Zefa slammed his fist down in rage.
Bang!—the solid wooden desk cracked straight down the middle.
Suppressing the urge to curse, he growled through clenched teeth,
"We lost half a branch's worth of Marines! And fine, they won't send troops to punish him—but now they're even thinking about recruiting him into the Seven Warlords?! Have their brains been kicked by a donkey?!"
As the purest believer in justice within the Navy, Zefa had always loathed the so-called "legal pirate" system of the Seven Warlords.
Now Tenma's hands were stained with Marine blood, yet the World Government wanted to pardon him? To Zefa, that was the greatest insult imaginable to justice itself.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, standing nearby, wore an expression like he was severely constipated. He, too, wanted nothing more than to storm into Mary Geoise and point at the Five Elders' noses while yelling at them.
But sitting in his position, beyond obeying orders, all he felt was a deep, bone-weary helplessness.
…
Deep in the New World, the two remaining Sea Emperors were likewise unsettled by the news.
"Father! The paper says Wano has changed hands? Isn't that Uncle Oden's homeland?!"
On the deck of the Moby Dick, veteran crew members gathered together, their expressions tense.
Especially Izo—also born in Wano and once a retainer of Oden—whose hands trembled as he gripped the newspaper, utterly unable to accept the news.
"Didn't Uncle Oden say he was the rightful successor to the Shogun? How did it end up belonging to this outsider, Tenma?"
For years there had been no news of Kozuki Oden. They didn't even have his Vivre Card anymore, so everyone assumed he'd returned home and was living comfortably as Shogun.
Who could have imagined that the next time they heard of Wano, it would be like this?
Seated upon the massive main throne, Whitebeard's face was dark enough to terrify.
An outsider had seized Wano's Shogunate, while Oden—his family—had vanished without a trace. The implications were chilling the more one thought about them.
"Send people to investigate! Even if you have to turn the entire New World upside down—find out the truth!"
Whitebeard's voice was low and thunderous, making the deck itself vibrate.
"If Oden really fell to Tenma's hands… then even if he's Golden Lion reborn, I'll drag him down from the sky myself and sink him to the seabed to feed the fish!"
At that roar, several division commanders immediately departed to carry out the order. Izo rushed out at the very front.
Third Emperor? Whitebeard couldn't care less about such empty titles.
But touch his family—and you touched his reverse scale. That meant a fight to the death.
…
New World, Totto Land Sea—Whole Cake Island.
"Ma~ma~ma~ma! The Third Emperor of the Sea? Just that brat?!"
Charlotte Linlin stuffed sweets into her mouth while letting out a shrill, grating laugh—until her huge face suddenly twisted into a savage snarl.
Crack!
The solid armrest in her hand was crushed like a cookie.
"What is this supposed to mean?! Putting him on the same level as me and that old Whitebeard fossil? Isn't that dragging us down?!"
A terrifying burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from her body, making the surrounding Homies quake in fear.
"That brat rejected Mama's tea party invitation, and now he dares climb over my head? What nerve!!"
Candy Minister Perospero leaned on his candy cane, licking the sticky coating while stirring the pot with a sinister tone.
His narrow eyes were full of disdain—he refused to acknowledge that a brat younger than himself had any right to sit on the throne of the New World.
As the eldest son, he understood Charlotte Linlin perfectly. A few well-placed words were enough to stab straight into her sore spots.
Already boiling with anger, Linlin's veins bulged instantly. Her monstrous aura made the Homies tremble even harder.
"You're right! In this New World, aside from that old Whitebeard, no one's ever dared ignore Mama's face—yet he rejected my tea party!"
Hot breath sprayed from her mouth as her eyes turned beastlike.
"Speaking of Wano… that reminds me of that bastard Kaido."
She snapped her head around, staring down at her children with bulging eyes.
"Go! Bring me the Den Den Mushi to contact Kaido—I'll ask him myself what the hell is going on!"
This was the absolute authority of the family matriarch. Even her own blood relatives felt their legs go weak before an enraged Mama, not daring to disobey.
Several subordinates scrambled over, presenting a special Den Den Mushi with shaking hands, terrified of being even a second too slow.
The burururu ring echoed sharply through the vast hall.
Before it rang more than a few times, it clicked and connected.
The Den Den Mushi's expression turned vicious and gloomy, and a rough, familiar voice came through.
"Linlin. Why the hell are you calling me?"
Charlotte Linlin stretched her mouth into a chilling grin, her tone accusatory.
"Kaido, you saw today's paper, didn't you? I hear you lost Wano."
