The Moby Dick, having finished its banquet, was now bathed in moonlight.
Even Whitebeard's surgery is over, and it's already past midnight; they should be sleeping by now.
But...
Everyone, including the Whitebeard who had just stepped off the operating table, sat around the ship's railing, looking at the isolated island they had just landed on.
This isolated island is completely deserted, with even plants being extremely rare.
The island appears to be composed entirely of volcanic rock, and from a distance, it looks even more desolate than the Gobi Desert, utterly devoid of anything.
Islands like these are not uncommon on the Grand Line; not every island has the significance recorded by the Eternal Pose.
In addition, with so many powerful individuals in the world, who knows, a fight between two of them might just create a unique island.
The island in front of us looks exactly like the result of Sakazuki's attack.
However, it's clear that the volcanic rocks on this island have been there for a long time, and Sakazuki certainly wouldn't have done such a thing.
So, perhaps this was done by a predecessor who ate the Magma-Magma Fruit?
In short, during the breaks in the banquet, the Moby Dick and the Dark Bird Ship made their way toward the island amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.
Until now...
Ace and Teach stood on opposite sides of the island, looking at each other from a distance of several kilometers.
Sitting on the Moby Dick, Gawain watched the two of them from afar, then turned to Whitebeard and smiled.
"Newgate, you won't blame me for taking advantage of your surgery to pit your son against the young men under my command, will you?"
"Gurarara, how could that be? Teach, who just obtained the Yami Yami no Mi, needs a suitable opponent to hone his abilities!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Whitebeard held the pale blue potion in his left hand and took a big gulp.
He took a bite, licked his lips, and smiled.
"The nutrient solution that Sister Kureha gave me actually tastes like raspberry."
I don't really like the taste, but the good news is that this medicine means I don't have to keep getting IV drips anymore, and I don't have to try to abstain from alcohol like I used to!
After saying that, the Whitebeard, whose spirits were noticeably better than before, picked up the wine jug and used the wine to wash away the fruity taste in his mouth.
Then he reached out and gently patted Gawain's shoulder with his fingers, and continued speaking.
"Come on, Gawain, let the children have their fun."
As for the two of us, let's go! I promised to treat you to a hot spring!
If these two kids start fighting later, it might last for days.
"I'll take you for a good soak, then you can go to bed with your women. Can't you see they're all a bit distracted?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Whitebeard laughed and stood up, then walked towards the cabin.
At the same time, Gawain looked towards the island in the distance.
In his eyes, a burst of fire suddenly erupted in the night sky, and a huge fireball with a diameter of over twenty meters, like a miniature sun, illuminated the night sky as it rushed toward Blackbeard.
However, just as the fireball approached Blackbeard, an unparalleled darkness erupted from the not-so-clear night.
In just a moment, the darkness, like Uzumaki, miraculously swallowed the enormous fireball completely.
Beside Gawain, Moria licked his lips enviously.
"So this is the Yami Yami no Mi? What an amazing ability!"
"If I fight this guy, even the sunlight will be swallowed up. In that case, my shadow will be completely useless!"
As Moria spoke, Gawain slowly rose from his seat and followed Whitebeard.
Before long, the two arrived at the hot spring sauna on the Moby Dick.
Whitebeard seemed to be a regular here. He skillfully fetched drinks, accepted the fruit offered by the leopard-print maids, and then casually stripped off his clothes and plopped down in the water.
After letting the hot water submerge his chest, the Whitebeard man let out a long breath and then comfortably closed his eyes.
"Come on, Gawain, quickly soak it, and then steam it!"
When I was on your ship, I was a little reserved because we weren't familiar with each other.
It wasn't until you sent your guy Franky to make me a set like this that I finally got to enjoy a nice bath, haha.
This time, I am the host and you are the guest. Please come in and sit down. Let me treat you well.
As the Whitebeard spoke, he waved his hand, and immediately three young women in leopard print came to Gawain's Gawain, smiling as they helped him remove his clothes.
Just as the young ladies were about to wipe Gawain's body so that he could enter the bath,
Gawain's shoulders jerked, and he transformed into a bolt of lightning, plunging directly into the pool.
Upon entering, Thunder's body instantly returned to normal, and Gawain couldn't help but show a lazy expression.
He slowly swayed his body and finally leaned against the wall not far from the Whitebeard.
As he approached, the leopard-print maids exchanged a glance, then couldn't help but smile.
