New World, a certain sea.
The Red Hair Pirates' flagship, the Red Force.
A banquet was underway aboard the ship. As always, Shanks held a bottle of liquor and drank merrily with his crew.
"Captain! Captain! Look at this!"
Usopp waved a newspaper as he ran over, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Oh? What has you so excited, Usopp?"
Shanks grinned and took the newspaper.
When his gaze fell upon the words "Demon Child Lynn, bounty of one billion," the smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a hint of surprise.
"A baby worth one billion Beli?"
He rubbed his chin, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"Kaido actually had something like this hidden away?"
Lucky Roux gnawed on a chicken leg and mumbled, "That brat... sounds even scarier than Kaido!"
Benn Beckman puffed on his cigar and analyzed the matter calmly.
"A baby important enough for Marine Headquarters to place a bounty of one billion on him... he is definitely no ordinary child."
"His appearance could very well shatter the current balance of the New World."
Shanks nodded, a thoughtful look flashing through his eyes.
"Yeah... these seas are getting more turbulent by the day."
He set down the newspaper, picked up his bottle, and took another swig.
"A baby with that much of a threat... this era really is about to run wild."
He looked at Benn Beckman.
"Looks like we need to speed things up."
"That child's existence has only strengthened my resolve."
Shanks's gaze sharpened.
"Benn, how is the letter to old man Whitebeard coming along?"
"We need to meet him as soon as possible."
"The appearance of this 'Demon Child' is only the beginning."
"After this, there may be even more shocking changes upon these seas."
Benn Beckman nodded, his expression grave.
"Understood, Captain. I'll arrange for Rockstar to deliver it tomorrow."
"One billion! One billion Beli, wororororo!!!"
"My son, Kaido's son, crushed the whole world even with his very first bounty!!"
"Ha ha ha ha ha..."
Kaido's rough, thunderous voice exploded beside his ear.
"A bounty... of one billion?!"
Lynn opened his eyes and immediately saw Kaido, massive as a small mountain, beside him, waving a bounty poster in his hand.
It bore his portrait, along with that dazzling string of numbers... a genuine one billion Beli!
"Wororororo! He's awake! The brat's awake!"
The moment Kaido noticed Lynn had awakened, his enormous dragon face nearly pressed against him. His bell-like eyes brimmed with undisguised excitement and pride, and his hot breath almost sprayed across Lynn's face.
"Young Master Lynn!"
"Young Master is awake!"
Around them, King, Queen, Jack, along with Who's-Who, Black Maria, and the other Tobi Roppo, all crowded over. Every face was filled with barely contained fervor and awe.
The way they looked at Lynn was no longer the way they looked at a baby in need of protection, but at a true future overlord destined to stir the seas!
"How are you feeling, brat?"
Kaido grinned broadly. His fan-sized hand carefully reached out to touch Lynn, though his movements seemed somewhat clumsy, as though he feared accidentally hurting his precious adopted son.
Lynn blinked his large, clear black-and-white eyes, and his tiny body shifted.
He still remembered forcing himself to charge at the Eighth Gate, only to fail and have everything go black before he completely lost consciousness.
[ Ding! The host has awakened. Bodily functions have basically recovered. ] [ New missions have now been added: ] [ 1. Open and use the Eight Gates' Eighth Gate: Gate of Death. Mission reward: one random ability from the myriad worlds. ] [ 2. Intercept Rockstar's letter. Mission reward: Massive Stamina Cap. ] [ 3. Before the age of three (current age: one year and three months), defeat head-on an opponent with strength at the Shichibukai level or above. Mission reward: one random ability from the myriad worlds. ]
The system's cold notification sounded in his mind right on cue.
Looking at the missions that had appeared, Lynn's tiny brows furrowed slightly.
Intercept Rockstar's letter?
Wasn't that the letter the Red Hair Pirates were sending to Whitebeard?
To carry out this mission, he would very likely have to come into direct or indirect contact with two Four Emperors, Whitebeard and Red-Haired Shanks!
This was no joke!
Then there was defeating someone at the Shichibukai level before he turned three...
He was only a little over a year old. Although the Eight Gates allowed him to unleash astonishing power, which of the Shichibukai was not a battle-hardened veteran with vast experience?
Still.
There was an enormous gap in strength among the Shichibukai.
He could pick some weaker targets.
But if he did that.
Wouldn't that mean offending the World Government behind the Shichibukai again?
With the previous mission, he had already thoroughly offended the Marines.
That was how he ended up with a bounty of one billion Beli on his head.
If it were not for the protection of the Beasts Pirates and Kaido's backing, he probably would not even have survived long enough to wake up!
And now the next two missions wanted him to keep offending two Four Emperors and the World Government?
Was the system sick of seeing him live too long and trying to send him to the afterlife early?
"Brat, Sasaki was bragging to me, saying you used some move called the 'Gate of Opening,' and that blood-red steam started pouring out of you afterward?"
Kaido's booming voice interrupted Lynn's thoughts. He stared at Lynn with blazing eyes, filled with anticipation. "Show it to me again! I want to see with my own eyes what kind of power that is!"
"Worororo, Governor Kaido, Young Master Lynn only just woke up. His body probably hasn't fully recovered yet, has it?"
Queen cut in from the side with a sly grin. His fat face squeezed into a flattering smile, but his eyes were also full of curiosity and desire he could not suppress.
"That's right, Governor Kaido. That level of power must have taken a great deal out of Young Master Lynn. It would be better to let him rest more."
Even King spoke up, which was rare. There was a trace of concern in his voice, but his flame-filled eyes remained fixed tightly on Lynn, clearly wanting to see it for himself as well.
They had all heard Sasaki's nearly mythical description: Conqueror's Haki clearing the field, punches that sent vice admirals flying, and crimson steam.
But hearsay could never compare to witnessing it firsthand.
Especially the devastating "Eighth Gate" Sasaki had described. Just hearing about it made their blood boil and their hearts race.
Lynn looked at Kaido's eager expression, as though Kaido wished he could make him perform right now, then swept his gaze over the yearning looks in the eyes of the Beasts Pirates' officers around him.
He wanted to try again too.
Although forcing his way into the Eighth Gate earlier had failed and severely overdrawn his body, the system's third old mission, "Limit Break"—open and use the Eight Gates' Eighth Gate: Gate of Death—offered another chance to draw a new ability from the myriad worlds.
He desperately wanted that reward.
If he could obtain a new ability this time, no matter what it was, it would be an enormous boost to his strength!
With that thought, Lynn nodded solemnly.
His tiny body sat upright atop the cushion Kaido had specially prepared for him, padded with the softest fur of giant beasts.
"Yiyaya! (I'll give it a try!)"
"Oh?"
Kaido's eyes instantly lit up. His fan-sized hands rubbed together excitedly, producing a series of crackling pops from his knuckles.
"Is it happening? Brats, open your damn eyes and watch carefully! This is Kaido's son!"
The Beasts Pirates' officers, including the All-Stars, all held their breath and fixed their burning gazes on the tiny figure in the center, afraid of missing even the slightest detail.
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