Even King, known as the "Wildfire," furrowed his brows slightly and couldn't help but speak up.
"Professor Yoruha, isn't 100 billion a bit... excessive for research funding?"
After all, the Beasts Pirates had a massive crew to feed, and the cost of food alone was astronomical. Add to that the annual expense of buying artificial Devil Fruits, which was already 200 billion berries, and the strain on their finances was clear.
Spending another 100 billion on research all at once would undoubtedly tighten the crew's finances.
"It's definitely 100 billion!"
But Yoruha didn't seem worried at all about the funding.
Soon enough, once he explained the technology he was developing, they wouldn't think 100 billion was too much at all.
Kaido, who had been deep in thought with his eyes narrowed, finally broke the silence.
"Yoruha, if you're asking for 100 billion berries, does that mean you've got another invention in mind?"
Kaido's interest was piqued. Yoruha had already created the divine-level artificial Devil Fruit, breaking the rule that two Devil Fruits couldn't coexist in one person. If someone as brilliant as Yoruha had more ideas, they had to be worth hearing.
For Kaido, money wasn't a big issue. If necessary, he could pressure Orochi to fork over funds—or simply steal what they needed.
The real question was whether such a large sum would lead to something worthwhile. If it resulted in something as groundbreaking as the artificial Susanoo Fruit, Kaido wouldn't hesitate to spend even 200 billion. But if it ended up as a failed experiment, Kaido wasn't about to play the fool.
"Yes, this 100 billion is for developing my next major invention," Yoruha said, his confident smile unwavering.
Just as Kaido suspected—another invention!
"What's this next invention, then? Can you tell us more?" Kaido asked.
If the invention was worth the cost, Kaido wouldn't think twice. But if it was something ordinary, he would have to reconsider. After all, as the leader of the Beasts Pirates, he couldn't just throw around such a large sum without justification.
The rest of the crew perked up their ears, curious about what kind of invention could possibly be worth 100 billion berries.
To put it in perspective, the Beasts Pirates' annual research budget didn't even reach 100 billion. And that was with their crew's unusually high emphasis on technology compared to other Yonko crews, like Whitebeard's or Shanks's, who spent far less on scientific advancements.
"Could Yoruha's next invention really rival Kaido-sama's Susanoo Fruit?" King wondered aloud, his gaze fixed on Yoruha with anticipation.
But before King could say more, Queen cut him off.
"You nosy freak! There's no way that's possible!" Queen took a long drag from his cigar and exhaled, his voice filled with certainty.
"Just the Susanoo Fruit alone has already surpassed Vegapunk's work. It's a technological marvel that's light-years ahead of anything in this world!"
"Do you even understand what that means?" Queen snapped.
As a fellow scientist, Queen knew better than anyone how difficult it had been to create the Susanoo Fruit. For Yoruha to succeed where even Vegapunk had failed was already a miracle—a testament to his unmatched talent in Devil Fruit science.
But to create another groundbreaking invention? That was almost impossible.
King's expression dimmed with disappointment. He had only asked on a whim and hadn't expected much, but hearing Queen's definitive response crushed whatever sliver of hope he'd had.
"My next invention," Yoruha said calmly, "is called the Anywhere Door."
"It's a piece of spatial technology that lets you travel to any place you've been before."
The room fell silent.
Queen, who had just been scoffing, froze. His face turned pale, and his cigar nearly fell from his lips.
"Spatial technology?!"
The words echoed in Queen's mind. Spatial technology was leagues harder than artificial Devil Fruits. And no distance limitations?
Queen felt like the ground was spinning beneath him.
"Is this guy even human?" he muttered to himself.
The other pirates in the room shook their heads, sharing Queen's disbelief.
"Spatial abilities like that... I've heard of the Door-Door Fruit, but even that can only connect doors within a certain range," one pirate whispered.
"Yeah, a door that can take you anywhere with no limits? That sounds like something out of a fairy tale."
"Exactly! Spatial technology is far more complex than Devil Fruit science. Even Vegapunk hasn't made any significant progress in that field. And now Yoruha claims he can build something that breaks all the rules?"
While murmurs of doubt rippled through the crew, Kaido didn't hesitate.
"Ah-ro-ro-ro-ro-ro! Kid, don't let me down. King, go to the treasury and bring Yoruha 100 billion berries!"
Kaido's booming voice silenced all objections.
Queen, though skeptical, couldn't argue with Kaido's decision. As the one in charge of research and development, Queen sighed and took another puff of his cigar before turning to Yoruha.
"Yoruha, I still have my doubts about this Anywhere Door, but if there's anything you need for your research, just let me know. I'll do whatever I can to help."
"Thanks, Queen," Yoruha replied with a polite smile. "I do have a list of materials I'll need."
When Queen glanced at the list, his eyes widened.
"These materials... they're all contraband from the black market!"
If not for their long-standing partnership with Doflamingo, even the Beasts Pirates would struggle to acquire such items. But seeing the detailed specifications—down to precise ratios measured to the ten-thousandth—Queen's respect for Yoruha grew.
"Now this is professional," Queen muttered under his breath.
"Ah-ro-ro-ro-ro! This is a day to celebrate!" Kaido declared, his mood jubilant. "Let's have a banquet tonight!"
Meanwhile, in the Flower Capital of Wano, in an extravagant private room, beautiful dancers twirled gracefully, their legs bare as they performed.
Sitting at the center of the room was Orochi, the shogun of Wano. The short, lecherous old man clapped his hands gleefully as he watched.
"Yes! That's it! Shake those hips more! Hahaha!"
But just as Orochi was reveling in his entertainment, the sky outside darkened ominously. A low, rumbling sound reverberated in the distance, like a faint sonic boom.
Startled, Orochi's expression shifted to one of paranoia.
"Could it be the remnants of the Kozuki clan?" he muttered nervously.
"Kyoshiro! Find out what's causing this strange phenomenon in the sky!"