New World, on an island.
A group of pirates stood by the shore, gazing anxiously at the endlessly churning sea.
"Why aren't they here yet? Didn't they say they were already close?"
"They should be here soon! Lord Roa has no reason to deceive us!"
"It's been so many days already. Big Brother Kaido won't be in trouble, right?"
"He'll be fine. Isn't the Vivre Card still intact?"
The pirates spoke nervously among themselves.
"They're here!"
Suddenly, one of the pirates cried out.
The pirates immediately raised their heads in unison and looked out over the distant sea.
A vast mass of dark clouds was approaching.
No, those were not dark clouds, but enormous snails. When they gathered together, they became a storm cloud that could crush every wave on the sea!
The pirates instantly broke out in cold sweat.
"Is that... Lord Roa?"
"Probably...?"
Hadn't Big Brother Kaido said that Lord Roa only had a handful of men as well? Wasn't that why the two sides had decided to form an alliance?
At the same time, Roa, standing atop a Giant Snail, had already spotted the pirates on the shore.
The return trip from North Blue had taken much less time than the journey there.
The Giant Snails were far faster than ships.
Crossing the Calm Belt had been somewhat troublesome, though.
Those Giant Snails had probably looked like an all-you-can-eat buffet to the Sea Beasts. The monsters lurking in the deep sea had surfaced in groups, like middle schoolers rushing to grab food.
Roa had found it unbearably annoying, and he had only made the crossing safely by maintaining Conqueror's Haki the entire way.
Fortunately, the Germa Kingdom did not lack black gas. Otherwise, to return to the New World, they would have had to head to the Red Line and let the snails climb over it to cross the Calm Belt.
They really needed to start embedding Seastone. Otherwise, going anywhere would be inconvenient.
But where could they get Seastone?
Was there a country in the New World that had both plenty of Seastone and abundant ore to supply an arms factory?
Was there?
There was. There really was.
"It does look like they're pirates from the Beasts Pirates."
Dylan lowered his telescope. "But to make sure this isn't a Marine ambush, Boss, we should let Bullet check first."
It was possible that the Beasts Pirates had been coerced by the Marines into contacting Roa, luring him here, and wiping them all out in one go.
"I have no problem with that."
Bullet looked toward Roa's back.
"There's no need."
Roa smiled. "Big Brother Kaido is smarter than anyone imagines."
Many people thought Kaido was a brainless brute.
Who would have guessed that he was an old schemer who had never shunned tricks and conspiracies?
He would never give his number to someone he did not trust completely.
Besides.
Roa had already checked.
The pirates on the shore had no other negative emotions.
They were merely anxious and uneasy. There was no hostility.
The snails soon stopped by the shore, and Roa took the lead in jumping down from one of their heads.
"Lord Roa! You've finally come!"
The pirates, dressed somewhat like giants, hurried over excitedly.
Roa glanced over them.
What a bunch of worthless nobodies.
There was not a single recognizable name among them.
Big Brother Kaido, seeing how rough you've had it, I can finally rest easy.
No wonder you'd be so desperate for talent in the future. Those who had suffered were different.
"The treasure has all been prepared for you!"
It had to be said that the Beasts Pirates knew how to behave. One treasure chest after another had been carried before Roa at the first opportunity.
Once the chests were opened, the entire shore seemed to brighten a little. They were filled with gold, silver, and jewels.
Big Brother Kaido's family fortune was fairly substantial.
Roa nodded lightly.
He did not intend to invest much money in developing the arms industry, but who did not like getting things for free?
"Also,"
the pirates respectfully presented two small open boxes to Roa. Inside were two Devil Fruits covered in spiral patterns. "These are two Ancient Zoan Devil Fruits treasured by Big Brother Kaido: the Ancient Zoan: Pteranodon Model, and the Ancient Zoan: Brachiosaurus Model. Lord Roa, please accept them!"
Roa's expression became a little strange.
King and Queen's abilities?
He had wanted to say this back when he read the manga in his previous life: did those two really need to eat these Devil Fruits?
King fought entirely with his racial abilities, while Queen relied on technology.
