"Gurararara..."
Whitebeard's sharp gaze swept over Caesar, and he grinned widely.
"You don't look like someone who was captured and dragged back by Kaidou, kid."
"Ah, for now, I'm considered part of the Beasts Pirates."
Caesar also smiled: "Sorry for making you worry."
"Nothing to worry about."
Even upon hearing the news of Caesar joining the Beasts Pirates, Whitebeard didn't seem angry: "After all, we took your money, so we owe you an explanation. Otherwise, if word gets out, it's my reputation that'll suffer."
"Besides, I heard from Marco that if you hadn't actively lured Kaidou away, Marco and the others might have suffered significant casualties. From that perspective, we owe you a favor."
Caesar chuckled: "It's mutual. If it weren't for Marco's protection, I wouldn't have been able to achieve my goal so smoothly."
"Haha, you're still as smooth-talking as ever."
Marco patted Caesar on the back: "Since you've been released, why not join our Whitebeard Pirates?"
"I'm afraid not…"
Caesar shook his head slightly: "To be honest, I'm just here to let you know I'm safe."
"Why?"
Marco's expression immediately turned grim: "You're not seriously planning to join Kaidou's crew, are you?"
"Joining isn't the right word…"
Caesar shook his head: "After all, we've shared the Oath Sake. I made a promise with him that once I have the strength to face him head-on, I'll be free to leave."
"Face Kaidou head-on?"
Marco looked puzzled: "You?"
"That's quite rude…"
Caesar twitched his lips. He couldn't blame Marco for that reaction. His rate of growth was too fast, so fast that even he himself found it hard to adapt to the changes.
The top-tier talent granted by the Conqueror's Haki allowed him to grow constantly. Even if he did nothing and lazed around for two and a half years, he could still develop an Iron Balloon physique.
"I've gotten stronger too."
"Gurararara, he's right, Marco."
Whitebeard, who had been scrutinizing Caesar, suddenly laughed: "This brat's strength isn't weaker than yours."
"Huh?"
Marco looked at Caesar in astonishment. He didn't doubt his Pops' judgment, but if what Pops said was true, then wasn't this kid's rate of growth a bit too fast?
The surrounding members of the Whitebeard Pirates were also visibly surprised.
"Not weaker than Marco…"
Satch, the captain of the Fourth Division, crossed his arms and looked at Caesar with some surprise.
The young man stood tall and straight. Since it was a formal occasion, Caesar wasn't wearing his blindfold today, and his bright black eyes were full of vitality.
No matter how you looked at him, he was just an ordinary kid, without a trace of a strong person's aura…
"I'm not doubting you, Pops… but Caesar looks like he's just reached adulthood, doesn't he?"
"Gurararara… Age means nothing to true monsters."
Whitebeard laughed: "Kid, you didn't come here just to say hello, did you?"
Caesar nodded slightly: "To be honest, I also need to take Hanafusa back with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ulti's ship pulled up alongside. The girl stepped onto the Moby Dick with some unease, her high heels clicking crisply as she quickly slipped behind Caesar.
Seeing Whitebeard seated in the main position, Ulti suddenly felt her eyes well up with tears. She hid behind Caesar and shouted, "Hey! Whitebeard! Let my dad go right now! Otherwise... Caesar won't let you off the hook, you hear me?!"
"Enough with the 'you hear me'!"
Caesar's face darkened. I told you to cry, but not to say such unnecessary things! What makes you think I could ever stand up to Whitebeard?
Hearing Ulti's words, Whitebeard's sharp gaze swept over them. "Hmm?"
"Eek! So scary!"
The girl, who was usually fearless, suddenly felt a rare sense of unease. She shrank further behind Caesar, her earlier emotions, carefully cultivated with the help of onions, now completely dissipated. She clung to Caesar's shoulders like a scared little kitten, refusing to let go.
Marco glanced at Caesar. "Is she your girlfriend?"
"I'd be driven crazy if she were..."
Caesar shrugged. "Let's just say she's a friend. The person you've detained is her father. I was planning to come alone, but she insisted on tagging along."
"Hmph, that bastard Kaidou..."
Whitebeard sneered. "So he only sent two kids over, huh?"
Caesar smiled. "There's no major conflict here, so wouldn't it be better to resolve this peacefully?"
"Peacefully? Gurararara..."
Whitebeard laughed heartily. "Kid, didn't that bastard Kaidou tell you? My brother, Kozuki Oden, was killed by him. Your issue is just the spark. Just as I'm here to demand an explanation from you, shouldn't Kaidou give me one too?"
"By the way, this lizard kid is Kaidou's brother, right?"
"Then you should let him go even more."
"Oh? Why?"
"Because Oden wasn't killed by Kaidou."
"You're full of crap!!!"
Before Whitebeard could respond, Izo, a former retainer of Oden and now the captain of Whitebeard's 16th Division, couldn't hold back any longer. He jumped out, glaring furiously at Caesar.
He had been holding back since Caesar arrived.
"In all of Wano Country, who else but Kaidou could have the strength to kill Lord Oden?"
"Kurozumi Orochi."
Caesar had anticipated Izo's reaction and remained calm. "You say Kaidou killed Oden, but it seems you don't know the full story, do you?"
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. "Oh? So you're saying there's more to this?"
"Regarding Kozuki Oden's story, I happen to know a bit. He left the country and set out to sea—I assume everyone here knows that?"
Caesar spoke calmly. "After Kozuki Oden left, Kurozumi Orochi seized the position of General and, together with Kaidou, took control of Wano Country. Later, when Oden returned, Orochi threatened him with the lives of the people, forcing him to dance naked for five years, which caused him to lose the people's support."
"After realizing he had been deceived, Oden planned to kill Kurozumi Orochi but was stopped by Kaidou. The two were supposed to fight fairly, but Orochi's subordinate, an Imitation Fruit user, transformed into the likeness of Oden's son, distracting him and allowing Kaidou to defeat him."
"However, Kaidou didn't take advantage of the situation. Instead, he killed Orochi's subordinate, bandaged Oden's wounds, and allowed his wife, Kozuki Toki, to visit him in prison with his sword before Orochi sentenced him to the Boiling Execution."
"However, Kozuki Oden did not flee. Instead, he made a pact with Kaidou: if he could endure for one hour, Kaidou would spare his retainers."
"The result was that Oden endured the Oil Boiling Execution for an hour. Kaidou did not pursue his retainers and, in the end, granted Oden a swift death. Even Kozuki Momonosuke, the son of Kozuki Oden, survived largely because Kaidou allowed it."
As Caesar spoke, his gaze turned t
o Whitebeard.
"From the perspective of an enemy, Kaidou did give him a chance. Kozuki Oden could afford to be naive, but he couldn't expect Kaidou to share that same naivety, could he?"
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