Jaya Island, Mock Town.
A haven for pirates, a melting pot of the desperate and the dangerous, a true no-man's-land.
Here, pirates engaged in every kind of transaction and brawl, blades drawn at the slightest provocation.
The usually boisterous tavern was eerily silent, all eyes fixed on the three figures who had just entered.
Kaido, a towering seven meters tall, King, though only thirteen, already a formidable five meters, and Noro, whose presence commanded attention despite his lesser stature.
A suffocating pressure filled the room. Even the dullest pirate knew these three were not to be trifled with.
The pirates deliberately softened their breaths, afraid of provoking the newcomers.
They were pirates themselves, they knew the breed. A harsh word, a loud breath, could be a death sentence.
Many recognized Kaido and Noro from the wanted posters. Sobriety hit them like a tidal wave, and they scrambled out of the tavern.
Noro's lips curled into a sardonic smile. He wasn't surprised.
Pirates were bullies at heart, preying on the weak. Only someone as seemingly harmless as Luffy would be challenged so readily.
Having transmigrated so early in the timeline, Noro had no intention of letting the golden city of Skypiea slip through his fingers.
Nor the near-invincible Logia-type Devil Fruit of Birka – the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit was almost a fusion of the Glint-Glint and Mag-Mag Fruits.
The speed of Kizaru's light, the melting power of Akainu's magma, and the destructive force of a natural disaster, all rolled into one.
But what truly captivated Noro was the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's ability to amplify Observation Haki, allowing the user to easily survey an entire island.
Noro intended for a trusted lieutenant to consume it, using it to monitor Wano Country.
I am, everywhere!
As for Enel... he could play somewhere else.
Kaido's Flame Clouds could carry a ship to Skypiea directly. In the original story, he even enjoyed visiting Skypiea to attempt suicide.
But those were the Skypiea islands of the New World. Noro had come to Mock Town to use the Knock Up Stream to pinpoint the location.
Kaido was currently enjoying a feast in the tavern, spending Noro's wages from his Marine days.
What was the vice-captain's was his.
Noro leaned against the bar, swirling his drink, taking occasional sips, his gaze fixed on the sea.
When he saw the water level begin to rise, Noro roared, "Kaido!"
"Understood!"
Noro's Conqueror's Haki erupted, sweeping across the island, knocking everyone unconscious.
He didn't possess a Space-Space Fruit or Mirror-Mirror Fruit, no way to transport the entire golden city.
So, the island's inhabitants couldn't know they were going to Skypiea.
Kaido had already flown to the coast, transforming into his dragon form, using Flame Clouds to lift their pirate ship.
Noro and King flew to the ship. They wouldn't fly themselves, Kaido could take them.
It was no trouble for Kaido, but as he pulled the ship, he felt something was off.
It wasn't until they reached Skypiea that Kaido realized what it was. He frowned and asked, "Noro, didn't you say you could also ride the clouds?"
Noro's expression didn't change, "Yes, I can."
Kaido's eyes widened. Was he being used as a pack animal?
He was the captain, damn it! Was he being taken for a fool?
"Then why aren't you pulling the ship up here, instead of me?"
Noro chuckled, "Just giving the captain a chance to show off."
Kaido snorted, "Spare me the flattery. You're pulling it down next time."
"Alright, alright, let's find the golden city first," Noro said dismissively. Towing a ship was a simple matter.
Noro slowly flapped his wings, flying high into the sky. The others, puzzled, followed. The three of them surveyed Skypiea from above.
A city of gold, a hoard so vast it was impossible to miss.
"Found it!"
Noro's eyes shone, and he swooped down towards the golden city.
Kaido and King exchanged glances, unable to hide their shock.
They would never question Noro's decisions, but they hadn't expected the stories to be true.
Was he a god?
How else would he know that half the island had been launched into the sky?
"Let's go."
Snapping out of his reverie, Kaido quickly called to King, following Noro.
The three of them stepped onto the golden soil of Shandora, struggling to contain their excitement and awe.
Gold as far as the eye could see, a dream come true, especially for those standing within it.
"We're rich, we're rich..." Kaido rubbed his face against the gold, grinning like a madman.
What a miserable life he'd lived before, barely enough money for food, even deliberately getting captured by the Marines for a free meal.
Turns out, who you spend your days with makes all the difference.
From now on, he'd eat and drink like a king, wasting as much as he pleased. He had money, he could do whatever he wanted.
Noro ignored Kaido, who looked ready to roll around in the gold, and walked to the Golden Bell, reaching out to touch the Poneglyph.
It had been five years since the God Valley Incident. Oden hadn't left Wano Country yet, and Roger hadn't reached Skypiea, so there was no "I was here" inscription on the stone.
King, seeing Noro standing silently before the Poneglyph, asked curiously, "Mr. Noro, do you understand these ancient characters?"
Kaido also looked over, puzzled.
Roger hadn't reached Laugh Tale yet. No one knew the purpose of the Poneglyphs.
Noro shook his head slightly, "No, I'm thinking."
"Oh," the two replied, falling silent, not wanting to disturb Noro's thoughts.
Noro's mind raced.
Love the house, love the crow; hate the house, hate the crow.
He hated the people of Wano Country, hated Oden, even hated those connected to them.
Including Roger and the protagonist Luffy. After the Wano Country arc, he'd lost all affection for them.
Since Roger hadn't reached Laugh Tale yet, did Kaido have a chance?
Noro knew the locations of the four Road Poneglyphs.
One on Fish-Man Island, one in Wano Country, one on Zou, and one in Big Mom's territory.
The one on Fish-Man Island was easy. Wano Country was tricky. Zou was constantly moving, making its location impossible to pinpoint, but Wano Country should have a Log Pose.
As for the one in Big Mom's territory... if necessary, Kaido could use his charm. Big Mom wanted to have the strongest child, after all.
The ancient script on the Poneglyphs was even simpler. Ohara hadn't been destroyed by the Buster Call yet. He could just grab a scholar.
What Roger could do, Kaido could do too.
As for changing the plot, he didn't care.
He wasn't like other transmigrators, afraid of every little thing, constantly worrying about affecting the story, ending up changing nothing.
What was the point of transmigrating then?
He, Noro, transmigrating to the One Piece world was the biggest variable of all.
As he thought, Noro's lips slowly curved upward, his eyes growing more determined.
He would make Kaido...
He would make this dragon...
Become the first Pirate King!
===
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