Chapter 173: Kaido's Anxiety

The latter half of the Grand Line, the New World.

After successfully retrieving the artificial Devil Fruit replicated by Vegapunk using Kaido's genetic factors, the Donghai Dihuang continued its journey toward Wano Country.

This Devil Fruit,

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen had originally intended to feed it to the Tyrannosaurus named Du Ke'ai, raising it into the strongest land-sea-air mount, so that traveling with a pink dragon mount would be incredibly impressive.

But this fellow actually refuses to eat it,

refusing no matter what is said.

"You are beyond saving," Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen muttered in anger.

"Beyond saving for this entire lifetime."

"A top-tier Devil Fruit that countless people crave, and you can spit it out right from your mouth. Do you eat it or not, kid?"

"If you won't eat it, I'll eat you first."

Du Ke'ai remained silent, simply cowering behind the eldest, Lightning Squirrel Tie Lei, and the second, Electric Duck Billy, feigning grievance.

"Look at your pathetic state."

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen looked at Electric Duck Billy.

"Little Billy, will you eat it?"

Lightning Squirrel Tie Lei definitely cannot eat it; Tie Lei has already consumed a Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit. Among the three little pets, only the Electric Duck and the Tyrannosaurus are suitable.

The Electric Duck shook his head frantically, full of resistance.

【Master, I don't want to become a land-duck.】

【You forgot, I still need to dive into the sea to rescue people.】

Except for Mihawk, every member of the Morning Star Pirates is a Devil Fruit user.

As a land-sea-air tri-environment creature, Electric Duck Billy can not only carry people while flying, dive into the sea to rescue people, and electrocute fish, but also sprint on land.

Consuming a Devil Fruit is indeed detrimental to rescuing people.

"Forget it," Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen gave up completely.

"Whether you eat it or not is your business; I will definitely find someone who wants to eat this Devil Fruit."

In a foul mood, Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen instantly flashed from the captain's cabin to the deck, where he happened to see Moria hopping along, stepping with his left foot first, which immediately made him furious.

"Fatso, who told you to step with your left foot first?"

Moria stood frozen in place, stunned.

"Is stepping with the left foot first forbidden on the ship?"

Boom, thud, crackle, snap. Five minutes later.

Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen lazily stretched, his foul mood completely swept away, replaced by a feeling of full freshness and vigor.

Seeing this, Foxy and Corazon lowered their heads and frantically mopped and scrubbed the deck, terrified that the captain might glance at them and find them idle on the ship.

Dragging his body, Moria crawled to the mast, silently leaning against Barrett, who also had a bruised and swollen face.

"Were you beaten because you stepped with your left foot first too?"

Barrett shook his head.

"I challenge the captain once every day."

"Sick," Moria muttered.

Everyone on the Donghai Dihuang is insane; the lovely daughter Perona is occupied by the big eater Jin Ni twenty-four hours a day.

Mihawk, Master Tenghu, and Yuzhi Xiliu spend every day standing at the bow, swinging their swords ten thousand times.

Shiki floats around the ship like a ghost, a cigar in his mouth.

The two interns are constantly babbling nonsense, talking about how the captain has a little notebook... and so on and so forth.

That guy named Buggy is even worse; his head is at the bow watching Mihawk and the other three train, while his body is at the stern imitating them with great seriousness.

If little Perona didn't truly like Jin Ni and Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen, and didn't love staying on the Donghai Dihuang, Moria would absolutely jump off the ship.

Living in constant fear was bad enough.

But to get beaten just for stepping with the left foot first?

Is there any justice left? Is there any law left?

(｡ò∀ó｡)

Wano Country, Flower Capital.

The Shogun's residence.

Kaido slapped Black炭 Orochi across the face, gritting his teeth in a rage.

"Wanting Oden's wife was one thing; I could understand that to some extent, but you actually want Oden's daughter too."

"Are you even human?"

"She is still a child!"

Kaido was already in a foul mood.

First, because the Morning Star Pirates had gone completely silent, as if they had vanished entirely from the sea, with not even a trace to be found.

Kaido worried that Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and his group had very likely already arrived in Wano Country and were plotting in the shadows.

Second, because that old hag Charlotte Lingling had not yet initiated a cooperation invitation.

She was obviously planning to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, waiting to see the Beasts Pirates driven out of Wano Country.

Some subordinate officers had already suggested to Kaido that they should strip Wano Country of all its valuable items, leaving not a single bit of wealth for Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

They simply could not defeat them.

If that old hag Charlotte Lingling came to help, combining the forces of the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, they might still be able to contend with the Morning Star Pirates.

But Charlotte Lingling has not come yet.

Kaido was not so arrogant as to believe he could defeat Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen and the Golden Lion single-handedly.

Kaido did not fear the Golden Lion, but Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's feat of annihilating the Navy headquarters of Marineford with a single strike was simply too formidable.

Unless Rocks was alive, Kaido could think of no one else who could stand against Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen.

This was not cowardice, but a full consideration based on the power levels of both pirate crews.

If you cannot win, you cannot win.

But if he simply withdrew from Wano Country, even if he moved Onigashima away, would he, Kaido, still have any face left on the seas?

Has there ever been the strongest creature to retreat before the battle even began?

If he retreated before fighting, he, Kaido, would be firmly overshadowed by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen for the rest of his life; how then could he contend for the title of the strongest creature on land, sea, and air?

But if he stayed, the Beasts Pirates would very likely face total annihilation.

Simply comparing the top-tier combat power of both pirate crews would reveal the predicament the Beasts Pirates currently faced.

Kaido versus Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen: fifty-fifty.

King versus the Golden Lion: one-nine.

Queen versus Mihawk: one-nine.

Hanaza versus Master Tenghu: one-nine.

Vergo's sharp mind would be of no use.

The remaining true fighters of the Beasts Pirates would find it difficult to pose an effective threat to the Morning Star Pirates; they would most likely be knocked unconscious by Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen's Conqueror's Haki.

The Beasts Pirates' numerical advantage was gone instantly.

Meanwhile, the Morning Star Pirates followed a path of elite soldiers, with every officer possessing immense strength.

Even Marineford, which gathered the Navy's top-tier combat power, they could come and go as they pleased, and before leaving, annihilated Marineford with a single strike.

Kaido saw no hope of victory.

"Lock up Oden's wife and children first. When Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen arrives, we will at least have hostages in our hands, so we won't be without any bargaining chips."

Black炭 Orochi covered his swollen face and bowed deeply while smiling.

"My lord Kaido."

"This humble one has followed your orders and sent Kozuki Toki and her two children to your room."

Kaido smashed the nearly empty wine jar heavily.

"What a damn jinx."

"How can someone who has been at sea for only four years become this terrifying? Even Rocks back then couldn't do it."

Above Wano Country.

The Donghai Dihuang, with its dragon-head prow, red sails, and flame flag, hovered in the sky as Saint Saint Saiwen was giving action orders to the crew.

"Jin Ni, you stay behind to care for Perona."

"Everyone else, follow me down. First, defeat the Beasts Pirates and capture Kaido alive; afterward, we will clear out the rebels in every area."

"We will fight swiftly and decisively."

"Jin Ni, you go notify Andy Go and have him lead the Second Fleet's Grand Ship Fleet to arrive as soon as possible to maintain order."

"Set out!"