Kaido turned his gaze toward the tall fish-man officer, his booming voice echoing through the banquet hall. "Sebastian."
"Captain." The fish-man warrior stepped forward steadily, his blue skin gleaming healthily under the lamplight, muscle lines clearly defined. He stood ramrod straight, his gaze fixed firmly on Kaido.
Kaido nodded with satisfaction. "You are a warrior I recruited personally on Fish-Man Island. Since joining the Beasts Pirates, you have been loyal and unwavering. Every mission has been carried out meticulously; you have never disappointed me." He paused, then continued, "I originally intended to grant you a Devil Fruit, but you refused that power."
Sebastian bowed his head slightly, recalling that conversation. Kaido had indeed offered him a Devil Fruit, but considering his role as commander of the fish-man unit, losing the ability to swim would make it difficult to command underwater operations. Thus, he had politely declined the offer.
Kaido turned and took a pair of gleaming meteor hammers from an attendant. "These weapons were forged by a master craftsman of Wano Country using the special Sake-Iron Ore. Each weighs three hundred jin." He solemnly handed the weapons to Sebastian. "I hope they will unleash their greatest power in your hands."
Sebastian respectfully accepted the pair of meteor hammers, feeling their substantial weight. "It is my honor to serve you, Captain." He understood that maintaining his fish-man identity was the best way to lead the fish-man unit; this choice was the most beneficial for the entire pirate crew.
"Commodore Gavin." Kaido's deep voice reverberated through the hall as his gaze shifted to the next officer.
"Captain." Gavin walked up to Kaido and spoke respectfully.
"Gavin, since you joined the crew, you have performed excellently in all kinds of missions. I hope you continue to strive." Kaido said, handing over the very Devil Fruit—the Zoan Type, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Ancient Model: Brachiosaurus—that Queen had eaten in the original story. "This Brachiosaurus fruit is yours."
"Thank you for your guidance, Captain!" Gavin took the fruit with both hands and bit into it without hesitation. As the flesh passed his throat, his body began to change violently—his skin gradually turned orange, his neck stretched continuously, until he finally transformed into a giant brachiosaurus standing fifteen meters tall.
"ROAR—!" Gavin, in his brachiosaurus form, howled at the sky. His thick tail swept across the ground, shaking the hall slightly. Moments later, he reverted to his human form and bowed deeply to Kaido.
Kaido's gaze moved to the final officer—the young swordsman Nour Morris. This member, having joined most recently, now stood perfectly straight, his eyes beneath his black hair shining with a resolute light.
"Morris."
The young swordsman immediately stepped forward, standing respectfully before his captain. "Captain." His voice was steady and firm.
"Though you are the last to join as an officer," Kaido said slowly, his gaze blazing like torches, "your performance is in no way inferior to the others." He paused, taking a famous sword handed to him by a maid. "I originally planned to grant you a Devil Fruit, but since you have chosen the path of pure swordsmanship..."
Ame no Habakiri gleamed coldly in the candlelight as Kaido solemnly offered it to Morris. "This blade, I entrust to you."
Ame no Habakiri was solemnly presented before Morris. Morris took a deep breath. As he accepted the treasured sword with both hands, his fingertips trembled slightly from excitement. He slowly drew the blade from its sheath; the light whisper of its edge slicing through the air was clearly audible in the hall.
With this, the rewards for all eight official officers of the Beasts Pirates had been distributed. Kaido then waved his hand toward the two remaining maids, who hurriedly brought forward the trays they were carrying.
"Worororororo! My men!"
Kaido's rough laughter echoed through the banquet hall. His towering figure stood on the central high platform like an unshakable mountain peak. His dragon-like vertical pupils swept over the faces of every pirate below the stage, a meaningful smile hanging at the corner of his mouth.
"You all saw the rewards the officers just received, right?" Kaido addressed all the pirates present. "Now tell me, do you want them too?!"
"YES!"
The roar of several hundred pirates was like thunder, shaking the hall's chandeliers. Fire of desire burned in their eyes as they locked onto the two final Devil Fruits on the stage. That was the power they dreamed of, the chance to change their fate.
Kaido nodded in satisfaction. "Today's Festival of Flames is to make you understand: in the Beasts Pirates, loyalty is the best pass!" His voice suddenly lowered, carrying a bewitching tone. "The officers' rewards have been given, but there are still two Devil Fruits here... Do you know who these are prepared for?"
"YES!"
The pirates' response grew even more fanatical; many couldn't hold back from standing up. Compared to those distant, overwhelmingly powerful abilities, these two Ordinary Zoan Devil Fruits felt more real to them—this was an opportunity within their reach, a gift from fate.
