Chapter 26: Research

Unknown private island

In the depths of a grimy tavern, somewhere in the chaotic waters of the New World, pirates and underworld figures mingled in hushed conversation. The air was thick with smoke, and the clinking of mugs filled the room as deals were made in the shadows.

At a corner table, a scarred pirate with a menacing grin leaned in to speak with a man cloaked in black, his identity hidden. "Oi, have you heard the latest? Beast Kaido's set up his own pirate island. Some say he's buying Devil Fruits and scientific knowledge at prices high enough to make a king jealous."

The cloaked man nodded, his voice a low whisper. "Word's spreading fast. He's paying a fortune for herbs, rare materials, and medical research too. Seems like he's gathering as much power as he can. You strike a deal with him, and you could become rich overnight."

A large pirate with an eye patch grumbled nearby, slamming his drink down. "Kaido, running a marketplace? That's insane. Pirates aren't supposed to be merchants."

"Think bigger, fool," another pirate chimed in, stroking his beard. "Kaido isn't just trading. He's building something. He may have those scientist guy building Weapons or something for him.

"Heh, or he's just trying to wage war on everyone," the scarred pirate muttered. "With that much research, Kaido's probably looking to mass-produce something deadly. You ask me, he's preparing for a showdown with the Navy or even the other pirate like whitebeard."

The pirate with the eye patch scoffed "Hmph, sounds like a load of crap. But with the kind of money he's throwing around, you can bet the underground is lining up to sell him what he wants. Doesn't matter if it's Devil Fruits, rare herbs, or even black-market medical research."

Across the room, a small, unassuming man in a corner silently took notes on the conversation. He was no pirate—he was an information broker, one who sold intel to the highest bidder.

With a subtle tap on his Den Den Mushi, he sent the information to his underground contacts.The rumors were spreading like wildfire, and soon, the world would take notice.

Navy at Marineford

The Den Den Mushi buzzed on the desk of a high-ranking officer. The moment the message was received, the gravity of Kaido's actions would soon draw the attention of Fleet Admiral Sengoku and the rest of the Navy.

News of Kaido's weapon factories spread quickly, and it wasn't long before the Navy Headquarters called an emergency meeting. Fleet Admiral Sengoku sat at the head of the table, his face twisted in concern."We must not allow this to happen," Sengoku declared, slamming his fist on the table. "Kaido can manufacture weapons on such a scale that could throw the entire world into chaos."

Vice Admiral Tsuru crossed her arms, her expression calm but calculating. " when did Kaido become such a nuisance? He's moving more strategically than I expected."

"What's the plan, Fleet Admiral Sengoku?" Aokiji asked lazily, leaning back in his chair. He had calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tension in the room.

Sengoku sighed heavily. "I've already contacted the Five Elders. Their orders are to not interfere. They claim the CP will handle it. But our priority, according to them, is still the Roger Pirates. No distractions. In fact, they've instructed us to raise the bounties of Roger and his crew again."Akainu, his jaw set in frustration, clenched his fists. "Tch. Ignoring Kaido is a mistake. If we let him build his weapon factories, the entire world will pay the price."

"Justice cannot wait, especially with pirates like Kaido," Kizaru chimed in, though his voice remained as nonchalant as ever. "But... the Five Elders have spoken. Ara ara, things are getting complicated."

Garp, sitting beside Tsuru, grinned in his usual carefree manner. "Bah! Kaido, Roger, they're all the same. Just punch 'em in the face! Pirates will be pirates no matter how much you try to outthink 'em."

"But Kaido is different from Roger," Tsuru interjected sharply. "Roger never sought out war, while Kaido actively builds towards it."

Sengoku rubbed his temples, clearly agitated. "We'll have to stay on alert, but we can't afford to divide our forces. For now, we keep an eye on Kaido's movements, but Roger remains our top priority. Tsuru, Garp, I need you to focus on tracking Roger's crew."

Garp yawned, standing up with a stretch. "Fine, fine. I'll deal with Roger... But don't come crying to me when Kaido becomes too much to handle."

Onigashima – Secret Research Facility

Deep beneath Onigashima, hidden in the bowels of the skull-shaped building, Kaido's secret research facility buzzed with activity. The flickering lights illuminated advanced equipment, strange chemical concoctions, and towering experimental machines.

"Muhahaha! Captain, you're a genius," Laughing queen said . "By leaking the news about the weapons factory, no one would ever suspect what we're really researching—lineage factor manipulation, stem cell technology, hormonal alterations, and epigenetic reprogramming! We're on the verge of breakthroughs that will reshape the world!"

Kaido sat in the shadows, his massive form barely visible. "Weapons are a distraction. What we're truly after is something far more dangerous. Power beyond any Devil Fruit… power that shapes the very essence of life itself."

Dr. Mordok, a eccentric-looking doctor with wild white hair and goggles strapped to his forehead. grinned wickedly. "Yes, yes! And even if the world government learns about it, they won't be able to stop us!"

Kaido shifted forward, the dim light catching his menacing gaze. "They can't touch me. But they can interfere with our resource gathering. That's why no one, outside of us, should know about this facility. Not even the rest of the Beast Pirates. Do you understand?"

Dr. Mordok straightened up, sensing the gravity in Kaido's tone. "Of course, Captain. Everything here stays between us."

Kaido's eyes gleamed as he spoke with a deep growl. "Good. Now, let's dive deeper into the science."

The room fell silent as the two resumed their twisted work, driven by Kaido's grand vision of domination not just through war—but through the very building blocks of life.

"Heh, world keep thinking of past, with the knowledge what Joyboy and what imu when I get the power, gods will have to bow infront of me"