In the New World at the G-5 Base.
Even though Atlas did his best to move the fight away, the first clash still led to a bit of harm to the harbor. The Marine troops at the base were occupied fixing up a few buildings that got damaged.
Garp, who arrived to lend a hand, has headed back to his G-3 base for ongoing security duties. Following his defeat, Kaido was safely taken back to Naval Headquarters and handed over to the World Government for execution.
Yet, Atlas held little optimism for Kaido's execution. As far as he understood, Kaido had endured countless tortures and faced the death penalty twenty times. Even if sentenced to hanging, the seastone chain might not hold him down—it's that formidable.
Kaido's resistance to seastone is remarkably formidable.
'I've heard that Wanokuni has seastone minerals. I wonder if this guy sleeps surrounded by high-purity seastone every night.'
Regarding force-feeding a second Devil Fruit to make Kaido explode and perish, Atlas hasn't heard of the World Government employing this method. It's unclear if it is considered as a waste of a Devil Fruit or if it has already been attempted.
Atlas predicts that eventually, the World Government will transport him to Impel Down. Whether Kaido can become a second Shiki depends on his abilities, as per Atlas's estimation.
Meanwhile, Atlas was sitting comfortably in the base commander's office. Wearing a crisp white suit, his freshly acquired justice cloak hung on the coat rack. A stack of documents awaited processing on the desk, indicating a backlog that accumulated during his absence.
"I am truly clueless~"
Frustrated by the bothersome documents on his desk, Atlas felt the temptation to dash to the training camp and recruit Ain to assist in handling the workload. It appeared crucial to find a dependable adjutant.
Never mind...
Nonchalantly, he picked up a folder without giving it much attention. The snake talisman pattern flashed in his mind, and a magical scene unfolded.
On the document that was initially filled with text, the handwriting vanished first, and then the entire paper dissipated into thin air. Even Atlas's observation Haki range couldn't detect its existence.
Certainly, it's not that the snake talisman's ability can evade observation with Observation Haki, but rather that any inanimate object lacking emotional fluctuations becomes imperceptible through observation haki once made transparent.
This explains why Kaido failed to notice the Kaminari's presence near him, even when he wasn't actively paying attention to his surroundings.
Whether it's a snake talisman or the Clear-Clear fruit, they are merely visually invisible and transparent. Vital life activities cannot be entirely concealed. If smeared with paint or other substances, they will still be exposed, and haki doesn't rely solely on vision.
Atlas perceives this ability as more of an auxiliary tool for him. Even though he can execute invisible attacks like slashes and island manipulation, skilled individuals are highly vigilant against threats to their safety, such as sneak attacks, making success far from guaranteed.
This ability is sufficient to outmaneuver an unsuspecting foe but proves ineffective against a formidable powerhouse like Kaido. It's essentially useless.
However...
Now, let's contemplate how to handle these corrupted files.
"Smoker..."
.....
Naval Headquarters, Marineford.
Sengoku ended the call from Mariejois with a headache and began to contemplate earnestly on how to handle Kaido.
The Five Elders explicitly stated that, regardless of the Marine's efforts, Kaido would remain the responsibility of the Marines, with no involvement from the World Government.
Even though the World Government has publicly declared that they've sentenced Kaido to death, this proclamation has occurred more than once. Kaido is a complex issue, akin to a hot potato that proves incredibly challenging to eliminate. Even the harshest punishment from CP may not be fitting for him, almost like attempting to scratch an itch.
"Forget it, let's confine him to the Impel Down. Now, about transporting him..."
Sengoku found himself entangled once more. Logically, Admiral-level combat forces would be required to escort the prison ship to Impel, but three Admiral candidates were currently stationed in the New World.
Kizaru, the sole individual permanently stationed at headquarters, has been occupied lately chasing after the fishman Tiger. While he may have uncovered some leads recently, it's likely he has no time to pursue this task at the moment.
'By the way, does he not have any current assignments?'
Sengoku swiftly dialed the den den mushi on his desk and lifted the receiver.
"Hello, I'm Sengoku. Summon Tokikake to my office."
Tokikake possesses commendable strength, primarily due to his multiple encounters with individuals from Impel Down, making him well-versed in its dynamics. He can be considered the most suitable candidate for this headquarters mission.
...
New World, Wanokuni.
Onigashima serves as the main headquarters for Kaido's Beasts Pirates. Situated in the waters of Wano, Kaido has fortified it to be as impenetrable as an iron barrel. Foreign pirates find it impossible to breach. Kaido has even declared himself the guardian of Wanokuni.
At present, on Onigashima, two of the three All Stars within the Beasts Pirates assembled, creating a somewhat solemn atmosphere.
"King, what's your take on this? Boss Kaido got nabbed by the Marines. Should we disband the Beasts Pirates?"
A casually spoken query from a man with blond hair tied in a ponytail, sporting sunglasses.
The man is extremely obese; labeling him a meat mountain wouldn't be an exaggeration. His lips sport a rare purple hue, leaving one to wonder if his excessive weight hints at potential heart problems. A mechanically modified prosthetic limb replaces his left hand, adorned with two golden beards. His arm proudly displays a tattoo of the Beasts Pirates logo, and a lit cigar graces his mouth.
"Hey, Queen, what on the world are you blabbering about?"
King's forehead pulsated, and despite the barrier of the mask, the displeasure in his mood was unmistakable.
"Brother Kaido saved my life. Naturally, we have to go to Marine and rescue him!"
"You're suggesting an assault on Naval Headquarters?" Queen's rotund face displayed a hint of fear. "Even Shiki wouldn't attempt that. If you're not careful, you could lose your life."
"Moreover, it's not the first time Boss Kaido has been captured by the Marines. Perhaps Marine will release him soon."
Suddenly, the den den mushi in the corner of the hall rang.
"Boss Kaido mentioned before he left that if he ever got captured by the Marines, there's no need for a rescue mission. He'll find his own way out."
"Really?"
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