In a noisy corner, Cedric was busy tackling a piece of charred, fragrant roast beast meat. This medium-built young man was covered in scars, each one proof of his charges into battle. Not far from him, Nixon was, as usual, silent and focused on polishing the sword he never parted with. The blade gleamed coldly in the firelight, reflecting his resolute face.
"Worororororo!" Kaido's booming laugh suddenly cut through the hall's clamor. "Now I announce, the recipients of these two fruits are—" He deliberately drew out the words, his eyes searching the crowd, "Cedric, and Nixon!"
The entire hall instantly fell into brief silence, then erupted into even greater uproar. The pirates looked around, searching for the figures of these two lucky men. The meat in Cedric's hand fell to the floor with a plop, sauce splattering on his boots. He stared wide-eyed, unable to believe his ears.
Nixon's polishing motion froze mid-air, the cloth hovering above the blade.
"Hey, Cedric, what the hell are you standing there for?" a companion beside him pushed him hard, voice full of envy. "Go on!"
Cedric snapped out of his daze, stumbling through the crowd. Nixon also regained his senses, walking toward the stage with steady steps. When they stood before Kaido, they could both hear their own hearts pounding violently, as if trying to burst from their chests.
Kaido looked down at them, his booming voice echoing through the hall. "Men, you must be wondering, why them, and not those higher-ranking bosses with more strength?" Without waiting for an answer, he continued, "Cedric charges at the very front in every battle; every scar on his body is his medal! Nixon never cuts corners on missions; he's the one I'm most at ease with when something needs doing! Doesn't such loyalty deserve a reward?!"
A chorus of understanding sighs rose from below the stage.
Cedric felt his eyes grow hot. He never imagined that Kaido-sama had witnessed every one of his charges.
Nixon straightened his back; a rare smile appeared on his perpetually tense face.
"These two are Animal Series, Ordinary Zoan Devil Fruits," Kaido pointed at the two exquisite wooden boxes on the table. "The Zoan Type, Uma Uma no Mi, and the Zoan Type, Ōkami Ōkami no Mi, Model: Gray Wolf. Choose for yourselves."
Cedric and Nixon exchanged a glance, both reading the same thought in the other's eyes—the Wolf Fruit was clearly more offensive. Cedric, quick as lightning, grabbed the box containing the Wolf Fruit. Nixon shrugged and calmly picked up the remaining Horse Fruit.
Without hesitation, both bit into their fruits. Instantly, wondrous transformations began.
Cedric's body began to swell and distort. Gray fur spread over his entire body like a tide, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into a giant wolf two meters long and one meter tall. Nixon transformed into a tall, robust steed, standing a full one and a half meters at the shoulder, its muscular lines starkly defined under the firelight.
"AOOOO—!" Cedric howled at the sky, his wolf cry brimming with savage power. Nixon reared up, letting out a clear, high-pitched whinny, his hooves striking the floor with crisp sounds.
Though their transformations weren't as earth-shattering as the officers' earlier ones, the envy from the pirates below was no less intense; if anything, it burned hotter because of its tangible reality.
Kaido stood on the high platform, his thick arms raising a giant jug of liquor. Amber liquid glistened seductively in the bonfire's glow. "See?! This is the reward for loyalty!" His booming voice echoed on the sea breeze. "From now on, the Festival of Flames will become a tradition of our Beasts Pirates! Every year, we will take out precious Devil Fruits and award them to the most loyal warriors! As long as you work hard enough, next year it could be any one of you standing here! Worororororo! Now tell me, do you want this glory?!"
"YES!" Hundreds of pirates shouted in unison, the sound wave shaking the surrounding bonfires.
Satisfied, Kaido took a swig of strong liquor, the liquid dripping down his beard. "I know you follow me to sea for fame and fortune!" He wiped the corner of his mouth. "Today, I'll say it right here—as long as you're loyal enough, I can give you whatever you want!"
With a sweep of his large hand, a dozen burly men emerged from behind the stage, carrying heavy chests in pairs. The moment the lids were simultaneously thrown open, dazzling golden light instantly illuminated the entire venue—they were more than a dozen chests filled to the brim with gold bars!
The pirates below immediately stirred. The handful of old pirates who had followed Kaido to the City of Gold remained relatively calm, but the vast majority began breathing heavily, their eyes glued to those glittering treasures.
"Now," Kaido declared grandly, "let the officers distribute this gold to everyone!" His laughter carried far across the sea. "Tonight, let us celebrate the glory of the Beasts Pirates with fine wine and gold! Worororororo!"
Before Kaido's laughter had even faded, the pirates could no longer contain their excitement. Cheers erupted wave after wave from the crowd; some even jumped for joy. The eight officers began distributing the gold bars. Each name called out sparked a chorus of envious exclamations.
***
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