The morning air in Totto Land carried the sweet scent of baking and the salty tang of the sea.
Kaizer stood at the newly completed East Port, holding a sheepskin notebook and recording the inventory of incoming and outgoing supplies. The long-armed craftsmen had delivered a shipment of high-quality timber from a neighboring island yesterday. The warehouses needed to be expanded before the rainy season.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes. More than a month of intense training and repeated death-regeneration had taken its toll. Even though his body could recover, the mental exhaustion was hard to shake. Three days ago, Linlin had forcibly ordered him to rest: "Mamama! If you keep dying like this, the baby won't even recognize its father when it's born!"
So he had temporarily set aside training and turned his attention to managing Totto Land's daily affairs.
The results were noticeable.
Drawing from basic management concepts from his previous life and adapting them to the realities of the One Piece world, Kaizer had established a simple set of rules for Totto Land:
Food distribution based on labor, tiered public security management, and basic medical support.
It was crude, but for these war-weary refugees, it already felt like paradise.
The residents' eyes had shifted from initial fear to a sense of security. A few fish-men had even volunteered to bring over relatives still struggling for survival on other islands.
"Lord Kaizer." An elderly long-armed craftsman approached, saluting with all three arms. "The foundation for the West District residential buildings is complete. Would you like to inspect—"
Before he could finish, a long, majestic dragon roar echoed from the horizon.
It wasn't a bird's cry or a beast's howl — it was something far older and more imposing, accompanied by rolling clouds and surging air pressure.
The port fell silent instantly. Fish-men dove into the water. Long-armed craftsmen gripped their tools tightly. Human residents looked up at the sky, their faces draining of color.
Kaizer's pen paused.
[IBM · Shadow] materialized from the shadows, its bandaged "head" turning toward the direction of the roar. "Master, a high-energy lifeform is approaching. Signature match… Kaido."
[IBM · Phantom] added: "Estimated arrival in thirty seconds. Recommend heightened alert."
"Notify Linlin," Kaizer closed his notebook. "Have the residents return to their homes. Non-combatants evacuate the port."
The two IBMs dissolved into black mist.
Kaizer stood still, watching the sky. The clouds tore apart as a massive shadow broke through — azure-blue scales gleaming with metallic luster in the morning light. The sinuous body blotted out the sun, with deer antlers, eagle talons, and a fish tail… an Eastern dragon.
Kaido in his Azure Dragon form.
The dragon circled once above the port, the gale from its wings overturning two market stalls, then dove downward. The moment it touched the ground, the dragon body contracted and transformed into human shape — long black hair draped over his shoulders, bare upper body covered in scars, a deep blue sash around his waist, and his signature kanabo "Hassaikai" resting on his shoulder.
Kaido landed on one knee, shattering the stone slabs of the pier. He slowly rose to his full height of nearly nine meters, radiating overwhelming pressure that made the seawater at his feet churn.
His crimson eyes swept across the port — the orderly warehouses, the busy residents, and the guards who trembled but still held their posts.
Finally, his gaze landed on Kaizer.
Kaido narrowed his eyes, as if confirming something, then bared his sharp white teeth in a grin.
"You brat," his voice rumbled like thunder. "Linlin hasn't killed you yet."
Kaizer put away his notebook and offered a calm, respectful bow — neither servile nor arrogant, the greeting of one equal to another.
"Kaido-san, welcome. We apologize for not greeting you properly." He said, "Linlin often speaks of you."
"Speaks of me?" Kaido snorted. He took two steps forward, each one shaking the ground. "Does she talk about how I beat her, or how she beat me?"
He stopped in front of Kaizer and looked down. "Interesting. The little Marine brat from God Valley who nearly died is now playing house here… as a steward?"
Kaizer looked up and met those crimson eyes. "I am the King."
A second of silence.
Then Kaido erupted in thunderous laughter. "Hahahaha! King? You? With that tiny body?"
The laughter echoed across the port. Several timid residents fainted on the spot.
Kaizer's expression didn't change. "Kaido-san came to see Linlin?"
"Who else would I come for?" Kaido's smile faded, his eyes sharpening. "Where is she? Tell her to come out. I didn't fly all this way to chat with a little ghost like you."
"Linlin is not available to receive guests right now," Kaizer said. "She's resting."
"Resting?" Kaido frowned. "Since when does that woman need rest? Isn't she eating twenty-four hours a day?"
Kaizer paused, then decided to tell the truth — there was no point hiding it.
"She's pregnant."
The air froze.
Kaido's expression stiffened. His crimson eyes widened, mouth slightly agape, as if he had heard the most absurd thing imaginable.
