Before leaving, Borsalino unleashed a devastating attack, his "Yasakani no Magatama" raining destruction down upon the port of Whole Cake Island. The attack reduced the harbor to ruins. Meanwhile, Kuzan froze the surrounding seas, cutting off any chance of pursuit by the Big Mom Pirates.
As for Kaido, he could still fly, of course. But by the time he returned, Claudius and his team had already regrouped, with all the heavy hitters gathered together, making any retaliation futile.
Kaido's massive frame stood amidst the wreckage of the harbor. His expression was one of fury at first, but after a few moments, his anger gave way to thoughtfulness.
"Queen, what's the situation here now?" Kaido asked in a deep voice.
"Boss," Queen began, his usual grin slightly strained. "Linlin was taken away, and Katakuri's been captured as well. Most of the remaining Big Mom Pirates avoided being captured, but they're all injured to some degree. Smoothie's injuries are the most serious—she's still being treated."
Kaido's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a mutter. "So the old hag's gone… Katakuri too. Smoothie's out of commission. In other words, the Big Mom Pirates are headless now."
"Perospero's still alive," Queen added thoughtfully.
Kaido suddenly burst into laughter, his booming voice echoing across the destroyed harbor. "Ahahahaha! Perospero, huh? That candy maniac is smart enough."
Quinn tilted his head, already suspecting what Kaido was plotting. "Boss… what exactly are you planning?"
Kaido grinned maliciously. "Without that old hag, the Big Mom Pirates are nothing but a scattered mess. As her former crewmate, it's only right for me to extend a helping hand… for the sake of 'old friendships,' of course."
He laughed again before declaring, "We'll absorb the Big Mom Pirates into our ranks! With them under me, neither Whitebeard nor the Marines will stand a chance. Just wait—when my ultimate army is complete, who in the world could possibly stop me?!"
Kaido's crazed laughter filled the air as his intentions became clear: to consume the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates and strengthen his forces.
---
While Kaido schemed, Claudius and his group were already en route back to safety, their mission deemed a resounding success.
Claudius lay on a bed in the ship's cabin, his face thoughtful as he touched his chin. "Now that I think about it… maybe we shouldn't have retreated so soon," he mused.
Borsalino, sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness, you and Sakazuki were both seriously injured. Staying any longer would've put you in unnecessary danger."
It was true—both Claudius and Sakazuki had sustained significant injuries during the operation. Claudius's wounds, however, were largely self-inflicted due to the extreme strain he'd placed on his body during his final clash with Big Mom.
Sakazuki's injuries, on the other hand, came from direct combat. At the start of the battle, when both sides were at their peak, he had faced Linlin head-on. Sakazuki fought recklessly, trading blows and sustaining heavy damage.
Thanks to the combined efforts of the team, including Sakazuki's earlier battle with Linlin and support from other masters, Claudius had been able to end their fight more quickly. Later, Sakazuki faced Oven, severely wounding him, but the injuries Sakazuki accumulated prevented him from killing or capturing Oven before the operation ended.
At the moment, Sakazuki's condition was more critical than Claudius's, and he was undergoing treatment elsewhere on the ship.
Claudius waved off Borsalino's explanation, turning his attention to Bartholomew Kuma. "Kuma, your ability lets you expel injuries and fatigue from the body, doesn't it? Can't you use it to restore me to full strength?"
Kuma hesitated, then shook his head. "Your Highness, my ability doesn't work that way."
After a brief pause, Kuma added thoughtfully, "Though… it's an interesting idea. Perhaps it's a direction I could explore further as I develop my abilities."
Claudius blinked in surprise. He had been convinced that Kuma's powers could perform such feats—wasn't there something called the "Paw Healing" in his memory? If that had been possible, he could've restored himself mid-battle and perhaps even taken down Kaido.
But now it seemed he'd overestimated Kuma's current abilities. Shaking off the thought, Claudius asked, "What about the rest of the team? Any notable gains?"
Stussy, who was sitting nearby peeling an orange for him, spoke up with a look of concern. "Your Highness, Kuzan managed to capture Katakuri as well."
Claudius chuckled at the news. "That 'perfect man' Katakuri, reduced to this? Completely countered and captured alive by Kuzan, huh? Impel Down is waiting for him, no doubt."
Adding Linlin to the mix, who was already on her way to Marineford thanks to Kuma's ability and Gion's escort the operation's results were undeniable. While they hadn't achieved absolute perfection, taking down the two leaders of the Big Mom Pirates was still a monumental success.
"Kaido… that bastard," Claudius muttered, his tone low. "If he hadn't shown up, we might've wiped out the Big Mom Pirates completely. But now… things might get complicated."
Borsalino nodded in agreement. "Kaido isn't one to let an opportunity like this go to waste. The balance of power on the seas is about to shift again."
Claudius exhaled deeply before speaking. "Still, the World Government isn't walking away empty-handed. Have you reported the situation to Sengoku? He'll need to prepare for the fallout."
"Kuzan's on it," Borsalino replied. Just as he spoke, Kuzan entered the room, holding a Den Den Mushi in his hand. "Your Highness, I've already passed all the relevant details to Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
---
At Marineford, Sengoku was walking toward the port alongside Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru.
Garp, doughnut in hand, glanced over at Sengoku. "What's the rush? Are we heading out on a mission? And how's Claudius holding up?"
Sengoku smiled, clearly pleased. "I've got to say, this CP-X unit is far more reliable than the rest of the Cipher Pol groups we've dealt with in the past. Every mission with them ends in success!"
Garp blinked in surprise. "It's done already? I figured it'd take at least three to five days…"
Zephyr chuckled. "It wasn't a one-on-one fight. With the amount of firepower we deployed, it was bound to wrap up quickly."
Sengoku nodded but added, "Still, there were… complications. Kaido showed up out of nowhere."
He quickly relayed the report he'd received, outlining how Kaido's interference had prevented a total annihilation of the Big Mom Pirates.
Garp clenched his fists, his voice rising. "So you're saying if that lunatic Kaido hadn't barged in, Claudius might've completely destroyed the Big Mom Pirates?!"
"That's right," Sengoku confirmed, his tone tinged with regret. "Kuzan mentioned that Claudius managed to defeat Charlotte Linlin almost entirely on his own. With Bartholomew Kuma's assistance, it could've been the turning point for the Big Mom Pirates' collapse… if not for Kaido."
Zephyr sighed. "Still, capturing Charlotte Linlin and Katakuri is a massive victory in itself."
Tsuru looked over at Sengoku. "So why are we heading to the port?"
Sengoku smiled again. "We're here to receive 'express delivery.' Thanks to Kuma's ability, Gion and Charlotte Linlin are en route to Marineford as we speak. We need to secure her as soon as possible to avoid any accidents."
The group reached the port and stood watching the horizon, waiting for Kuma's arrival. The sky was overcast, the sun sinking halfway into the sea. But there was no sign of their "express delivery."
"How long does it take for Kuma to send someone from Totto Land to Marineford?" Garp asked suddenly.
"Two days, at most," Zephyr guessed.
Garp groaned. "Then what are we doing standing here like idiots?" He turned to leave, muttering angrily.
Sengoku scratched his head awkwardly before offering, "Ahem, my mistake. Why don't I treat you all to dinner instead?"
Garp immediately stopped in his tracks, his mood brightening. "I know just the place!"