Kaido's voice was filled with amusement.
To him, a fellow Yonko like Linlin reaching out first could only mean one thing—it wasn't for catching up over tea.
In the throne room of the Whole Cake Chateau, the air was so cold it could've frozen solid.
Charlotte Linlin gripped the Den Den Mushi tightly. Her fat, wrinkled face twisted between madness and calculation, her smile oozing menace.
"Kaido, cut the crap."
Her voice was sharp and cold, devoid of politeness.
"That brat named Lucian—you know, the one from Marineford. The man with the 7.5 billion bounty. You're well aware of him, aren't you?"
On the other end, Kaido seemed to chug another huge gulp of sake.
Glug, glug...
"Wororororo... Of course I do!"
"The monster who even forced the Five Elders to retreat—who could forget?"
The alcohol in Kaido's tone faded, replaced with the kind of excitement only a beast sensing prey could show.
"What about him? Don't tell me he's headed your way?"
"Exactly!"
Linlin's teeth clenched audibly.
"He killed Perospero. He's on his way to Totto Land right now!"
"And he's made it very clear—he's coming for my head!"
For a moment, there was total silence on the other end of the call.
Only deep, steady breathing.
Then—
"WORORORORORORO—!!!"
Laughter, wild and ecstatic, exploded from the receiver, so intense it nearly cracked the Den Den Mushi.
Kaido sounded like he'd just heard the funniest thing in the world.
"Interesting! Too damn interesting!"
His voice was thick with bloodlust.
"So you want me to come give you a hand, Linlin, you old hag?"
A cruel glint flashed in Linlin's eyes.
"Exactly."
"A man like that—who broke through the Marines and the Five Elders—he's not someone I can handle alone."
"We need to work together. Trap him in Totto Land. Kill him."
"And if you agree to come... I'll give you a little something."
"The Ancient Weapon Poseidon. It's real. On Fish-Man Island. That mermaid princess—Shirahoshi."
"Take out Lucian with me... and the weapon's yours."
To rope Kaido in, Linlin threw out what she believed to be an irresistible bait.
However—
Kaido's reply completely blindsided her.
"Worororo... Ancient Weapon? Who gives a damn about that junk!"
His voice suddenly shot up—full of unfiltered battlelust.
"I only care about fighting that Lucian guy!"
"Going toe-to-toe with a monster like him—fighting to the death—that's what it means to truly live!"
"Linlin! Wait for me!"
"I'm bringing my strongest guys—we're heading to Totto Land!"
"Worororo! No way I'm missing this kind of party!"
Click.
The line went dead.
Charlotte Linlin stood frozen for a moment, then her fat face contorted into an even more twisted grin.
"Madman..."
"That Kaido... he really is a complete battle freak."
Still—this was fine.
"Perfect, actually."
"Pass down my orders!"
She roared to Katakuri and the others.
"Full alert! Prepare to welcome the Beasts Pirates..."
"Yes, Mama!"
Katakuri and the others responded in unison, their expressions grim.
At the same time—
Fish-Man Island, Ryugu Palace.
"Lucian..."
Marco stepped forward, his expression tense.
"We may have dealt with Perospero, but it's far from over."
"Charlotte Linlin won't take this lying down."
His gaze swept over the others in the hall.
"We all know how powerful the Big Mom Pirates are."
"Katakuri, Smoothie, Cracker... dozens of powerful children and countless allied crews."
"They could go toe-to-toe with the Whitebeard Pirates at our peak."
Marco drew in a breath, the fire of battle rising in his eyes.
"My suggestion—assemble our entire fleet immediately."
"While Pops is still around, we move first. Hit Totto Land hard and end this."
"Let the New World see what happens when you cross the Whitebeard Pirates!"
His proposal lit a fire in everyone's blood.
Yes!
The Whitebeard Pirates never backed down!
Even King Neptune and the princes grew excited. Eliminating Big Mom would be the greatest fortune Fish-Man Island could ever ask for.
But then—
"No."
Lucian's calm but absolute tone cut through the excitement.
He had rejected Marco's plan.
"Why not?"
Marco froze.
Lucian tucked the sea chart away and looked at him calmly.
"Two reasons."
"First, you're too slow."
"By the time we assemble our fleet and reach Totto Land, they'll be fully prepared."
"Linlin would have all the time she needs to trap us or gather allies."
Lucian paused, then said the second—and most important—reason.
"Second, too much noise."
"Pops needs rest. The crew's still recovering from Marineford."
"We can't afford another war at that scale."
"And more importantly..."
His eyes shifted toward Neptune and the anxious guards behind him.
"Fish-Man Island needs to be protected."
"If we all leave, who's to say another pirate crew won't swoop in and take advantage?"
His reasoning left no room for argument.
Because he was right.
"Then... what do we do?"
"Just let that crazy woman run wild?"
The hall fell silent again.
All eyes turned to Lucian.
He met their gazes, then slowly raised a finger—and shook it.
"No."
"Of course not."
"What I mean is simple..."
And under the stunned, confused, utterly speechless stares of everyone present—
Lucian said something that sent shockwaves through the entire palace.
"I'll go alone. That's all it takes."
BOOM!!
Neptune's massive frame shuddered. His eyes bulged wide.
The three princes gaped. Their jaws nearly hit the floor.
Marco stood frozen, convinced he must have misheard.
"What did you just say?!"
"Alone?! You're going to Totto Land alone?!"
"Lucian! Are you insane?! That's Big Mom's stronghold!"
Marco yelled, losing composure.
It was a fortress that had been built up over decades!
To walk in alone? That was suicide!
"I'm not insane."
Lucian looked at Marco with calm conviction.
"Relax, Marco."
"You know better than anyone what I'm capable of."
"You, Pops, the crew—rest and recover."
"And keep an eye on Fish-Man Island for me."
"As for Totto Land..."
"I'll be back soon."
"Big Mom?"
"She won't make a ripple."
That indescribable confidence blew away all lingering doubts.
They looked at Lucian—the man with a 7.5 billion bounty, who shook the world with his bare hands—
And realized...
Trying to judge this man with normal standards was their greatest mistake.
Lucian turned away, his eyes drifting toward the massive figure peeking from behind a column.
The mermaid princess—Shirahoshi.
He walked toward her.
She trembled, shrinking further into her spot.
Lucian stopped in front of her and gave a soft, gentle smile.
"Don't be afraid."
His voice was soothing.
Through his advanced Observation Haki, he could sense the unimaginable power sleeping within her.
The Ancient Weapon—Poseidon.
"Very soon, you'll be able to live freely beneath the real sun—just as your mother dreamed."
He spoke softly.
Then turned away and walked out of the palace.
"Marco, I leave Fish-Man Island to you."
"Wait for my return."
As his words echoed, Lucian had already vanished past the palace gates.
Everyone rushed out after him.
Outside the Ryugu Palace, in the deep blue of the sea, Lucian rose.
Then—
BOOM—!
A dazzling golden sun erupted within the ten-thousand-meter-deep sea.
Its radiance banished all darkness, illuminating the ocean as if it were broad daylight.
The blazing sphere turned into a golden streak of light and shot upward—
Blasting through the sea, faster than the eye could follow.
All that remained were stunned fish-men and a palace bathed in brilliance.
Marco stared after the fading golden streak, his Adam's apple bobbing once.
Finally, in a voice only he could hear, he muttered:
"Pops..."
"Are we… witnessing the birth of a god?"