Caesar looked around the hall.
There were not many people inside—aside from Kaidou and the three Lead Performers, only a handful of others were present.
Who’s-Who wore a red face-covering helmet with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.
Even through the helmet, Caesar could feel his irritated, slightly envious glare.
Next to him were Sasaki—stout, sharp-toothed, with horns sprouting from his head—and Black Maria, dressed in geisha attire and tall enough to rival Kaidou in height.
There was also a pair of teenage siblings, both sporting the twin horns characteristic of the Oni race.
The girl had long blue hair and was sizing Caesar up with curious eyes, while the boy had purple hair and a mild, submissive aura.
They were likely Ulti and Page One.
Judging by their current ages, their presence here proved Kaidou placed great importance on these two Ancient Zoan Fruit users…
The rest were minor lackeys—either original characters absent from the canon, or background fodder from the Wano arc that Caesar couldn’t recall because he had skimmed through those chapters.
“Finally awake, Caesar brat!” Seeing Caesar, Kaidou’s eyes lit up.
Holding a sake cup large enough to double as a bathtub for Caesar, he laughed boisterously.
“Good thing you didn’t try to run off, or I’d have to beat you half to death and throw you into prison…” “Hmph.
He doesn’t look like he has the guts to run anyway.” Before Caesar could speak, Who’s-Who—who had been glaring at him with annoyance since he entered—eagerly sneered.
Caesar tilted his head and glanced at him, almost thinking he had stumbled into a classic hidden-dragon story.
“Generally speaking, in an organization, a guy who acts as the boss’s hype-man on major occasions usually falls into one of two categories.” Caesar slowly raised two fingers.
“The second-in-command…
or an irrelevant nobody.
I wonder which one you are?” As soon as the words left his mouth, Ulti burst out laughing.
Beside Kaidou, Queen didn’t bother hiding his roaring laughter, while King let out a cold smirk, contempt plain on his face.
“My, what sharp words…” Black Maria puffed gently on a slender pipe, her tone playful.
Feeling the teasing gazes of everyone around him, Who’s-Who’s face darkened instantly.
He rested a hand on his sword hilt and stood up.
“Bastard, what did you say?” “He called you a nobody!” Queen fanned the flames with gloating satisfaction.
If there was anyone with the worst reputation in the entire Beasts Pirates, it was definitely this fool Who’s-Who.
He went around every day acting like he was king of the world, looking down on everyone, while constantly swearing he’d take their positions as Lead Performers.
Weak, yet loud…
“Enough.
All of you quiet down.” Kaidou waved his hand, sounding somewhat impatient.
Who’s-Who reluctantly sat back down, and Queen cut off his laughter.
Then Kaidou gestured for Caesar to sit in front of him.
Two geishas approached Caesar, one holding a wine jar and the other a cup, and filled it to the brim for him.
“This is brotherhood sake.
Drink this cup, and you’re officially part of the Beasts Pirates.” Kaidou stared at Caesar intently.
“Brat, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.
If you try to run after this, you will die for real.” Staring at the full cup of sake before him, Caesar nodded thoughtfully.
“In other words, as long as I get strong enough that you can’t beat me to death, I can leave, right?” “You’ve got a big mouth, brat…” Kaidou grinned, raised his huge sake cup, and chugged it all down in one go.
Setting the cup back down, the grin on his face widened until he burst into uncontrolled laughter.
“Worororo!
If you can do it, give it your best shot!” Caesar licked his lips, picked up his cup, and drained it.
The crisp liquid slid down his throat into his stomach, then vanished instantly—as if drained by an invisible force!
*Gurgle…* Caesar’s stomach rumbled like a drum, and dishes of food were immediately brought out and set before him.
Caesar didn’t stand on ceremony.
He grabbed a giant bowl of macaroni-like noodles, twirled his fork, and began devouring them like a whirlwind!
Head-sized slabs of roast meat were scarfed down in two bites.
Roast chicken and goose had their bones crunched to splinters in a single bite, and a whole suckling pig vanished into his belly in two mouthfuls—a feat so miraculous even Caesar didn’t know how he was managing it.
Right now, he felt immense satisfaction.
Like a withered tree receiving a sudden downpour, every cell in his body was frantically absorbing nourishment.
As the nutrients rushed in, a surge of warmth flowed through him, spreading into every limb and bone.
Boundless strength seemed to sprout from countless cells.
*I can actually absorb vitality through food?* Caesar was somewhat surprised, but thinking it over, food was fundamental to sustaining human life.
