One Piece: King of the World

Chapter 219: Destroyed the Big Mom Pirates?

Before leaving, Borsalino unleashed a devastating attack, his "Yasakani no Magatama" raining destruction down upon the port of Whole Cake Island. The attack reduced the harbor to ruins. Meanwhile, Kuzan froze the surrounding seas, cutting off any chance of pursuit by the Big Mom Pirates.

As for Kaido, he could still fly, of course. But by the time he returned, Claudius and his team had already regrouped, with all the heavy hitters gathered together, making any retaliation futile.

Kaido's massive frame stood amidst the wreckage of the harbor. His expression was one of fury at first, but after a few moments, his anger gave way to thoughtfulness.

"Queen, what's the situation here now?" Kaido asked in a deep voice.

"Boss," Queen began, his usual grin slightly strained. "Linlin was taken away, and Katakuri's been captured as well. Most of the remaining Big Mom Pirates avoided being captured, but they're all injured to some degree. Smoothie's injuries are the most serious—she's still being treated."

Kaido's expression darkened, his voice dropping to a mutter. "So the old hag's gone... Katakuri too. Smoothie's out of commission. In other words, the Big Mom Pirates are headless now."

"Perospero's still alive," Queen added thoughtfully.

Kaido suddenly burst into laughter, his booming voice echoing across the destroyed harbor. "Ahahahaha! Perospero, huh? That candy maniac is smart enough."

Quinn tilted his head, already suspecting what Kaido was plotting. "Boss... what exactly are you planning?"

Kaido grinned maliciously. "Without that old hag, the Big Mom Pirates are nothing but a scattered mess. As her former crewmate, it's only right for me to extend a helping hand... for the sake of 'old friendships,' of course."

He laughed again before declaring, "We'll absorb the Big Mom Pirates into our ranks! With them under me, neither Whitebeard nor the Marines will stand a chance. Just wait—when my ultimate army is complete, who in the world could possibly stop me?!"

Kaido's crazed laughter filled the air as his intentions became clear: to consume the remnants of the Big Mom Pirates and strengthen his forces.

---

While Kaido schemed, Claudius and his group were already en route back to safety, their mission deemed a resounding success.

Claudius lay on a bed in the ship's cabin, his face thoughtful as he touched his chin. "Now that I think about it... maybe we shouldn't have retreated so soon," he mused.

Borsalino, sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow. "Your Highness, you and Sakazuki were both seriously injured. Staying any longer would've put you in unnecessary danger."

It was true—both Claudius and Sakazuki had sustained significant injuries during the operation. Claudius's wounds, however, were largely self-inflicted due to the extreme strain he'd placed on his body during his final clash with Big Mom.

Garp, doughnut in hand, glanced over at Sengoku. "What's the rush? Are we heading out on a mission? And how's Claudius holding up?"

Sengoku smiled, clearly pleased. "I've got to say, this CP-X unit is far more reliable than the rest of the Cipher Pol groups we've dealt with in the past. Every mission with them ends in success!"

Garp blinked in surprise. "It's done already? I figured it'd take at least three to five days..."

Zephyr chuckled. "It wasn't a one-on-one fight. With the amount of firepower we deployed, it was bound to wrap up quickly."

Sengoku nodded but added, "Still, there were... complications. Kaido showed up out of nowhere."

He quickly relayed the report he'd received, outlining how Kaido's interference had prevented a total annihilation of the Big Mom Pirates.

Garp clenched his fists, his voice rising. "So you're saying if that lunatic Kaido hadn't barged in, Claudius might've completely destroyed the Big Mom Pirates?!"

"That's right," Sengoku confirmed, his tone tinged with regret. "Kuzan mentioned that Claudius managed to defeat Charlotte Linlin almost entirely on his own. With Bartholomew Kuma's assistance, it could've been the turning point for the Big Mom Pirates' collapse... if not for Kaido."

Zephyr sighed. "Still, capturing Charlotte Linlin and Katakuri is a massive victory in itself."

Tsuru looked over at Sengoku. "So why are we heading to the port?"

Sengoku smiled again. "We're here to receive 'express delivery.' Thanks to Kuma's ability, Gion and Charlotte Linlin are en route to Marineford as we speak. We need to secure her as soon as possible to avoid any accidents."

The group reached the port and stood watching the horizon, waiting for Kuma's arrival. The sky was overcast, the sun sinking halfway into the sea. But there was no sign of their "express delivery."

"How long does it take for Kuma to send someone from Totto Land to Marineford?" Garp asked suddenly.

"Two days, at most," Zephyr guessed.

Garp groaned. "Then what are we doing standing here like idiots?" He turned to leave, muttering angrily.

Sengoku scratched his head awkwardly before offering, "Ahem, my mistake. Why don't I treat you all to dinner instead?"

Garp immediately stopped in his tracks, his mood brightening. "I know just the place!"