Chapter 5: Slaughter and Battle
The welcome banquet was wild. Caesar had no idea how much he drank.
But unlike the past, when he woke up this time, there was no splitting headache.
Just a bit of dizziness—which quickly faded after he downed a bucket of steaming red bean porridge.
For breakfast, he devoured a whole roasted lamb, a basin of rice, and an entire bucket of red bean mochi porridge. Wiping the corner of his mouth, Caesar glanced at the kneeling maid beside him. "Where's the bath?"
"Please follow me, my lord."
The maid rose silently and led Caesar downstairs to a traditional-style bathhouse. The place was empty.
"Why's there no one here?"
The maid answered softly, "Lord Kaido has decreed that this entire building now belongs to you, Lord Caesar."
"And you?"
Caesar turned to the maid—the same one who had guided him yesterday. She looked to be around eighteen or nineteen, with delicate features and a calm, gentle demeanor.
"I am Ayun, once a geisha of Wano. I was chosen by Lady Maria to serve you, my lord."
"Not bad. Keep it up."
Caesar casually flipped her a gold coin. "You're dismissed."
Ayun's eyes widened slightly as she felt the heavy weight of the coin in her palm.
Pure gold?
She sneaked a glance at Caesar's striking face and bit her lip. "My lord, may I assist you in bathing and dressing?"
"No need."
Tossing his clothes aside, Caesar stretched his shoulders and walked into the bath.
After a quick rinse and change of clothes, he wandered outside.
Surveying his surroundings, he saw towering palace buildings all around. Beyond them stretched endless rows of torii gates. Far in the distance, daylight barely peeked through.
Judging by the layout, he was inside the skull-shaped structure of Onigashima, near the left temple. The small villa Kaido had assigned to him was adjacent to the pleasure district under Black Maria's control—close to the main building in the left-brain region.
"My lord…"
Ayun followed a step behind. "Would you like me to show you around?"
"No. Take me to King."
Caesar shook his head. All he wanted now was to master Haki as quickly as possible.
"This way, my lord. Your residence is part of the complex extending from the main building. There's an interior hallway that leads directly inside."
Ayun led the way. "Only officers and their direct subordinates may enter the main building. Regular pirates aren't allowed access."
"My only subordinate is you?"
"Other than the cleaning staff, yes—just me."
"I see…"
Caesar suddenly stopped. "That's far enough. Head back."
"Yes, my lord."
Without further question, Ayun turned and left.
Only when her footsteps had completely faded did Caesar look toward the nearby corridor corner.
"Hiding like a coward… No wonder you haven't awakened Conqueror's Haki."
"You little bastard… You never let up, do you?"
who's-who stepped out from around the corner, his face twitching. Beneath his horned helmet, his eyes were cold and heavy.
"What is it? Waiting here at dawn hoping I'll teach you how to awaken Haki?"
Caesar tilted his head. "I could share the experience… but what about talent?"
"Arrogant brat… Looks like you've no idea the situation you're in."
who's-who sneered. "This is the Beasts Pirates. Here, fists do the talking. Killing you might be a hassle, but beating that smug face of yours? Even Lord Kaido wouldn't say a word."
He took a deep breath, as if savoring the moment. "Besides… you haven't even mastered Haki yet, have you? What luck. I can already smell your blood."
"That so…"
Caesar nodded thoughtfully, then raised a brow. "By the way, those yellow lenses on your horned helmet—do they distort your color perception?"
"What?"
"I mean…"
Caesar raised his hand slowly, pointing at who's-who.
"You might be about to die."
Squelch—
A burst of red shot from who's-who's chest. His eyes widened in disbelief as a small crimson bat emerged from the wound and fluttered to Caesar's fingertip.
"Kh—"
who's-who looked down in shock. Blood soaked through his chest. He tried to speak, but only hoarse rasping escaped his throat—his windpipe clearly damaged.
Suddenly, he gagged and vomited a mouthful of blood. The pain in his chest surged.
He collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath—only to realize in horror that no matter how hard he inhaled, no air came in. He was bleeding oxygen faster than he could replenish it.
Step… step… step…
Boots tapped softly against the wooden floor. In his oxygen-starved mind, who's-who couldn't tell if the footsteps belonged to Caesar—or Death itself.
Then, a slender hand gently pressed against his head.
who's-who felt something being stripped away.
The pain.
The pain was gone.
The agony in his chest vanished completely, replaced by a floating, almost euphoric lightness—like drifting on clouds.
Clang…
His horned helmet hit the floor, revealing a head of stark white hair.
In his final moments, who's-who's mind cleared. He saw his aged, shriveled hands—and the faint blood mist filling the corridor.
That question…
So that's what he meant…
A tingling numbness spread from the base of his skull across his entire body. Then came the snow—endless flurries swallowing his vision.
Thud!
Caesar kicked the corpse aside and strode calmly toward the main building.
The blood mist gradually dispersed. Observation Haki swept over who's-who's corpse again and again, then quietly withdrew—as if nothing had ever happened here.
"Uwaaaahhh! who's-who!"
Inside the main hall, Kaido, who had been chugging booze since early morning, suddenly burst into tears.
"You useless fool! How the hell did you just die like that?!"
"What a strange ability..."
Standing nearby, King lifted his eyelids slightly. "As expected of a Mythical Zoan… even I don't understand how that guy managed it."
Kaido snorted, two jets of alcohol vapor shooting from his nostrils. "It was the blood..."
King blinked. "He could control someone else's blood?"
Kaido took a swig of his drink, wiped his mouth, and said, "That kid created a mist of blood. who's-who inhaled it. That's how it entered his body."
"Hmph... what a dangerous method."
