Kurosaki Rei had already received the notification last night that his hidden mission was complete. At the time, he'd been puzzled as to why the reward hadn't arrived yet, even wondering if it would only be settled and distributed after he returned.
So this was how it worked.
By completing the mission, he had earned Kaido's trust. And Kaido's reward was a Devil Fruit—one that hadn't even appeared in the original canon. As for how the Space managed to get Kaido to obtain it, who knew?
Within the Beasts Pirates, almost everyone was an Animal-type Devil Fruit user. That was practically the crew's calling card. Kaido clearly wasn't trying to fob him off with a SMILE—this was a genuine Animal-type Devil Fruit.
And not just any Animal type.
It was an Ancient Zoan.
[Animal-type · Ancient Zoan — Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Model: Tyrannosaurus Rex]
Origin: One Piece
Quality: Epic
Item Type: Bloodline
Usage Requirement: None
Usage Method: Consume any part to activate
Description:
A Devil Fruit housing the ancient power of the Tyrant King. After consumption, grants +5 Constitution, +5 Strength, +4 Agility, and the ability to transform into a Tyrannosaurus Rex. As the fruit's power is further developed, the bloodline's attribute bonuses will gradually increase, and additional bloodline skills may be unlocked.
Score: 680 (400–700)
Evaluation: A Devil Fruit with high potential, well-suited for frontal assault combat.
Honestly speaking, this Devil Fruit was too good.
Even within the "Animal Kingdom" that was the Beasts Pirates, this was absolutely a heavyweight prize.
It was clear that Kaido truly valued him now. If Kaido didn't genuinely appreciate him, there was no way such a powerful fruit would be given to a young newcomer. After all, many of the crew's officers had fruits inferior to this one.
Kaido was probably grooming him as Yamato's right-hand man—the same way King stood at Kaido's side.
The fruit was excellent, but Kurosaki Rei hesitated.
Should he really eat it?
In theory, its abilities suited his combat style quite well. But… turning into a Tyrannosaurus Rex felt kind of ugly.
From his old roommate, Aizen Sōsuke, Kurosaki Rei had once learned an important truth: style mattered too. If you looked too ugly, it might even affect your combat power…
Fortunately, Kaido hadn't demanded that he eat it on the spot. After handing over the Devil Fruit, Kaido simply led his men away, leaving the choice to Kurosaki Rei.
"It's a Devil Fruit! Too bad there's no guidebook—we don't know what it is. I think you shouldn't eat it yet, Brother Rei."
Yamato examined it for a bit, then leaned closer and whispered in his ear,
"Who knows what kind of trash my old man might've given you? You can only eat one Devil Fruit in your entire life—you've got to be careful!"
Hearing that, Kurosaki Rei couldn't help but laugh. Even now that Yamato had found her own identity, she still seemed to harbor some prejudice against her father.
"I don't think the fruit itself is a problem," Kurosaki Rei explained. "I'm just not sure whether I want to become a Devil Fruit user. Once you do, you can't swim anymore. I still want to go out to sea in the future."
He added, "Sailing alone without being able to swim is way too dangerous."
Yamato immediately grabbed his shoulders, her expression serious.
"Brother Rei, if you're going out to sea, shouldn't you bring me with you?"
"…Fair enough. My mistake," Kurosaki Rei said helplessly. "If we actually make it to the point of going to sea, I'll bring you."
In his heart, he sighed. Just dealing with Wano alone might take a long time.
Since he'd committed to this, he couldn't half-ass it and then run off with Yamato. At the very least, he needed to solve the problems of food and environmental damage here.
"Promise! You can't go back on it!" Yamato said earnestly.
Though she no longer believed she was Kozuki Oden, she still carried a strong desire for adventure on the seas.
At the same time, she knew now wasn't the right moment. Unlike her former idol, she couldn't abandon the country and go gallivanting about. She had just become Wano's shogun—she needed to do something for the people before she could feel at ease.
"I can promise to take you out adventuring after we've handled Wano's affairs," Kurosaki Rei said, laying down a precaution in advance. "But I can't promise I'll always stay by your side."
He needed to say this early. He knew he would eventually disappear. Yamato was the type who might search an ocean until the day she died if he vanished without warning.
