Beasts

The return journey was faster than the arrival, as Kaido seemed intent on picking up the pace. By the morning of the second day, the group had crossed the Red Line and returned to the New World.

After having meals on several Marine warships and prison ships along the way, the group arrived at an island located in the middle-to-rear section of the New World on the afternoon of the third day.

"Boss Kaido, you're back."

As soon as they landed on the island, a burly man with black hair, wearing a punk-style jacket, ran up to them.

"Deke, why is it you? Where's King?"

Kaido asked in confusion, realizing the person who came to greet them wasn't King as he'd expected.

"There are some unidentified pirate ships in the waters around our territory. Commander King took the brothers to investigate the situation."

Although only 14 years old, King's immense strength had already made him a legitimate executive within the Beasts Pirates, a crew that valued martial prowess above all else.

"Unidentified pirate ships? How many?" Kaido frowned.

"About ten ships, including one large pirate ship. Judging by their course, they're most likely from Hachinosu Island," Deke continued his report.

"Hachinosu Island..."

Kaido took out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed King's number.

"Peh-lo~ Peh—This is King, Mr. Kaido, you're back?"

King's voice soon echoed from the Den Den Mushi, and his expression appeared on its surface.

"Did that guy accept the invitation?"

"No.

Zayn is busy taking care of his precious child, so he refused."

"However, this trip wasn't entirely fruitless. No, it should be said there was an unexpected joy."

Kaido glanced at the three little ones beside him, who had been looking around restlessly. The frustration of not being able to recruit Zayn had long since vanished from his mind.

"Is that so? Then I'm really looking forward to it. We've finished here and are preparing to set sail back."

King replied, looking at the enemy ships burning fiercely.

"Well done!

So, who do those guys belong to?" Kaido's voice turned cold.

"They're a pirate crew recently recruited by John. They're probably sent to test our strength. It seems they're planning something big recently."

"John...

That guy took most of Rocks' treasure back then. Everyone has been keeping an eye on him all these years, and I didn't expect him to dare to provoke me again!"

After understanding King's situation, Kaido hung up the Den Den Mushi.

He glanced in the direction of Hachinosu Island, then turned to Deke and instructed:

"Deke, take these three to their lodgings first, then find someone to carry those chests to the warehouse. I'm going to sleep."

"Understood, Boss Kaido. But who are these kids..."

Deke was a bit bewildered. Kaido had brought back treasure and Marines before, but this was the first time he'd brought back children.

Looking at the three little ones who hadn't said a word since landing on the island, he muttered to himself:

[Could they be Boss Kaido's daughters? No, no, the Boss's daughters couldn't possibly be this cute... Hiss~ Could they be princesses kidnapped from some kingdom?!]

Deke looked at Ra's expensive-looking silk dress and her dignified demeanor, becoming increasingly convinced of his guess.

"This little kid with blonde hair is Ra, and she'll be an executive of the Beasts Pirates from now on!

The other two are her sisters." Kaido offered no further explanation, simply leaving them with this statement before departing.

"An, an executive?!"

Deke was startled.

[This little girl is only about ten years old, right? She looks so delicate and weak; I bet I could scare her into crying if I spoke a little louder, and she's already an executive!]

King had become an executive at fourteen after defeating the entire pirate crew, which was already jaw-dropping.

But this girl, who was only about ten years old... it was beyond Deke's imagination.

[Could she be a special Devil Fruit user? Or is she really Boss Kaido's daughter?!]

"Hey! Punk uncle, stop spacing out and take us to our resting place.

I've been floating in the sky for days, and I'm exhausted!"

Oshi was still unaccustomed to using feminine terms with strangers. Perhaps it was shyness, or perhaps it was to maintain the last shred of her stubbornness.

"Oh! Alright, alright."

Deke snapped back to reality and didn't pay much attention to Oshi's strange self-appellation.

After instructing some passing pirates to carry the treasure chests Kaido had brought back to the warehouse, he led Ra and the others towards the stronghold.

[Whatever, Boss Kaido said she's an executive, so I'll treat her as one.]

"Mr. Deke, is that right? My name is Ra, and this is my younger sister Osiris and Obelisk."

Seeing Deke's stiff steps, whether from nervousness or something else, Ra took the initiative to speak to ease the atmosphere.

"The three of us are new here. Could you please introduce us to the specific situation of Captain Kaido's pirate crew?"

[Such a nice, polite voice!]

Deke mentally crossed off the option of Kaido's daughter.

"No need to be so formal, just call me Deke, haha~"

His nervousness eased by Ra's gentle voice, Deke gradually became more talkative.

"Our Beasts Pirates were formed by Boss Kaido just last year. When I joined, there were only about twenty people.

Over the next year, Boss Kaido challenged other pirate crews and absorbed the defeated pirates, so our numbers slowly grew.

The Beasts Pirates now have over five hundred members, five large ships, ten small ships, and we control three surrounding islands!"

Deke's tone was filled with excitement and pride. As one of the oldest members of the crew, he had personally witnessed the growth of the Beasts Pirates, and their current development was inseparable from his countless bloody battles.

But honestly, the current Beasts Pirates didn't rank highly in the New World.

Not to mention the top sea overlords like Golden Lion and Whitebeard.

Even second-tier powers like Silver Axe King Straight had far more pirates and larger territories than the current Beasts Pirates could compare to.

It couldn't be helped, after all, the Beasts Pirates had only been established for a little over a year, while those who immediately started grabbing territory and dividing the spoils after Rocks' death.

The great pirates who had been developing for four or five years now were simply incomparable.

You might ask why Kaido didn't participate in dividing the New World back then.

Unfortunately, Kaido was in a period of confusion, passively graduating from the Rocks Pirates and directly stepping into the unfamiliar New World.

He had no idea what he should do, so he could only look for the Marines and World Government to brush up on achievements all over the world.

It wasn't until last year, when he met King at Punk Hazard in this dazed state, that Kaido remembered he should start his own venture.

Thus, the Beasts Pirates made their belated entrance when Kaido's predecessors had already consumed everything.

"So, you were also one of the pirates defeated by Kaido back then?" Obe asked.

"No, I joined voluntarily because I admired Boss Kaido's strength.

Also, you should call him 'Boss Kaido' or 'Captain Kaido,' you blue-haired brat."

Deke seemed to hold Kaido in high regard and was somewhat displeased with Obe for calling Kaido by name.

"Tch~"

Obe turned her head away and ignored Deke.

"By the way, what exactly is your relationship with Boss Kaido?"

Deke couldn't resist his curiosity and stopped, squatting down to lean his head towards Ra and ask quietly.

"The three of us sisters were accidentally stranded on a deserted island. Captain Kaido happened to pass by and invited us.

After some discussion, Kaido and I agreed." Ra explained with a smile.

"?"

Ra spoke casually, making Kaido sound like a kind-hearted uncle who happened to pass by and took in three pitiful little girls who were lost.

But Deke found something off about her words.

[This, is this really Kaido?]

In Deke's impression, his captain wouldn't think twice about eating children, let alone taking them in.

The atmosphere became silent once more.