Shanks shook his head helplessly.
"I've decided. So, what do you need us to do?"
"What do I need you to do?"
Hearing Shanks's question, Cyrus thought for a moment, then looked at him.
"You just came back from the land of giants, right?"
"Elbaf? Yes."
Shanks was not surprised that Cyrus knew his movements.
"Then go back. Stop the World Government from interfering with Elbaf, and at the same time, establish a Hunter Guild branch in the kingdom of giants."
Cyrus waved a hand.
"That's all?"
Shanks was somewhat surprised.
He had thought Cyrus would make them do something far more difficult, but it was just that?
In that case, it was not all that different from before.
After all, the reason they had come out this time was to stop the war between Cyrus and Whitebeard.
But things had developed far too quickly.
A battle Shanks had thought might last for a very long time had ended in an extremely short period.
"That's right, that's all. Or do you want something else to do? How about taking your ship and your people around the New World on patrol? There are far too many pirates. Even the Hunter Guild can't catch them all."
"No need. I'll do as you said and establish a Hunter Guild branch in Elbaf. But what did you mean just now about the World Government?"
Shanks fixed his eyes on Cyrus.
That part bothered him.
"Elbaf was targeted a long time ago. Or rather, it was targeted several hundred years ago. After all, giants are excellent warriors. As long as you gather a group of adult giants, they're enough to form an army capable of sweeping through most islands."
As long as a giant matured normally, their strength would be comparable to a Vice Admiral from Marine Headquarters.
That race was truly blessed by nature.
And that combat power had long since drawn the attention of the World Government—or rather, Imu.
If a giant demon army were transformed, its fighting power would become even more terrifying.
Or rather, faced with a demonized giant army, there were not many people besides Cyrus who could remain calm.
"I understand."
Shanks nodded.
Cyrus waved his hand and did not exchange anything more with Shanks and the others.
Shanks and his crew turned to leave, while Cyrus looked back at Kaido, who was still knocking on his own head.
It seemed that this method could briefly suppress the emotions in his heart.
Cyrus stared at Kaido and considered how to deal with him.
Since he had decided not to kill Kaido, he could not let him roam freely either.
However, Kaido could vaguely sense Imu's hosts through the demonic power in his body, and that was something Cyrus still needed right now.
But the demonized Kaido definitely did not understand the concept of collateral damage.
It would be fine while Cyrus was around, but if Cyrus was not present, Kaido would probably be controlled by the emotions in his heart again.
Still, having to watch Kaido personally as he cleared them out one by one would take a lot of time.
Cyrus did not want to be tied down by this matter.
If he were doing it himself, then with the Door-Door Fruit's ability and his own speed, he could handle most of it in an extremely short time, maybe even before Imu had a chance to react.
But with Kaido…
Cyrus looked at Kaido's enormous body.
He could use his ability, but there was still a big difference between someone else guiding the direction and doing it himself.
"You…"
Cyrus was about to speak when his voice suddenly stopped. He narrowed his eyes and studied Kaido.
Kaido's hand, which had been knocking against his own head, had stopped, and the aura around him was changing extremely quickly.
Kaido did not have a second personality.
"As expected."
Cyrus sighed.
Kaido raised his head as well.
The bloody red in his eyes had faded a great deal, and he no longer looked like he was about to fall into madness at any moment.
"You cannot do it."
Kaido's voice rang out.
"How would I know without trying? What if it works? Even if it doesn't, doing it now will still be easier than doing it later."
Cyrus smiled as he looked at Kaido—or rather, at Imu.
"However, logically speaking, you shouldn't be able to control this guy. Otherwise, you would have made your move back in Wano."
Cyrus stared straight into Kaido's eyes.
"It does require paying a price. But from the way things look now, that price is worth it."
Imu's tone was calm.
"That does make sense."
Cyrus nodded. It was about what he had expected.
People who received Imu's ability would not necessarily become Imu's hosts, especially someone like Kaido, whose own consciousness still held the upper hand.
"Still, I want to try this ability too."
Cyrus smiled at Kaido and said something that startled Imu.
"You think I'll fall for that?"
Kaido's version of Imu locked her eyes onto Cyrus's face, as if trying to find his true intention there.
"What if?"
Cyrus looked relaxed.
"What if it succeeds? This might be the only way to change the current situation. If I can't control this ability, then you'll be able to take control of me."
Those words made Kaido fall silent.
Because Cyrus was not wrong at all.
Against Cyrus, Imu did not have any better options.
After all, if she could have taken Cyrus down, the sea would not have become what it was now.
The Hunter Guild would not have become such a huge threat to the World Government either.
But Imu had no confidence.
Even though she knew this was something with enormous benefits, the danger was just as high.
Through the demonic power residing in Kaido, Imu had received the earlier conversation between Cyrus and Kaido.
She also knew that Cyrus intended to use this ability in reverse to eliminate her spare bodies.
But if this power could not affect Cyrus, then it would become very possible for Cyrus to follow that power back and weaken her.
At that point, the situation would become extremely unfavorable.
"How are you considering it?"
Cyrus looked entirely at ease.
"Fine."
Kaido's version of Imu nodded directly.
Although failure would make the situation worse, success would bring too much gain.
Putting aside the fact that the current deadlock would be instantly resolved, Cyrus's sheer combat power alone was enough to make Imu covet him.
As long as she could control Cyrus, everything else could be abandoned.
The World Government and the Marines were no exception.
When that time came, she would still be the King of the World standing at the very top.
That enormous temptation was something Imu could not refuse.
Besides, Imu also wanted to know why Cyrus had grown stronger so quickly.
After living for hundreds of years and knowing countless secrets buried across the sea, Imu had still never seen anyone like Cyrus.
His growth speed was simply too absurd.
If she could find the method Cyrus used to become stronger, the reward would be even greater.
Forget Imu—there was no one on this sea who could refuse such temptation.
After all, the chance to control the strongest person in the world was something worth risking one's life for.
"You won't resist?"
Imu confirmed once more.
"I won't resist. Go ahead."
Cyrus beckoned with his hand.
Boom!
Rolling black smoke poured out of Kaido's enormous body.
Then his entire body turned into a mass of black smoke and enveloped Cyrus within it.