Though they'd gone their separate ways long ago, her intelligence network kept close tabs on Kaido's movements.
Coupled with Kaido's recent activity across other New World islands, it wasn't hard to guess that the brat named Tenma had taken over.
The other end fell silent—only heavy breathing could be heard.
After several seconds, Kaido's flat voice returned.
"How's that got anything to do with you, you old hag?"
"How does it not? I've been eyeing that fat piece of meat for ages! Back then I only kept my hands off out of respect for you!"
She found that excuse effortlessly, without the slightest shame.
Then she played her tried-and-true emotional card.
"I've always treated you like a little brother. That Mythical Zoan Fish-Fish Fruit—you owe me a lifetime for that!"
Kaido had heard this line so many times his ears had grown calluses. Embarrassed and furious, he roared back,
"Stop bringing up that old crap to pressure me! Favors lose value when you keep cashing them in—my life isn't as cheap as you think!"
After venting, his tone calmed slightly.
"Just like you guessed, I did pull out of Wano. That territory's under Tenma's control now."
Though she'd already expected it, hearing Kaido admit it outright still made Linlin's eyes bulge.
Back in the Rocks Pirates days, she'd believed herself the one who best understood Kaido's potential.
That was why she'd given him that priceless top-tier Mythical Zoan fruit in the first place—partly to win loyalty, but also because she truly believed he'd become someone big.
In her mind, given enough time, Kaido would eventually reach the same height as herself and Whitebeard.
After all these years, she thought he'd already completed his rise—yet this was the outcome?
After a long pause, she asked in disbelief,
"So it really was that brat Tenma who chased you off?!"
"Bullshit, Linlin!"
Kaido exploded like a cat with its tail stepped on.
"I reached an agreement with him! An agreement! I gave it to him!"
Linlin's gossip-hungry, greedy heart instantly ignited.
"What kind of agreement could make you give up territory just like that?"
"That's confidential. Why the hell would I tell you? Don't forget—I'm a pirate who only cares about profit!"
Kaido shut it down cleanly, killing the conversation dead.
The fake smile on Linlin's face froze, a flash of malice in her eyes.
"Stingy bastard. Fine—once Mama takes Wano, I'll pry it out of that brat Tenma myself!"
Kaido snorted.
"If you've got the guts, go try, Linlin!"
Click!
The call was cut off without mercy.
Linlin shrieked in fury and hurled the Den Den Mushi across the hall.
Just before it could be smashed to pieces, a mass of soft white mochi extended out and caught it safely.
Katakuri carefully put the rare Emperor-line Den Den Mushi away, then looked up at his enraged mother.
"Mother… should we prepare to attack Wano?"
Linlin dropped her massive body back into the plush sofa.
"Of course we're going! Since that useless Kaido backed out, Mama doesn't care about any 'agreements.' I'm itching to know how that brat gets his Devil Fruits!"
To her, the Float-Float Fruit's power—able to lift entire islands—was the real prize. Wano's samurai were hardly worth considering.
Even if Tenma was strong enough to bargain with Kaido, Kaido was still a "little brother" in her eyes. What could a brat who'd only been at sea a few years possibly do?
While Linlin schemed eagerly, Kaido wasn't idle either.
After some thought, he pulled out a small, pitch-black Den Den Mushi of his own.
Tiny in his fan-sized hand, it looked like an ant. It opened its eyes slowly, wearing an expression of lazy indifference.
"Kaido calling—what instructions do you have?" the Den Den Mushi mimicked Tenma's tone.
Kaido grabbed his huge gourd, took a long swig of liquor, and spoke through the fumes.
"You're hiding in Wano, but you've seen today's paper, right? The World Government's hyping you up like this—surely you're not stupid enough to miss what those bastards are plotting."
"Heh. That low-level praise-to-kill trick? I didn't expect them to use that. I thought they'd send the Navy to die for me first, help boost my fame."
Hearing the mocking laugh on the other end, Kaido chuckled in his own signature way.
"Wororororo… big words, brat. But the Government isn't stupid either. Wano's terrain is perfect for defense—they won't waste the Navy's lives."
"Since you see through the praise-to-kill, you should also know plenty of people are eyeing that fat piece of meat. Linlin's probably already itching to make a move."
"Oh? I didn't think of that. Guess that's thanks to you?" Tenma's voice remained calm.
"Of course. That old hag knows Wano used to be under me."
Kaido finally revealed his true intent.
"She's not easy to deal with. How about it—want me to lend you a hand?"
"You'd be that kindhearted?" Tenma shot back immediately. "Sounds more like you want to fish for benefits."
