Chapter 182: Kaido Wants a New Territory

New World, an unnamed sea area.

After retreating from Wano Country, Kaido, in his Blue Dragon form, dragged the Beasts Pirates' headquarters, Onigashima, and left the Wano sea area overnight.

Having placed Onigashima in a calm sea area, Kaido summoned the Beasts Pirates' commanders to a meeting.

Having lost Wano Country, the Beasts Pirates have suffered a great blow to their strength and must quickly occupy a new territory in the New World for supplies.

Otherwise, how can they grow stronger and recreate their glory?

And how can they take revenge on Barzab Seven!

In the vast, crowded main hall,

Kaido sat cross-legged in the center of the upper seat; on his left sat the Inferno Calamity Jack and the Plague Calamity Queen, while on his right were the Drought Calamity Hanafusa and the intelligence officer Vergo.

"Vergo."

"Repeat your previous plan."

The commanders of the Beasts Pirates had grown accustomed to Boss Kaido's trust in Vergo; after all, the man had a sharp mind.

Although Vergo had joined the Beasts Pirates not long ago, his repeated advice had always been precisely accurate.

Moreover, even before the loss of Wano Country, Vergo had already devised an escape route for Boss Kaido: to attack and occupy Dressrosa Kingdom, located in the first half of the New World.

Vergo stood up, holding his wine cup.

"Boss Kaido."

"Brothers all."

The reason we retreated from Wano Country in this battle was not due to any fault in our fighting, but simply because the Morning Star Crew was too strong."

"Even the Marine Headquarters at Marineford was destroyed, yet under Boss Kaido's leadership, we were able to retreat safely, without even losing our headquarters."

"This cup, we toast to Boss Kaido."

The commanders hurriedly raised their wine bowls.

"To Boss Kaido!"

No wonder Vergo could earn Boss Kaido's trust; those words were indeed well-spoken, making the Beasts Pirates' commanders feel a surge of pride—

The Morning Star Crew fought the Marines, and the Marine Headquarters was gone.

The Morning Star Crew fought the Beasts, and the Beasts' headquarters remained.

Does that not mean: the Beasts Pirates' combat power is far ahead of the Marines?!

Kaido lifted his wine jar and drained it in one gulp.

"Wahaha-hahaha~"

"Speak quickly about our next target."

"Yes, Boss Kaido."

Vergo set down his wine cup, took out the prepared documents from his chest and handed them to Kaido, then distributed copies of the documents to the various commanders of the Beasts Pirates.

"Boss Kaido, brothers all."

"The current situation in the New World is one superpower and many strong powers."

"The Morning Star Crew has successively occupied Wano Country and the Honeycomb Island; their military might is currently at its peak, so we should not engage them in another dispute for the time being."

"The Whitebeard Pirates are entrenched on Fish-Man Island and the islands in the southern sea area of the first half of the New World."

"Although Big Mom has ruled Totto Land for many years, her territories are now surrounded by the lands under the Morning Star Crew."

Vergo pointed to the upper part of the navigation chart.

"Dressrosa Kingdom is located in the northern sea area of the first half of the New World, far from the territories of other great pirate powers."

"Eight hundred years ago,"

"the Donquixote Family left Dressrosa Kingdom to join the World Government and become Celestial Dragons, making the Riku Family the new Wang Zu of Dressrosa."

Vergo shifted the topic.

"Brothers all, our next target is precisely to seize Dressrosa Kingdom."

As the words fell, the entire hall fell silent.

Only Jack spoke up.

"Dressrosa Kingdom is currently a member of the World Government; if we occupy it rashly, we will very likely face the military might of the World Government and the Marines head-on."

Vergo smiled slightly.

"Direct occupation is certainly not feasible, but Boss Kaido can, just as he supported Black炭 Daizo, support an agent to rule Dressrosa."

"For example, the Donquixote Family, the true royal family of Dressrosa before the Riku Wang Zu."

"Nani?!" Queen was somewhat confused.

"Vergo, didn't you say the Donquixote Family joined the World Government and became Celestial Dragons?"

"We can't have Boss Kaido supporting a Celestial Dragon, can we? Celestial Dragons don't need that either!"

The World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons, are considered superior to everyone; even the kings of member nations must show them respect.

Anything good that catches the eye of a Celestial Dragon, whether person or object, automatically loses the right to choose.

Vergo made a shocking statement.

"What if there happens to be a member of the Donquixote Family who has left the Holy Land of Mary Geoise?"

"As everyone knows, my hometown is in the North Blue."

"Before joining Boss Kaido, I heard in the North Blue about a brat named Donquixote Doflamingo, who is a member of the Donquixote Family."

"Boss Kaido."

"You can send someone to the North Blue to bring that brat, Donquixote Doflamingo, here to support."

"In this way, even if we seize Dressrosa, the World Government will not send troops; we can completely hide in the background and control the entire situation."

When Vergo first received Captain Barzab Seven's order, he was very resistant; the Young Master is the true king of Dressrosa.

How could he let the Beasts Pirates occupy it?

However, when Vergo thought that he could use Kaido's hand to help the Young Master become the king of Dressrosa,

Vergo's heart was stirred.

The North Blue seas, though vast, are the territory of the World Government, the Marines, and the Vinsmoke Family.

A man like the Young Master needs a broader stage to realize his dreams; all Vergo must do is: build that stage for the Young Master.

In this great sea, merely standing one's ground is already a thousand hardships; rising to prominence is probably harder than reaching the sky.

Captains like Barzab Seven... are, after all, a rare few.

Not one appears in hundreds of years.

But Vergo believes that with his wisdom, and the Donquixote Family led by the Young Master, they will absolutely achieve final victory.

Therefore, Vergo decided to seek wealth amidst danger, using the Beasts Pirates to help the Young Master become king.

Kaido stared at the documents, lost in thought.

Seeing this, the Beasts Pirates executives drank and ate on their own, quietly waiting for Big Boss Kaido to make a decision.

The executives understood they could offer suggestions, but for the Beasts Pirates, the one who truly makes decisions, especially regarding major matters like choosing new territory, is Big Boss Kaido alone.

Kaido's gaze swept across the navigation chart.

The entire New World seas; regardless of terrain ruggedness or the richness of land and mineral resources, Wano Country is the optimal choice, without exception.

Yet it was snatched away by Barzab Seven.

Kaido also understood: at least in the short term, there is no hope for the Beasts Pirates to defeat the Morning Star Pirates.

Then Dressrosa is quite good too.

When Wano Country was taken back then, Kaido had no intention of ruling it himself; instead, he chose to support Blackbeard Orochi as the Shogun of Wano Country.

Dressrosa can be handled the same way.

"Good." Kaido smashed the wine jar.

"Queen, you and Vergo go to the North Blue, capture that brat named 'Duo-something', and I will first bring Onigashima to the nearby seas."

Queen grinned.

"Understood, Big Boss."

"I just love teasing brats from the Four Seas."

Vergo silently sighed with relief, but thinking that he had acted on his own authority and had not yet had time to notify the Young Master, he became nervous again.

Young Master, you surely won't mind, right?

Captain Barzab Seven was right: a true man should come to the grand stage of the New World; cowering in the North Blue playing house will never lead to growth.

Young Master, this is the price of becoming a king.

You surely can do it!