Then, the maids brought out various kinds of fruit and fed them to Gawain one by one.
While Gawain was chewing, the Whitebeard grinned.
"Why have you become so reserved since you came to my turf?"
Don't tell me you're shy, or I'll laugh at you without hesitation.
Come, try this. It's a fruit unique to the New World, and it also has aphrodisiac and kidney-strengthening effects.
The girls serving you are the daughters of sailors from the Whitebeard Grand Fleet. They are all from good families, and my sons and I will not force them to do anything. They are perfectly clean."
"Hmm~."
Upon hearing the Whitebeard's words, Gawain nodded noncommittally, then opened his mouth and swallowed a piece of fruit.
After tasting it for a moment, the texture of this fruit is similar to that of a strawberry, but the taste is somewhat like... an apple?
That's interesting.
After swallowing the fruit, Gawain leaned his head back contentedly and let out a soft sigh.
"Newgate, after this banquet, will we still be able to sit in the bath and talk like this?"
"Oh, why do you think it's impossible? So, have you devised some dangerous plan?"
Gawain, aren't you being a little too hasty? Even if you've developed considerable strength, you've only been at sea for a little over a year.
Forget it, I'm too lazy to care about all that. Tonight, I'm just an old man who just stepped off the operating table.
Let's not talk about lamenting the passing of spring or the coming of autumn, and let's not talk about the general trend or politics.
Take a look at these maids under my command. Do you see any that catch your eye? If so, bring them to your ship.
"After all, they are my juniors. It would be much safer for them to work on your ship than here."
The Whitebeard chuckled and teased, then scooped up a splash of water and tossed it onto his hair.
Behind him, the maids picked up their brushes and tools and gently brushed and washed the Whitebeard, wet hair.
Because Whitebeard's body was so enormous, the maids who were brushing his hair were brushing a wall covered in hair.
Amidst the ever-emerging white bubbles, the Whitebeard lay there, chatting idly with Gawain.
On the other hand, about six days later.
Wano Country, Onigashima.
Inside the grandest brothel in Kabukicho, the white-haired demon Yamato still domineeringly monopolizes the courtesan Komurasaki.
Embracing the courtesan, under the moonlight, Yamato sometimes played the Five-Colored Strings instrument, and sometimes danced the Sambo dance.
Every now and then, amidst Komurasaki's gentle cheers, she would look out the window at the moon.
Since he started frequenting brothels, Kaido has been much less surveillance and control over him.
I wonder if I can use this playboy act to fool that damned Kaido and then find a way to escape to the high seas to find my captain.
In addition...
Hmm.
If I really manage to escape, what will that damned Kaido think?
Will he be angry?
Still heartbroken?
After all, Oden, who was imprisoned, was still his only daughter...
While Yamato was doing all sorts of lewd games with the courtesan like a fool...
On the Onigashima.
Kaido, with a large gourd of sake in his left hand and a dinosaur leg in his right, was happily munching on the sake and meat.
Below him, King held the recently received intelligence and selected some of the more important pieces to read to Kaido.
As he listened, the slightly tipsy Kaido paused for a moment.
"Wait, Jhin, repeat that piece of information you just mentioned."
"Okay, big brother."
Hearing Kaido's greeting, King turned back to the page he had just read and began to read it with a frown.
"Intelligence indicates that just one day after Gawain and his party arrived in the New World, Whitebeard and his sons made contact with Gawain and his party in a stormy sea area."
They gathered together for five whole days, feasting for more than five days, consuming wine worth a full 300 million Beli...
Gawain's flagship Dark Bird Ship, soared into the sky and disappeared from the scouts' sight.
"Oh?"
After hearing this information, Kaido let out a soft scoff.
"That Whitebeard guy really does have some improper relationship with that damned Gawain!"
But I'm used to it. Whitebeard was a powerful hero with a pure and resolute mind.
But as a hero, he was always easily swayed by the words of others, to the point that he would do foolish things that betrayed his class and faction!
That's how that guy got into a conflict with Captain Rocks back then.
Now, I think he's going to have a conflict with his pirate reputation over this kind of thing again, hmph!
However, the one who influenced him back then was at least that damned, but still somewhat deserving, person... the Pirate King!
As for now, the person influencing him is actually a foolish Celestial Dragon!
This old guy is really getting better and better at getting by!
