Chapter 164: Giants Visit Wano
"An immortal body?"
King instinctively turned to look at Kaido, shock and doubt plain in those usually sharp, steady eyes.
Could something like this really exist in the world?
If it did, who could possibly stand against the World Government?
But, to Kaido and King's surprise, Kai's expression didn't change at all—no hint of surprise, confusion, or even fear. It was as if he'd known all along.
His calm reminded Kaido of someone from the past.
"Kai, you aren't from the D. clan, are you?"
Back in the day, Rocks was the same. He seemed to know all sorts of ancient secrets the World Government desperately tried to bury.
"Of course not."
Kai flatly denied it, steering the topic back. "So, what happened next? How did that fight end?"
"What happened next?" Kaido's voice dropped low as he drifted back into memory. "That shadow stabbed straight through Rocks with a move called 'Black Spiral Dominion,' turning him into a demon puppet. Once his will was broken, he turned on us and began a massacre."
"And after that?" Kai pressed.
"After that? After that, I took my chance to get the hell out of there!" Kaido suddenly snorted, a hint of irritation and frustration in his voice. It was hard to tell if he was annoyed at the questioning or at his own helplessness back then, forced to run for his life.
Kai froze, not expecting the story to end like that.
But, thinking about it, it made sense. Back then, Kaido had been just another rookie among monsters at God Valley, barely any different from a new recruit just out to sea.
If he hadn't been so eager to show off his newly awakened Azure Dragon Fruit power in front of the captain, he wouldn't have barged into that battle royale at the summit of the world.
So, in the end, even after all that, he'd missed the crucial information.
Kai sighed to himself, realizing he wouldn't get anything more by pushing. He ended the conversation and left the room.
Inside, only Kaido and King remained. Silence stretched between them.
After a long pause, Kaido spoke, his voice tangled and complicated as he watched Kai's retreating back.
"King—do you think that brat Kai could be that legendary Joy Boy?"
Even though he hated to admit it, everything about Kai—the way he drew people together, his boldness, his strange pull with all sorts of races—mirrored the scattered records of that fabled liberator he remembered.
Those four giants on Onigashima who practically worshipped him were proof enough.
Big Mom schemed her whole life for the Giants' approval and failed, but Kai seemed to win them over casually.
King didn't hesitate. As always, he answered with the unwavering faith of a true believer.
"Kaido-san, for me, the only one who can be Joy Boy... is you."
And, silently, with sincerity deeper than words, he added in his heart: It will always be you.
On the grand plaza outside the main tower of Onigashima, Kai found his waiting crewmates—and the four enormous friends from Elbaf.
All eyes were fixed on the center of the plaza, watching a battle unfold.
Rather, it was more of a one-sided stomp than a real fight.
Two towering dinosaurs rampaged through waves of enemy pirates, sending them flying like bowling pins with every strike.
Within minutes, the fighting was over.
"Hahaha! You'll have to train for another century before you can challenge us!" The smaller Pachycephalosaurus let out a crisp, smug laugh.
"Anyone else?!" roared her partner, a massive Spinosaurus with jagged dorsal spines, her victory cry echoing throughout the plaza.
"Amazing!" The giants gave genuine applause.
In their experienced eyes, these two had enough strength to take down any adult Elbaf warrior one-on-one.
"Nice job, Ulti, Page!" Yamato cupped her hands and cheered at the top of her lungs.
"Shut it, Yamato! Only I get to call him 'Page'!" Ulti dispelled her transformation, cheeks puffed in annoyance as she wagged a finger at Yamato's teasing.
"Aw, don't be like that~" Yamato just grinned, unbothered.
Page One, used to his sister's outbursts, simply shook his head and looked over to the plaza's edge, where his eyes immediately lit up.
"Kai-nii! You're back!"
He dispelled his hybrid form and ran straight to Kai, face beaming with excitement.
"Hey! Page! Wait for me!" Ulti, seeing her brother rush off, quickly dashed after.
So young!
The giants couldn't hide their surprise as they watched the siblings transform back. They looked like they were still in their teens.
Are all members of the Beast Pirates this terrifyingly strong?
"You've gotten a lot stronger, Page," Kai said, greeting the boy with an encouraging smile.
"I never slack off, not even for a day!" Page One puffed out his chest, full of pride.
"Good work." Kai gave him a thumbs up, then asked, "And Jack? What's that guy doing right now?"
"Last I saw, Jack was training the fishmen corps on the eastern shore," Page replied, pointing out toward the immigrant district near the coastline.
Kai nodded and exchanged a few words with Ulti as she walked over. Then he turned his attention to his four giant friends.
"How are you all feeling? Bodies holding up well?"
"Gababababa! Not a single problem now!" Brogy thumped his chest, his booming laugh rumbling through the air.
"Kyeh keh keh keh! And that's thanks to you, Kai." Dorry lowered his head, his mighty eyes filled with heartfelt gratitude. "If not for you, we'd have rotted away in Impel Down."
Kashii and Oimo bowed too, using the Giants' most solemn greeting. "We can't thank you enough, Kai."
Who knew how much longer they would have been strung along by the World Government without him?
"No need for thanks like that." Kai waved it off, his smile open and genuine. "We're friends, aren't we? Friends help each other out—that's how it's supposed to be."
"That's right! We're friends!" All four giants repeated, voices ringing together.
If the man who saved their lives wasn't their friend, then who could be?
And not just any friend—he was someone they could trust with their lives.
