The Minks' bodies truly were unlike any humans.
Even in their Sulong form, their power and flexibility were extraordinary—elastic and feral, as though their every muscle contained coiled lightning.
Luo Xing had seen it firsthand and, as a scientist, couldn't help but marvel at their physical potential.
By the next afternoon, his fleet returned to Wano's main harbor.
To Luo Xing's mild surprise, Kaido himself was there waiting on the dock, arms crossed, grinning wide.
"My good son-in-law! You're back in one piece, eh? Forget those Minks—your safety comes first!"
Kaido's booming laughter rolled over the waves.
Ever since Luo Xing had created the Monster Cells and the Triple Gravity Chamber, the Beasts Pirates' strength had more than doubled. In truth, Kaido knew that the man beside him was now the greatest asset the crew possessed—perhaps even greater than himself.
Luo Xing, ever calm and modest, replied with a courteous smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law. With the Flying Six by my side, I barely needed to lift a finger."
Kaido slapped his shoulder with a delighted roar.
"Good! Very good! Come—tonight we feast! We drink until we fall!"
A Night of Celebration
That evening, the great hall of Onigashima was alive with laughter and music.
Everyone was there—Kaido, King, Queen, and hundreds of soldiers. Wine flowed like rivers.
Luo Xing, seated beside Kaido, accepted toast after toast. Even Queen was all smiles, his booming laughter echoing across the hall.
Halfway through the night, Luo Xing blinked and asked lazily,
"Strange… I haven't seen Jack. Where is he?"
Kaido chuckled, beard dripping with sake.
"That kid's finally showing some initiative. Said you might need more funds, so he volunteered to go out and 'collect' some."
Luo Xing arched a brow in mild amusement.
"Oh? Seems our Jack is learning responsibility."
He thought nothing more of it, clinking cups with Kaido until the world blurred.
The feast raged until well past midnight before finally winding down.
Return to the Capital
A tipsy Luo Xing was helped ashore by Carrot, his loyal rabbit-eared attendant.
They made their way to the Shogun's Palace, where news of his return had already reached Yamato.
The doors burst open before he could even knock.
"Luo Xing!"
Yamato ran out, radiant and relieved. The moment their eyes met, the tension of days apart melted away.
They embraced tightly, the warmth of reunion lingering between them.
At their feet, a cheerful voice piped up—
"Big brother! Me too! I want a hug too!"
It was O-Tama, beaming with childish joy.
Luo Xing chuckled, lifting the little girl onto his shoulder.
"Tama, your rice dumplings did wonders this time. You've truly helped us change the world."
Yamato smiled proudly, but her expression shifted when she noticed another figure behind him—
a white-furred Mink girl with long, curved ears and shy golden eyes.
"And who might she be?" Yamato asked, voice carefully even.
"Oh, her?" Luo Xing replied casually, feigning a drunk's careless tone.
"This is Carrot. She made a mistake during the mission, so I assigned her to serve as my attendant for a while."
He watched Yamato's expression from the corner of his eye.
She paused, then sighed with a faint pout.
"You know there are plenty of attendants in the palace, right? You didn't have to bring one home."
Luo Xing laughed, wrapping an arm around her waist.
"A servant's a servant, my dear. Come—let's get some rest. We've earned it."
Yamato's cheeks flushed red.
"You never change, you shameless man!"
Luo Xing waved for Tama and Carrot to leave the room, carrying Yamato in his arms toward their chambers.
But even as he smiled, a shadow flickered behind his calm eyes.
He had only wanted to test Yamato's temper—to see if she'd react to another woman near him.
The result, while expected, was still a quiet reminder:
if she could be jealous over a maid, then she must never learn about Hiyori.
Meanwhile — In the New World
A few thousand nautical miles away, under the pale moonlight, a massive Marine battleship cruised steadily across open waters.
Its decks gleamed with gold chests and sealed crates—tribute paid by nations to the Celestial Dragons.
Armed Marines stood watch everywhere, rifles in hand.
This wasn't an ordinary patrol. This ship carried the Heavenly Tribute, the so-called Heavenly Gold.
Far in the distance, another vessel shadowed them—a warship flying the skull insignia of the Beasts Pirates.
"L-Lord Jack!"
A lookout slid down the mast in panic, telescope in hand.
The towering figure of Jack the Drought stood at the bow like a fortress of flesh and steel, his eyes cold behind his iron mask.
"What's got you shaking? How many Marines?"
"N-Not many, sir… barely a few dozen!"
"Then why the panic, idiot?!" Jack snapped.
The sailor swallowed hard.
"Because—because one of them is… a Marine Admiral!"
Jack's face darkened.
"What did you say?"
"It's him, sir… the Magma Admiral—Sakazuki, the Red Dog!"
A heavy silence fell over the deck.
Then chaos erupted.
"The Navy's gone mad!"
"Why send an Admiral to guard the tribute?!"
"It's Red Dog—his magma burns everything it touches!"
"We can't fight that, let's retreat—"
Jack's bloodshot eyes widened in rage. His fists trembled, veins bulging.
He couldn't stand the fear in their voices.
"You cowards!" he roared. "Who do you think I am?!"
His voice boomed like thunder across the waves.
"I am Jack the Drought!"
He slammed a hand on the railing, the ship shuddering beneath his fury.
"Now shut up and—"
He pointed at the golden Marine battleship ahead.
"—BRING THE SHIP CLOSER!"
The crew hesitated only for a heartbeat, then obeyed.
Drums of war thundered as the Beasts Pirates' flagship surged forward, cutting through the black water like a beast on the hunt.
The Drought was about to meet the Magma.
And the sea… was about to boil.
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