Kaidou looked at the stubborn little boy before him and suddenly burst into hearty laughter: "Wororororo... Interesting!" His deep laughter echoed through the dilapidated room, shaking dust loose from the ceiling.
After speaking, Kaidou turned and strode outside, his tall frame nearly filling the entire doorway. Without looking back, he tossed out a remark: "Kid, if you're not afraid, bring your family and follow me. Just for what you said earlier, I'll let your family have a proper meal."
Doflamingo and Rosinante's eyes both lit up simultaneously. Doflamingo immediately threw down the wooden stick in his hand and rushed to the bedside, helping his weak mother Yulia up with effort. "Mother, we're going to eat. After eating, your illness will get better," he said urgently, turning to shout at his brother: "Rosinante, come help!"
"Okay." Rosinante hurried over to help support their mother.
Homing, standing to the side, appeared hesitant: "Dofla, that person..."
"Bastard!" Doflamingo snapped his head up, flames of anger burning in his eyes, "Look what you've done to us! Do you want to kill Mother now too?"
Homing was stung by his son's words and fell silent. After a moment of quiet, he whispered: "Then I'll go with you. If we die, our family will die together."
These words slightly eased the tension on Doflamingo's face. Although his father's stubbornness had reduced them to this state, his mother's earlier words still echoed in his ears - they were still family after all.
Homing picked up the sickly Yulia and, with his two sons, quickly chased after Kaidou. Kaidou's figure was nearly disappearing around the street corner, forcing them to break into a light jog to keep up.
Soon, the group followed Kaidou to the harbor. A massive pirate ship was moored by the shore, its black hull gleaming coldly under the moonlight. Kaidou effortlessly leaped onto the deck and looked back at the family.
Originally, Kaidou had planned to take Greenbit through the Calm Belt, but considering that towing a small island would slow their speed too much, he temporarily left Greenbit in the Calm Belt, planning to retrieve it when returning to Wano Country.
Standing before the ship, Homing gazed at the unfamiliar pirate ship, his heart filled with conflict. But seeing that Doflamingo and Rosinante had already boarded without hesitation, he took a deep breath and finally resolved to follow them.
On the pirate ship's deck, Kaidou sat upright on his throne crafted from dragon bones, his thick arms supporting his chin as he examined with interest the several children brought by Enel. Trebol, Pica, Diamante, and Vergo stood in a row, their faces still bearing traces of childishness.
On the other side of the deck, the Donquixote family was devouring the feast voraciously.
Two years - a full two years without a proper meal. Now that they could finally eat well, of course they had to eat their fill. Only the sick Yulia could weakly lean against her chair, taking small sips of nutritious meat broth.
"So you're Pica? Eight years old this year?" Kaidou's deep voice echoed across the deck. He narrowed his eyes, examining the "little giant" standing before him who stood over three meters tall.
"Yes, but I'll be nine next month," Pica replied in his signature high-pitched voice.
.....
"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Enel suddenly burst into laughter, "Kid, what kind of voice is that!" Even though he had heard it once before, hearing such a shrill voice coming from this massive figure still made him unable to contain his amusement.
"BAM!"
Kaidou responded with a backhanded punch that sent Enel flying like a cannonball, crashing heavily against the ship's railing.
Having transformed into lightning and returned to his original position, Enel held his swollen cheek and began, "Big Brother Kaidou, you—"
"Enel, don't mock someone who might become our comrade," Kaidou said to Enel.
Hearing this, Enel didn't dare say anything more.
Nearby, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi quickly straightened their expressions, fearing they might be next to suffer.
Pica's eyes lit up, his favorability toward Kaidou skyrocketing.
"You're called Vergo, also eight years old?" Kaidou turned to another boy, his gaze falling on the piece of tofu stuck to the boy's face.
"Nine, I'm already nine," Vergo answered steadily.
"Hmm," Kaidou nodded with satisfaction, "You two are promising candidates for martial arts training." He turned to Kyros and Karuri standing nearby and said, "From now on, they're apprentices of the Beasts Pirates. You two are responsible for them."
"Yes!" the two immediately responded. Kyros walked up to Pica while Karuri stood beside Vergo, speaking in unison: "Rookies, from now on you're under our supervision."
"This... this... Lord Kaidou..." Trebol tremblingly raised his hand, "They... they are my..."
"What?" Kaidou slowly turned his head, staring directly at Trebol, "Are you defying me?"
A single glance was enough to make Trebol's legs shake like sieves. "N-no... I wouldn't dare..."
"Enough," Kaidou withdrew his gaze, "Now you have two choices: join the Beasts Pirates, or leave immediately." His tone carried obvious impatience, particularly when looking at Trebol, his eyes filled with undisguised contempt.
Trebol and Diamante exchanged glances. They knew perfectly well that Kaidou was far less interested in them than in those two kids.
Diamante gritted his teeth and stepped forward: "Lord Kaidou, I'm willing to join the Beasts Pirates." Though not highly regarded, facing a Great Pirate with an 850 million berry bounty, this opportunity couldn't be missed. He believed that with his Flutter-Flutter Fruit ability, he would eventually earn Kaidou's favor.
"Diamante, you..." Trebol looked at his companion in disbelief. They had clearly agreed to find a promising child to nurture into a king, so they could enjoy wealth and glory as the "king's benefactors."
"I choose to leave." Trebol finally made up his mind to depart. He knew that even with his Devil Fruit ability, his frail physique would only keep him at the bottom ranks aboard the Beasts Pirates—a pirate ship where strength reigned supreme. He could never hope to reach the top.
"Fine," Kaidou nodded. "Leave the String-String Fruit behind before you go."
Trebol's body froze. Trembling, he pulled the precious Devil Fruit from his chest and carefully placed it on the deck. Without looking back, he walked toward the ship's rail. As he leaped overboard, he cast one last glance at Diamante and the others, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
The sea breeze swept across the deck as Kaidou toyed with the String-String Fruit in his hand. Truth be told, this Devil Fruit wasn't particularly powerful on its own—what made it formidable was its original user, Doflamingo, who had mastered it to an extraordinary degree. Although Doflamingo would never consume this fruit again, his innovative approaches to its usage could serve as inspiration for whoever eventually ate it.