"So that means the key technology is in Vegapunk's hands?" Kaido turned and stared hard at Tenma.
Tenma shrugged, utterly unconcerned. "Who knows? But doesn't that just prove artificial Devil Fruits are a feasible concept?"
There was no way he was stupid enough to sell out Caesar Clown—that clown was his trump card.
Besides, even if you gave Kaido a hundred times the guts, he still wouldn't dare lay a finger on Vegapunk, who the World Government treated like a national treasure.
"Let's be clear first," Tenma continued. "The experiments haven't officially started yet. But I'll guarantee you this—five years. At most five years. You'll personally witness this miracle, and you'll be the very first major buyer in the world."
"Hey, hey, hey! Five years? And we're just buyers?" Queen crawled out of the crater again and started yelling.
Tenma looked at him like he was an idiot. "Five years is a rough estimate. You're supposed to be a researcher—don't you have any idea how much money and time a world-changing project like this burns?"
"I'm footing all the R&D costs myself. You think you can freeload? Dream on."
"Of course, the price will be far cheaper than real Devil Fruits. And this stuff will be priceless and unavailable anywhere else—even if you wanted to buy it, you wouldn't find a seller."
—Glug, glug!
Kaido grabbed his massive gourd and tilted his head back, chugging a huge mouthful of strong liquor, alcohol streaming down his beard.
"Refreshing! I accept your terms!"
"Brother Kaido…"
King glanced at his boss with some concern.
After all, this was another verbal five-year promise…
Five years ago, they'd used the same trick to string along that idiot Kozuki Oden.
Besides, even though the arms trade profits were enormous, splitting things fifty–fifty for so long had already made quite a few people inside the Beasts Pirates unhappy.
"It's settled."
Kaido waved his hand, hammering the decision home.
He was perfectly clear about it.
A black technology like artificial Devil Fruits was never something you expected to see results from tomorrow. This was strategic, long-term profit—and he could afford to wait.
As for whether it was an empty promise, there would be plenty of ways to verify it later. Anyone who dared to cheat Kaido simply hadn't been born yet.
When you really did the math, what he was giving up was nothing more than the portion of arms profits he'd originally planned to monopolize in the future, plus direct control over Wano.
But this deal was worth it.
He wouldn't have to worry about suppressing those annoying samurai or restless civilians anymore, and he'd still be raking in steady cash.
Most importantly, he'd gain a Road Poneglyph to Laugh Tale and the Zoan army he'd dreamed of!
This was a total win.
In high spirits—and having just loosened his muscles by fighting Tenma—Kaido felt comfortable all over.
Kaido was secretly delighted.
Tenma, meanwhile, was even happier.
This deal had completely removed the greatest obstacle to his control of Wano, and the price he paid was practically zero.
That Road Poneglyph meant nothing to him—it was just decoration. Making a rubbing for Kaido didn't cost him a thing.
As for artificial Devil Fruits, the script was already written. He just needed to drag that idiot Caesar back and put him to work.
And Wano's true core value—the ancient weapon Pluton buried deep underground—that was the real, priceless treasure.
With that ultimate weapon in hand, forget arms profits—even asking for the stars would be worth it.
Each man harbored his own schemes, yet they hit it off instantly. This cooperation, reeking of blood and money, was sealed just like that.
"So, Tenma," Kaido asked curiously, "what are you planning to do next? Without us backing you, getting those thick-headed samurai of Wano to submit will be harder than ascending to the heavens."
Tenma looked completely at ease. "That's none of your concern. If I dared to come negotiate, I naturally have my methods."
To legitimately take over Wano, the key lay in the orthodox title of Shogun.
Kurozumi Orochi had risen to power through a forged will of Kozuki Sukiyaki.
In that case, Tenma could just as easily make a dead man "come back to life" and assume power with full legitimacy.
"Buru-buru—"
Just then, an urgent Den Den Mushi ring shattered the atmosphere.
King answered it, and his expression changed instantly.
"Brother Kaido, something's wrong! The Nine Red Scabbards escaped!"
Kaido's face, which moments ago had been smiling like a blooming chrysanthemum, darkened in an instant, murderous intent surging.
"What did you say?!"
King hurriedly explained, "That Kozuki Oden doesn't know what got into him—he suddenly erupted with terrifying Conqueror's Haki and knocked all the guards unconscious. The Red Scabbards broke their chains and fled in the chaos."
"And Kozuki Oden himself?" Tenma's expression also sank. This was an unexpected variable—and he hated uncontrollable accidents more than anything.
King glanced at Tenma. Having just formed an alliance, their side immediately dropping the ball was a bit embarrassing.
"Oden didn't run. He didn't resist either. He stayed behind alone to cover their escape."
"To prevent any surprises, our men have already taken him back into custody."
With Kaido and the two Calamities here negotiating with Tenma, the remaining underlings didn't dare pursue deeply. Losing Kozuki Oden would've been a real beheading offense.
That did fit the style of that idiot lord.
Even without the horrific boiling execution, the corrective force of fate still sent the Nine Red Scabbards running.
But as long as Kozuki Oden himself was still in hand, it was fine.
In Tenma's plans, Oden was a name that absolutely had to be crossed out.
"Everything's still under control."
Tenma said coldly, "That Kozuki Oden—leave his final send-off to you. My new Wano has no need for Kozuki clan remnants to stay alive."
With that, the stone slab beneath Tenma's feet floated up once more.
He took out a dedicated Den Den Mushi from his clothes, casually tossed it to Kaido, then flew away from Onigashima without looking back.
What he didn't notice was that in a dark corner of Onigashima, a pair of bright, shining eyes were fixed firmly on his departing figure.
Only after Tenma had flown far away did King hesitate and speak up.
"Brother Kaido… can that guy really be trusted? After all, he's using Golden Lion's power…"
Kaido toyed with the Den Den Mushi in his hand and slowly stood up, kingly pressure radiating from his body.
"He wants to move Onigashima—that clearly means he's taken a liking to this land's feng shui."
"And that arrogant Conqueror's Haki on him—it's carved from the exact same mold as that one-legged old lion back in the day."
"As for trust? …Wororororo! Don't be naïve, King!"
"This is nothing but naked exchange of interests!"
"We're pirates. We believe in only two things—"
"Fists, and profit."
With that, a violent red gleam flashed through Kaido's eyes.
"Bring Oden to me—now! Before executing him, I'll use him to warm up and have a little more fun!"
…
…
Standing atop a flying slab of stone, Tenma didn't return directly to the Flower Capital.
Instead, he changed direction—
and headed straight for Kuri.