Night fell, and Onigashima was ablaze with lights. The banquet hall buzzed with noise and excitement as newly recruited young pirates stared wide-eyed at the mountains of gold bricks piled before them.
"Hey, rookie, stunned, aren't you?" An old pirate with a scarred face patted the newcomer's shoulder, revealing a gap-toothed grin. "This is nothing! Stick with Boss Kaidou, and there'll be plenty of good days ahead!"
The young man nodded mechanically, his gaze still fixed on the gleaming gold bricks.
In a corner of the venue, several pirates were whispering in hushed tones. "I heard the gold distributed this time alone is worth two billion Berries..."
"Shh, keep it down! But you're right, Boss Kaidou is incredibly generous..."
As the gold distribution concluded, servers once again filed in, pushing carts laden with fine liquor.
Kaidou raised a freshly filled jug, his booming voice echoing through the hall: "Tonight, we drink until we drop! Anyone who can still walk out of here sober is insulting me!"
"Cheers!" Hundreds of cups were raised simultaneously, amber liquor glinting temptingly in the firelight.
Some had already begun singing pirate shanties with arms around each other's shoulders, while others eagerly bit into their newly acquired gold bricks to verify their authenticity.
Queen had somehow jumped onto the makeshift stage, his portly frame swaying to the cheerful music.
"Come on, everyone, get hyped!" He waved his arms exaggeratedly, drawing roars of laughter from the crowd. Even the usually stern King couldn't help shaking his head with a faint smile, clearly affected by the festive atmosphere.
As the night deepened, the revelry grew even more intense. Some lay drunk on the deck, still clutching gold bricks tightly; others argued with flushed faces about who was most likely to obtain a Devil Fruit next year; and many more, fueled by alcohol, repeatedly shouted "Long live the Beasts Pirates!"
Kaidou sat contentedly in the main seat, surveying the scene with satisfaction. He raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.
Tonight's banquet had exceeded his expectations. Seeing his subordinates' excitement, he knew this investment was absolutely worthwhile.
In reality, what appeared to be random reward distribution had been carefully orchestrated.
Even Cedric and Nixon, who believed they had received rewards through sheer luck, were actually predetermined choices. While their performances were indeed commendable, there were plenty within the Beasts Pirates with comparable strength. They were selected precisely because they were young and possessed immense potential.
For the ordinary pirate members, the real benefits they received were only the two billion Berries worth of gold distributed tonight. But split among over six hundred people, that amounted to just over two million Berries per person—a mere drop in the bucket for the Beasts Pirates, who controlled both the Golden City of Shandora and all of Wano Country.
Kaidou knew perfectly well that such a small sum could buy his subordinates' unwavering loyalty—a bargain by any measure. Watching his drunken crew in the hall, a meaningful smile curled at the corners of his mouth. These gold and drinks were nothing but tools to win over their hearts.
The banquet continued, with alcohol and gold keeping everyone immersed in joy.
...
By noon the next day, the executives of the Beasts Pirates had gradually gathered in the main conference hall of Onigashima in Wano Country.
Sunlight streamed through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, casting mottled shadows across Kaidou's ferocious face.
Of course, among the attendees were two additional faces—Cedric and Nixon, who had consumed Devil Fruits the previous day.
Though they had only eaten the most ordinary Zoan-type Devil Fruits, the boost to their combat prowess was still substantial.
With a bit of training, they could easily reach the level of a Marine Rear Admiral. Moreover, both were still young, not even twenty years old, making their futures promising.
"Wororororo, we have now taken initial control of Wano Country. But this is far from enough. Our goal is to firmly grasp the entire nation and turn it into our stronghold. So, for the foreseeable future, our main focus will be on developing Wano. This period will also give you time to quickly familiarize yourselves with your newly acquired powers," Kaidou declared from the head of the table, laying out the Beasts Pirates' next development plan.
After scanning the room, Kaidou continued, "Next, King, Queen, you two will accompany me to the Flower Capital."
"Yes!" King and Queen replied in unison.
"Bullet, you will hold down the fort at Onigashima," Kaidou went on.
Bullet nodded firmly and responded, "Understood!"
"Moria, Gavin, you two are to head to the Udon Quarry. It will become a crucial asset for the Beasts Pirates in the future," Kaidou added.
"Yes, Captain," Moria and Gavin said together.
"Urouge, Sebastian, Morris, Cedric, Nixon—the five of you, led by Urouge and Sebastian, will be stationed at the docks and ports in Kuri, Kibi, Ringo, and Hakumai. As the Beasts Pirates will eventually launch campaigns from Wano to conquer other territories, maintaining these long-abandoned ports is essential. At the same time, you must further spread the fearsome reputation of the Beasts Pirates to every citizen of Wano," Kaidou instructed.
"Understood," the group replied.
"Captain, what about me?" Enel finally spoke up, his voice cutting clearly through the spacious conference hall. He stepped forward, planting his hands on the table, his gaze burning intently on Kaidou.
Kaidou slowly lifted his eyelids, his crimson eyes glinting faintly in the shadows. "You?" his deep voice held a hint of amusement.
"That's right! What's my mission?" Enel's voice rose slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table. He could feel the eyes of others on him, especially Queen's mocking stare, which only fueled his irritation.
Kaidou suddenly grinned, revealing a row of stark white teeth. He reached into his coat and pulled out a golden Devil Fruit, its surface covered in lightning-like patterns that shimmered strangely under the light. "Your task is to familiarize yourself with this power," he said, casually tossing the fruit toward Enel.
Enel instinctively caught it, and when he saw the fruit clearly in his hand, his pupils abruptly contracted. "This is..." His voice trembled slightly, "Captain, is this for me?"
"Yeah." Kaidou tilted his head back and took a swig of liquor, his Adam's apple bobbing as droplets trickled down his chin. He had pondered for a long time last night and ultimately decided to give the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to Enel. This youth, raised on Sky Island, had been training with the Beasts Pirates since childhood and possessed a natural affinity for lightning. Given the potential Enel displayed in the original work, combined with his earlier systematic training now, he was bound to reach at least the level of a top commander in the future.
"Hey, hey, hey, Boss Kaidou!" Queen suddenly slammed the table and stood up, his cigar nearly falling from his mouth. "You're just giving this top-tier fruit to this brat? Is he even worthy?" His bulky body squeezed past the chair, his eyes fixed intently on the fruit in Enel's hand. Although he himself preferred the abilities of the Yamata no Orochi Fruit, the allure of a top-tier Logia Type still made him sour inside.
Enel's face instantly darkened, his golden hair seeming to bristle slightly with anger. "Bastard Queen!" he gritted his teeth, "Just you wait—once I improve my strength, I'll beat you until you're picking your teeth off the floor!"
Queen leisurely took a drag from his cigar and blew a perfect smoke ring. "Hah—brat, I'll be waiting." He deliberately drew out his tone, the fat on his face jiggling with his smirk.
"Enough." Kaidou's voice wasn't loud, but it instantly silenced the entire meeting room. He stood up, his shadow enveloping most of the room. "Enel, this Devil Fruit is among the very best of all fruits." He looked directly into the youth's eyes, "So I expect you not to let me down."
Enel took a deep breath, clenching the fruit tightly in his palm. He could feel a faint electric current emanating from it, as if resonating with some power within him. "Captain, don't worry." He lifted his head, a determined gleam in his eyes, "I will definitely not disappoint you."