Kaido suddenly laughed heartily and looked at the figure casually strolling into the room. "Not very useful against me, but that blood mist actually blocked Observation Haki… I've no idea how you pulled that off, brat."
"The essence of the Vampire Fruit isn't bloodsucking—it's life force absorption."
Caesar spoke calmly and evenly. "The artificial blood I produce contains traces of life energy. If my guess is right, it's that scattered life energy in the blood mist that interfered with the Haki's ability to sense life forms. I wasn't expecting this side effect myself, so I'd say it's a nice little bonus."
"That does make sense. Looks like you already understand Haki to some extent."
Kaido gave Caesar a surprised look, but his expression quickly turned stormy again. "But this is only your second day here, and you've already killed one of my key officers! who's-who was second only to the All-Star commanders! Caesar, you owe me an explanation!"
Caesar shook his head. "He brought it on himself. No one else is to blame. Don't take it to heart, Lord Kaido."
At that, Kaido reached for the Hasaikkai resting nearby. "If you don't start talking properly, I'll be forced to speak your language—with my club."
"What was his bounty?"
"350 million Berries. With his power, it would've gone higher," King replied indifferently. "He was an Ancient Zoan user, after all. Those types usually go for around a billion."
Caesar raised three fingers. "I'll pay thirty billion."
Kaido and King were both stunned.
Kaido fixed a fiery stare on Caesar. "Thirty billion? Kid, where the hell are you getting that kind of money?"
"Ever heard of the Caesar Group in the East Blue? That's my enterprise."
Caesar spread his hands. "If not, then at least you've heard of Water 7?"
"That's yours too?"
"I own a share. Ten percent."
Kaido visibly perked up. He sat upright and leaned forward, his eyes gleaming. "So what's your net worth?"
"Aggregated, I'd say over a hundred billion. Mostly in real assets. With the East Blue's stability, the monthly income is pretty solid too."
Caesar smiled faintly. "Interested? I'm willing to give it all to you."
"A hundred billion? You'd give that to me?"
Even Kaido, no stranger to storms and slaughter, was momentarily dumbfounded. "You serious?"
"Money is just a tool—not the goal. And what do you think is the Caesar Group's most valuable asset? The holdings? Don't kid yourself… It's me."
Caesar sneered lightly and held up a sphere of crimson—blood like a flawless ruby under the lamplight.
"But now that I've gotten what I wanted, I couldn't care less about the rest. I don't need the money. If you want it, I'm happy to hand it over."
"And what's a mere hundred billion to the Beast Pirates? You've got Wano's lands and the exclusive control of seastone resources. Don't tell me you can't match that."
"Hah! Kid, you think many pirates go to school?"
Kaido's eyes gleamed green as he looked at Caesar like he'd just found a priceless treasure.
"In that case, you're in charge of the crew's finances from now on!"
"I refuse."
Kaido silently picked up his club.
Caesar silently raised his hands.
"…But I can transfer the businesses to you at a low price. Follow my instructions and even the leftovers will be enough to support the whole crew."
Seeing Caesar's cooperation, Kaido lowered the Hasaikkai with satisfaction. "In that case, I'll let the who's-who matter slide. I'm not going to take advantage of you either. If you have any requests, name them!"
"For now, I just want to get stronger."
Caesar grinned. "Consider it a favor you owe me. A favor from Kaido of the Beasts is worth more than all the money in the world."
"Rorororo!"
Kaido laughed heartily, clearly pleased. "You slippery little bat! Fine! But don't go saying crap like you want to leave now!"
"Of course not. I haven't even learned Haki yet…"
Caesar turned to King. "Mr. King, shall we begin today's training?"
"Come with me."
King said coolly and led Caesar to the rocky shores outside Onigashima.
"From what you said earlier, you have at least a basic understanding of Haki. Then you should know how it's awakened, right?"
"Through combat… right?"
A gleam of excitement flickered in Caesar's eyes.
"Correct."
King beckoned him forward. "No Devil Fruit powers. Pure physical combat. Come at me with everything you've got. Let me see what you're made of."
Zzzzip—
A flicker—Caesar's silhouette shot forward like lightning. In a blink, he appeared before King and launched a punch at his face.
"Not bad speed."
King's eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through. He tilted his head and dodged.
Then he clenched his fist, coated it in Armament Haki, and countered with a powerful blow.
The strength and speed were immense.
Boom!
Caesar's body was sent flying, skidding across the beach and carving a trench several meters long.
"So weak!!"
King looked stunned, unable to hold back his complaint.
He hadn't even punched that fast, yet Caesar failed to dodge.
"Hahaha! Sorry! I've trained before, but never had much real combat experience."
Rubbing his swollen cheek, Caesar sat up laughing. "It didn't seem that fast, but my body just couldn't react…"
"Your movement just now…"
King suddenly recalled something. "Rokushiki?"
"Yeah. If you've got enough money, even the Marines are pretty cooperative."
Caesar stood up again. With life energy still lingering from who's-who's death, his swollen face quickly healed.
"What an enviable ability."
King beckoned again. "But without strength to match, you're just a punching bag for the strong. Come!"
"Ora!"
Boom!
Caesar flew again.
"Ora ora!"
Boom!
He flew again.
"Ora ora ora!"
Boom!
This time, Caesar managed to block King's punch.
But before he could celebrate, a knee slammed into his gut and sent him flying again.
"Don't lose focus!"
King said coldly, walking toward him. "Since you're now able to dodge attacks at this speed, from now on, I'll be launching continuous strikes—even when you're on the ground."
Clutching his stomach, Caesar got back up and stared at King charging in.
For some reason, it felt like a kindergarten graduate was suddenly thrown into a postgraduate course…