Chapter 36: Rising Beast Pirate

1502, Sea Calendar, Shirakawa Island

On the northwest coast of Shirakawa Island, a massive villa stood atop the mountain. Its grand courtyard was surrounded by thick walls, lined with cannons and watchtowers, standing like silent sentinels. From the sea-facing balcony, Kaido sat with King, Wali, Denial, and the other core members of the Beast Pirates. They had gathered in a circle, overlooking their growing empire, reflecting on their journey.

A year had passed since the incident with Oden, and the Beast Pirates had evolved far beyond their past as simple marauders. Kaido's raw power had always been their symbol, but now, they thrived in ways no pirate crew had ever imagined. They had turned to science, industry, and the fruits of research. Factories churned out goods, and industrialization transformed the islands they ruled. With this progress, they had become one of the most dominant forces in the New World.

Kaido's thoughts drifted to the Pirate King dream, a notion that had consumed many since Roger. The One Piece—an idea that fueled the ambitions of countless pirates. But Kaido knew better. That dream was only for those delusional enough to believe they could challenge the World Government and the Navy, the most powerful organization in existence, and win. Such a fate, Kaido mused, could only befall a "child of destiny."

That child would need a lineage unlike any other—a grandfather who was one of the most powerful figures in the Navy, the legal arm of the world's power. A father who was the leader of a revolutionary movement, backed by the people. That child, even after becoming Pirate King, would save the world from drowning, would be heralded as the savior of all, yet no one would ever truly know the extent of his impact. He would be the next Joy Boy, the legendary figure, the warrior of liberation. He would change the world. He would rule it, in ways no one else could.

But even he couldn't truly rule. Not in the way people thought. Kaido knew that the day people learned about this so-called "ruler," they would turn against him. That was the nature of human . The world was filled with those who are ambitious, who never bow. You couldn't make people kneel if you aren't strongest and almighty . Ambitious individuals would always rise, always seek to topple those in power. It was inevitable.

'As they say you either die a hero or live long to see yourself became villian.'

No, Kaido had different goals. In the New World, which is disconnected to the rest of the world, you could rule without needing to bow to anyone. You could build an empire, a true kingdom, where no taxes were owed to the World Government, where no orders were taken from the Navy. Like a real king, you controlled your domain, but even kings knew one truth: if you ate meat, you had to give the soup to the people. Otherwise, revolt would follow. Ambitious men would seize the chance to overthrow you.

As these thoughts raced through Kaido's mind, one of his men approached, handing him reports. Kaido glanced over the transactions of goods, the factory production numbers, the management of the Shirakawa market, and the operations of the Marineforge shipyard. His empire was growing steadily, and with each day, his grip on the New World tightened.

This was his future. Not some dream of the One Piece, but an empire, built on power, fear, and industry. Kaido smirked to himself.

This was the path of the Dragon among men.

As Kaido mulled over the reports, one of the heads of team spoke up hesitantly. "Even though we use so much capital for the safety of the warehouses and shipments, there's still a lot of loss. Should we outsource it?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, causing some murmurs among the others. Another pirate chimed in bitterly, "Captain, this is all Roger's fault. That stupid One Piece… but you mustn't outsource security. It's because of your name and the protection you provide that people give us their business, even at higher prices."

Kaido chuckled. "Worororo... you can't say that! Pirates may be a problem for us, but they're an even bigger problem for the Navy and the World Government. If not for them, those government dogs would've come to cause us trouble." His voice hardened. "But I didn't ask for excuses. Find those Supernovas, increase the security, and if you can't, you know the consequences."

"Y-Yes, Captain!" the head of security stammered, visibly sweating under the pressure.

Kaido leaned forward slightly, his eyes gleaming dangerously. "If you can't handle those ants, tell me who they are. I'll deal with them myself."

The tension in the room grew thick as the head of security nodded frantically, his fear palpable. For a moment, the atmosphere became stiflingly silent until Kaido broke it with a loud laugh.

"Worororo! Let's not foul our moods. There's good news—Wali had a daughter! Let's all congratulate him."

"Hahaha, thank you, Captain!" Wali beamed, proud of his newborn daughter. "You must come to see Ulti, Captain."

Everyone erupted in cheers, the dark cloud over the meeting dissipating as they raised their cups and celebrated the birth of Wali's child.

---

The celebration continued into the night, with laughter and drink flowing freely. But when the party finally died down, Kaido and Queen made their way to the secret facility. Hidden deep within the heart of Shirakawa Island, this facility was the core of their scientific advancements and military might.

As they entered the cold, metallic hallways, Queen glanced at Kaido. "Captain, I have some updates on the research. You're going to like what we haveve uncovered this time."

Kaido's eyes flickered with interest as they descended deeper into the facility, the sound of their footsteps echoing off the walls.