3: Examining the Beasts Pirates

"Alright, nothing serious. Splash some water on these two to wake them up, and get the rest of them out of here," Kaido commanded, pointing to the unconscious Da Vinci and his companion.

"Yes, sir!" Several pirates hurriedly fetched buckets of water and splashed them onto the faces of the two unconscious men.

"Ugh… my head… so dizzy…" Da Vinci and his companion stirred slightly after being drenched, but their eyes remained unfocused. Moments later, their heads lolled to the side, and they fainted again.

Kaido, witnessing this, frowned in exasperation. "What's going on now?"

One pirate, who appeared to hold some authority, stepped forward with a helpless shrug. "Supreme Commander Kaido, there's not much we can do. The impact of your Conqueror's Haki has probably caused some damage to their brains. They'll need a few days to recover."

So that's how it works? Kaido mused, stroking his chin. Conqueror's Haki truly is remarkable. Just its sheer presence can incapacitate others and even cause harm. No wonder it's said to appear in only one in a million people.

Looking at the remaining crew members, Kaido gave another order. "Alright, you can all leave now. Except for you—stay behind."

"Yes, sir!" The pirates quickly carried out their unconscious comrades and exited the room. The one pirate who was ordered to stay, however, looked visibly uneasy. Being left alone with Kaido could mean two things: an opportunity for promotion or the start of something terrible. The overwhelming pressure radiating from Kaido made the man's breath hitch, his nerves on edge.

Kaido turned his piercing gaze on the remaining pirate. "What's your name?"

The pirate breathed a small sigh of relief, thankful the question wasn't more sinister. "My name is Cohen, Supreme Commander Kaido. I am one of your Gifters."

"Gifters?" Kaido raised an eyebrow, his confusion evident. Earlier, Da Vinci introduced himself as a Standby Subordinate, and now this Cohen guy calls himself a Gifter. Are these… ranks within the Beast Pirates?

The titles felt strange, like Kaido had taken great pleasure in naming them, though they carried an odd sense of intimidation. Still, Kaido stuck to his earlier pretense. "Recently, I heard a report claiming there's a Navy spy within our ranks. I need you to prove your loyalty."

"A s-spy?!" Cohen stammered, visibly panicked. He quickly blurted out, "Supreme Commander Kaido, I've served under you for ten years! There's no way I could be a spy!"

"Cut the nonsense," Kaido growled, his gaze sharp as a blade. "I didn't say it was you. I just need you to answer a few questions. Answer truthfully and immediately, or you'll regret it."

The sheer intensity in Kaido's glare made Cohen's heart race. Swallowing hard, he nodded rapidly. "Yes, sir! I'll answer to the best of my ability!"

Truthfully, Kaido had no idea how to properly wield or direct killing intent. However, his immense natural strength meant that even unintentional gestures carried a weight that could crush ordinary men.

Kaido leaned back slightly, arms crossed, as he began his interrogation. "Let's start with something simple. How do outsiders refer to me and this crew? What are the ranks within our organization? And how many people are currently under my command? Don't think—just answer."

"Y-yes, sir!" Cohen stammered before hastily responding. "The Navy refers to you as Kaido of the Beasts, and our crew is known as the Beast Pirates. As for ranks, the highest position is you, Supreme Commander Kaido. Below you are the All-Stars: King the Wildfire, Queen the Plague, and Jack the Drought. Below them are the Tobiroppo: Sasaki, Who's-Who, Black Maria, Ulti, Page One, and X Drake—though X Drake is now a traitor. Then there are the Headliners, followed by Gifters, Pleasures, and Waiters. Additionally, there's a special group directly under your command known as the Calamities, but I've never seen them myself."

Kaido nodded, his expression unreadable. Internally, though, he was absorbing every detail. So that's the hierarchy. And these names… What the hell was I thinking when I came up with them? They're as ridiculous as they are intimidating.

"Good," Kaido said after a pause. "Anything else I should know?"

"Not much else, sir," Cohen replied nervously. "Our crew's current strength stands at over 30,000 members, though it's hard to say how many are truly reliable."

30,000 men… Kaido thought, a smirk tugging at his lips. With this many subordinates, I might just be unstoppable.

Kaido narrowed his eyes and asked, "Are these thirty thousand directly under the Beast Pirates, or do they include allied crews as well?"

Cohen sighed internally but replied respectfully, "No, these are just the members stationed in Onigashima and Wano. If we include the pirates stationed outside Wano and Onigashima, it would add another ten to twenty thousand."

So, in total, I've got nearly fifty thousand subordinates, Kaido thought, pleased. He looked back at Cohen and continued his interrogation. "Who is this Shogun Orochi? Explain."

Cohen appeared momentarily startled. "Supreme Commander Kaido, Shogun Orochi is your ally! Don't you and he often drink together?"

Kaido's expression darkened with annoyance. "I'm the one asking the questions here. Stop wasting time and just answer me."

"Y-yes, of course!" Cohen stammered, visibly flustered. He quickly continued, "Shogun Orochi is the ruler of Wano and the heir to the Kurozumi clan. Since Wano is an isolated nation of samurai, his status is essential for controlling the region. Wano and Onigashima are strategically positioned, both being highly defensible locations. With Shogun Orochi controlling Wano and you commanding Onigashima, we can repel even the Navy Admirals or the other Emperors before they set foot on our territory."

"Oh?" Kaido raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Wano, huh? I remember being curious about it while reading the manga. That kid everyone called Momo must've come from Wano, right? Too bad I got transported here before the Wano Arc was released.

He leaned forward slightly, asking, "So, if Orochi can stand as my ally, his strength must be formidable, right?"

Cohen hesitated, sweat beading on his forehead. He couldn't help but think something was off about Kaido today. Is this a test to see if I'm a spy? That must be it.

Kaido pressed on, his voice turning cold. "Well? What's Orochi's strength like?"

Cohen felt the pressure mounting, his nerves fraying. He knew the truth—that Orochi was widely regarded as a weakling. Even the All-Stars, Kaido's top commanders, often mocked Orochi behind his back. Gritting his teeth, Cohen decided to play it safe and flatter Kaido. "Shogun Orochi? Hah, he's nothing but a useless fool."

Kaido blinked, caught off guard by the blunt response. "A fool?"

Cohen, misinterpreting Kaido's surprise, panicked further. Your acting is amazing, Supreme Commander Kaido! You're always calling Orochi a fool behind his back, and yet you're pretending to be shocked now? Out loud, he elaborated, "Yes, a fool. The only reason you supported him as Shogun of Wano was to exploit his status. The people of Wano are stubborn and prideful; if we tried to take control directly, they'd resist fiercely. But by keeping Orochi as their ruler, we avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Besides," Cohen continued, growing bolder in his flattery, "managing those simpletons isn't worth your time. We're pirates, after all—our pursuit is freedom, not governance. Letting Orochi, or any other local idiot, handle the administration is far more convenient. Calling him an ally is really just Orochi deluding himself. To someone as powerful as you, Supreme Commander Kaido, it doesn't matter who sits on the Shogun's throne."

Kaido remained silent, processing Cohen's words. So, my relationship with Orochi is one of convenience. While we're technically allies, it's clear I hold the upper hand in this partnership.

He also recognized the possibility that Cohen was exaggerating to curry favor. Regardless, Kaido made a mental note. This Orochi guy might be worth meeting in person someday. It'll help clarify his role and usefulness.