"…What?" His voice dropped several octaves.
"Linlin is pregnant," Kaizer repeated. "Four months along. She needs rest."
Kaido stared at Kaizer, then glanced at his stomach, then back at Kaizer's face. This monster who had fought naval fleets without blinking now looked almost dazed.
"Yours?" he finally asked.
"Mine."
Another silence.
Then Kaido laughed again — this time the kind of laugh that said "I'm impressed."
"Hahahaha! Interesting! Really fucking interesting!" He slapped his own thigh hard enough to make loud thuds. "That crazy woman Linlin actually got pregnant! With you, the unkillable little ghost!"
When he finally stopped laughing, he wiped the corner of his eye — whether from tears of laughter or something else, it was hard to tell.
"Fine. You've got guts, kid." Kaido extended a massive finger and poked Kaizer's shoulder — carefully controlled so he wasn't sent flying. "Surviving Linlin's hands and even getting her pregnant… I, Kaido, acknowledge you as—"
"Mamama—!!!"
Linlin's wild laughter rang out from afar.
A pink figure shot toward them from the castle direction. Each leap covered hundreds of meters, and her landings shook the wooden planks of the port. She landed firmly in front of Kaizer, her massive body completely shielding him.
"Kaido—!" Linlin stood with hands on her hips, glaring up at the man who was still half a head taller than her. "You should be staying on your Onigashima. What are you doing here in my Totto Land!"
She wore a loose maternity dress — specially made by Longbread from more than a dozen bedsheets sewn together. Her belly already showed a noticeable bump, yet her movements remained frighteningly agile.
Kaido looked her up and down, his gaze lingering on her abdomen, then grinned. "Came to see if you were dead yet. And…" He paused. "To ask for a favor."
"A favor?" Linlin raised an eyebrow. "Since when does Kaido need favors?"
Kaido didn't answer immediately. He scanned the residents peeking from behind buildings, looked at Kaizer, and finally turned back to Linlin.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
Linlin stared at him for a few seconds, then turned. "Follow me."
She strode toward the castle. Kaizer naturally followed. Kaido shouldered Hassaikai and walked behind them, his crimson eyes continuously scanning Totto Land's buildings, fields, and residents, growing deeper with every glance.
In the castle hall, Longbread had already prepared refreshments — though the teacups looked like toys in front of Kaido and Linlin.
Kaido sat cross-legged on the floor. Linlin sat across from him. Kaizer sat beside Linlin — a position that earned an extra glance from Kaido.
"Speak," Linlin said, grabbing a piece of cake and stuffing it into her mouth. "What could possibly make a mad dragon like you fly all the way here?"
Kaido downed the entire teacup in one gulp, then chewed and swallowed the porcelain — the sound of cracking ceramic made teeth ache.
"Wano Country," he said.
Linlin's chewing paused.
"Kozuki Oden has returned," Kaido continued. "He brought people from the Roger Pirates. Wano is now in total chaos — the shogun's forces, the Kozuki clan, Kurozumi Orochi… everyone is fighting for control."
"None of my business," Linlin stuffed another piece of cake into her mouth. "Weren't you planning to go to Wano anyway? Go conquer it yourself."
"I can't take it alone," Kaido said bluntly. "Kozuki Oden is strong. The Roger Pirates aren't pushovers either. I need manpower. I need allies."
He looked at Linlin.
"You owe me. At God Valley, I helped you escape."
Linlin raised an eyebrow. "I stole the Azure Dragon Fruit for you."
"One thing at a time," Kaido grinned. "The fruit is the fruit. Saving your life is saving your life."
The hall fell quiet.
Kaizer listened silently, his mind racing. Wano, Kozuki Oden, the Roger Pirates… At this point in time, Oden should have just returned from Laugh Tale and was now clashing with Kaido and Orochi. The original story was vague on this period, but it was clear that Kaido gradually took control of Wano during this time.
Would Linlin agree?
"How many people do you need?" Linlin suddenly asked.
"You, plus your Homies," Kaido said. "Not for long — one month. Help me pin down the Kozuki clan and the Roger Pirates. I'll handle Orochi and the shogun's forces."
"And the reward?"
"Thirty percent of Wano's Seastone mines," Kaido held up three fingers. "Plus, I owe you one favor. In the future, as long as it doesn't cross my bottom line, I'll help you with anything."
Linlin didn't reply immediately. She continued eating her cake slowly.
Kaizer knew she was weighing the options. Thirty percent of a Seastone mine was an enormous temptation — Seastone was a strategic resource for countering Devil Fruit users. With it, Totto Land's defenses could rise several levels. Kaido's favor was also incredibly valuable — it could lay the groundwork for a future Emperor alliance.