"Tch—obviously! I said it already—pirates care about profit!"
Kaido admitted it bluntly, then waited for Tenma to ask for help.
What he got instead was a bucket of cold water.
"No need. I can handle something this small myself—and it won't affect your precious artificial fruits."
"Besides, praise-to-kill only works if the Government underestimates my strength. I'm not at the same level I was when I fought you."
"Who knows—maybe I'll take this chance to turn those two characters into three and play at being the Third Emperor."
Even through the Den Den Mushi, that overwhelming confidence surged out, making Kaido pause for a moment.
"You sure know how to brag, brat! Fine—I'll watch with my eyes wide open. Just don't die too ugly."
Kaido snorted, ready to hang up—but Tenma suddenly turned the tables.
"Instead of worrying about me, Kaido, you should worry about yourself."
Kaido frowned. Before he could ask, Tenma's teasing voice reached him.
"Since Linlin's coming for Wano, do you really think Whitebeard won't react to the news? Don't forget—you killed Kozuki Oden, his beloved son. Don't expect me to take that blame for you."
Kaido's face instantly went black as a pot bottom, cursing his luck.
That business with Oden was bound to come out eventually. It had stayed hidden only because Wano was closed off.
Years ago, when the Beasts Pirates hadn't fully risen yet, he truly feared that monster Whitebeard.
But now? Who knew who'd come out on top. Otherwise, he wouldn't dare act so brazenly in the New World.
"Sharp tongue, Tenma!" Kaido snarled.
"Likewise. Aren't we partners? One Emperor each—sounds pretty fair to me." Tenma laughed obnoxiously.
That only made Kaido angrier.
Fair my ass. Linlin couldn't compare to Whitebeard at his peak—this was a complete setup!
…
Wano, Shogun Castle—inside the lavish office.
Tenma kicked his feet up on the desk and casually ended the call, a cold, amused smile curling at his lips.
He wasn't laughing about the coincidence of "one Emperor each," but at Kaido's little schemes—so obvious they might as well be written on his face.
Kaido probably thought Tenma didn't know about his past entanglements with Charlotte Linlin.
If he'd actually agreed to Kaido's help, once the fight started, that bastard would definitely slack off using that as an excuse—maybe even stab him in the back.
And the price for Kaido's help would undoubtedly be Caesar Clown's research team from Punk Hazard.
After Tenma's visit there, anyone with half a brain could guess he'd already set his sights on artificial Devil Fruits.
Letting Kaido get involved would be inviting a wolf into the house—letting that brutish-looking but sly bastard take all the benefits.
So to prevent the wolf from turning on him, Tenma simply redirected the trouble, letting Whitebeard keep Kaido occupied.
That freed him up to focus entirely on playing with Charlotte Linlin.
In this world where the strong devour the weak, so-called alliances were as fragile as paper—especially with profit-obsessed lunatics like Kaido.
As for the World Government's praise-to-kill scheme, Tenma didn't take it too seriously.
As long as he could stand firm against Charlotte Linlin, that "praise" would become the perfect stepping stone.
His strength now was worlds apart from the man who'd only been able to stalemate Kaido half a year ago.
"Husband… should we start mobilizing troops to face Totto Land's army?"
Kozuki Toki asked nervously. She knew all too well how terrifying Totto Land's military power was.
"No need to make it that complicated. I'll go deal with BIG MOM personally. The flames of war won't reach Wano itself."
Toki's eyes reddened instantly. She grabbed his arm tightly.
"You're going alone again? This time it's a Yonko's home base—it's nothing like Kaido!"
Tenma patted the back of her hand gently, smiling with confidence.
"Relax. I'm not the same as I was back then either. Against BIG MOM, I'm absolutely confident I won't lose."
"But I'm not planning a full war with the Charlotte Family. Wano doesn't have the appetite to swallow all of Totto Land yet—and even if we won, it'd just benefit others."
"Until our own foundation is thick enough, let that old hag jump around for a few more years."
Whether it was Totto Land's resources or those special Devil Fruit users, Tenma coveted them all. Sooner or later, he'd swallow everything whole.
After soothing Toki a bit, Tenma issued more orders.
"Leave BIG MOM for now. Spread the news—plenty of blind pirates will come trying to pick scraps at Wano."
"Notify everyone: the entire country enters a state of readiness. Only send out elites who've mastered Haki. Use those idiots as live training—and let the seas see our strength."
Kozuki Toki nodded, then withdrew with Robin, who was still learning to handle administrative affairs.
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