Since he could absorb the vitality from blood, converting food into vitality wasn’t particularly strange either.
As dish after dish was cleaned out, a tall stack of plates grew beside him.
“You’ve got quite an appetite, kid.” Kaidou looked at Caesar in surprise, sharply noticing that the youth’s build seemed a bit sturdier than before.
Patting his full belly, Caesar let out a contented sigh.
“I’m full.
When do we start Haki training?” “Haki training?” Ulti exclaimed in surprise, “What the heck?
This guy hasn’t even mastered Haki?
Speaking of which, who is this newcomer anyway?
A Devil Fruit user?
Or just a glutton?” Kaidou looked at King.
“Hmm?
Didn’t I tell you guys earlier?” King replied neutrally, “You only said a newcomer was joining and that we were throwing a banquet.” “Is that so…” Kaidou rubbed his chin and pointed at Caesar.
“In that case, let me introduce him.
Gold Caesar, user of the Mythical Zoan Vampire Fruit.” “A Mythical Zoan?
Che…
What’s so great about that?
Our Ancient Zoans aren’t bad either, right, Pay-Pay?” Ulti crossed her arms.
Comparing Caesar’s handsome face to her own Pachycephalosaurus form, her tone was laced with jealousy.
Beside her, Page One stayed silent, purely envious.
He wished to be favored by Lord Kaidou too, but he wasn’t petty like Who’s-Who.
Being one of the few honest and mild-mannered crew members, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything spiteful.
Black Maria puffed out a soft cloud of smoke, as if remembering something.
“The legendary Fruit said to grant immortality and eternal youth?
What envious good luck.” “Nani?!
Immortality and eternal youth?” Ulti’s eyes widened sharply.
“Does such an unfair power really exist?!” “Of course it’s fake!” Who’s-Who sneered.
“I’ve read the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, and there’s no record of such a Fruit!
It’s probably just some vampire bat fruit or something!” “Ha!
Haha!” Queen pointed at Who’s-Who, mimicking DJing motions with his hands, mocking him mercilessly.
“The publishing rights for the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia are held by the World Government!
Those guys have been trying to retrieve that Fruit for ages, so of course it wouldn’t be listed!
If you want real info, you gotta read the unofficial versions, dumbass!” “Ah, that’s true.
The version I read was an unofficial copy as well.” Black Maria rested her chin in her hand, a hint of envy in her tone.
“It left a deep impression on me because of the eternal youth aspect.
I never expected a man to eat it.
But that’s fine—if a woman had eaten it, I might have killed her out of jealousy.” “So how did this kid end up in your hands, Boss Kaidou?” Queen asked.
“Hmph.
Joker contacted me saying he had a big transaction…” Kaidou paused, then grinned wide as if recalling something delightful.
“On the way back, I decided to drink a little on a whim, and I happened to sense the Caesar brat awakening Conqueror’s Haki!
Good things just keep happening lately!
Worororo…” Hearing this, Caesar nodded in understanding.
So Kaidou’s appearance really had been a coincidence.
Though his luck was still ridiculously bad!
“Master Kaidou” was just a meme.
If given a choice, who in their right mind would seek out Kaidou?
Queen looked at Caesar in shock.
“Conqueror’s Haki?
This guy has Conqueror’s Haki?!” “Conqueror’s Haki?
What’s so great about Conqueror’s Haki!” Ulti felt even more sour.
Turning around, she grabbed Page One’s neck and began shaking him.
“Hey~ Pay-Pay!
You’ll awaken Conqueror’s Haki too, right?” “I don’t know if he will awaken it, but if you keep choking him like that, Lu-Lu, he’s going to die,” Black Maria said with a smile, glancing at Page One, who was foaming at the mouth.
“Hmph, Conqueror’s Haki…” Jack, who had remained silent all along, glared gloomily at Caesar.
He had only been a Lead Performer for a few years, and he had never paid much mind to Who’s-Who or Sasaki, who wanted to usurp his position.
But Caesar was different!
A Mythical Zoan, plus Conqueror’s Haki.
In the entire Beasts Pirates, only Kaidou possessed those qualities.
A Mythical Zoan granted the immense physical stamina of a Zoan, combined with powers rivaling Paramecia or even Logia types.
And Conqueror’s Haki represented a fast track to peak power.
As long as he went through enough battles, his floor in the future would be at least the level of a Lead Performer or a Sweet Commander!
Which meant Caesar genuinely possessed the potential to threaten his status.
And judging by the guy’s attitude, his target was Kaidou himself!
