Shoreline, stage.
"Ulti! Ulti!"
Gurd and his crew shouted slogans with fiery enthusiasm.
Ulti was his core support base, and he needed to maintain it well. Besides, as the president of Ulti's fan club, he had to take care of his crew's emotions.
Having once been Ulti's deputy, he knew her little quirks all too well. That girl loved nothing more than showing off—aside from tormenting her little brother.
Heh. Easy to handle.
"Gurd-chan!!!"
Ulti leaned over the ship's railing, her face flushed with excitement as she waved vigorously at Gurd. She even dragged her brother, who was trying to slip away, back beside her.
"Pagey, Pagey! Look!"
"Gurd-chan is welcoming us!"
"Ahhh, I'm so embarrassed!"
Under the scrutinizing gazes from all directions, Page One's face burned red with humiliation. He wished he could dig a hole and bury himself right then and there.
This was utterly mortifying.
As a high-ranking officer, he was supposed to be reserved and taciturn—that was how one looked cool and carried the demeanor of a true powerhouse.
If he got dragged into this nonsense, how was he supposed to maintain his cool image in front of outsiders?!
On the deck of a nearby pirate ship...
A man in a military cap stood with Who's Who, bottle in hand, watching Gurd and his group on the shore with instinctive disgust.
"Who's that guy?"
"Sasaki, that's Gurd!"
Who's Who smirked around his cigarette.
"That's him?"
Sasaki was taken aback.
A few months ago, his territory had been invaded by the Beasts.
After his defeat, he had been deeply impressed by Kaido's overwhelming strength and led his entire Triceratops Pirates crew to join the Beasts. Since then, he had distinguished himself in subsequent expeditions and risen to become one of the Flying Six.
During this time, the name he had heard most often was Gurd's. He had long wanted to see the man for himself—but not like this.
Sasaki's eyes filled with disdain.
"He doesn't look like much."
"Don't underestimate him."
Who's Who chuckled darkly. "That guy is highly favored by Kaido. His strength might even surpass yours or mine!"
"Then I'll have to see for myself!"
Sasaki snorted and took a deep swig of alcohol.
He revered strength and despised weakness. If Gurd truly had power, he wouldn't mind sharing a drink with him.
Perfect timing, too—the Fire Festival was about to begin.
At the center of the fleet, the flagship...
"Muhahaha, that brat's really something."
Queen glared at the stage, both displeased and a little jealous. As the Beasts Pirates' most popular singing-and-dancing idol, he should have been the one standing on that stage.
Damn it, that guy stole his spotlight!
And shouldn't he have greeted Kaido first? Sure, Kaido wouldn't care about such formalities, but the order of precedence still mattered.
Was he looking down on them?
Queen sneaked a glance at Kaido, only to see the man not just unbothered but actually amused. Immediately shifting targets, he sidled up to his younger brother Jack.
"Jack, don't you think Gurd's acting way too arrogant?"
"Don't care."
Jack stood like an iron tower, not even furrowing his brow.
Hopelessly straightforward.
"..."
Queen's face twisted in frustration.
Stupid little brother Jack, can't you read between the lines?!
If Jack was clueless, King should at least understand.
Queen shuffled over to King's side.
"Trash King, don't you think Gurd's completely disregarding us senior executives? Isn't that going too far?"
"Idiot."
King replied flatly.
Queen froze, then immediately flew into a rage.
"Are you looking for trouble, King?!"
"..."
King didn't respond, merely raising his hand to point toward the shore.
Queen tilted his head to look, a string of question marks popping up above his head.
"What do you mean?"
"This is exactly why I call you an idiot."
King said coldly: "Haven't you noticed the changes happening around here?"
"Changes?"
Queen's tiny eyes widened.
What changes?
All he saw was some bad guy threatening his status as the Singing and Dancing Prince!
King shook his head in exasperation and turned to Kaido.
"Big Brother Kaido, you've noticed it, right?"
"Wororororo, quite significant changes indeed!"
Kaido grinned, his eyes blazing like torches.
They were evil Pirates who had brought deep fear and suffering to this country, yet now there were crowds of commoners coming to welcome them.
Something so bizarre—how could he not sense it?
Mobilizing so many commoners wasn't easy. If it were Orochi putting on a show, he could understand, but Orochi was nowhere in sight. This scene was clearly Gurd's doing.
How did he manage it?
And then there were the fields on both shores.
Kaido stood up, gazing deep into Ebisu Town. A golden ocean stretched before his eyes, so vast he couldn't even see the end of it.
It was a rice field ready for harvest!
"I remember that used to be wasteland."
"Huh?"
Queen stared at the golden rice fields and finally noticed the anomaly. His tiny eyeballs shattered his glasses in shock, popping right out of their sockets.
"Whaaat?!!!"
What the hell?!
When they left Wano Country, this place had been barren wilderness—no rice fields, not even a single weed.
And it had only been half a year!
Judging by the growth of the rice, it would be ready for harvest before the Fire Festival, meaning these fields had been tended for months at least.
What was Orochi doing? Slacking off?
Queen's brain short-circuited.
"Wororororo, seems like that brat Gurd really prepared some surprises for us! Even I'm getting excited!"
Kaido laughed heartily, his interest thoroughly piqued.
Whatever had happened, they'd find out once they reached Oni Island.
The Beasts fleet advanced at full speed, soon arriving at Oni Island.
Ulti, tears glistening like pearls, crouched on the ship's railing before launching herself at Gurd like a cannonball.
"Gur-chan!"
"Huh?"
Gurd had just stepped ashore when he heard Ulti's call. He grinned, ready to welcome her affectionate embrace—but before he could react, the sharp-horned girl's head slammed violently into his chest.
"Oof!"
Gurd's body bent backward, nearly vomiting up last night's dinner, before he was sent flying.
"BOOM!!!"
The city wall exploded, dust billowing into the sky!
"What's happening, an artillery strike?"
The Pirates looked over in shock, thinking they were under attack.
As the dust settled, Ulti was seen straddling Gurd, snot and tears streaming down her face in a pitiful display.
"Waaah, Gur-chan!"
"I'm so touched!"
"I love you so much, waaah!"
Plop, plop.
Tears dripped onto Gurd's chest.
"G-get off first!"
Gurd lifted Ulti aside, clutching his stomach as he struggled to stand. Seeing the two red marks now imprinted on his chest, he sucked in a sharp breath.
If not for his sturdy physique, those would've been two bloody holes. This wasn't an affectionate embrace—it was attempted murder of her beloved!
But seeing Ulti's tear-streaked face and those gorgeous long legs, he couldn't bring himself to scold her.
Sigh... he'd brought this upon himself.
Page One walked over and looked at Gurd's disheveled state, unable to help but show a sympathetic gaze that also carried a hint of secret satisfaction.
Hahahaha!
Do you know
how he's been these past days?
Exactly like this!
Page One extended his fist.
"Big Brother Gurd!"
"Little Page."
Gurd raised the corner of his mouth and bumped fists with Page One, both tacitly ignoring Ulti standing nearby.
"Let's go, Kaido is waiting for us!"