Onigashima, the banquet hall.
Kaido, completely oblivious to his tarnished reputation, was sitting cross-legged on the main seat, enjoying the geisha performance while guzzling sake.
"Father, is your illegitimate child my younger brother or younger sister?"
Yamato, having heard the news, excitedly pushed open the door and rushed in.
Pfft—
Kaido, who had just raised his sake gourd and taken a swig, instantly turned into a spray cannon, drenching Yamato's face.
"What in the world are you stupid kids talking about?! Besides you, where else would I have other children?!"
Kaido's eyes widened, and his left hand reached into his cloak, grabbing Hassaikai.
When children are disobedient, they usually need a beating.
Yamato, feeling wronged, wiped the sake from her face and recounted everything: "Everyone outside is saying your illegitimate child has arrived."
"Nonsense!"
Kaido stood up indignantly; they could insult him, but they couldn't spread rumors!
"Sir, this is a matter caused by Kane."
King walked in at the opportune moment and explained, "The cause is that a dragon exactly like you, but pink, appeared on Onigashima. Now, the pink dragon has left Onigashima with Kane and flown towards Udon in Wano Country."
Without waiting for Kaido's command, King continued, "Regarding public opinion, I have already explained clearly to those pirates; no one will discuss this absurd rumor anymore."
"Ugororororo, so that's it. That brat Kane didn't lie to me."
Kaido, having gained another top-tier Mythical Zoan ability user, laughed heartily. But the next second, his mouth twitched, and his smile suddenly turned ferocious: "That brat dared to cause me this much trouble. It seems the pressure I've put on him is still too little."
Kane helped him with such a big favor; he should help Kane learn those Haki techniques as quickly as possible...
Far away in Udon, Kane, completely unaware of the tragic future awaiting him, was standing on a high platform, proclaiming the latest policies to the prisoners.
Of course, on the way here, he had already obtained Kaido's consent.
"Except for the prisoners I want to recruit, you can kill everyone in Udon, I don't care."
That's what Kaido said.
"Celebrate! This is a gift from Mr. Kaido!"
Babanuki, the warden of the Udon prisoner quarry, raised his hands high and shouted loudly.
The prisoners, however, looked at each other, unsure if this was a ploy by Kaido.
Under the imposing pressure of the surrounding Beasts Pirates, only a few prisoners symbolically applauded.
Many prisoners proactively gathered around a scrawny old man, asking one after another, "Uncle Hyo, what trick is that bastard Kaido playing?"
"Let's wait and see. A fox will show its tail sooner or later."
Hyogoro was equally confused. From what he knew of Kaido, if he wanted to harm them, he wouldn't do such unnecessary things.
It couldn't really be to improve their lives, could it?
Looking at the murmuring prisoners below, Kane didn't care about their thoughts.
As long as one person successfully redeemed a reward, the rest would naturally embrace this system and transform into the Beasts' most diligent workers.
On the other side, Queen buzzed around Kozuki Hiyori like a fat bumblebee around a fresh flower.
"Listen to me, Kozuki Hiyori. There's no future with that brat Kane. In terms of seniority, when I was working for Big Brother Kaido, he was still wearing open-crotch pants."
Queen's mouth was as fast as rap, his cigar dancing up and down with every opening and closing of his mouth.
Facing the Beasts' All-Star, Kozuki Hiyori dared not offend him easily, so she could only respond half-heartedly, but it was enough to make Queen overjoyed.
Simp!
Kane gave Queen, who was beaming, a speechless look.
He definitely hadn't heard this saying: The forest path you yearn for is already a bustling highway.
"Ah, Lord Kane!"
Noticing Kane's gaze, Kozuki Hiyori's expressionless face instantly bloomed into a smile, and she scurried towards Kane.
"No, no, no!"
Queen stretched out his right hand, attempting to block her, but only grasped a wisp of air. He could only watch helplessly as Kozuki Hiyori threw herself into Kane's embrace.
A background music seemed to play in the air:
Snowflakes fluttering, north wind whistling, the world a vast expanse~
Damn it!
What exactly do I lack compared to that brat Kane?
In terms of height, looks, and bounty, in what aspect am I not stronger than Kane?
Kane once again revealed a piece of news that greatly astonished Kozuki Hiyori: "Do you want to see your benefactor, Kawamatsu?"
Kozuki Hiyori covered her mouth with both hands in surprise, tears welling up in her eyes: "Is Kawamatsu here too?"
Kane nodded: "He was caught after his attempt to steal fried tofu in the Flower Capital exposed his whereabouts."
Kozuki Hiyori clutched Kane's arm tightly and pleaded, "Please, you must let me see him."
Kane naturally had no objections; he had brought Kozuki Hiyori here with this very intention.
Kawamatsu is resilient and kind-hearted. As one of the Nine Red Scabbards, his strength is also commendable, making him worthy of being brought under his command.
He's also a Fishman.
In the future, Kane might need him when dealing with Fish-Man Island.
Babanuki led Kane and Kozuki Hiyori slowly into the depths of the quarry prison.
"Be careful, Lord Kane. That Fishman is untamed; he killed several of our brothers with fish bones, so now we only feed him poisonous fish with the bones removed."
Babanuki was still advising when, with a "whoosh," a dark shadow attacked from the darkness.
Kane didn't even look, raising his hand and pinching it with two fingers, catching it steadily.
"It seems your work is still not careful enough." Kane smiled slightly, releasing the clean fish bone from his fingertips.
"I'm sorry, Lord Kane, it was our mistake." Babanuki quickly bowed and apologized.
Kane waved his hand, unconcerned: "Alright, give me the key. I'll talk to him."
After dismissing Babanuki, Kozuki Hiyori could no longer hold back.
With a sobbing voice, Kozuki Hiyori called out into the depths of the cell: "Kawamatsu, is that you?"
"Princess...?"
Kawamatsu's bewildered voice rang out, then his tone changed, and he sternly shouted, "No, Beasts Pirates, don't try to deceive me. You couldn't possibly have captured Princess Hiyori."
"Kawamatsu, it's really me."
Kozuki Hiyori choked back tears, proving herself: "Do you remember that day you rescued me from Kuri Castle, and when you saw I was unhappy, you danced the Kappa Dance for me?"
Upon hearing this, a dark figure instantly appeared at the cell door.
He gripped the bars, staring intently at Kozuki Hiyori's face, trying to connect the blooming young woman before him with the little girl in his memory.
Kozuki Hiyori then recounted a few more details that only she and Kawamatsu knew.
At this point, Kawamatsu finally confirmed Kozuki Hiyori's identity.
"Princess, you're alive! That's truly wonderful!"
Kawamatsu cried and laughed at the same time.
The suffering he had endured all these years had not been in vain.
Kozuki Hiyori also started crying.
After a while, Kawamatsu gradually stopped crying and suddenly realized something was amiss: "Princess, how did you get in here?"
"Of course, I brought her in."
Kane slowly walked up to Kawamatsu and spoke: "Let me introduce myself. I am the true ruler of Wano Country, an All-Star of the Beasts Pirates, Kane."
Now, it was his turn.
