Komurasaki nodded with visible excitement, which only served to make Yamato, standing nearby, feel even more jealous. Yamato longed to cast aside these complicated feelings and speak up, but she watched as King ignored her entirely, ushering Komurasaki forward. Once the two had taken their places in the main seats, King looked down at the others and said, "Monet, Baby-5, there's no need to worry. Doflamingo is a vital asset to our Beasts Pirates, and we haven't abandoned him. It's simply that the timing isn't right just yet."
While the rest of the Donquixote Family remained silent, Monet, who had spent the last two years at Komurasaki's side and interacted frequently with King, spoke up. Her anxiety for the Young Master overcame her hesitation, and she asked with a trembling voice, "King-sama, when will Kaido-sama be ready to rescue him?"
King offered her a cold, sharp look before replying, "Soon. The Marines and the World Government are planning a major move. That will be our window of opportunity."
Monet was burning with curiosity about the nature of this operation, but she wisely chose not to press further. "Very well. You'll be notified when the time is right. For now, take the rest of the Donquixote Family and find a place to rest."
Once the room had cleared, King shifted his gaze to the remaining visitors. He wasted no time, looking directly at Bonney, who stood beside Yamato. "I know why you're here. Komurasaki, go with them. Escort them to Reiju, and have her take you all to Onigashima. They can attempt to repair Kuma, though I cannot promise the results."
Bonney's face lit up with shock and relief. She had been prepared to offer anything—to pay any price—to see her father treated, yet she hadn't even needed to make the request. While the others looked on, puzzled by this unexpected generosity, King looked impatient. Still, he offered a brief explanation. "This is Big Brother's decision. He was acquainted with your father, Kuma, and even your mother, Ginny."
The mention of that name caused Bonney to tremble. King continued, "Back at God Valley, when Kaido was still with the Rocks Pirates, he crossed paths with your parents. It was a brief meeting, but it left a deep impression. After all, your father is a descendant of the legendary Buccaneer race."
"The Buccaneer race?" Bonney's eyes went wide, clearly unfamiliar with the term.
King's demeanor softened slightly as he explained, "They are a rare, legendary people who possess the bloodline of giants. It's a tragedy that the World Government has spent years hunting them to extinction. As far as anyone knows, your father is the last surviving descendant."
King stood, signaling the end of the conversation. "That is all I will say on the matter. I've taken enough time out of my schedule for this. Let Komurasaki handle the rest. I have business to attend to." He turned his attention to Yamato, who had remained silent throughout the encounter. "I don't want to hear about any trouble in Wano Country while I'm gone."
With that, King walked away, dismissing Yamato's presence entirely. Only when his figure had vanished did Yamato unclench her fists. Komurasaki glanced at her, though she lacked the perspective to understand the strained history between Kaido and his daughter. Regardless, she had her orders. She turned to the hopeful Bonney and said, "Please, follow me. I'll take you to meet Reiju-neechan."
As the group exited the General's Residence in the Flower Capital and began their journey toward Kibi, it became clear that King's claim of being busy was no exaggeration. Unlike the lively streets of the capital, the ports on the outskirts of Kibi were in a state of absolute chaos. Fierce-looking pirates, guided by their captains, scrambled onto their ships to sail out of Wano and into the open sea.
"Is this… is a war starting?" Perona asked, her voice filled with dread. The sheer scale of Wano's mobilization was terrifying to behold.
They soon found their guide, the General of Kibi and member of the Tobi Roppo, Vinsmoke Reiju. "Reiju-neechan!" Komurasaki called out, her cheerful demeanor earning her a warm welcome, though Reiju's gaze remained curious when it landed on Yamato.
After Komurasaki quickly explained their mission, Reiju nodded. "I understand. Follow me, everyone." She let out a sharp whistle, and a massive, purple dragon descended from the clouds, landing before them. The members of the Yamato Pirates looked at each other in shock, but they soon climbed onto its back.
As they soared into the air, the sheer scale of the mobilization became clear. It wasn't just Kibi; all of Wano Country, save for the Flower Capital, seemed to be preparing for war. Pirates were departing in organized waves. Despite King's warning, Yamato couldn't help but ask, "What is going on? Are the Beasts Pirates declaring war on someone?"
Reiju looked at Yamato with a knowing smile. "It seems you haven't kept up with the news from the sea over these last few days."
The Yamato Pirates looked blank. Even with the presence of Newspaper Birds, their recent travel had left them out of the loop. Reiju sighed, explaining the recent developments. "Intelligence suggests that many groups are already moving, preparing to rescue the Straw Hat."
"Luffy!" Yamato's expression turned dark instantly. She started to speak but caught herself when she noticed Bonney's terrified expression.
"So, are the Beasts Pirates planning to assist Big Mom?" Yamato asked.
"No," Reiju replied, her answer surprising them. "Yamato-san, you underestimate the pride of the Emperors. To Big Mom, the likes of Luffy, Fire Fist Ace, and their crews are merely troublesome brats. It would be an insult to suggest that two Emperors would need to combine forces just to deal with them. Our objective is singular: we are neutralizing external threats. We are here to ensure the Marines, Red Hair, and the Revolutionary Army don't act rashly."
Reiju hesitated for a moment, then added, "I have a piece of gossip I'd like to share with you, Yamato-san. Are you interested in hearing it?"
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