A servant with sharp, devious eyebrows and shifty, mouse-like eyes stepped forward and leaned toward Kurozumi Orochi, loudly declaring:
"My lord, I understand now! Kyoshiro must have kidnapped Miss Komurasaki! I've noticed before that Kyoshiro's eyes linger on her suspiciously, and he often follows her around for no apparent reason!"
Orochi was momentarily stunned, but his face quickly turned an ominous shade of purple. He roared in fury:
"Kyoshiro, you traitorous scum! You bastard! Where did you take Komurasaki?"
Chaos erupted in the General's Mansion as Orochi immediately issued a warrant for Kyoshiro's capture. His uncontrollable rage boiled over, leading him to kill several servants just to vent his frustration.
While Orochi fumed, the scene shifted to Onigashima Island, inside Kaido's palace.
Kaido was in his usual spot, drinking heavily.
Down below, Ulti's loud voice echoed through the hall:
"Kaido! Give me permission to fight that detestable guy! He hurt Pay Pay so badly—I'll turn him into a pig's head!"
Nearby, Page One (Pay Pay) and Who's-Who watched her antics.
Page One looked exasperated. "Big Sis, please stop shouting. And can you at least show some respect to Boss Kaido?"
Ulti spun around, baring her teeth. "What did you say, Pay Pay? I'm trying to avenge you, and you're lecturing me?!"
Cold sweat dripped from Page One's forehead as he stammered, "N-no, I didn't mean that…"
Who's-Who, standing beside them, smirked and taunted:
"Ulti, you should know that challenges within the ranks are fair game. Alastor is a Flying Six just like us now. We're equals."
Ulti crossed her arms defiantly. "I don't care about any of that! He hurt Pay Pay, and I'll make him pay for it!"
Kaido, uninterested in the commotion, finished another jug of sake and glanced at Ulti. He dismissed her tantrum without saying a word.
Ulti and Page One were the children of a pirate Kaido had once known. Kaido had taken them in and was usually lenient with their antics.
Even though Ulti often spoke to him without much respect, Kaido didn't seem to mind.
Page One suddenly grabbed Ulti's sleeve, his expression unusually serious.
"Sis, I need to handle this myself. Wherever I fall, I'll pick myself back up."
His words caught Kaido's attention, and the towering Emperor of the Sea turned to him with a smile.
"Well said, Pay Pay! That's the kind of ambition I like in my subordinates."
Despite Kaido's approval, Ulti wasn't ready to let it go.
Just as she was about to argue further, a distinct poru poru poru sound echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned to the source of the sound. Their expressions shifted to shock as they saw the peculiar-looking den-den mushi.
It was unmistakable—the phone bug belonged to Charlotte Linlin, better known as Big Mom, one of the Four Emperors, and Kaido's rival.
"Well, well…" Kaido muttered, setting his jug down. "What's that old hag calling me for now?"
Kaido picked up the receiver, greeting her with his usual mockery:
"Yo, Linlin. Still alive?"
From the other end of the line, Big Mom's voice barked back:
"Aren't you still breathing, you brat?"
Kaido and Big Mom, infamous rivals, never missed a chance to exchange sarcastic "pleasantries."
"Well," Kaido chuckled, taking a sip of his sake, "I've been trying to die, but it seems I just can't manage it."
"Cut the nonsense, Kaido," Big Mom snapped. "Let's get to the point. What do you want, Linlin?"
Big Mom's voice rose with anger. "Your underlings stole a mine island my crew discovered! Return it to me now, or you'll regret it!"
Kaido's brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Who's-Who.
Who's-Who rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It's true, Boss. That mine island is rich with metal ores—perfect for making weapons."
Kaido's eyes gleamed. He grinned and turned back to the phone.
"Sorry, Linlin, but you know how it is. In this sea, strength rules. That mine island belongs to me now."
Big Mom's fury erupted through the den-den mushi.
"You ungrateful brat! Have you forgotten how much you owe me?!"
