Their return trip was much faster than the journey out. Kaido seemed intent on picking up the pace, and by the next morning, the group had already crossed the Red Line back into the New World.
After stopping to "dine" on a few Marine warships and prison vessels along the way, they finally reached an island in the central region of the New World by the afternoon of the third day.
"Boss Kaido, you're back!"
A burly, black-haired man in a punk-style leather jacket ran up to greet them the moment they landed.
"Dirk? Why are you here? Where's King?"
Kaido frowned when he saw that the one greeting him wasn't who he expected.
"There were some unidentified pirate ships spotted near our territorial waters. Lord King led the men to investigate."
Though only fourteen, King's strength had already earned him a position as an officer in the Beasts Pirates, where might made right.
"Unidentified pirates? How many?" Kaido asked with a frown.
"About ten ships, including one large vessel. Judging by their course, they're likely from Beehive Island."
"Beehive Island, huh…"
Kaido took out a Den-Den Mushi and dialed King's number.
"Burororo~ burorororo~ This is King. You're back, Kaido-san?"
King's voice came through quickly, the Den-Den Mushi's face mimicking his expression.
"That guy—did he accept the invitation?"
"No.
That man, Thane, said he was too busy taking care of his precious kid, so he turned me down.
But this trip wasn't without its rewards—no, I'd even call it a surprise windfall."
Kaido glanced sideways at the three small figures beside him, who were curiously looking around. The disappointment of not recruiting Thane was long gone.
"Is that so? Sounds interesting. Things are wrapped up here—we're preparing to head back."
King replied while watching enemy ships burn to ashes.
"Well done!
So, who were those bastards working for?" Kaido's tone grew cold.
"They were a newly recruited pirate crew under Captain John. Probably sent to probe our strength. Seems he's planning something big."
"John, huh…
That bastard took most of Rocks' treasure back then. Everyone's been watching him all these years—and he still dares to provoke me?"
…
After finishing his conversation with King, Kaido put away the Den-Den Mushi.
He glanced once toward the direction of Beehive Island, then turned to Dirk.
"Dirk, take these three to their quarters, and have someone move those chests to the warehouse. I'm going to sleep."
"Understood, Boss Kaido. But, uh… who are these kids?"
Dirk was thoroughly confused. Kaido had brought back treasure, even captured Marines before—but never children.
He looked at the three silent little ones, suspicion rising in his mind:
Could they be Boss Kaido's daughters? No, no… someone like him couldn't possibly have daughters this cute…
Wait—don't tell me he kidnapped some royal princesses again?!
His eyes darted to the golden-haired girl in a silk-like gown, her every movement refined and elegant—his theory was feeling more and more plausible.
"The blonde brat's name's Ra. From now on, she's an officer of the Beasts Pirates.
The other two are her sisters." Kaido didn't bother explaining further—he tossed that out and strode off.
"An… officer?!"
Dirk nearly jumped out of his skin.
She's what, ten? Looks so fragile I might scare her just by raising my voice—and she's a Beasts officer?!
When King had fought his way to officer rank at fourteen, it had already shocked the entire crew.
Now a delicate-looking ten-year-old girl…? This was beyond comprehension.
Maybe she's some kind of special Devil Fruit user… or maybe… she really is Boss Kaido's kid?!
"Hey! Punk geezer! Don't just stand there spacing out—take us to our quarters already!
Floating in the sky for days is exhausting!"
Ossi barked impatiently, crossing her arms. Whether out of shyness or stubborn pride, she still refused to use feminine forms of address.
"O-Oh! Right away!"
Dirk snapped out of his daze, not even processing the odd way Ossi referred to herself.
After instructing a few passing pirates to move Kaido's treasure chests to the warehouse, he led the trio toward the base.
Whatever. If Boss Kaido says she's an officer, then she's an officer.
"Your name's Dirk, right? My name is Ra, and these are my sisters, Osiris and Obelisk."
Seeing how stiffly Dirk was walking—whether from nerves or something else—Ra took the initiative to break the tension.
"We're new here, so could you tell us a bit more about Captain Kaido's pirate crew?"
That voice! So soft, so polite!
Dirk mentally scratched the "Kaido's daughter" theory off his list.
"Ah, no need to be so formal! Just call me Dirk, haha~"
Ra's calm, gentle tone seemed to melt away his nerves, and he started talking more freely.
"The Beasts Pirates were formed just last year by Boss Kaido. When I joined, there were only about twenty of us.
Over the past year, Boss Kaido's been challenging other pirate crews, then recruiting the defeated into our ranks. That's how we grew.
Now we've got over five hundred men, five large ships, ten smaller ones, and control over three nearby islands!"
Dirk's voice brimmed with pride. As one of the earliest members, he'd fought through blood and fire to help the Beasts reach this point.
But truth be told, the Beasts Pirates were still small fry in the New World.
Compared to the top dogs—like Golden Lion and Whitebeard—or even the next tier down, like Silver Axe and Wang Zhi, Kaido's crew was far behind in manpower and territory.
It couldn't be helped. The Beasts Pirates had only been around a year. Their foundations were thin, while the other captains who'd once sailed under Rocks had right away scrambled to carve up the New World the moment their old captain fell—four or five years of growth made a huge difference.
And why hadn't Kaido joined that scramble?
Well, at the time, he'd been lost—freshly "graduated" from the Rocks Pirates and wandering the New World without a clue.
He didn't even know what he wanted. All he did was pick fights with Marines and the World Government.
It wasn't until he met King on Punk Hazard last year that he remembered he should probably start building something of his own.
Thus, the Beasts Pirates entered the game late—long after the banquet was over and the spoils already divided.
"So you're one of the pirates Kaido defeated?" Obelisk asked.
"No. I joined voluntarily, out of admiration for Boss Kaido's strength.
And call him Boss Kaido or Captain Kaido, you blue-haired brat."
Dirk's tone carried deep reverence for Kaido, clearly offended that Obelisk had used his name so casually.
"Tch~"
Obelisk turned away, ignoring him.
"So, what's your relationship with Boss Kaido, anyway?"
Unable to resist his curiosity, Dirk crouched down and whispered to Ra.
"The three of us ended up stranded on a deserted island. Captain Kaido happened to pass by and extended his invitation.
After some conversation, I agreed." Ra smiled politely as she spoke.
"...?"
Her tone was calm—so casual it sounded like Kaido had just happened upon three helpless little girls and kindly taken them in.
But to Dirk's ears, that sounded utterly absurd.
We're talking about Kaido, right?!
In his mind, their captain didn't take in children—he ate them.
And so, the awkward silence returned once more.