After resting in Sleepy Ancient Town for three days, King had fully mastered his newly acquired power. Kaidou stood on the deck gazing into the distance and ordered the voyage to continue. The sea breeze brushed through his long black hair, and the bulging veins on his sturdy arms showcased his immense strength.
In the turbulent waters of the New World, the flagship of the Beasts Pirates was cutting through the waves.
"Boss Kaidou, are we heading back to the New World to claim territory now?" Queen asked with anticipation, a cigar dangling from his mouth. At the mention of "New World," both Bullet and Sebastian's eyes lit up. That sea, teeming with powerful figures, was the battlefield they yearned for.
Kaidou shook his head and said in a deep voice, "It's not time yet. We're not strong enough." He turned to face all the crew members, his voice thundering, "We'll continue sailing through the first half of the Grand Line, and then we'll head to the four seas. We'll recruit more promising newcomers in these places. Once our forces have grown, we'll return to the New World."
Kaidou knew very well that the New World was currently in a state of division among powerful factions. Legendary pirates like Whitebeard, Golden Lion, Red Count, Roger, Charlotte Linlin, Wang Zhi, and John were all vying for territory there. Although Kaidou was confident in his own strength, the other members of the Beasts Pirates needed more time to develop.
"When facing those monsters, I can't guarantee that King, Queen, Bullet, and the others will all survive," Kaidou thought to himself. He decided that he would only consider advancing into the New World after all the Executives had mastered Two-Color Haki and learned some of the Navy Six Styles. After all, these future top-tier fighters were crucial assets in his quest to dominate the seas.
On the deck, Queen respectfully asked Kaidou for their sailing direction: "Boss Kaidou, which way should we head next?"
Standing at the bow, Kaidou gazed into the distance with piercing eyes: "Set our course for Mock Town. Keep an eye out on the islands along the way to see if we can find any promising newcomers." Kaidou's voice was low and powerful, exuding undeniable authority.
"Understood," Queen immediately responded, then unfolded the nautical chart to study it carefully. He skillfully located Mock Town's position and took out the Log Pose to confirm the nearest route. As the crew's jack-of-all-trades, Queen not only served as the navigator but also doubled as the doctor and scientist.
Meanwhile, King was below deck taking inventory of their supplies. The meticulous steward recorded the consumption of every provision, ensuring the pirate crew's logistics remained foolproof. On the lower deck, Sebastian was leading the fish-man crew members in inspecting and repairing the ship's hull. These skilled swimmers were both excellent shipwrights and elite forces in naval combat.
Bullet was responsible for training the combat personnel on board. Drawing on his extensive military experience, he devised a strict training regimen to mold the crew members into stronger warriors. The entire ship operated with clear division of labor, proceeding in an orderly manner toward their destination.
Seven days later, the pirate ship arrived at a small island called Carmans. After replenishing some supplies, they set sail once again.
The sea wind howled as the flagship of the Beasts Pirates carved a white wake across the azure sea. Kaidou stood at the prow, his long black hair whipping in the wind as he gazed at the distant horizon, his eyes gleaming with ambition.
"Boss Kaidou, a merchant ship spotted ahead!" a crew member shouted from the crow's nest.
A cold smile curled Kaidou's lips. "Sebastian, take the fish-men and intercept them underwater." He turned to his Executives behind him. "Queen, lead a team to flank them from the left; Bullet, you take the right; King, you break through the front."
The crew sprang into action, the pirate ship lunging toward the unsuspecting merchant vessel like a beast of prey. The merchant sailors panicked upon seeing the massive ship flying the Beasts Pirates' flag closing in rapidly.
"It's... the Beasts Pirates!" The merchant captain turned pale, nearly dropping his telescope. "Quick! Change course!"
But it was too late. Kaidou's pirate ship had already closed in, its cannons roaring with deafening blasts as shells landed precisely around the merchant ship, sending towering plumes of water skyward—a clear warning shot.
"Surrender your ship, or we'll send you all to the bottom of the sea!" Kaidou's voice thundered across the waters.
The merchant ship was forced to stop, its crew raising their hands in trembling surrender. Kaidou personally led his Executives aboard to plunder the spoils. The hold was filled with silks, spices, and precious gems from the West Blue.
"Not a bad haul." Queen counted the loot with satisfaction when he suddenly noticed a tall young man chained and locked in an iron cage in the corner. "Huh? What's this?"
The youth appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen, with rare reddish-brown hair and a body covered in scars. Despite being caged, his extraordinary height was evident, and his gaze remained sharp and piercing.
Kaidou also noticed this peculiar captive. In the pirate world, height meant little, but taller individuals often had a greater chance of becoming powerful fighters.
"Who are you? Why are you locked up here?" Kaidou looked down at him from his imposing height.
The young man lifted his head, meeting Kaidou's gaze without fear. "My name is Commodore Gavin. I'm this ship's 'cargo.'" His voice was hoarse but firm. "They were taking me to be sold at the slave auction house on Sabaody Archipelago."
A flicker of interest shone in Kaidou's eyes. "What crime did you commit?"
"I killed someone," Commodore Gavin said calmly. "A noble who tried to harm my family."
Kaidou suddenly burst into laughter. "Interesting!" He gestured for his men to unlock the chains. "Kid, how about joining my pirate crew?"
Commodore Gavin flexed his freed wrists, watching Kaidou warily. "Why?"
"Because I admire people with backbone." Kaidou grinned. "And I can see you've got a warrior's blood running through you."
Queen added from the side, "Kid, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Follow Boss Kaidou, and you'll not only gain freedom but also grow stronger."
Commodore Gavin pondered for a moment before finally dropping to one knee. "I pledge my loyalty."
"Good!" Kaidou nodded in satisfaction. "From today onward, you are a member of the Beasts Pirates."
During the subsequent voyage, Commodore Gavin displayed astonishing combat talent. Bullet was responsible for training him and discovered that this young man possessed an innate sharp intuition for battle. Though not comparable to Bullet, King, or the others, his talent was sufficient to rival Sebastian's. With proper cultivation and the addition of a Devil Fruit, he could become another Tobiroppo.
"This kid's talent is impressive, enough to match Sebastian," Bullet reported to Kaidou, unable to conceal his surprise.
Kaidou was very satisfied with this: "Continue to focus on training him. I need more combat power like this."
That evening, the watchtower suddenly sounded an urgent alarm: "Navy fleet spotted ahead!"
Kaidou immediately ascended to the deck and saw three navy warships appearing on the distant horizon, advancing toward them in battle formation.
"Prepare for battle!" Kaidou ordered gravely. "Let the newcomers join the fight too. This is a good opportunity to test their abilities."
A naval battle was imminent. The navy ships fired first, with cannonballs falling like rain. Queen directed the crew to maneuver the ship deftly to evade while launching counterattacks.
"King, Queen, Bullet, you will also command this battle," Kaidou said to them before sitting down to drink and fight simultaneously.
In battles nowadays, unless the opponent had someone with vice-admiral level strength or above, Kaidou had no interest at all.
The battle lasted about two hours, ultimately ending with the navy fleet's retreat. Kaidou stood on the shell-scarred deck, looking at his crew with satisfaction.
"Well done," he said to the pirates.