Kaido grinned slyly. "Debts? Favors? Those don't mean anything out here. In this world, only power matters!"
Big Mom's enraged scream made the entire hall flinch. "Fine! If that's how you want it, don't blame me for what happens next!"
The line went dead.
Who's-Who sighed. "Boss, you've really pissed her off this time. She might send a fleet after us."
Kaido chuckled, unbothered. "That old hag isn't stupid. A full-scale war between us would shake the entire world—and leave both of us vulnerable to the Navy or other enemies."
He paused, then added, "Still, she won't let this go easily. She'll make a move, just not an obvious one."
Kaido suddenly turned to Page One.
"Pay Pay, you're itching to prove yourself, aren't you? Go to the mine island with Alastor and defend it. Let's see what you're made of."
Page One's eyes lit up with determination. He knelt. "Thank you, Boss Kaido! I won't disappoint you!"
Ulti immediately protested. "I'm going too!"
Page One stopped her. "No, Sis. This is between me and Alastor. I don't need anyone's help."
Ulti's eyes teared up as she hugged him tightly. "Oh, my poor Pay Pay is growing up and doesn't need his sister anymore!"
Page One flushed with embarrassment. "Let go, Sis! You're embarrassing me in front of Boss Kaido!"
Breaking free from her grasp, he hurried out, calling over his shoulder:
"Just wait for my victory, Boss!"
In the New World, on Whole Cake Island, Big Mom was still fuming. Her sharp, shrieking voice echoed across the island.
"That Fish-Fish Fruit I gave him back then was wasted—might as well have fed it to a dog!"
The thunderous volume left her subordinates clutching their heads in pain.
Charlotte Katakuri, her second-in-command and the most trusted member of her crew, stepped forward. "Mama, don't worry. I'll reclaim that mining island."
But Perospero, Big Mom's eldest son, shook his head. It wasn't that he doubted Katakuri's strength—far from it. Katakuri was too important to risk.
If anything were to happen to Big Mom—like one of her infamous hunger fits—only Katakuri could calm her down.
Perospero interjected diplomatically, "Mama, let Cracker handle this. His cookie soldiers are perfect for this kind of island battle."
Big Mom paused, considering her options. Despite her reputation for impulsive decisions, she knew the importance of conserving her best fighters for larger battles.
"Fine," she growled. "Tell Cracker to go—and make sure he beats those Beasts Pirates to a pulp!"
Perospero's long tongue flicked out in satisfaction. "Yes, Mama. I'll inform him right away."
---
Meanwhile, in Wano Country, Kuri
Alastor stood shirtless in the training yard, his bronze-toned muscles gleaming under the sun. His breathing was steady and controlled, his eyes closed in deep focus.
A soft breeze rustled through the air, carrying the sound of rolling leaves.
Suddenly, Alastor's eyes snapped open. His right arm turned black, covered in a fluid layer of crimson-tinted armor.
With a sharp motion, he threw a punch—not at the nearby tree, but toward the air in front of it.
The tree shuddered violently, then crumbled from the inside out with a loud crack.
Alastor's lips curved into a satisfied smile. His mastery of Ryou was improving. Soon, he would be able to break the shackles binding Yamato.
"Lord Alastor!"
Billy came running, sweat pouring down his face. "Master Page One is here!"
Before Alastor could respond, Page One appeared on the horizon, his expression dark and brooding.
Alastor shrugged on his coat and said calmly, "What brings you here, Pay Pay? Has Boss Kaido assigned a new mission?"
Page One flinched at the nickname. He hated it when his sister called him that—but from Alastor, it was even worse.
Suppressing his frustration, Page One took a step closer. His eyes burned with barely contained anger.
The tension in the air was palpable.
Billy glanced between the two men, swallowed hard, and made a hasty retreat. He knew better than to stay when two Flying Six were at odds.
Once they were alone, Page One stopped and locked eyes with Alastor.
"Alastor," he began, his voice steady but loud, "I've come to settle the score."