Seastone

Since Rock had struck money off the list with a single sentence, Sengoku let the matter drop.

Holding his teacup, Sengoku seemed to remember something. "Oh, right, Rock."

"What are you planning to do with Kaido?"

Rock paused, as though he had just looked up from the calculations running through his head, then smiled.

"The doctor has a research project that needs his cooperation."

"I'm pretty interested in it."

Then he changed the subject.

"As for Kaido himself—"

Rock popped the last rice cracker into his mouth, chewed twice, and spoke lightly.

"I plan to let him go once we're done with him."

The words hung in the air.

The office seemed to freeze.

Sengoku: "..."

Garp: "...Huh?"

Even Garp stopped chewing his rice cracker and stared at Rock in confusion.

"What did you say?"

"Let him go??"

Sengoku's brows drew together at once—not in anger, but in sheer shock.

"You brat..."

"Do you know what you're saying?"

Rock saw their almost identical reactions and smiled even more easily.

"Don't worry."

"With his abilities, escaping wouldn't be that hard anyway."

"Besides—"

He looked up, his gaze calm.

"I know where he'll go next. What he does there won't affect ordinary civilians."

There was one more thing he kept to himself.

Whether it affects the people of Wano Country is another matter.

Only then did Sengoku and Garp slowly calm down.

They exchanged a glance, and neither pressed him further.

They knew Rock never said things like this on a whim.

Garp scratched his head and muttered, "...Put it that way, and I get it."

Sengoku was silent for a few seconds before sighing. "As long as you know what you're doing."

"Something like this..."

He glanced at Rock and shook his head with a rueful smile.

"You're the only one