Dæmon rose from his seat, walked over to the unconscious CP4 agent, and lifted him from the floor.
Even a trained Cipher Pol agent could not remain conscious after being struck by Kaido’s Conqueror’s Haki.
Slap!
Slap!
Dæmon struck the man hard across the face twice.
The agent awoke from his peaceful sleep.
The first thing he saw upon opening his eyes was Dæmon’s face, causing his lips to tremble in terror.
“D-Don’t kill me!
Big Brother, I surrender!” “Who are you calling Big Brother?
I ask the questions, and you answer them.” Dæmon grinned, revealing a seemingly benevolent smile.
“Where is this ship headed?” “P-Punk Hazard,” the agent hurriedly answered.
“It’s a secret research facility controlled by the World Government.” He did not dare hide anything.
The man before him was a ruthless member of the Rocks Pirates.
His first major appearance in the news involved kidnapping two Celestial Dragons, earning him a terrifying bounty of five hundred million Berries.
Dæmon knew about Punk Hazard.
In the future, the island would be transformed into a land of fire and ice following a battle between two Marine Admirals.
“Change course.
We’re going to Hachinosu.” Dæmon looked at the agent.
“You should have an Eternal Pose for the island aboard this ship, shouldn’t you?” “Yes!
We do!” The man nodded frantically and gave him an ingratiating smile.
“Because we’re constantly sent on missions, the ship carries Eternal Poses for many different islands.” Unlike a Log Pose, which recorded the magnetic field of the next island along a Grand Line route, an Eternal Pose permanently pointed toward one specific destination.
Such tools were indispensable for navigating the Grand Line.
“Excellent.
You’ve saved your life.” Dæmon nodded with satisfaction.
“Wake several of your companions and steer the ship toward Hachinosu.” “Yes!
Right away!” The agent felt as though he had received a royal pardon.
He immediately began waking his companions, who obediently returned to their positions and changed the ship’s course.
…
Three days later, on the ship’s deck, Dæmon and Kaido were arm-wrestling.
Neither used Haki.
It was a pure contest of physical strength.
Their clasped hands remained motionless as tremendous pressure spread through the crate supporting their elbows.
Crack!
The crate finally failed to withstand their strength and shattered into pieces.
“A draw!” Kaido immediately declared.
Dæmon laughed.
“Who said it was a draw?
I won.” “No.
The crate broke before either of us lost, so it was a draw.” Kaido naturally refused to admit defeat.
He turned toward the only witness.
“Abel, it was a draw, wasn’t it?” “Uh…
Lord Kaido…
Lord Dæmon…” The eight-year-old boy began sweating heavily as he desperately searched for an answer that would not offend either of them.
Fortunately, the CP4 agent arrived and rescued him from the impossible situation.
“Lord Dæmon, Hachinosu is directly ahead.” Dæmon turned toward the distant horizon.
Even from this far away, he could faintly see the enormous Skull Hotel towering above the island.
The agent rubbed his hands together and laughed nervously.
“Well, Lord Dæmon…
We’ve fulfilled your request.
Perhaps you could now allow us to—” Dæmon had no interest in making life difficult for a group of small fry.
“Once we reach the island, you may leave.” The man’s face brightened, but Dæmon was not finished.
“However…” Dæmon looked at him with a half-smile.
“You lost an important experimental subject.
The World Government won’t forgive you once you return.
You may want to consider defecting while you still can.” The agent’s heart jolted.
This was the reality he had desperately tried not to think about.
Their mission to transport the Lunarian child had failed.
Once his superiors learned what had happened, the entire CP4 unit would likely be imprisoned—or worse.
However, he did not dare direct his resentment toward Dæmon.
Who could have predicted that they would encounter two members of the Rocks Pirates in the middle of the ocean?
To him, the situation was nothing less than a natural disaster.
While the agent struggled with his decision, the ship finally entered Hachinosu’s harbor.
The pirates at the port were initially alarmed when they saw a World Government vessel approaching.
Then they remembered that they were on Hachinosu.
What was there to fear?
A large group of pirates gathered at the docks with menacing expressions.
The moment they saw Dæmon and Kaido disembark, however, their faces changed.
The supposedly ferocious pirates instantly became as docile as house cats.
“Lord Dæmon!
Lord Kaido!” “They stole a World Government ship!
As expected of the Rocks Pirates!” “Long live Captain Rocks, the king of pirates!” Dæmon could not be bothered with these rowdy flatterers.
Kaido stretched his stiff neck.
“Why don’t we get something to drink?
