At the welcoming banquet, Caesar lost count of how much alcohol he had been forced to drink.
Yet unlike in the past, when he woke up, he felt none of the splitting headache that usually followed a hangover.
He felt only slightly lightheaded, which quickly passed after he downed a bucket of hot porridge, returning him to peak condition.
Having polished off a whole roasted sheep, a tub of rice, and a bucket of red bean soup with rice cakes for breakfast, Caesar wiped the corners of his mouth and looked at the maid sitting on her knees nearby with her head bowed.
“Where’s the bathhouse?” “Please follow me, my lord.” The maid rose in silence and led Caesar downstairs to a Japanese-style bathhouse.
There was no one else inside.
“Why is it empty?” The maid explained in a soft voice, “Lord Kaidou instructed that this entire building belongs to Lord Caesar from now on.” “And what about you?” Caesar turned his gaze onto her.
She was the same girl who had guided him yesterday, looking no older than eighteen or nineteen.
She was quite attractive, with a serene and peaceful aura.
“This humble servant is Ayu.
I was originally a geisha in Wano, but thanks to Lady Maria’s favor, I was assigned to serve you, my lord.” “Not bad.
Keep up the good work.” Caesar casually stuffed a gold coin into her hand.
“That’s all.
You can go now.” As the heavy, solid gold coin settled into her hand, Ayu’s eyes widened slightly.
*Is this coin…
pure gold?* Stealing a glance up at Caesar’s handsome face, Ayu bit her lip gently.
“My lord, shall I assist you with your bath and change of clothes?” “No need.” Stripping off his clothes and tossing them aside, Caesar stretched his shoulders and neck, then turned and stepped into the bath.
After taking a quick shower and changing into fresh clothes, Caesar ambled outside.
He scanned his surroundings.
Around him stood a cluster of towering palaces, beyond which stretched long rows of thousands of torii gates.
Distant daylight filtered faintly through the far side.
Judging by the position of the torii gates, he was currently inside the giant horned skull of Onigashima.
The small building Kaidou had assigned to him was right next to the red-light district controlled by Black Maria, situated in the skull’s left hemisphere, very close to the main hall.
“My lord…” Ayu followed closely at his side.
“Would you like Ayu to show you around?” “No.
Take me to King.” Caesar shook his head.
All he wanted right now was to master Haki as quickly as possible.
“Please follow me, my lord.
Your residence is located in a wing extended from the main building, so you can reach the main hall directly through the interior corridors.” Ayu walked ahead to guide him.
“Furthermore, the main hall is the territory of the officers.
Except for their direct subordinates, ordinary pirates are not permitted to enter as they please.” “Am I assigned only you as staff?” “Apart from the cleaning staff, there is currently only myself.” “I see…” Caesar suddenly halted.
“This is far enough.
Go on back.” “Yes, my lord.” Ayu asked no questions and quietly turned to leave.
Only after her footsteps had completely faded away did Caesar turn to face the corner ahead.
“Hiding your head and showing your tail like a coward—no wonder you’ve never awakened Conqueror’s Haki.” “You brat…
you just can’t quit, can you?” Who’s-Who stepped out from behind the corner, his face twitching.
Seeing Caesar’s nonchalant attitude, his eyes beneath his horned helmet burned with gloomy hostility.
“What?
Waiting here bright and early—are you looking to learn how to awaken Conqueror’s Haki from me?” Caesar tilted his head.
“I could pass on my experience, but what about talent?” “Arrogant brat…
It seems you know nothing about your situation here,” Who’s-Who sneered.
“This is the Beasts Pirates.
Reasoning means nothing here—only fists speak.
Killing you might cause a bit of trouble, but if I merely smash that filthy mouth of yours, even Lord Kaidou won’t say a word.” He took a deep, almost intoxicated breath.
“Speaking of which, you haven’t even mastered Haki yet, have you?
How wonderful.
I can already smell the blood on you…” “Is that so…” Caesar nodded in understanding.
Then, as if a sudden thought hit him, he asked curiously, “Do those yellow lenses on your horned helmet affect your ability to tell colors apart?” Who’s-Who frowned.
“What?” “I mean…” Caesar slowly raised his hand, pointing straight at Who’s-Who.
“You might be dying right about now.” *Pfft—* A jet of crimson suddenly burst out from Who’s-Who’s chest.
Under his disbelieving gaze, it morphed into an exquisite blood-red bat and flew over, landing delicately on Caesar’s fingertip.
“Hah—” Who’s-Who looked down in shock at his blood-stained chest, trying to speak.