As soon as he finished speaking, Kaido drank all the water in the gourd in one gulp, then smashed the gourd to the ground, shattering the hard gourd into pieces.
After his subordinates brought him a new gourd, he opened the lid, smelled the aroma of the wine, and then snorted unhappily.
"Compared to Whitebeard, I'm more concerned about where that Gawain will go next."
As I predicted, he should land in Dressrosa, since the ruler of that country, that blustering but cowardly Flamingo, has already pledged allegiance to him.
Moreover, even if he were Celestial Dragon, he couldn't possibly abandon the arms and slave trade in Dressrosa.
Even if I stop doing business with his Flamingo, these two deals can still bring in huge amounts of wealth. Gawain is desperately short of money, and the movement of supplies across the ocean has been becoming more and more frequent lately.
So, Dressrosa... um...
Kaido moment, then shook his head.
"Forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore. In any case, I will stay with Linlin and keep his movements within the waters near Dressrosa!"
This is the New World, the world of pirates, and the territory of us Four Emperors!
Even if that idiot Whitebeard believed his nonsense...
The old man and Linlin will not allow him to expand his influence to more places so easily!!!
At this point, Kaido turned to look at the map on the wall not far away. The map was very simple and full of pirate style.
However, on this simplified map, the islands are clearly marked, along with the different territories of the Four Emperors.
Of those, Dressrosa is a particularly brilliant point.
Because the island where Dressrosa is located connects three completely different shipping routes.
One road leads to the Red Line, which is Whitebeard's territory, while the other two connect Charlotte Linlin and Kaido's territories.
There are differences, though. The route from Dressrosa to Charlotte Linlin's territory is very short, and the currents are just right, making it ideal for sailing.
As for the route from Dressrosa directly to Kaido's territory...
This route will take at least two months of continuous sailing to reach the destination!
For two whole months, there was absolutely no opportunity to resupply along the way. Apart from large forces like the Four Emperors, it is very difficult for small forces to undertake this type of voyage.
So...
Looking at the map, Kaido sneered.
"By now, that woman Linlin must be starting to panic."
Compared to Lao Tzu, her territory is right in front of Dressrosa!
Although I am nervous about Gawain's sudden rise to prominence, Linlin is the one who is even more nervous than I am.
Otherwise, that guy wouldn't have thrown Katakuri out for a marriage alliance!
"Yes, brother."
King chimed in, speaking to Kaido from the side.
"It would be one thing if Gawain didn't come to the New World, but now that he's here, Linlin is bound to panic."
No matter who gathers so many powerful men under Gawain's command, he will inevitably launch an attack on the existing forces.
Compared to us, who are quite far from Dressrosa, Gawain's base, Linlin, who is right in the way of Dressrosa, will obviously become their next target.
"Hehe, of course. If we don't attack Linlin, do you think Gawain would bring his men across Linlin's territory to attack us?"
You have to understand, my territory is surrounded by Linlin and Shanks.
Such an enclave is not suitable for Gawain to rule. I'm afraid it won't be long before I receive distress signals from Linlin's children.
By then, I... Hmph!
I really can't just stand by and watch someone die!
Anyway, has Jhin or Jack come back?
Over the next two months, they retrieved all the All-Stars and the Flying Six, while also recalling all armed forces except for the tax collection teams on each island.
If we let Charlotte Linlin be invaded, then I'll be the one standing in front of the Dark Bird Ship next!
Let's fight a good fight for Linlin, and then let Linlin bear all the pressure brought by the Dark Bird Ship alone!
That woman just likes to eat, doesn't she?
This time, I'll make him suffer to his heart's content!!!
As soon as he finished speaking, Kaido, gulped down a large mouthful of wine, then waved for King to leave, before enjoying the feeling of being drunk by himself.
As he drank, Kaido's eyes gradually deepened.
Why...
The ocean is different now than it used to be, it really is different!
In the past, simply shouting "Let's take down the World Government!" would attract countless people to join pirate crews.
And now, humph!
It's getting harder and harder to recruit new talent, and there are even fewer and fewer truly outstanding newcomers!
Will the era of pirates truly end with my generation?
No!
No, no, no!
Absolutely impossible!
I am Kaido, the Kaido who can never be killed!!!
Moreover, even he, who never teams up with others, has now decided to cooperate more deeply with Linlin.
I have no reason to fail!
But...
Even so, I managed to convince myself.
Why do I still feel somewhat uneasy?