But the risks were equally huge. Kozuki Oden's strength was unfathomable, and the Roger Pirates were full of monsters. Linlin was now four months pregnant. Although her combat power hadn't decreased, she was still…
"I'll go with you."
Kaizer suddenly spoke.
Both Linlin and Kaido turned to look at him.
"You?" Kaido scoffed. "Brat, do you even know who we're up against? Kozuki Oden could cut you in half with one slash — oh wait, you can revive. But so what? You don't even qualify to block a single strike from him."
Kaizer stood up.
He walked to the center of the hall and looked at Kaido.
"I'm not strong. But I can't die." His voice was calm. "I can be the bait, the shield, the expendable. When you need someone to throw their life away, I'll go."
Kaido narrowed his eyes.
Linlin put down her cake and stared at Kaizer. "No. You stay in Totto Land."
"Totto Land has Longbread, the Homies, and defensive structures," Kaizer turned to her. "But if you go to Wano alone, I won't be at ease."
"Mamama! I don't need your protection!"
"You do," Kaizer said firmly. "You're four months pregnant. Using your Soul-Soul Fruit will affect the child. I can sense it — every time you use large amounts of soul power lately, the child's soul becomes restless."
Linlin froze.
Kaido also froze.
"…You can sense that?" Linlin asked softly.
"Soul Affinity." Kaizer tapped the corner of his eye. "I can see soul fluctuations. Every time you overuse your ability, the child's soul reacts."
The hall fell silent again.
Kaido looked at Linlin, then at Kaizer, and suddenly grinned.
"Interesting." He stood up, his massive shadow engulfing Kaizer. "Kid, you've got more guts than I thought."
He extended his fist.
Not to attack — but held it in front of Kaizer.
"One month from now, meet me on Onigashima," Kaido said. "If you can make it there alive, I'll acknowledge you as an ally."
Kaizer looked at the fist that was larger than his head and extended his own, lightly bumping Kaido's knuckles.
"Deal."
Kaido withdrew his hand and looked at Linlin. "What about you? Are you coming?"
Linlin stared at Kaizer for a long time, then sighed — the first time Kaizer had ever heard her sigh.
"Mamama… Fine. I'll go." She stood up and patted her belly. "Consider it earning milk money for the child."
She turned to Kaizer and placed her massive hand on his head.
"But you have to promise me," Linlin's voice was low, audible only to Kaizer. "Don't die too many times. It'll make me sad."
Kaizer nodded.
Kaido watched the scene with a complicated expression. Finally, he shook his head and shouldered Hassaikai.
"One month from now, in Wano. Don't be late."
He turned and walked toward the hall entrance. Before stepping out, he looked back at Kaizer.
"Kid."
"Yes?"
"Take care of Linlin," Kaido said seriously. "If anything happens to her, I'll skin you alive — though you probably wouldn't mind."
Kaizer smiled. "I will."
Kaido nodded. He leaped out of the castle, transformed into the Azure Dragon mid-air, and let out a dragon roar that shook the clouds before disappearing into the sky.
Linlin walked to the window and watched Kaido vanish into the distance.
"Kaizer," she suddenly said.
"Hm?"
"You said earlier… you can sense the child's soul?"
Kaizer walked to her side and looked up at her. "Yes. It's very warm and bright, like a little sun."
Linlin gently placed her hand on her abdomen.
After a long silence, she spoke softly:
"I will protect him too."
Outside the window, the morning in Totto Land continued.
Residents stepped out of their homes and began their day's work. The port grew busy again. People worked the fields, and the sweet scent of desserts drifted from the castle kitchen.
But Kaizer knew the peaceful days were over.
One month from now, in Wano.
Kozuki Oden, the Roger Pirates, Kurozumi Orochi, the shogun's forces…
Along with Kaido, Linlin, and their soon-to-be-born child.
He took a deep breath as the system interface appeared before him.
[New Mission Triggered: Wano Country Operation]
[Objective: Assist Kaido in taking control of Wano]
[Time Limit: 30 days]
[Reward: Depends on contribution]
[Failure Penalty: Stagnation of Totto Land's development and damage to Linlin's reputation]
Kaizer closed the interface.
One month.
He had to become stronger.
Much stronger.
Before the child was born, he needed to at least reach Vice Admiral level.
Before the real monsters came knocking, he needed… the power to protect everything he cherished.
Linlin suddenly pulled him into her arms.
"Mamama! Don't look so worried!" She laughed. "It's just a fight! With the two of us together, what is Wano?"
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