But with his windpipe damaged, all that came out was a grotesque, raspy wheeze.
Suddenly, he gagged violently, spurting out mouthfuls of fresh blood as the excruciating pain in his chest became agonizingly sharp.
Thudding down onto his knees, Who’s-Who gasped frantically for air.
Yet he discovered in utter despair that no matter how hard he tried to breathe, he could only exhale, never inhale.
Every desperate attempt only drained what little oxygen remained in his blood all the faster.
*Tap…* *Tap…* *Tap…* The crisp sound of leather boots stepping across the wooden floor echoed in his ears.
Severely oxygen-deprived, Who’s-Who could no longer tell whether the sound came from Caesar or the Grim Reaper.
He could only slump helplessly against the floor, vomiting blood.
Suddenly, as a slender palm rested gently on his head, Who’s-Who felt something subtly being stripped away from his body.
Pain!
The pain was gone!
The agony in his chest vanished completely, replaced by an indescribable lightness.
His whole body felt weightless, as though he were floating high above the clouds.
*Clang…* His horned helmet rolled onto the floor, revealing a head of completely white hair.
In his dying moments, Who’s-Who’s mind seemed to reach a strange clarity.
He saw his hands—wrinkled, withered, and ancient—and he saw the faint mist of blood drifting through the corridor.
That question…
*Was that what he meant?* A tingling sensation started behind his ears and rapidly spread across his entire body.
Endless static and white darkness swept in from all directions, consuming his vision entirely.
*Bang!* Kicking the corpse out of his path, Caesar strode toward the main hall.
The blood mist slowly dissipated.
Streams of Observation Haki swept across Who’s-Who’s corpse before quietly retreating, as though nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.
“Waaah-hao-hao-hao!
Who’s-Who!” In the main hall, Kaidou, who had been chugging alcohol since early morning, suddenly burst into loud wails.
“You useless trash, how could you die so suddenly?!” “A bizarre ability…” Standing nearby, King flicked his eyelids up slightly.
“As expected of a Mythical Zoan.
Even I couldn’t tell how he pulled that off.” Kaidou snorted angrily, twin jets of booze-scented vapor blasting from his nostrils.
“It’s blood…” King paused slightly.
“He can control someone else’s blood?” Kaidou gulped down another swig and wiped his mouth.
“It was the blood mist that brat generated.
It entered Who’s-Who’s body through his breathing.” “Worororo…
What a dangerous trick!” Kaidou burst out laughing, his eyes fixing onto the figure casually strolling into the room.
“Though it’s useless against me…
that mist actually blocked Observation Haki.
I have no idea how you managed that, kid.” “The true essence of the Vampire Fruit isn’t bloodsucking, but the plunder of life force,” Caesar explained unhurriedly.
“The blood I generate contains a portion of that life force.
So if my theory is correct, it was this dispersed life force within the mist that interfered with Observation Haki’s ability to sense living presence.
Truth be told, I didn’t expect this effect either—it was quite an unexpected gain.” “That makes sense.
It seems you already have a basic grasp of Haki.” Kaidou cast a surprised glance at Caesar before his face darkened again.
“Still, it’s only the second day, and you’ve already killed off one of my key men!
Who’s-Who was top-tier backbone, second only to the Lead Performers!
Caesar!
Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Caesar shook his head.
“The guy brought it on himself.
You can’t blame anyone else.
There’s no need to beat yourself up over it, Mr.
Kaidou.” At those words, Kaidou raised his hand and gripped the Hassaikai leaning beside him.
“If you don’t talk properly, I’ll just have to communicate with you using my club…” “What was his bounty?” “Three hundred and fifty million Berries.
Given his strength, it would’ve definitely gone higher later,” King said neutrally from the side.
“Though at best he probably would’ve capped out at five or six hundred million before his death.
Furthermore, Who’s-Who was an Ancient Zoan fruit user.
Ancient Zoans are typically valued at around one billion.” Caesar held up three fingers.
“I’ll give you three billion!” Both Kaidou and King froze.
Kaidou stared intensely at Caesar.
“Three billion?
Kid, where would you get that kind of money?” “Ever heard of the East Blue Caesar Corporation?
My enterprise.” Caesar spread his hands slightly.
“If you haven’t, that’s fine—you must know Water 7, right?” “Is that your enterprise too?” “I own shares.
Not many—ten percent.” Kaidou’s excitement was visibly palpable.
He sat up straight, eyes gleaming as he stared at Caesar.
“Then how much…
how much are you worth?” “Altogether?
Around a hundred billion.
