
BANG!
The Rayquaza crashed into the ocean like a giant stone meteor, creating absolutely towering waves dozens of meters high.
SPLASH!
The cold seawater poured down like torrential rain, instantly soaking everyone on deck completely, causing a delightful chorus of surprised feminine cries.
"Mm, swimsuits really need natural seawater to complete the perfect look."
Kai smoothly transformed back to human form and leisurely landed on the wet deck, stroking his chin thoughtfully as his appreciative gaze lingered on the several drenched beauties before him.
Crystal water droplets flowed enticingly on their delicate skin, sparkling with absolutely alluring light in the sunlight's golden reflection.
"How absolutely annoying! My makeup is completely ruined now!" Violet complained coquettishly, wiping crystalline water droplets from her face. "Come on, let's go bathe and change clothes immediately."
Without further discussion needed, she pulled the equally disheveled Reiju, called to Hiyori and the excitedly water-shaking Yamato, and quickly headed toward the luxurious bathroom.
"Together sounds perfect then."
Kai followed with an obvious grin, completely without psychological burden or shame.
"Ah, absolutely no!"
"Don't touch randomly!"
"Please be gentle!"
Days passed by in this blissfully tedious routine of pleasure.
Until this particular eventful day arrived...
Yamato leaned casually against the ship's polished rail, pointing excitedly at the distant sea surface, her voice filled with enthusiasm like she had discovered an amazing new toy: "Kai, look over there! There's a really strange ship ahead! There are several other vessels stopped beside it too."
Several people gathered curiously to look, and indeed there floated a genuinely peculiar vessel.
The bow featured a giant fish head with eyes flickering with distinctly eerie light, looking exactly like it died with serious unresolved grievances.
The ship's body was also completely different from ordinary vessels. Rather than resembling a traditional ship, it looked more like a floating house or restaurant.
Kai smiled with instant recognition: "That's the famous sea restaurant Baratie. Didn't expect to encounter it so soon."
Soon, the steadily approaching Rayquaza attracted the complete attention of everyone aboard that distinctive floating restaurant.
When did East Blue suddenly acquire such a massive pirate ship?
They thought with rapidly growing concern and alarm.
But soon, the flag hanging prominently on the ship caught their absolutely complete attention.
"That... that's definitely the Beast Pirates' flag!"
Why would dangerous subordinates of a Sea Emperor come to this peaceful place?