Let’s go to Shakky’s tavern.” “You haven’t visited it yet right?” Dæmon thought about Shakky for a moment before nodding.
“All right.
I’ll take a look.” He glanced behind him.
“Abel, follow us.” “Yes, Lord Dæmon.” Abel quickly followed.
His eyes moved curiously across his surroundings as he took in the legendary pirate paradise of Hachinosu.
Once the three of them disappeared, the pirates who had been as docile as sheep instantly revealed their true nature.
“The Storm Pirates claim this ship!” “Nonsense!
It belongs to us!” “Then let’s fight!
Whoever wins gets the ship!” A chaotic battle immediately erupted across the harbor.
The government agents still standing on the deck exchanged bewildered glances.
Their leader quickly recovered and shouted, “Set sail!
Do you all want to die here?” …
Shakky’s tavern was one of the most popular establishments on Hachinosu.
Shakky herself was praised as the “Treasure of Hachinosu.” A long line stretched from the entrance, with countless pirates patiently waiting for their turn to enter.
The tavern had one special rule: fighting was strictly prohibited inside.
Anyone determined to fight had to move at least one kilometer away.
Because of that rule, many powerful pirates regularly visited the tavern.
Even bitter enemies could sit down and speak peacefully while inside.
Dæmon was surprised when he saw the orderly queue.
What a terrifying era.
These lawless pirates had all been completely tamed by one beautiful woman.
Simps.
Every last one of them.
However, Dæmon had no intention of waiting in line.
At this rate, he might not enter the tavern before nightfall.
…
Inside, Gloriosa sat at the bar with a small makeup mirror in her hand, admiring her reflection.
“Oh, Shakky, you may be more popular than I am right now, but things will be different in a few years.” Her voice could not have sounded more smug.
Shakky wore an apron and carried a tray.
She could not help laughing at her former captain’s vanity.
“I truly envy you.
I visited that brewer before, but unfortunately, my beauty had no effect on him.
How frustrating.” One Devil Fruit could be exchanged for one glass of the Elixir of Immortality.
The price was reasonable, but obtaining a Devil Fruit was far from easy.
Stussy touched one finger to her lips and tilted her head thoughtfully.
“How strange.
Could it be that he isn’t interested in women?” Although neither woman wanted to admit it, Shakky’s beauty was unrivaled.
Nearly every pirate on Hachinosu was one of her admirers.
“It’s impolite to speak badly about someone behind his back.” A man’s voice suddenly came from the doorway.
The three women turned simultaneously.
When Shakky saw Dæmon, her eyes brightened, and a slight smile appeared on her lips.
“I didn’t say anything bad about you, Dæmon.
That was Stussy.” Stussy rolled her eyes.
“Dæmon, Kaido, where have you been these past few days?
No one has seen either of you.” “We went out for a short trip.” Dæmon gave her a casual answer before examining the tavern.
It was far larger than his Immortal Tavern.
Every table was occupied, though several stools remained empty around the bar.
Dæmon walked over and sat to Stussy’s right.
Kaido took the stool beside him and immediately called out, “Shakky, bring me an entire barrel of sake!” “Coming.” Shakky was no helpless woman.
As the former captain of the Kuja Pirates, she was a powerful pirate who had once been relentlessly pursued by Garp.
She bent down, lifted a large barrel of sake from behind the counter, and placed it before Kaido.
Then she looked at Dæmon with a smile.
“What would you like?
Since this is your first visit, your drink is on the house.” “I’ll have a Margarita.” Dæmon pointed toward Abel.
“Give him a glass of water.
He’s only eight years old, so he can’t drink alcohol.” Shakky prepared Dæmon’s Margarita and poured Abel a glass of water.
“Here you go, little brother.” “Thank you, Big Sister,” Abel replied gratefully.
Dæmon accepted his drink and looked around.
“Are the three of you the only ones here?
Where are Rocks and the others?” “They went to Elbaf,” Gloriosa answered.
Then she suddenly chuckled.
“By the way, Dæmon, you’re new to the crew, so you probably don’t know this.
Rocks used to be one of Shakky’s suitors.” Dæmon already knew, but the word “used to” caught his attention.
“Used to?” “He gave up because he couldn’t win her over!” Stussy teased.
“It seems he’s fallen for another woman recently, although I wonder who she could be.” Shakky leaned against the bar and rested her chin on one hand.
“It’s more serious than that.
The baby should be born soon.” “What?!” Kaido stared at her in shock.
Dæmon’s expression became subtle.
As the saying went, three women together could create an entire drama.
These three were certainly experts when it came to gossip.
Wait…
Does that mean Blackbeard is about to be born?