Most of it is in physical assets, and with the East Blue being consistently stable, the monthly revenue is quite substantial.” Caesar smiled faintly.
“Want it?
If you want it, I can give it all to you.” “A hundred billion?
To me?” Even Kaidou, who had seen his share of massive storms, was momentarily stunned by the claim.
“Are you serious, kid?” “Money is merely a means, not the end.
Besides, what do you think is the most valuable part of the Caesar Corporation?
The assets?
Don’t be ridiculous…
it’s me!” Caesar let out a soft snort, raising a hand as a mass of crimson gathered above his palm.
Under the light, the blood sparkled like a translucent red crystal.
“But now…
I’ve obtained what I wanted.
These trivial side products aren’t worth my time to manage anymore.
After all, I’m not short on money.
If you’re willing to take over, that couldn’t be better.” “Besides, a mere hundred billion…
For a major armed syndicate like the Beasts Pirates, occupying a land as vast as Wano and controlling rare resources like Sea Prism Stone, don’t tell me you don’t even have that much?” “Worororo…
Kid, how many pirates have you seen that are educated?” Kaidou’s eyes shone green with greed as he looked at Caesar like he was staring at a rare treasure.
“In that case, I’m handing the crew’s finances over to you from now on!” “I refuse.” Kaidou silently raised his club.
Caesar silently raised both hands.
“However, I can transfer the enterprises to you at a bargain price.
As long as you follow my instructions, even living off the principal will be enough to sustain the entire crew.” Seeing Caesar being so sensible, Kaidou satisfiedly lowered his spiked club.
“In that case, I won’t hold Who’s-Who’s death against you!
And I won’t take advantage of you for nothing either!
If you have any requests, feel free to ask!” “Aside from getting stronger, I don’t have anything in mind for now.” Caesar smiled.
“Just consider it a favor you owe me.
A favor from Kaidou of the Beasts is worth far more than any of those random things.” “Worororo!” Kaidou roared with laughter, clearly thoroughly enjoying Caesar’s words.
“Sly bat kid!
Fine then!
But don’t speak any bullshit about letting you leave!” “Of course.
I haven’t learned Haki yet…” Caesar turned to King.
“Mr.
King, can we begin today’s training?” “Follow me,” King said impassively, leading Caesar down to the shore outside Onigashima.
“Judging by what you said earlier, you have at least a basic understanding of Haki.
Then you should be clear on how Haki is awakened, correct?” “Battle…
right?” Caesar’s eyes flickered with excitement.
“Correct.” King gestured toward Caesar with his hand.
“Do not use your Devil Fruit ability.
Rely solely on pure martial arts and attack me with everything you’ve got!
Show me what you’re capable of.” *Swish—* Before the words had even settled, an afterimage flashed across the shore like lightning.
Caesar appeared ghostlike in front of King, swinging a fist straight at his face.
“Good speed!” King’s eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise passing through them as he tilted his head to dodge the blow.
Immediately after, he clenched his right fist, coating it in Armament Haki, and slammed it hard toward Caesar.
Immense power, blinding speed.
With a loud *bang*, Caesar was sent flying backward, skidding a trough over ten meters long through the sand!
“So weak?!” King blurted out in utter astonishment, unable to hold back his disbelief.
He felt his punch hadn’t been that fast, yet Caesar hadn’t dodged it at all!
“Hahaha, my bad!
I’ve done training in the past, but I’ve never really had a proper fight.” Rubbing his swollen cheek, Caesar sat up with a laugh.
“It didn’t feel that fast, but my body’s reaction just couldn’t keep up…” “That movement earlier…” King suddenly realized.
“The Six Powers?” “Ah, yeah.
As long as you have money, those Marines are pretty easy to deal with.” Caesar climbed back to his feet.
Under the effect of the life force harvested from Who’s-Who, his swollen cheek healed rapidly.
“An enviable ability,” King remarked, gesturing again.
“However, without tremendous power to back it up, you’re nothing more than a punching bag for the strong!
Again!” “Ora!” *Bang!* Caesar was sent flying backward!
“Ora ora!” *Bang!* Caesar flew back once again!
“Ora ora ora!” *Bang!* This time, Caesar finally blocked King’s fist.
Yet before he could even rejoice in his progress, a knee strike launched him into the air.
“Don’t lose focus!” King said coldly, “Since you can already block attacks at this speed, starting now, I will launch continuous strikes against you—even when you’re on the ground.” Rubbing his stomach, Caesar picked himself up.
Watching King stride relentlessly toward him, he inexplicably felt like he had just graduated from kindergarten straight into a Ph.D.
program…