Upon hearing those words, even Sengoku's expression turned a little complicated.
He opened his mouth but couldn't find the right words. A wry smile crept onto his face, the corner of his lips twitching slightly.
So what was this, really?
The Marine Headquarters had mobilized three top-tier Admiral-class powers to rescue one man... and in the end, before they even arrived, Darren had already escaped from Kaido on his own!?
You're making us look stupid, you know!?
"Bwahahaha!! As expected of my adjutant!"
At that moment, Garp walked over while picking his nose, puffing out his chest, radiating pride.
Sengoku and Zephyr both rolled their eyes in unison.
They were too tired to argue with this buffoon anymore.
"But even though we didn't retrieve him, this operation wasn't without gain..."
Sengoku shook his head and looked around at the scorched earth before him, the corpses of countless pirates, and in the distance—the collapsed, burning arms factories that had once fueled a war machine.
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"We've utterly destroyed the Beasts Pirates' base. Ten massive arms production lines—gone. At the very least, Kaido won't be recovering anytime soon."
Although they hadn't captured Kaido in the skirmish, Sengoku wasn't too disappointed.
As an Admiral of Marine Headquarters, he knew better than anyone that Kaido wasn't someone easily subdued.
Despite the three of them teaming up to beat him bloody, Kaido's monstrous body and the recovery of his Zoan powers meant he'd likely be back on his feet soon.
"But on that note—where did Darren go?"
"And according to the intel Sakazuki provided, Kaido had captured both him and Douglas Bullet alive. But we didn't find Bullet either."
"Most importantly—how did they even escape?"
The others looked mildly stunned at Zephyr's words.
"Continue the search. Focus on this island and the nearby Islands. Even if Darren escaped, his condition can't be good. He likely didn't get far."
Sengoku exhaled slowly, eyes flashing with insight behind his black-rimmed glasses. He said firmly:
"Also keep an eye out for Douglas Bullet. If found—capture immediately."
Across a remote island, jagged mountain ridges loomed like the spines of some great gray-black dragon.
Sky-piercing ancient trees enveloped the earth. Within the thick forest, creatures slumbered peacefully—
Until a terrifying aura swept through.
As if sensing a top-tier predator, every animal and insect froze, then dropped flat to the ground, trembling.
Rumbles echoed overhead. Thunder rolled from the heavens.
A black shadow darkened the skies.
The legendary dragon pierced the clouds, diving from the heavens and crashing into the forest's heart—whipping up a tempest, bowing mighty trees.
As dust and smoke cleared—
Kaido, blood at the corners of his mouth, slammed his kanabo into the earth, smashing a crater, panting with rage.
His eyes were bloodshot, filled with seething fury.
"Unforgivable!! They interfered in my fight with Garp!!"
It had been an even match, but those self-righteous Marines had shamelessly ganged up on him!
Even pirates had some sense of honor!
Kaido despised interference when fighting a worthy opponent. He wanted a fair and direct clash of strength.
"Shameless bastards!!"
He spat blood on the ground, chest heaving.
The few dozen surviving members of the Beasts Pirates stood still as statues, silent, shrunken, terrified of the murderous aura pouring from their captain.
Then, a grumble broke the silence.
"No way the other two would've just stood by and watched..."
Kaido turned his bloody, furious gaze on Queen, who was tinkering with the tail machinery on his back.
"What did you just say?" he growled.
Queen jolted and immediately laughed awkwardly.
"Boss Kaido, I said the Marines are just too shameless!!"
He stood upright, feigning indignation, waving his fists.
The kanabo smashed into Queen's pudgy face, launching him into the trunk of a massive tree, scattering birds into the sky.
King covered his face, wincing.
Cursing inwardly, King lifted his gaze and sighed deeply.
"Brother Kaido... the coordinates of our island are exposed. I don't think we can return."
He looked around at the remaining pirates. Every one of them bore the ashen look of defeat. Their morale was gone.
King's expression darkened. His heart sank.
The massive Beasts Pirates, built over years, reduced to this handful.
And their headquarters, their vast arms network—obliterated.
It was the greatest defeat the Beasts Pirates had ever known.
Hearing that, Kaido took a deep breath, forcing down his rage.
The New World was vast—so vast that not even the Marines or the World Government could chart it all.
But it was also small.
Only a few islands had real value—most were barren, undeveloped, useless.
The prosperous ones? They belonged to either the World Government... or powers like Whitebeard and Shiki.
Even Big Mom had carved out her own domain through political marriages.
The useful lands were limited. Some had more, meaning others had less.
To gain territory—there was only war.
But in their current state, the Beasts Pirates couldn't afford war.
And Kaido knew better than to think he could challenge Whitebeard or Shiki.
He had been a mere apprentice on the Rocks Pirates. He knew firsthand how terrifying they were.
So... was there nowhere left?
A bloody grin spread across Kaido's lips.
He raised his kanabo.
The spiked weapon pointed toward a shadow shrouded in sea mist.
An island—steep, towering hundreds of meters above sea level.
"That fool Orochi said that samurai left to chase his so-called dreams, right?"
"Yes, Brother Kaido."
He turned to look at the distant, enclosed land.
Its mineral resources were worth ten times what their old base had.
It was also the world's only known producer of Seastone.
Its terrain—easily defensible.
And most importantly—
According to the latest intel, the one samurai who had made them wary...
Had left in search of his "dream."
That country was called—