Gratitude voiced, Dorry straightened and, with proper gravity, made his invitation. "Kai, we'd like to officially invite you to visit Elbaf!"
"Yeah! Elbaf's the best country in the world! Just thinking about their fire-breathing liquor makes my mouth water!" Brogy bellowed.
Kashii and Oimo nodded their agreement, grinning from ear to ear.
"Yes, please! That's a dream trip!" Yamato was instantly ecstatic at the chance, nearly jumping for joy with arm raised sky-high.
The rest of the crew brightened, eyes shining with the same excited longing. Who could resist an adventure to the land of the giants?
Would Kai refuse?
Of course not.
In fact, that was exactly what all his careful groundwork had been leading up to.
"Thank you for the generous invitation." Kai flashed a brilliant smile and nodded graciously. "I'd be delighted to visit Elbaf."
"Awesome!" Everyone cheered around him.
"But first," Kai went on, turning to the giants, "you've come all the way to Wano—why not stay for a few days? Let me show you the unique beauty of this country as thanks."
The giants, true to their adventurous hearts, could find no reason to refuse. It was in their blood; otherwise, they never would have taken to the seas and become warriors of legend.
At that moment, Dorry seemed to remember something and pointed a meaty finger at the towering figures farther away.
"Oh, right, Kai—what's the story with those big guys over there?"
At first, when they'd arrived on Onigashima, they'd thought the hulking Brutes were just a new generation of Elbaf pirates. But after trying to talk to them, they quickly realized these "giants" could barely communicate and had... well, the smarts of children.
"Oh, those?" Kai followed Dorry's gesture, voice calm. "They're ancient giant soldiers artificially created by the World Government, trying to harness their giant strength. All failed experiments—defective intelligence. The Government decided they were useless and dumped them off on the Beast Pirates as scrap."
"World Government again!" The giants' faces darkened at once, rage swirling in their massive eyes.
No wonder Elbaf kept its distance from the World Government. Those arrogant rulers would stoop to any cruelty for more power—even blaspheming against life itself.
Kai had scored yet another point against them, but it didn't feel much like an accomplishment. Smearing the World Government was too easy—all you had to do was tell the truth about what they had done.
Over the next several days, Kai acted as a personal guide, leading his four giant friends on a tour across Wano.
The vibrant, living land entranced the visitors from Elbaf.
Thriving towns, steaming factories, vast fields packed with healthy crops—sights that seemed ordinary here but were rare wonders at sea.
Too many rulers in this world chase pleasure and neglect their people.
When the giants learned that all this prosperity was the result of Kai's leadership, they praised him sincerely.
"Kai, you've managed this place really well!"
Though the giants weren't exactly educated, it was clear to them that the people of Wano—their rosy cheeks, their busy but lively pace—were living in comfort and peace.
A thought quietly took root: maybe Elbaf could learn a thing or two from here?
Elbaf boasted of being the world's greatest nation, but in truth, life there was hardly luxurious. They never starved, but good things from the wider world were rare.
The rise of the Giant Warrior Pirates was as much about satisfying the giants' itch for adventure as it was about preventing their land from falling hopelessly behind the times.
In the Flower Capital, the locals barely even glanced at the giants—they were used to the Brutes and just hoped these newcomers wouldn't break anything.
It was Kai and Yamato who set the street ablaze with excitement.
"Kai-sama! Try some of my fresh flatcakes!"
"Lord Shogun! Please try my new wagashi—it's my proudest creation!"
Laughter and greetings poured in from every side. In the throng, the voices of fishmen and merfolk mingled freely.
Once uncomfortable in this new land, they'd grown used to shopping and playing where they wished.
Kai grinned at them. "How's life here treating you?"
"Perfect, all thanks to you!" A hulking blue fishman flashed his sharp teeth in a happy grin. "We have our own homes now, and I landed a steady, well-paying job at Bladeport!"
A graceful mermaid woman swayed her hips, happiness shining in her eyes. "I used to dream about sun and sea breeze—all this, and I don't have to live in fear of slavers anymore."
"Kai-sama, when are you going back to Fish-Man Island?" another young fishman asked eagerly. "I want to bring my uncle's family too—this place is amazing!"
They replied all at once, faces bright with sincere gratitude.
At first, there were worries, of course—was Kai just going to sell them into slavery?
But as time went on, all that was left was thankfulness. Lord Kai truly wanted them to live good, free lives.
The best part was how little prejudice or malice they faced from the people of Wano—a far cry from the cruelty common elsewhere.
(Kai had ordered: anyone caught discriminating against fishmen or merfolk on purpose would be taken away for labor re-education without soup or rice. In truth, the closed-off Wano people didn't have much prejudice—they were more curious than anything.)
Kai nodded in satisfaction. "Don't worry, more will come. The second wave of Fish-Man Island settlers will arrive soon—just be patient."
The giants, watching these interactions, were impressed. "Hey, you even have so many ordinary fishmen and merfolk living here?"
They'd thought the Beast Pirates only brought in a fierce fishman unit. But if regular folks could live here, too? That was different.
Most pirate crews didn't take in the powerless.
Kai just smiled. "To me, fishmen, giants, minks, long-limbs—anyone who looks different from humans—are all just part of civilization. We may look different, but in the end, our hearts are the same."
"Incredible thinking," the giants echoed, their voices moved.
If they didn't know for sure that Kai was nothing like the legendary Liberator, they'd almost suspect he was the man himself.
Maybe Elbaf should look to Kai for advice on its future.
That thought, once planted, began to grow like wild grass.