Three days later, the plaza of Fish-Man Island was bustling with activity. The morning sunlight filtered through the seawater, casting dappled shadows across the square. Kaidou swaggered through the crowd with his Beasts Pirates members, their heavy footsteps echoing on the stone pavement. His towering seven-meter frame and menacing Demon Horns cast an enormous shadow under the sunlight, making the entire plaza's atmosphere oppressive. The fish-men stepped aside one after another, whispering with a mix of fear and awe.
King Neptune stood on the high platform, holding his Trident with a solemn expression. He scanned the area, looking at the dense crowd of his subjects below, cleared his throat, and announced in a booming voice, "My people, after careful consideration, we have decided to establish a cooperative relationship with the Beasts Pirates. Now, any warriors willing to join the Beasts Pirates may step forward to register." His voice reverberated across the plaza, each word clearly reaching everyone present.
The square immediately buzzed with discussion. Many fish-men showed surprised expressions, having expected the royal family to secretly obstruct things as usual. But contrary to everyone's expectations, Fish-Man Island truly made no underhanded moves this time. Some young Fish-Man Warriors began whispering among themselves, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
Kaidou stood below the platform, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. He had long anticipated that Neptune wouldn't dare play tricks—after all, Fish-Man Island couldn't afford to incur his wrath now, even with Whitebeard's assistance. Queen stood beside Kaidou, swaying his obese body, a cigar in his mouth as he squinted at the fish-men coming to register. His signature laughter erupted intermittently: "Muhahaha... It seems Fish-Man Island still has plenty of courageous folks!"
Soon, dozens of fish-men stepped forward to register. Most were young, robust warriors eager to make a name for themselves in the New World. Kaidou paid little attention to these ordinary fish-men until a special figure appeared before him.
It was a colossal being over ten meters tall, with deep blue skin, the gills and webbed features characteristic of fish-men, but with a physique approaching that of the giants. This was the hybrid of fish-man and giant—the Fish-Giant Sebastian. His appearance caused the surrounding fish-men to instinctively clear a path.
"Oh?" Kaidou grew interested, looking up at this giant. Although Sebastian's strength seemed weak in his eyes, the determination and loyalty in those eyes caught his attention. Kaidou could sense that this young man possessed a unique quality.
"Why do you want to join my pirate crew?" Kaidou asked in a deep voice that rumbled like thunder across the plaza.
Sebastian knelt on one knee, his voice resounding like thunder: "Lord Kaidou, I wish to pledge my loyalty to you! Though my strength is lacking, I will strive to become stronger and will never betray you!" His voice brimmed with sincerity and resolve, moving everyone present.
Kaidou laughed heartily, this straightforward loyalty reminded him of Byrnndi World from the World Pirates. That man had never abandoned his captain even after decades of imprisonment in Impel Down. Once such a person was subdued, they became the most reliable subordinate. Moreover, judging by his performance in the original work, his strength was barely acceptable. With the addition of a powerful Devil Fruit, his abilities could at least reach the level of the Tobiroppo.
"Excellent!" Kaidou patted Sebastian's shoulder, his massive hand producing a dull thud against the Fish-Giant's body. "From today onward, you are my subordinate. Work hard, and I will not mistreat those who are loyal." His voice carried rare approval.
Sebastian nodded excitedly, tears of gratitude glistening in his eyes. Having faced discrimination on Fish-Man Island due to his mixed heritage, he felt immensely honored to gain the recognition of the great pirate King of Beast, Kaidou. Clenching his fists, he silently vowed to prove his worth through action.
The recruitment ceremony proceeded unusually smoothly. Neptune watched as his people departed one by one, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew these individuals might never return, but for the safety of Fish-Man Island, he had no choice but to make this decision. His gaze swept over every Fish-Man who had volunteered, as if committing their faces to memory.
Fortunately, the current Beasts Pirates were not large in scale, and the number of Fish-Men they could recruit was merely a drop in the ocean compared to the vast population of Fish-Man Island. This brought Neptune some comfort, as at least most of his people could continue their peaceful lives.
After the Beasts Pirates had recruited nearly a hundred reasonably capable Fish-Men, Kaidou led the group away. The ships of the Beasts Pirates slowly departed from the harbor, their sails flapping in the underwater currents.
As the Beasts Pirates' ships left Fish-Man Island, the entire Ryugu Castle fell into silence. Neptune stood at the port, watching the receding ship shadows and muttering to himself, "I hope my decision is right..." The sea breeze ruffled his long beard, his eyes filled with complex emotions. The ministers behind him remained silent, each pondering the profound implications of this collaboration.
Meanwhile, aboard the Beasts Pirates' ship, Kaidou sat in the cabin drinking heavily. Alcohol trickled down the corners of his mouth, soaking the front of his clothes. The cabin was filled with the strong aroma of liquor, mingled with the salty scent of the sea.
"That Sebastian," Kaidou suddenly spoke to King, his voice slightly slurred from the alcohol, "will train with you and Queen from now on. This kid has potential." A gleam flashed in his eyes, clearly placing high hopes on this new subordinate.
In Kaidou's view, the current Beasts Pirates were nothing but a ragtag crew, with no one noteworthy besides himself. Promising individuals like King and Queen would need years or even over a decade to fully realize their potential. Although they now had Sebastian, whose potential was barely qualified, it was still far from enough.
Therefore, this time returning to Paradise, Kaidou's objectives were not only to obtain the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Vampire Model for King to enhance his potential and strength, but also to travel to Sky Island and the Four Seas to seize certain opportunities while recruiting a group of promising subordinates. After lying low for a few years, Kaidou would then be ready to initiate his plans.
King nodded in acknowledgment. He knew that Boss Kaidou rarely showed such interest in newcomers, indicating that this Fish-Giant must possess some exceptional qualities. King silently committed the name to memory, intending to closely observe this new recruit during the upcoming training sessions.
On the other side of the ship's cabin, Sebastian was receiving instructions alongside other newly-joined fish-men. Queen was explaining the pirate crew's rules and hierarchy system. His obese figure appeared particularly conspicuous in the cramped cabin, with cigar smoke curling through the air.
"Remember, strength is everything here!" Queen declared loudly, his voice carrying undeniable authority. "If you want status and respect, you must prove your worth! Mmmahahaha..." His laughter echoed through the cabin, causing the newcomers to instinctively straighten their postures.
Sebastian clenched his fists, secretly vowing to become stronger. He glanced around and noticed the determined expressions on his fellow fish-men. Though they had left their homeland, none regretted their choice. Each pair of eyes burned with fighting spirit, ready to carve out their place in this new environment.
The ship moved steadily through the deep sea, carrying these dream-filled fish-men toward an unknown future. Ocean currents pushed against the hull, producing low rumbling sounds that seemed to compose a marching anthem for these newly enlisted warriors.