Eating Lord Kaidou’s food, learning Haki under Lord Kaidou, and wanting to challenge Lord Kaidou in the end?
What a bastard!
“Conqueror’s Haki…” Beneath his horned helmet, Who’s-Who’s eyes burned with even greater envy.
“Hmph, so what if he has Conqueror’s Haki?
As long as Lord Kaidou stands, he’ll never have the chance to be king!” “So that’s how you think?” Caesar looked at Who’s-Who in surprise, a sudden realization dawning on him.
He offered a bright smile.
“Then you definitely haven’t awakened Conqueror’s Haki!” “What…
did…
you…
say?” As soon as the words were spoken, a flush of bright red spread visibly from Who’s-Who’s neck up across his entire face, turning the skin beneath his horned helmet crimson.
Though silent, everyone present seemed to hear the sound of something shattering.
“Pfft—hahahaha!” At Caesar’s remark, Queen burst into roaring laughter.
“You bastard Caesar, you really know how to talk!
I’m starting to like you!” Hearing Queen mock him repeatedly, Who’s-Who completely lost his composure.
“Bastard!
What are you laughing at?
You haven’t awakened Conqueror’s Haki either!” “I’m a Lead Performer!” “You—” Seeing Who’s-Who suffer a total breakdown, the banquet hall was filled with merry laughter.
“Hmph, that’s right…” Kaidou’s lips curled into a fierce grin.
“That’s right!
That’s exactly how it should be!
Freedom?
Family?
Ambition?
No matter what your desire is, battle is the ultimate answer to everything!” “Am I right, you brats?!” “Oooohhh!” Inside the banquet hall, everyone roared in response, as if invigorated by his words, shedding their earlier petty schemes.
It proved that while a crew could have internal strife, it needed a core pillar capable of crushing all dissenting noise.
Kaidou was precisely that pillar!
Putting aside their operational methods and ruthless style, Kaidou possessed considerable personal charisma toward his subordinates.
At least the vast majority of the crew followed him with unshakeable loyalty.
“Since you want to learn Haki, prepare to face death at any moment!” Kaidou gulped down a huge mouthful of liquor, wiped his chin, and looked over at King.
“I’m handing this kid over to you, King!
Draw out every bit of his potential for me!” “Understood.” King took a deep look at Caesar.
Unlike the others, he was someone who had been with Kaidou from the very beginning and was his true confidant and second-in-command.
Because of that, he cared far more about Caesar’s potential.
He didn’t believe Caesar had what it took to surpass Kaidou, but since Kaidou ordered him to train Caesar, he wouldn’t hold back anything.
“Speaking of which, I have a question,” Caesar said, turning to Kaidou.
“Armament Haki hardens attacks, Observation Haki predicts movements, but Conqueror’s Haki…
shouldn’t be limited to just that useless intimidation effect, right?
Can you teach me?” “Realized it already, huh…” Kaidou gave him an appreciative look and chuckled softly.
“We’ll talk about that after you master Armament Haki!
Don’t worry, when the time comes, I’ll teach you personally.” “Then thank you, Captain Kaidou.” Caesar looked eagerly at King.
“When do we start?” “Worororo!
What’s the rush, brat?
A pirate’s banquet must be enjoyed to the fullest!
This is your welcome feast, so drink up!” Kaidou laughed boisterously.
“Hey, Maria, find a woman for this guy!” Caesar waved his hand lightly.
“No need to trouble yourself.
I prefer simpler girls.” “Oh?
Quite pure-hearted, aren’t we?
But Big Sister’s girls are all very ‘experienced’ children…” Black Maria rested her chin on her hand thoughtfully.
Suddenly, her eyes flicked over to Ulti, who was pestering Page One, and her eyes lit up slightly.
“Speaking of which, Lu-Lu probably hasn’t had a boyfriend yet, right?” “What did you say, Maria?!” Ulti’s brows furrowed.
“I’m not pouring drinks for that pretty boy!” “Don’t be angry.
You can’t stick to Pay-Pay forever, can you?” Black Maria giggled behind her hand.
“I think Caesar is quite a handsome young man.
It’d be a shame if someone else snagged him first.” “Tch, a weakling who hasn’t even mastered Haki.” Ulti pouted and turned to Caesar.
“Wait until he can beat me in a fight first!” Caesar glanced at Ulti and shook his head.
“Even if I beat you, no thanks.
I like voluptuous girls.” “You bastard, you—!
Don’t hold me back, Pay-Pay!
I’m gonna kill this bastard, AAAAAHHH!”