King especially. Even his ultimate moves were used in human form. His Devil Fruit powers were just for fooling around.
Big Brother Kaido had been a little too indiscriminate in his methods to assemble the Beasts Pirates.
"How could I possibly accept this?"
Looking thoroughly embarrassed, Roa gestured for Dylan to step forward and take the two Devil Fruits.
The Beasts Pirates, however, heaved a heartfelt sigh of relief.
If Lord Roa was willing to accept them, then he was willing to help rescue Big Brother Kaido!
Just as the pirates were about to speak, Roa said to Dylan, "Well? Are you interested this time?"
Dylan had previously said that he wanted a Zoan Devil Fruit more.
After thinking for a moment, Dylan said, "The Pteranodon Model, Boss. Can I have that one?"
"Of course."
Roa was very generous.
What was a mere Ancient Zoan Devil Fruit, anyway?
Having received permission, Dylan solemnly took the Pteranodon Model fruit from the box and bit into it without hesitation.
The taste of the Devil Fruit made Dylan frown slightly, but only for a moment. The next instant, his brows relaxed.
"So this is what it feels like to be a Devil Fruit user?"
His face began to bulge and elongate, while his arms bent and flattened. "Boss, please allow me to test it out."
"Do as you like."
Roa shrugged.
In the blink of an eye, Dylan had transformed into a pterosaur more than three meters tall.
He was probably much smaller than King, considering the difference in their builds.
"My strength has increased so much! Ancient Zoans truly live up to their reputation!"
Dylan beat his wings, stirring up a gust of wind as he shot into the sky.
The pterosaur, with a wingspan of more than six meters, flapped its wings and raced through the sky.
He was somewhat awkward at first, but Dylan quickly mastered the trick of flight. He circled and rolled through the air, enjoying himself immensely.
Then.
Dylan suddenly beat his wings, and two enormous Flying Slashes fell from the sky, ripping two huge gashes across the sea.
Then Dylan abruptly dove, streaking past the shore like an arrow. His right wing cut into the ground, and neither rock nor soil could impede him as they were effortlessly torn apart.
Roa nodded slightly.
Not bad.
Dylan had already been a master of Swordless Style. Now, his wings had truly become blades.
"So,"
Roa finally looked at the pirates, who were terribly anxious yet too afraid to speak. "Where is Big Brother Kaido?"
The leading pirate hurriedly took out a small piece of paper. "Big Brother Kaido hid half a Vivre Card on himself. We came here by following the Vivre Card's guidance!"
Fragments of the same Vivre Card would attract one another.
But Big Brother Kaido, where did you hide that Vivre Card?
Didn't the Marines search you?
Roa's expression grew somewhat peculiar.
"Big Brother Kaido is being held on an island not far from here! We didn't dare get too close!"
The pirates said excitedly, "But with Lord Roa leading us, it'll be different!"
"That's right, Lord Roa! Let's set off quickly!"
"We?"
Roa casually took the Vivre Card from the pirate's hand. "I alone will be enough."
"Boss?"
Bullet cried out in alarm. "How can that be?"
"Boss! Let us go with you!"
Dylan made an emergency landing as well and spoke anxiously.
"More people would only be a burden. If nothing unexpected happens, there's a real monster stationed over there. Everyone stays here and waits for us to return."
As he spoke, Roa transformed into a black tiger and soared into the sky.
"..."
Bullet gritted his teeth unwillingly.
It was still because he was too weak!
"May victory be yours."
Dylan could only offer his blessing.
So this was Roa's ability?
Doflamingo looked up in amazement.
This was the first time he had seen Roa transform into a black tiger.
A Mythical Zoan?
Not long after.
Following the Vivre Card's guidance, Roa arrived above an island.
It was not a large island, but quite a few buildings were scattered across it. They were mostly not residences and looked more like research facilities.
Many warships were docked at the harbor.
A research facility?
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Roa muttered inwardly.
"Anyway, let's activate the field magic first!"
Roa dove rapidly.
"Magnitude Shift!"
Operation codename: Rescue the Wise General Kaido!
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