In a way, Acier is also a founding member of the Beasts Pirates. Although he has little combat ability himself, he had been engaged in scientific research all along and had achieved considerable success in the field of materials science.
Many of Queen's designs relied heavily on Acier's material improvements. As a founding member, Acier had also witnessed the entire developmental history of the Beasts Pirates.
"It's been nearly thirty years, hasn't it?"
"Just about. Time really flies, huh."
With Nightin's reminder, Acier recalled events from the past. To this day, Nightin had never officially joined the Beasts Pirates. Instead, she worked for them under a contract arrangement. All these years, she had been waiting....waiting for World to make his return.
This was a belief held by the former members of the World Pirates. If there was no news of World, then Nightin would just remain here. But not long ago, she received a message from World's older brother, Byojack: World had broken out of prison.
A large-scale prison break had occurred at Impel Down, and such an event couldn't be concealed. However, the World Government had hidden the exact details, so others were unaware that World had regained his freedom.
It wasn't until World found Byojack that the truth was finally confirmed.
After that, Byojack began notifying the other officers of the World Pirates, and Nightin received the word as well. That's when she started planning her departure.
"Leaving doesn't seem like a good idea at the moment, does it?"
Acier knew that the seas were currently incredibly dangerous. In this chaotic era, the safest zones in the Grand Line were the territories protected by the Emperors of the Sea.
Especially since Onigashima was the very heart of the Beasts Pirates' territory; even the royal palaces of affiliated nations weren't as secure as this place.
"You're not a real pirate. There are some things you just don't understand. If I had met you all first, I would've joined you long ago.
It's just that I met Captain World first."
"I see… then I wish you a safe journey."
After hesitating for quite a while, Acier couldn't think of anything better to say, so he simply left her with that one sentence.
Nightin also sighed, then left the elders' group, planning to use the banquet as an opportunity to inform Kaido and the others about this matter.
At that moment, Kaido was watching the partying pirates. Maria stood beside him, pouring him drinks. Kaido said nothing and simply emptied one jar after another. No one knew what he was thinking.
"Maria, aren't you going to join those youngsters?"
Kaido's drinking time was everyone else's cue to keep their distance. Normally, aside from whoever served his alcohol, no one lingered near Kaido, but Maria was an exception.
"No, Mr. Kaido. I'd rather stay by your side."
"Worororo. Such a willful subordinate, wouldn't you say?"
Kaido wasn't speaking to Maria, but instead to Arceus, who had just arrived.
"I think you as the captain are more willful. Any plans coming up?"
"None. Let's see what those Marines do next. But our next target should be those b*stards in the World Government. How about you?"
"Same as usual. The World Government has probably played most of their cards by now. Besides, there are only three plates left. We've come this far over the years, so there's no need to rush now."
With the two bosses discussing serious matters, Maria quietly slipped away. Decisions about the future of the entire crew wasn't something she could participate in.
On her way out, she intercepted Nightin, signaling her to wait until Kaido and Arceus had finished before bringing up her own issue.
"It seems Tesoro's side has stabilized too. You guessed right, the old ba*tards in the World Government can't resist the temptation."
"How many could resist? That's the power of youth. By the way, do you have any plans for Yamato?"
"Worororo, you're right! I've prepared a big gift for her, one she'll never forget. Don't interfere with this."
Hearing Arceus ask about Yamato's arrangements, Kaido wore a smug expression. Normally, the more pleased Kaido looked, the more likely Yamato was in for trouble.
"What I want to tell you is this: I've planned something special for her, to show her the real world. But… with her personality, she might become determined to beat you up."
"That doesn't matter. If she can actually defeat me, it means she's earned the right to be a king, and then the whole Beasts Pirates will be hers to command. The strong decide the future; the weak can only depend on handouts."
"Since you've planned something, you go first."
"Right, I should also start preparing for my special training. My goal is that mysterious weapon of the World Government."
While everyone else was enjoying the banquet, Arceus and Kaido had already decided the course for the future. After their discussion ended, they met with Nightin, who had come to resign.
She had always been a contract-based worker, not an official member, so Kaido and Arceus didn't make things difficult for her. They straightforwardly accepted her request, settled her wages, and even arranged transportation for her.
The only piece of advice they gave was for her to keep her mouth shut, otherwise, no one would care about past ties.
After that, Arceus's power began to influence Onigashima. Most of the others were too caught up in the festive atmosphere of the banquet to notice anything unusual happening.
"You're being pretty meticulous. Is it the same as that space on Mt. Fuji?"
"Similar, but not the same. If I had the Mind and Spooky Plate, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."
With 15 plates, Arceus was still not at full power, but many of his powers had already returned to his body, including some tricks related to space and creation.
As Arceus's power continued to spread, Yamato's figure gradually became blurry, until she was finally transported to an entirely new place.
At the banquet, Yamato felt a bit dizzy. Carefree as she was, she didn't pay it much attention, assuming she had just drunk too much. But in the blink of an eye—literally, when she closed and opened her eyes—she found herself outside the banquet hall.
"No way… Did I drink so much I started sleepwalking?"
She slapped her own cheeks, still confused about the situation. If it weren't for the fact that it wasn't Kaido's announced time yet, she would have suspected someone had ambushed her.
"Weird… Why is the banquet hall on Onigashima closed?"
Scratching her head, Yamato found things more and more bizarre. Just then, a few pirates walked past.
Seeing the confused Yamato, they first looked pleasantly surprised, then wore a very strange expression, but in the end, they still ran over.
"Young Master Yamato! We finally found you! Lord Kaido is asking you to join the banquet. Please come with us!"
"Yes, Young Master Yamato. Since this is Lord Kaido's request, you really should come with us."
"Why are you speaking so weirdly? Why are you calling me 'Young Master'? I was already planning to head back to the banquet hall. Did Father have something urgent to tell me?"
Chapter 1026 New Trial, Another Onigashima
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