Caesar's expression was disgustingly fawning, his smile that of a complete sycophant. But Kaido liked it immensely; who wouldn't appreciate someone who was good at flattering and could genuinely deliver results?
Sensing the scientist's mood, Kaido knew he needed to give him a little something extra. "You've done well, Caesar. I know what you're hoping for. Don't worry. As long as you earn the Beasts Pirates' recognition, everything you dream of will come true."
"Shurororororo... Thank you so much, Lord Kaido! I will definitely work hard!" Caesar's face flushed with a wide, smiling grin that looked lewd no matter how one looked at it.
Kaido laughed heartily and then gave an instruction. "Jack, get someone to list all the territories we've conquered recently and give the list to Caesar. Let him pick one he likes. If there aren't any suitable ones, check our surrounding territories. Once he finds one, you know what to do, right?"
"Don't worry, Big Brother, I understand!" Jack responded.
"As for this Rhino Fruit..." Kaido continued. "King, contact Doflamingo and have him set up a coliseum in Wano Country, similar to the one he ran in Dressrosa. Let's schedule it for seven days from now. The winner's prize will be this Devil Fruit and a promotion to the position of Shinuchi. Once we can manufacture Devil Fruits consistently in the future, we can hold these coliseums daily to give opportunities to young pirates."
"I understand, Big Brother. And the location for the coliseum?" King asked.
"Let's set it up in the Flower Capital," Kaido decided. "On the day the coliseum is held, people from Udon can be specially allowed into the Flower Capital."
"I got it, Big Brother!" King confirmed.
"Hmm, now let's go see Judge next," Kaido said. "Let's see what surprise he can offer us."
The personalities of Queen, Caesar, and Judge were not very compatible. Also, Kaido had too many ambitious projects running at once. Having all three scientists research together would clearly be inefficient and a waste of their specialized skills. Therefore, Kaido had a separate laboratory built for each of them on Onigashima.
When Kaido arrived at Judge's section, accompanied by King, Eneru, and Jack, Judge was already waiting for them at the entrance. Compared to the groveling Caesar, Judge's innate pride made him appear more composed and dignified. However, the eagerness in his tone was still noticeable.
"Please follow me, Lord Kaido!!!" Judge exclaimed. After all, Caesar's only dream was to surpass Vegapunk, but Judge had bigger ambitions: he wanted to use Kaido's vast power to become the overlord of the entire North Blue.
Judge led the group to his first laboratory. Among the three scientists, Judge was responsible for the most concurrent research projects. This wasn't because he was the most skilled, but because his three projects were all relatively moderate in scope and perfectly aligned with his unique specialties.
The first area they entered was the Cyborg Laboratory.
Inside the massive room, a Vinsmoke Family clone soldier lay motionless on a cold, metal table. Half of his body had already been transformed into mechanical parts. The person in charge of this modification was Hogback, the genius surgeon who had once worked under Moriah. Kaido had brought him here specifically for this task.
Upon seeing Kaido enter, Hogback carefully put down his scalpel, removed his surgical mask, and walked over with a fawning expression. He bowed respectfully. "Lord Kaido, it is truly an honor for you to visit our laboratory!"
"Worororo, you look well, Hogback," Kaido chuckled. "How are the results of the cyborg experiment coming along?"
Hogback did not overstep, instead turning to look at Judge beside him. Only then did Judge speak. "We already have a successful product, Lord Kaido!"
As he finished speaking, Judge pressed a button on a nearby control panel. Four Vinsmoke Family clones appeared, carrying a large black box. When they opened it, a man in a black ninja suit was revealed inside.
"Let me see!" Kaido commanded.
"Yes, sir! Number 1, display your abilities for Lord Kaido!"
As the order was given, the man in the black ninja suit opened his eyes, which glowed crimson. Then, his entire body dissolved into countless black bats that swarmed out of the box and filled the air.
This spectacle startled King, who was standing next to Kaido. "That's Moriah's Devil Fruit ability!" Having fought the Moriah Pirates alongside Kaido in the past, King was particularly familiar with this specific technique, which Moriah called 'Scattered Bats.'
"That's right!" Hogback clapped his hands excitedly.
As Hogback spoke, the bats flying around the room merged back together, reforming the shape of the man. The figure then instantly merged into the shadows cast on the ground.
"Interesting," Eneru commented curiously. "What kind of combat power do these guys have?"
Judge glanced at Hogback, who then proudly answered. "Lord Kaido, and the three Calamities, through the combined efforts of Lord Judge and myself, we have successfully modified Lord Judge's clone soldiers. In addition to incorporating Moriah's Lineage Factor, we also upgraded their clothing. As you saw, the ninja suit worn by Number 1 can resist fire, electricity, and physical impact. Coupled with the power derived from Moriah's Shadow-Shadow Fruit Lineage Factor, the combat power of these cyborgs is now twenty times greater than that of an ordinary clone soldier. We ran tests: one cyborg can easily defeat twenty standard clones. However, combat power isn't their most important feature. The crucial element is their ability to gather and transmit information. Moriah's Shadow-Shadow Fruit is perfectly suited for infiltration and concealment."
Everyone's eyes lit up with interest.
Judge added a crucial detail. "Beyond that, another significant advantage of these cyborg soldiers is their absolute loyalty. They will never betray us. Following Lord Kaido's direct command, we have already programmed their Lineage Factor. Lord Kaido's orders have the highest priority, followed by the four Calamities, and then the six members of the Tobi Roppo."
This absolute loyalty satisfied everyone even more. Kaido nodded, pleased. "What is the speed of their manufacture?"
Judge looked slightly troubled, so Hogback quickly took over. "Reporting to Lord Kaido, because the requirements for this cyborg surgery are extremely precise and high, currently only Lord Judge and I on all of Onigashima are capable of completing the modification. At our current pace, if it's just me working, I can create one cyborg soldier every two days." Hogback did not mention Judge's potential help because he knew Judge had his own separate research projects to focus on.
"I understand," Kaido said. "For now, I'll have to rely on your efforts. Try to produce as many as possible. As for their names, don't call them 'cyborgs.' From now on, they will be called: the Shadow Legion!"
The reason Kaido had brought Moriah into the fold was due to the deep impression the 'Shadow Legion' from Jackie Chan Adventures had left on him. Now that he was setting up his own talismans (strong forces), the Shadow Legion was a natural fit. As his domain expanded and more things began to happen, he genuinely needed a group of absolutely loyal subordinates who could strictly keep secrets and help him transmit messages and commands efficiently across the Beasts' vast territory.
"Thank you, Lord Kaido, for the name!" Hogback exclaimed.
"You're welcome," Kaido replied. "You've done good work, and I won't mistreat you. Oh, right, I will allow you to use these cyborgs to create some suitable assistants for yourself. Otherwise, the manufacturing speed of the Shadow Legion will be too slow with just you."
"That is truly wonderful, Lord Kaido! I will not disappoint you!" Hogback promised.
"Hmm, then let's move on to the next laboratory..." Kaido concluded.
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