Inside the wreckage of Franky House, Kaido's heavy gaze fell upon Kalifa, and her face turned deathly pale. Unlike Blueno, who was a lone operative and could betray the World Government with fewer consequences, Kalifa's entire life was tied to it. Her father and sister were both high-ranking members of Cipher Pol.
If she had simply been forced to join the Beasts Pirates, she could have later claimed it was under duress, creating a plausible excuse to protect herself and her family. But by speaking those treasonous words against the Celestial Dragons—and having it recorded—she was burning every bridge. There would be no retreat, no explanation, no forgiveness. She would be branded a traitor for life, and her family would suffer for it.
Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, a cunning, cruel smile spread across Kaido's face. "What's this? Are you unwilling?"
The quiet menace in his voice sent a tremor of pure fear through Kalifa. She knew she had no choice. "No... Lord Kaido, I... I am also willing," she stammered.
With that, she clenched her jaw, squeezed her eyes shut, and, under the unblinking gaze of the Den Den Mushi, spoke the words that sealed her fate. Only then did Kaido nod in satisfaction, putting away the recording snail. He glanced at the unconscious Blueno lying on the floor.
"Later, you two will come up with an excuse for all this," he commanded. "No one is to know that I was ever here. Understood?"
Kalifa gritted her teeth and nodded, her voice respectful but strained. "Understood, Lord Kaido. May we leave now?" She didn't want to spend another second in this place, in the presence of this monster. Damn it all! If it weren't for that bastard Lucci ordering them here, she wouldn't be in this nightmare.
Just as she prepared to drag Blueno away, Kaido beckoned to her with a single finger. "What's the rush?"
A feeling of dread washed over her. Stunned and terrified, she didn't dare to disobey. She walked toward him, her legs trembling with every step. With each footfall, she felt she was walking closer to the abyss, her own executioner waiting patiently. She finally stood before him, awaiting the inevitable blow that would end her life.
Instead of striking her down, Kaido's massive hand shot out and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her effortlessly into the air. She choked, her feet dangling uselessly above the ground as his grip tightened, not enough to kill, but enough to show how easily he could. He brought her face close to his, his predatory eyes staring directly into hers.
"Let me be clear," he growled, his voice a low whisper that was more terrifying than any shout. "From this moment on, you belong to me. Your life, your skills, everything. If you even think about betraying me, I won't just kill you. I will find your sister. I will find your father. And I will make them pay for your failure. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"
Tears of terror streamed down Kalifa's face. He knew about her family. This wasn't just a random act of a brutish Emperor; it was a calculated move. He had taken her prisoner not just physically, but completely. She managed a choked, desperate nod.
Satisfied, Kaido tossed her aside like a broken doll. She landed in a heap on the floor, gasping for air and clutching her bruised neck. The message was clear. She was no longer a CP9 agent. She was Kaido's property.
The news of the upcoming public execution on Onigashima spread through the Land of Wano like a disease. The announcement that Kozuki Hiyori and Denjiro were to be killed by Orochi and Kaido stirred the embers of rebellion that had been dormant for twenty years. In the shadows, the countless samurai still loyal to the memory of Oden began to move.
That night, in a small, well-lit house in the Kuri region, Ashura Doji stared at the execution order in his hand. The paper included drawings of Hiyori and Denjiro. As one of Oden's Nine Red Scabbards, his face was a mask of cold fury, and a suffocating aura of killing intent filled the room. After a long, tense silence, he seemed to make a decision, slamming his fist on the table.
"Someone!" he yelled.
A subordinate from his group, the Touyama Thieves, immediately entered. "Boss, what is it?"
"Contact the Beasts Pirates," Ashura ordered, his voice grim. "Tell them the Touyama Thieves are willing to accept their invitation. We will join them."
The sudden command made the subordinate's face drain of color. Joining the very men they hated? But seeing the unyielding look on his boss's face, he could only nod. As he was about to leave, Ashura spoke again. "Tell everyone in the group: if anyone is unwilling to follow this path, they are free to leave now. I will not hold it against them."
The subordinate was stunned, but his gaze fell to the pictures on the table. A flicker of understanding crossed his face. This wasn't a surrender; it was a strategy. "Understood, boss," he said, his voice now filled with resolve. "I'll make it clear to everyone."
"Good. Now go."
Just as the man left, Ashura sensed another presence. He looked up sharply. "Who's there?"
A dark figure dropped from the rafters, kneeling respectfully before him. "It has been a long time, Lord Shutenmaru."
Ashura's eyes widened in recognition. "You are... Shinobu!"
At the same time, in the Udon region of Wano, the prisoners in the quarry were finally allowed to rest after a day of back-breaking labor. While the starving prisoners huddled in the dark, the Beasts Pirates guards feasted, their drunken laughter echoing through the night.
"Hey, did you hear the big news?" one guard slurred.
"Of course! Who hasn't?" another replied. "I still can't believe it. The great beauty Komurasaki is actually Oden's daughter, Kozuki Hiyori! And that bastard Kyoshiro we all hated was Denjiro of the Nine Red Scabbards the whole time!"
"Yeah, I thought they were all dead. Guess they survived by hiding under new names."
"Makes you think, doesn't it? The legends always said no one ever found the bodies of the Scabbards in the fire twenty years ago. Maybe they're all still alive."
"Don't say scary stuff like that!"
"What's so scary? Even if Oden himself came back to life, so what? Don't forget who our boss is."
"True! With Lord Kaido here, what's a ghost like Oden going to do?"
"It's just a damn shame..."
"A shame about what?"
"Komurasaki! A woman that beautiful... dying like that is a real waste."
"Yeah, you're right about that! Hahaha!"
Inside one of the dark cells, most of the prisoners were asleep, but a few remained awake, listening. At their center sat a hunched, elderly man. The samurai around him clenched their fists, their faces etched with humiliation. The old man was Hyogoro of the Flower, once the most respected yakuza boss in all of Wano. For eighteen years, prison life had eroded their will to fight. But today, the news that Oden's daughter and one of his retainers were to be executed had reignited the fire in their hearts. But what could they, a handful of broken prisoners, possibly do?
Just then, a shadowy figure appeared at the bars of their cell, speaking in a voice that was both surprising and painfully familiar.
"It's been a long time, Hyogoro."
The old man's eyes shot open, wide with disbelief. He looked toward the entrance, where the moonlight illuminated the visitor's face.
"Lord Yasuie..." he whispered, his voice trembling.