Oni Island, Third Floor Banquet Hall.
Kaido sat at the head of the table, flanked by the Three Disasters, with dozens of Headliners standing below. The oppressive aura was suffocating.
Even if another of the Four Emperors were present, they would think twice before facing such a gathering.
"Gulp, gulp—"
Kaido drank heavily, then suddenly burst into tears. Covering his face, his sobs grew increasingly sorrowful until he was wailing uncontrollably, tears spraying everywhere.
"Waaahhh, Hanafuda!"
"How could you get taken out?!"
"You promised to collect Zoan Devil Fruits for me!"
"Waaahhh, it's all because you were too weak!"
As Kaido cried, his grief turned to rage.
"Those two brats!"
On the table before him lay two bounty posters.
"Fire Fist" Ace.
And the "Heavenly Yaksha," Doflamingo.
These were the ones who had killed Hanafuda!
Kaido's bloodshot eyes burned with fury.
They killed his man and now wanted to take over his weapons trade? The world didn't work that way. If he didn't retaliate, where would his dignity as one of the Four Emperors go?
"Bring that bastard to me now!"
"Understood!"
At that moment, Gurd arrived outside the banquet hall with the Donquixote Family. Hearing Kaido's roar, a vicious grin spread across his face.
"Everyone, let's go in."
"..."
Mingo took a deep breath.
Facing Kaido of the Four Emperors directly was undeniably nerve-wracking, but he had to remain composed and project enough presence.
The moment he killed Hanafuda, there was no turning back!
"Fufufufu, let's go!"
Mingo flashed a smile and led his officers into the banquet hall.
Instantly, dozens of predatory gazes locked onto him. The chilling sensation was like stepping into a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.
Every single one of them was a monster!
Mingo stepped forward alone to face Kaido.
"Donquixote Doflamingo pays his respects to Mr. Kaido!"
"Wororororo, you've got some nerve."
Kaido glared at Mingo, murderous intent thick in the air.
"You killed my man. You know what happens next, don't you?"
"Of course!"
Mingo remained unshaken, his confidence returning.
"Mr. Kaido, I understand the rules."
"I wouldn't dare do business with you without a gift of sufficient weight."
"Bring them out!"
At his command, his officers immediately stepped forward with treasure chests. Opening them, they revealed the contents to all present.
"Devil Fruits?"
The Beast Pirates' officers were stunned.
Each chest contained a peculiar fruit with spiral patterns on its surface—the telltale sign of a Devil Fruit.
As a crew of the Four Emperors with many powerful fighters, Devil Fruits weren't something they particularly coveted. But before them lay ten of these fruits!
Kaido's expression shifted.
Mingo shrugged, his grin widening.
"Fufufu, these aren't genuine Devil Fruits. They're called SMILE—Artificial Devil Fruits! Eating one grants a chance to gain the power of beasts!"
"While their effects may not match the real thing, the true terror of SMILE lies in its mass-producibility!"
"I've heard Mr. Kaido wishes to create the strongest Ability User Army. With SMILE, that dream can become reality!"
SMILE Artificial Devil Fruits!
"Clap, clap!"
Mingo clapped his hands, and his subordinates immediately carried forward a cage containing a bizarre creature—human from the waist up, but with elephant legs below.
It was as if a beast and a human had been fused together.
Boom!
The elephant-legged man kicked the cage, bending the steel bars out of shape. The sheer strength made many Headliners' eyes gleam with desire.
Kaido's breathing grew heavier, his mind fixated on just a few words:
Artificial Devil Fruit!
Mass production!
Ability User Army!
If this man wasn't lying to him, then Hanafuda's death was no real loss. Even the weapons trade could be handed over to him.
His greatest dream was to assemble the strongest army in the world and wage an unprecedented war!
"Fufufufu!"
Mingo grinned widely.
Seeing Kaido's reaction, he knew this deal was as good as sealed. The value of SMILE was enough to make Kaido agree to all his demands.
But there was still one step left.
