Kaido didn't find anything wrong with Karl's idea; as long as you're strong, you can have all the women in the world, and no one would dare say anything.
Kaido just found it amusing that a kid who hadn't even fully matured was already thinking about having multiple wives and concubines.
After a hearty laugh, Kaido's tone shifted, and he asked with a hint of emotion, "Hey, Karl, do you want to know my dream?!"
Kaido took a big swig of sake, a flicker of confusion in his eyes, but the faint, arrogant smile remained on his face.
Karl actually knew Kaido's dream, but in this situation, even if he didn't explain how he knew, he couldn't say it.
"Tell me, I'm quite interested in Captain's dream."
Karl leaned back, lying directly on the ground, treating it like a story and using the opportunity to recover his stamina.
Kaido wasn't displeased by Karl's casual attitude.
He slowly began, "When I was your age, I was already on the battlefield. By the time I was 10, I was the strongest warrior in my country. I thought my whole life would just pass by like that."
At this point, Kaido suddenly burst into laughter.
Karl secretly thought to himself, 'Is Kaido here to show off?'
Kaido then continued, "Back then, my only thought was to serve my country. I didn't understand why we had to curry favor with those nobles, why we had to pay Heavenly Gold to the Celestial Dragons. From that moment on, I wanted to change this world!"
"When I was 15, that bastard King actually tried to sell me to the Marine in exchange for a seat as a World Government Member States!"
At this, a rare expression of anger filled Kaido's face. He had risked his life for his country for so long, only for it to come to this. Anyone would be furious.
"Wurorororo..."
Kaido suddenly gave a cold laugh. "But that bastard King has already been killed by me!"
"After that, I escaped from the Marine and became a pirate. By then, I was already quite famous in the New World. Wurorororo..."
After a brief pause, Kaido continued, "At that time, Rocks, the overlord of the New World, noticed me. Then, Whitebeard invited me to join his crew. For my dream, for the power to change the world, I agreed. After joining, Rocks led us through countless battles."
"I also grew stronger through those fights, until a great war more than a decade ago. Rocks died, and the Rocks Pirates were destroyed."
"The Rocks Pirates, whose strength was unmatched in the entire New World, crumbled, and the World Government showed their true power."
Recalling that epic battle, Kaido couldn't help but be amazed by the World Government's strength. It was something no pirate crew could possibly contend with.
"Even after witnessing the World Government's power, I wasn't afraid. I still wanted to change the world, to bring commoners, nobles, and Celestial Dragons all to the same starting line."
"So, when I was 31, I founded the Beasts Pirates. This will be the foundation for me to achieve my dream! But ever since I came to Wano Country, I don't know why, but I feel like I've changed a bit, as if I'm not as pure as before."
As he finished speaking, Kaido stretched out his palm and looked at it, his voice filled with confusion.
Karl didn't interrupt at all, as if he were just listening to Kaido tell a story.
Whether in his previous life's manga or this life, it was the first time Karl had seen Kaido look so lost.
In Karl's impression, Kaido was an arrogant, domineering, powerful, and confident person. He had never imagined that such a Kaido would also have moments of confusion.
However, this Kaido made him seem even more charismatic.
To be honest, just as Kaido was looking lost, Karl wanted to say, 'Kaido! Let me help you achieve your dream!'
But the image felt strange no matter how he thought about it. Of course, if he had actually said it, he would probably have been met with Kaido's ridicule.
"I'm being foolish. Why am I telling so much to a kid who hasn't even fully matured?"
Kaido gave a self-deprecating laugh, then stood up, quickly returning to his usual arrogant and domineering self.
Just then, Karl suddenly burst out laughing, "Hahahaha, Kaido, I didn't expect you to have such a sentimental side! How can someone who can't even confirm his own heart become strong? Even a child like me understands this principle, yet Kaido, you can't figure it out!"
"With you like this, when my strength surpasses yours, hand over the position of Captain of the Beasts Pirates to me!"
Kaido, who was about to leave, paused at these words and then burst into laughter.
"Wurorororo..."
"You, a mere child, can say such things! I truly underestimated you. You're still far from being able to challenge me! I'll be waiting for your challenge anytime, waiting for the day you defeat me!!"
With that, Kaido transformed into a blue dragon and flew away.
Gazing at the departing blue dragon, Karl sighed softly, "I didn't expect Kaido to be so confused about his future so early."
Recalling the past, Kaido didn't understand why there were wars, why people killed. But if you didn't kill, others would come to kill you. Kaido grew up in such an environment.
The Kaido who once vowed to change the world and bring nobles and Celestial Dragons to the same starting line would, more than twenty years later, become the fearsome dragon revered by all.
The dragon-slaying youth eventually became a wicked dragon... Karl brushed the dust off his body, sheathed his sword, and prepared to leave this place. He planned to find a spot to further experience the Observation Haki and Armament Haki he had just awakened.
If Kaido could truly understand his inner self and reaffirm his beliefs, he might become even stronger than in the original story.
In the original story, Kaido was already the strongest in one-on-one combat, with a top-tier Devil Fruit, top-tier Haki, top-tier defense, and top-tier offense—a pure hexagonal warrior. If not for plot armor, he would definitely be a T0-level boss.
His only shortcoming was that his Devil Fruit never fully awakened, though it was already in a semi-awakened state.
Karl didn't know if Kaido could face his inner self and take another step forward. Karl only knew that if Kaido remained as he was in the original story, he would gladly take over the Beasts Pirates... Under the dim yellow light were numerous precise instruments, whose value was evident to anyone who glanced at them.
A slightly chubby man with braids and glasses was tinkering with something.
"Success!!"
Queen, who had spent another full day in the lab, finally finished his research. King's strength had been rapidly increasing recently, putting no small amount of pressure on him.
Whether he was strong or not didn't matter, but it would be unbearable to be ridiculed by that perverted interrogator, King.
"Finally done, I'm exhausted."
Wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead, Queen sighed. Suddenly, he remembered he had a beautiful girl at home, and his recent fatigue vanished.
"According to the time, she should wake up today. Tomorrow, I'm taking a day off!!"
"Yes, that's settled!"
Queen hummed a tune as he packed up his things, skipping out of the lab.
He was in a very good mood now.
"Mwahahaha, my little beauty, here I come!!"