"That won't do! I'd never abandon my friends!" Yamato exclaimed heatedly.
"Brother Rei, do you really think I'm the kind of person who'd leave you behind at a critical moment?!"
Kurosaki Rei felt both touched and helpless. He stood on tiptoe and patted her shoulder.
"Of course you're not. That's exactly why I don't want you getting hurt, understand? And I'm just talking about a possibility—I might not run into any trouble at all."
Only then did Yamato calm down a bit, though she still puffed out her cheeks angrily.
"Don't say things like that again. Or I won't talk to you."
"Alright, alright. I won't," Kurosaki Rei said, raising his hands in surrender.
Some things could only be taken one step at a time.
...
The next day, the main streets of the Flower Capital were packed with people craning their necks in curiosity, watching wagon after wagon piled high with grain roll past.
Yet even the boldest thugs dared not approach the convoy.
Because escorting the grain was a fearsome pirate.
A handsome yet stern man with white hair, brown skin, and black wings. A wreath-like tattoo surrounded his left eye. He was tall and powerfully built, his entire body—including his face—covered in pitch-black attire.
He wore a mask and goggle-like helmet, a black double-breasted coat with two skull emblems on the collar, black gloves that left no skin exposed, and a long sword at his waist. Flames flickered behind his head.
Everyone who saw him instinctively stepped aside.
Because he was the Beasts Pirates' foremost All-Star, Kaido's right-hand man and sworn brother, with a bounty of 1,390,000,000 Berries—
"Wildfire" King.
After receiving the news, Kurosaki Rei and Yamato came out of the shogun's palace to greet him.
Yamato might not understand propriety, but Kurosaki Rei did. King was the true second-in-command of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido's brother-in-arms in life and death. It would have been unacceptable to wait until he escorted the grain all the way to the palace before meeting him.
"Mr. King, thank you for personally delivering the grain. You've resolved our urgent needs—my sincere thanks."
Kurosaki Rei looked up at King. This was his first time seeing Wildfire in person. At over six meters tall, King was overwhelmingly imposing—Kurosaki Rei standing before him felt like a toddler facing an adult.
From the original story, Kurosaki Rei knew King was a Lunarian, a near-extinct transcendent race only introduced in the later stages. King might well be the last natural-born Lunarian in existence.
Lunarians could generate flames from their bodies, and those flames carried offensive power. When the flames vanished, their speed increased dramatically—but at the cost of defense.
They could survive in all manner of harsh environments, a race born for battle. Vegapunk later used King's cells to create the Seraphim—each one possessing Warlord-level combat power. Completely outrageous.
"I've carried out Kaido's orders," King said flatly. "Do what you're supposed to do."
He glanced down at Kurosaki Rei.
"Don't disappoint him."
Clearly, King didn't fully trust Kurosaki Rei. This self-proclaimed "Demon Slayer" had appeared in Wano far too abruptly, and in an astonishingly short time had entered Kaido's sights, climbing at breakneck speed.
King hoped he was simply being overly suspicious. If Kurosaki Rei could do his job well, govern Wano properly, and bring more profit to the Beasts Pirates, then all would be well.
But if Kurosaki Rei harbored any plans detrimental to the Beasts Pirates—
King would personally cut him down.
"Please give us some time," Kurosaki Rei replied calmly. "We'll show both the Governor and you the results."
He knew that with someone like King, words were meaningless. Only results mattered.
King nodded slightly, said nothing more, and turned to leave. His mission had been to deliver the grain to Kurosaki Rei and Yamato—not to escort it to a specific location.
Watching King depart, Kurosaki Rei snapped his fingers. Several figures appeared beside him.
"Have the security forces assist with escorting the shipment. Sixty percent goes into the granaries. The remainder is to be distributed according to the list I gave you yesterday—sent to the key famine-stricken regions around Wano."
Long before King arrived with the grain, Kurosaki Rei had already made his plans.
This was the essence of the early bird catches the worm. If he tried to think everything through on the spot, he'd almost certainly mess it up.
The night before, he had reviewed Wano's financial records and famine reports from across the country. He already had a clear plan for how the grain would be allocated.
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