On the Grand Line, in the city of Water 7, Gao Tianyuan lay on a large bed inside Franky House. He let out a sigh as he listened to the voice coming through the Den Den Mushi.
"Sounds like things are getting lively over there," he grunted into the receiver.
King's voice crackled back, filled with excitement. "Yes, Big Brother! I never expected so many of Oden's followers to still be hiding in Wano. This is our chance to finally wipe them out for good. After this, Wano will truly belong to the Beasts Pirates."
"Hmm, well done," Kaido said, his tone a deep, rumbling sound. "But don't you dare underestimate those samurai."
He paused, a strategic thought forming in his mind. This was about more than just eliminating Oden's loyalists. It was a perfect opportunity to test the true strength of the Beasts Pirates, to see who was strong and who was just dead weight that needed to be cut loose. There were certain internal problems that needed to be brought to light, and a little chaos was the best way to do it.
"I trust you to handle Onigashima while I'm away," he continued. "Oh, and there's one more thing… I remember Mock Town, over in the first half of the Grand Line, is Doflamingo's territory, isn't it?"
"It seems so, Big Brother," King confirmed.
"Good. Tell Doflamingo to go to Mock Town and wait for me there. I want to see him," Kaido commanded. "Let him know I'll be there soon."
"Understood, Big Brother Kaido! I'll notify Doflamingo right away."
"Good. Then Onigashima is in your hands."
With that, Kaido ended the call. The Den Den Mushi fell silent. He then glanced down at Kalifa, who was lying on his chest with tear-streaked cheeks and tangled golden hair. She looked up at him, her expression a mix of pleading and terror.
"Lord Kaido," she pleaded, her voice trembling with exhaustion. "I can't… please, just let me rest."
Kaido let out a low, humorless chuckle. "Don't worry. I'm a little sad to leave, but I don't have time to waste here. Clean yourself up and get your things in order. I'll contact you when I need you." He stood and began to dress, his massive frame casting a dark shadow over her. "Don't disappoint me."
He left without another word. As his figure disappeared into the pre-dawn darkness, Kalifa clutched her stomach, a pale expression on her face. The pain in her body was nothing compared to the cold dread that filled her. She had to get everything ready, or she would lose her last chance at survival.
In the New World, the sun shone brightly over the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
On a grand palace balcony, Doflamingo was lounging comfortably on a chair, basking in the warmth while two maids attended to his every need. On a table beside him, several newspapers and wanted posters were scattered about, with one headline standing out: Kaido of the Beasts Enters the Grand Line's First Half.
Just as he was enjoying the peaceful morning, an anxious voice shattered the calm.
"Young Master! This is bad!" Trebol hurried onto the balcony, his voice filled with panic. "It's… it's a call from Kaido!"
Doflamingo's relaxed posture vanished in an instant. He shot up from his chair and nervously took the Den Den Mushi from Trebol's trembling hand. He braced himself for the worst, but thankfully, it wasn't the Emperor's voice that greeted him.
"Doffy," a calm, authoritative voice said from the other end. "Big Brother Kaido wants you in Mock Town. He's waiting for you there."
Without another word, the line went dead.
Trebol was shaking with fear, and a cold sweat had already broken out on Doflamingo's forehead. The casual command felt more threatening than any open declaration of war.
"Young Master," Trebol stammered, "are you… are you really going to go?"
Doflamingo let out a strained, high-pitched laugh. "Fufufufu… Do I have a choice, Trebol?"
"Should we come with you?"
"And what good would that do?" Doflamingo shot back, his voice sharp. "In front of a monster like him, do you really think numbers make a difference?"
He looked out toward the distant sea, his mind racing. There was no refusing a summons from a Yonko. Without another word, Doflamingo launched himself into the air and shot off into the distance, his pink feather coat a rapidly shrinking speck in the sky.
Mock Town, located on Jaya Island in the first half of the Grand Line, had the misleading appearance of a vacation spot. The island's scenery was beautiful, and ships of all kinds often docked at its port.
In reality, while Mock Town was lively, it was known as the Grand Line's "pleasure quarter" for an entirely different reason. Its patrons weren't tourists, but the very pirates who spread chaos and violence across the seas. It was a lawless island, a paradise for criminals where the World Government's laws had no reach. Disagreements were often settled with bloody fights in the middle of the street.
This was where Marshall D. Teach, the man who had murdered Thatch, the Fourth Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, was now hiding. After betraying his crew, he had fled the New World and begun to assemble a crew of his own. He had already recruited several powerful and notorious individuals: Jesus Burgess, the boisterous "Champion"; Van Auger, the silent sniper known as "Supersonic"; Laffitte, the unnerving "Demon Sheriff"; and Doc Q, the sickly ship's doctor called the "Grim Reaper."
To avoid being hunted down by his former captain, Whitebeard, Teach made sure they stayed near the coast, always ready to make a quick escape. He had Van Auger keep a constant watch on the sea for any signs of approaching enemies.
But the endless waiting was starting to wear on them. The more restless members of his crew, Burgess and Doc Q, were already off causing trouble in town—fighting, poisoning people, and killing just to pass the time.
Meanwhile, Teach and Laffitte were drinking near a fence by the shore, while Van Auger sat silently on a nearby rooftop, using passing seabirds for target practice with his beloved rifle.
"Captain," Laffitte began, his voice smooth and bored as he leaned against the railing. "How much longer are we going to live like this?"
"Zehahahahaha!" Teach laughed, his voice booming across the coast. "Be patient, Laffitte! I've waited this long for my chance, what's a few more days? I'm just waiting for the perfect opportunity to get Whitebeard off our backs for good."
"What kind of opportunity are you waiting for, Captain?" Van Auger asked from his perch on the rooftop, his curiosity finally getting the better of him.
Teach grinned widely. "You've all seen the recent news, haven't you?"
Laffitte's eyes lit up with understanding. "Captain, you're not talking about the empty Warlord spot, are you? The one Crocodile left open after the World Government stripped him of his title?"
"That's the one," Teach confirmed, wiping ale from his mouth. His eyes gleamed with ambition. "The World Government and the Marines need seven Warlords to maintain the balance of power. They're definitely looking for a strong replacement right now." He let out another deep, rumbling laugh. "Gururururu… So, I'm just waiting for the right opportunity to present itself!"
"Oh," Laffitte said, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Hearing that certainly makes things more exciting."
Hearing their captain's plan, Van Auger felt a sense of relief wash over his usually expressionless face. At least they finally had a goal. He raised his rifle, "Senrigan," again and put the monocular scope to his right eye, resuming his training.
But just then, a strange, blurry shape appeared in the sky, far out over the sea.
"Hmm? What's that?" he murmured to himself.
He carefully adjusted the focus on his scope, twisting the dial until the distant image became sharp and clear. As the object came into view, his stoic expression vanished, replaced by one of wide-eyed disbelief.
"No… it can't be," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "You have to be kidding me…"
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