17: Return to Onigashima

After the three tailed beasts vanished into white smoke, Kaido sat silently in his chair, lost in thought.

Wasn't the whole point of transmigrating supposed to include some kind of golden finger or cheat system? Yet here he was, apparently tied to some so-called "god" in the background.

Could it be that his "transmigration" wasn't actually transmigration at all? Was he merely sent to a fabricated, virtual world created by advanced technology—just another simulation born of void-like powers?

To be fair, Kaido was not the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to grasping the complexities of science. The more he pondered, the more convoluted it all seemed. For now, it was impossible to shake the feeling that there was something fundamentally off about his transmigration. Was there truly a divine entity pulling the strings behind the scenes?

Meanwhile, King observed Kaido sitting in silence, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. The usually confident and intimidating captain had been shaken by the day's revelations. King decided it was best not to disturb him. After all, his own mind was reeling from the absurdity of what he had just witnessed—beings like the tailed beasts, gods, other dimensions. It was enough to turn anyone's worldview upside down.

"Kaido-sama, we've arrived at the shore," King finally said, stepping forward to break the silence.

Kaido glanced at him, sighing deeply. "Forget it. It's pointless to keep thinking about this 'god' nonsense. Whether or not they exist, it doesn't change anything for us."

"Yes, Governor-General," replied a young, cheerful voice as a petite girl bounded over to Kaido with an eager smile.

"Prepare a list of the most powerful members of the Beast Pirates. Bring me their bounty posters while you're at it," Kaido instructed without missing a beat.

"Understood, Governor-General. I'll take care of it immediately!" the girl chirped before dashing off.

Kaido and King disembarked from the ship together. As they approached the looming silhouette of Onigashima, Kaido paused to take in the sight. From the outside, the island resembled an enormous mountain, riddled with countless caverns and tunnels.

However, Kaido found himself facing a rather awkward problem—he couldn't remember where his quarters were.

"Kaido-sama…" King turned to face him, noticing the hesitation in his step. "Why have you stopped?"

Kaido glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "Why are you the only one here? Where are the other two?"

King blinked, momentarily confused. Then, as the realization dawned, he mentally prepared himself for the chaos that would inevitably follow.

Kaido, however, simply smirked. Things might not be as simple as they seemed, but that only made them more interesting.

"Are you referring to Queen and Jack?" King replied calmly. "As for Jack, I sent him off recently. The Big Mom Pirates got their hands on a Zoan-type Devil Fruit, so I tasked him with acquiring it. On his way back, he might as well round up some slaves for us. As for Queen, he's likely at Udon Prison right now."

Hearing this, Kaido raised an eyebrow in mild surprise and joked, "That kid Jack still listens to you?"

King smirked, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Of course. I've watched that brat grow up since he was a child. Sure, he's earned his position as one of the Lead Performers, but in my eyes, he's still just a punk."

Kaido's expression twitched slightly. He and Jack were technically equals as Lead Performers, yet King could casually boss Jack around. That was no small feat—it spoke volumes about King's authority.

Lost in thought, Kaido suddenly asked, "King, how long have you been with me?"

"Must be close to thirty years now," King answered after a brief moment of reflection. "It was a few years after the Rocks Pirates disbanded that you found me and invited me to join the Beast Pirates."

Thirty years… that means King's about the same age as me, right? Kaido pondered for a moment before blurting out, "How old are you, anyway?"

King sighed at the question but replied dutifully, "I'm one year younger than you, Kaido-sama."

Damn it, how am I supposed to know how old I am?! Kaido thought, annoyed.

Noticing Kaido's reaction, King's sharp instincts kicked in. "Kaido-sama… don't tell me you've forgotten your own age?"

Caught off guard, Kaido coughed awkwardly to mask his embarrassment. Seeing through the flimsy act, King continued, "Your birthday is May 1st, isn't it? You'll be turning 48 in just three months."

"May 1st… that's coming up soon," Kaido muttered reflexively, only to realize too late that he'd slipped.

King's suspicions deepened. He studied Kaido carefully before remarking, "Don't tell me all that drinking has finally caught up to you and made you forget things?"

Kaido's eyes flickered with unease. He'd let too much slip already. With a forced cough, he retorted, "Nonsense! I was just testing to see if you'd remember!"

The excuse was so flimsy that King couldn't help but roll his eyes internally. He was now convinced Kaido had suffered some kind of memory lapse. The implications worried him—if word got out that their leader had memory issues, it could spark unrest among the Beast Pirates.

The crew was full of unruly individuals, most of whom had only submitted to Kaido after being defeated by him. If they sensed any weakness, even King might struggle to maintain order.

Still, King quickly dismissed his concerns. No matter what, as long as Kaido remained with the Beast Pirates, they would hold strong. Perhaps this really was just Kaido testing him. Either way, the best course of action was to act as if everything were normal.

"I'm hungry. Let's eat," Kaido said abruptly, breaking King's train of thought.

"Understood." King nodded and called out to a nearby subordinate. "Prepare dinner for the Governor-General. Kaido-sama, would you prefer to eat in your quarters or the dining hall?"

"In my quarters. Lead the way," Kaido ordered, gesturing to another subordinate.

The subordinate hesitated briefly but obeyed, guiding Kaido through the maze-like corridors of Onigashima.

As they walked, King silently followed, focused on his duties.

Once they reached his quarters, Kaido dismissed everyone, including King. Alone at last, he collapsed onto his bed with a groan.

"So exhausting!" he muttered, staring at the ceiling. "I think I pulled it off, though. Everything seemed natural enough. But seriously, this place is a labyrinth! How many turns did we make just to get here?!"

Kaido let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples. Onigashima might be my stronghold, but navigating it is a nightmare