In the Tiger King Hall, the First Prince Sabure's face darkened as he read the message in his hand. When the tremor shook the city earlier, he had immediately sent scouts to investigate.
Now their report chilled his blood.
The battlefield was littered with corpses, his guards, and even the assassin corps he'd sent. Sabure knew the power of those killers; they weren't meant to fall so easily.
Yet the wounds told the story of a one-sided slaughter.
The photos were even worse. They showed a massive crater, a wound in the earth itself, like a meteor had fallen from the heavens. To unleash such devastation… how much power would that take?
This was slipping out of his control. The enemy wasn't just dangerous, they were untouchable. Only one person in the kingdom could deal with such a threat; his father, King Brady.
The hall doors creaked open. A man in black armor walked in unannounced, every step ringing with authority. His presence was suffocating, like a beast ready to kill.
Even Sabure dared not rebuke him for his lack of manners.
"Your Highness," the black-armored guard said, voice cold. "His Majesty summons you."
Sabure straightened at once. "I'll be there immediately."
When the man left, one of Sabure's confidants whispered, baffled. "Who was that? Why did you let him act so rudely?"
Another answered before Sabure could. "That was one of the King's personal guard. The hidden power of the kingdom."
The man's voice rose in awe. "The Black Armored Army? The strongest army in the Kate Kingdom? I thought they were just a rumor!"
Sabure shook his head. "The Beast Corps, which my father commands directly, is the true strongest force. But the Black Armored Army are survivors of Beast Island. If not for the Beast Corps, they would be unmatched."
He stood, voice firm. "Come. Let's not keep Father waiting. I haven't seen him in years."
At the same time, in the Snake King Hall and Dragon King Hall, black-armored guards delivered the same summons to the Second Prince Belinda and the Third Prince Lemor.
All three heirs made their way to the towering central palace.
King Brady sat upon his throne, the hall vast and cold around him. His aura was crushing, raw confidence built on monstrous strength. Compared to him, the princes seemed like children. Even the brash Lemo kept his head lowered.
Brady's gaze swept over them. "Speak. What happened? Who is this warrior? Where did he come from? Why such destruction in my city?" Each question rolled like thunder, pressing down on their chests.
Lemo immediately cast the blame aside with a glance; not my problem. Belinda looked to Sabure. The First Prince sighed inwardly, he was the only one with hard information.
"Father," Sabure said, stepping forward, "I regret that we don't know his name or his face. No portrait, no witnesses who survived. But I gathered reports from the site. Please look."
He offered the folder.
A shadow swooped through the hall, an eagle, talons flashing as it snatched the documents and carried them up to the throne. Brady extended a hand, and the bird dropped them into his grasp.
The King's ability was on display. He could command all beasts of land and sky with absolute control. The Beast Corps were his pride, an army of tamed monsters, and even the dreaded Beast Island to the north of Pet Island had fallen under his power.
Only the sea denied him.
Brady studied the photos, the corpses, the crater. His brow furrowed.
"This was a physical fighter," he said at last. "A monstrous one. And perhaps another, someone with the blade." He was close, though wrong. There had only been one man: Teach.
"Then what is your will, Father?" Sabure asked carefully.
"Do not provoke them," Brady ordered. "Watch for their movements. If they reveal hostility, inform me. I will crush them myself."
The pressure in the hall lifted slightly. The princes bowed and withdrew.
From that day, the capital's atmosphere shifted. Guards doubled on patrol, tension hung heavy, and whispers of fear spread among the citizens.
Teach noticed, of course.
Strolling through the streets, Pitou hidden beneath his greatcoat, he smiled faintly. He had wanted to leave her at the inn, but she had refused. And truth be told, it was safer this way, better she stay with him than risk discovery alone.
His mind churned.
The royal family had to fall. The nobles had to burn. But it wasn't his hands that would bring the flames as it is too dangerous, and too revealing.
No, he had another plan.
A war.
The Kate Kingdom against the Beast Pirates.
Kaido was already sniffing around this land.
The King's Beast-controlling power was no secret, and Kaido's obsession with Zoan users made him restless. His crew was still weak compared to the other Yonko, no Calamities, no Tobi Roppo, not yet at least.
Just scattered brutes wandering the seas. But Kaido loved war. And Teach would hand him the perfect excuse.
There were Beast Pirates already in the capital, dozens of them, drinking and brawling in a tavern on the west side. That was where Teach went.
He pushed open the door with a grin. "Bartender, two bottles of rum."
The bottles slid across the counter. Teach collected them, then chose a table near the pirates, close enough to hear. He sipped and ate while they laughed about raids, brawls, and Kaido's glory.
Drink after drink vanished. Bottles stacked high. Nineteen in all, drawing stares of astonishment from the other patrons. A man's worth, they thought, could be measured in how much liquor he could take.
By that measure, this stranger was a titan.
Teach's face flushed. His eyes grew hazy. Finally, he staggered upright, bottle in hand, swaying dangerously.
He tripped. The bottle slipped from his fingers, smashing into the lap of the Beast Pirate sitting directly behind him.
Wine gushed out, soaking the man's crotch in an instant.
The tavern went silent for a heartbeat. Then..
"Pfft! Jerry, you pissed yourself!" one of the pirates howled.
"Smells about right too!" another added, leaning in to sniff before recoiling theatrically. "Wine mixed with piss, hah!"
The table erupted with laughter.
Jerry's face turned crimson. Whether from rage or shame, none could tell. His fists clenched, and he surged to his feet, seizing Teach by the collar.
"You drunk bastard! You looking for death?!"
Teach blinked at him with glassy eyes. "Who… who's drunk? Do I look drunk to you?"
The pirates all gave the same look; yes, obviously.
"Jerry, drop it. Not worth it," one muttered.
Jerry snarled. "I'm not letting this go until I've beaten his face in."
Teach shook his head, feigning earnestness. "I'm not drunk. Really. Look... you're Beast Pirates, right? My bad about the spill. Let me make it up to you. I've got… information."
He lowered his voice conspiratorially, tugging Jerry closer.
"This comes straight from my uncle's nephew's sister's cousin's brother, one of the palace guards. You can't breathe a word of it, or you'll be executed." His expression turned grave. "But I'll tell you anyway… because it concerns your crew."
Jerry frowned, caught between suspicion and curiosity. Around the table, the others leaned in, ears pricked.
Teach whispered, deadly serious.
"Your Beast Pirates… are finished."