Mingo picked up a SMILE fruit.
"Fufu, care to test its effects?"
The inspection phase!
For such an important transaction, the efficacy of SMILE had to be verified—and the best way was to test it right here, in front of everyone.
The crowd stirred.
The strong scoffed at the idea, but those Headliners lacking natural talent wouldn't pass up any chance to enhance their power.
"Heavenly Yaksha, you said eating this thing gives a chance at gaining power. But what happens if it fails?"
"Fufufufu!"
Mingo's grin turned twisted. "The success rate of gaining power from SMILE is only one in ten. And the price of failure? Just as its name suggests—your expressions will be frozen into nothing but smiles!"
"..."
Expressions locked into smiles?
The Headliners exchanged glances, then smirked.
Losing their expressions was hardly a real risk. In the Beast Pirates, strength was the only measure that mattered.
They turned to Kaido, waiting for their captain's word.
"Wororororo, excellent!"
Kaido burst into laughter, rising to his feet.
"Who'll be the first?!"
"Me!"
To the officers' surprise, Gurd immediately stepped forward, striding to the center of the hall and snatching the SMILE from Mingo's hand.
The Headliners didn't rush.
Having someone else act as the first test subject was more than welcome—and with ten fruits available, there'd be plenty of chances to fight over them later.
"Gurd?"
Kaido frowned.
He had already decided to groom Gurd as a key asset. Given the opportunity, he'd even planned to secure a real Devil Fruit for him.
The Disasters' expressions shifted as well.
Especially King's.
Queen, ever the instigator, sneered. "Muhahaha! Looks like even you can misjudge someone, idiot King."
"Shut your mouth, worthless Queen."
King's gaze bore into Gurd, dark and heavy.
Ever since the hot springs incident, he had seen great potential in Gurd. But if the man ate an Artificial Devil Fruit, he'd be cutting off his own future.
Only the weak and talentless sought shortcuts to power.
"Gurd!"
Ulti's eyes widened in alarm. She wanted to stop him.
A one-in-ten success rate, turning into a freakish monster if it worked—and if it failed, becoming a laughingstock who could only smile?
This was a terrible deal!
The girl grabbed her younger brother and shook him violently. "Page One, do something! Stop Gurd!"
"I—can't—breathe—"
Page One's vision spun from the shaking.
At this moment, Gurd held the fruit and calmly asked Kaido, "Boss Kaido, can I eat this?"
"Worororo, go ahead!"
Kaido didn't stop him.
If he wanted to eat it, then let him!
He wanted to see what kind of surprise Gurd would bring him.
"Thank you, Boss Kaido!"
Gurd smiled faintly and, under everyone's watchful eyes, opened his mouth wide and swallowed the fruit in one gulp.
"Gulp!"
The round fruit slid down his throat into his stomach.
He really ate it!
Everyone widened their eyes, waiting for the changes that were about to happen—would he turn into a monster and gain power, or become a laughing fool?
Gurd licked his lips.
Inside his body, little Groudon was desperately gnawing at the SMILE fruit, its features all scrunched up as if the taste was terrible.
"Ptooey!"
The little one kept sticking out its tongue while eating. Once it finished the entire fruit, it immediately sent an eager signal to Gurd—a sense of urgency it had never felt since its birth.
"Waa waa (More, evolve)!!!"
The little one wants to evolve?!
Then he had to go all out!
In the hall, Gurd suppressed his smile, looked down at himself in confusion, and then tried making various expressions.
"Absolutely no change!"
Gurd sighed in disappointment before turning to Mingo with a serious expression, demanding, "Mr. Doflamingo, could this fruit have gone bad?"
"Huh?!"
Mingo froze.
The fruit went bad?
Impossible, this batch of fruits was freshly cultivated.
Wait a minute.
Mingo instinctively glanced at Kaido, and when he saw Kaido's increasingly dark expression, cold sweat instantly poured down his back.
Boss Kaido, let me explain!
(End of chapter)