After finishing his discussion with Vegapunk, Roy turned and walked out of the office toward the intelligence room.
In the corridor, you could hear Bullet's loud voice and Savi's argument coming from the direction of the intelligence room, as well as the crackling sound of electricity crackling from Tesoro's fingertips as he occasionally chimed in.
These guys are really always looking for Devil Fruit that suits them.
Roy pushed open the door; it was as noisy as a market inside.
"Everyone, put down what you're doing."
Roy's voice wasn't loud, but the intelligence room fell silent instantly.
"I have a mission."
The next morning, the conference room at Hachinosu's headquarters was packed with people.
Bullet leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Hawk Eyes sat in the corner with his eyes closed, resting. Black Blade Yoru leaned against the armrest of his chair.
Tesoro twirled a gold coin between his fingers, golden arcs of electricity occasionally flickering across it.
Crocodile puffed on a cigar, while Moria's shadow writhed restlessly in the corner.
Savi, Kyros, Kuma, Jesus Burgess, and others—almost all the core members were present.
Roy stood at the head of the long table, with a simple topographical map of Egghead hanging on the wall behind him.
That was sent by Vegapunk overnight, marking the location of every building, every passage, and every watchtower on the island.
" Egghead."
Roy tapped the center of the map with his finger.
"Approximately fifty kilometers in diameter, the experimental base of the World Government's Science Defense Division."
On the surface it is a research institution, but in reality it is Vegapunk's advanced research institute.
More than a hundred elite CP troops are stationed on the island, commanded by Marine Admiral Kizaru.
Bullet chuckled upon hearing this, " Kizaru? Leave that old bastard to me!"
Your opponent is not Kizaru.
Roy looked at Tesoro,
" Tesoro, Kizaru is yours."
The speed of the Glint-Glint Fruit is too fast; only your lightning among us can keep up with its pace.
You don't need to beat him, just keep him occupied and prevent him from interfering with the others' actions.
Tesoro flicked the gold coin into the air, and a golden arc of electricity precisely struck it back into his palm:
"Understood. I'd also like to try out my new Devil Fruit ability; I'll definitely give Kizaru a big surprise."
" Bullet, you and Jhin are responsible for clearing the eastern camp."
All the CP members were stationed there, about eighty people in total.
"Make a lot of noise, scare them out of their wits."
Bullet grinned. "Just what I'm looking for."
" Hawk Eyes and Katakuri blockaded the western port."
There are about six warships there; don't let any of them go out to report.
Hawk Eyes opened his eyes and nodded.
Kyros and the Kuma guarded the outer sea area.
If someone tries to escape by diving, deal with them immediately.
"Clear."
Kyros responded calmly. The Kuma nodded silently.
"I'll take the lead and coordinate. I'll go wherever support is needed."
As soon as Roy finished speaking, the conference room door was pushed open.
Stella stood in the doorway, her expression a mix of helplessness and acceptance.
" Roy, Kaido's fleet has arrived."
He has already reached the shore.
Everyone in the conference room turned to look at Roy.
Roy wasn't surprised at all— Kaido had already shown considerable patience by waiting until today.
"Let him come directly to the conference room."
Just as Stella was about to turn around, a series of deafening footsteps and boisterous laughter echoed down the corridor.
"Hehehehe-- Roy! I'm here! What about what you said last time?!"
Kaido's massive body, nearly seven meters tall, squeezed into the doorway of the conference room, with Hassaikai on his shoulder, his entire body reeking of alcohol.
He was followed by a large group of people—King, Queen, Jack of the All-Stars, all the members of the Flying Six, as well as Katakuri, Oven, and other core members of the remnants of Big Mom.
A large group of people poured in, and the once spacious conference room instantly became extremely crowded.
Katakuri walked at the very back, his scarf covering half his face, revealing only a pair of calm, almost indifferent eyes.
This was his first time at Hachinosu, and his gaze subtly swept over everyone in the conference room.
Bullet, Hawk Eyes, Tesoro, Crocodile —his pupils contracted slightly with each name he scanned.
The aura of each of these people is no less than that of Governor Kaido.
"You've arrived quickly." Roy looked at Kaido with a half-smile.
Kaido slammed the Hassaikai into the ground, creating a small crater.
"Nonsense! If you say something will excite me, why wouldn't I come!"
To make this trip, I even ended the banquet early!
Bullet stood up from the wall, crossed his arms, and grinned at Kaido:
Kaido, can you please keep your voice down?
This building is newly built; please don't let it collapse.
Kaido's eyes lit up when he saw Bullet, and he strode over and slapped Bullet on the shoulder.
The force of that palm strike was enough to shatter a rock, but Bullet remained unmoved, while Kaido's palm was slightly numb from the recoil.
Bullet!
Why haven't you come to Wano Country to fight me these past few years?!
The arena I saved for you is practically overgrown with weeds!
"Hit you?"
Bullet scoffed.
"You might not be able to beat me now."
The two stared at each other, and faint, dark red arcs of electricity flickered in the air.
The temperature in the conference room dropped several degrees, and several of the less capable cadres unconsciously took a half step back.
"Alright, there will be plenty of opportunities to fight later."
Roy clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention back.
" Kaido, didn't you want to know what's been going on on Hachinosu lately?"
"Let's go to the training ground first; I'll show you something."
The secret training ground on the back mountain of Hachinosu was deliberately cleared out today.
Bar used the Island-Island Fruit to temporarily double the size of the training ground, reinforced the ground with three layers of Barrier-Barrier Fruit, and erected several semi-transparent protective walls along the edges.
As Roy led Kaido and his group into the training ground, Bullet had already eagerly walked to the center of the field.
" Kaido, haven't you been wanting to know what happened on Hachinosu recently?"
Roy stood at the edge of the training field, hands in his pockets, speaking casually.
"Watch closely."
He raised his right hand, activating the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit.
Three hearts beat simultaneously within the body, their triple heartbeats echoing across the training ground like war drums.
Kaido's eyes suddenly widened—
He could clearly feel Roy's mental energy split into three parts in that instant, each operating independently yet forming a unified whole.
The first strand of mental energy erected a Telekinesis: Barrier in front of Roy, the semi-transparent screen gleaming faintly blue in the sunlight.
The second portion of mental energy created a gravity field in the center of the training ground, causing the ground to creak and crack, and fine cracks to appear in the reinforced rock layers.
The third portion of spiritual energy transformed into an invisible spike, probing slightly in Kaido's direction.
In that brief moment of contact, Kaido felt as if he had been pricked by a needle in his temple.
"Mental energy splitting?"
Kaido's voice was full of disbelief.
"Wait—this is the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit?!"
Roy did not answer, withdrew the power of the Soul-Soul Fruit, and then a thick cloud of black mist surged from his right hand.
Dark-Dark Fruit.
The black mist spun rapidly in his palm, forming a dark vortex the size of a fist.
The air around the vortex was being frantically pulled in; even Kaido, standing more than ten meters away, could feel the terrifying suction force.
It wasn't aimed at his body, but at the Devil Fruit power within him.
Kaido's expression changed for the first time.
" The Dark-Dark Fruit? Blackbeard's ability?"
"Right."