Everyone was puzzled, and some found it hard to believe their own conjectures.
Seeing their reactions, Alice proudly declared, "My Angel Fruit is the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Angel! My father said my fruit's ability is top-tier, even stronger than my brothers'! Even better!"
After speaking, she lifted her chin arrogantly, awaiting the inevitable exclamations.
Hiss—
Sure enough, the result satisfied her—everyone gasped.
Her elder brothers had Logia-type Devil Fruits, but she had an even rarer Mythical Zoan.
And its rarity might even surpass Marco's Tori Tori no Mi, Model: Phoenix!
This realization left the Whitebeard Pirates in awe of the Caesar Pirates' overwhelming strength.
---
Buy Seastone, Reject Momonosuke!
Caesar hesitated over whether to invite Kozuki Oden aboard.
There were many factors to consider—his crew was already sizable, and taking on a figure like Oden wasn't a simple decision.
For now, he set the matter aside and resumed his conversation with Whitebeard.
During their discussion, Caesar suddenly felt a gaze fixed on him—a gaze laced with malice.
Turning his head, he spotted a scruffy young man wearing a blue shirt and a yellow beret.
The moment their eyes met, the kid quickly averted his gaze, pretending not to notice.
But Caesar recognized him immediately.
Aboard the Moby Dick, there weren't many like him.
That must be Marshall D. Teach.
The future Emperor Blackbeard, the man who would wield two Devil Fruit abilities.
Caesar's expression darkened.
Regardless of what Teach had done in the original timeline or the unease he inspired in others, Caesar had no reason to like him.
A man who spent years scheming in the shadows, biding his time with ruthless patience—such a person was not to be trusted.
But should he warn Whitebeard that there was a traitor in his midst?
There was no point.
Everyone knew how fiercely Whitebeard protected his "sons." His love for his crew ran deep, and even if he were to be warned, he wouldn't believe it.
Even if they had once been comrades, Whitebeard wouldn't take kindly to someone badmouthing his crew.
Caesar had no interest in meddling in such affairs.
Besides, keeping Teach around might prove useful in the future.
As for the Yami Yami no Mi, it all depended on how things unfolded.
At the moment, nobody knew where the Dark-Dark Fruit was, and even if Teach obtained it as he had in the original timeline…
He still wouldn't be a threat to Caesar.
That possibility was completely nonexistent.
Caesar possessed Pure Gold, a legendary treasure capable of slowing the aging process by preventing cellular deterioration. This made him virtually ageless and ensured his strength would only increase over the centuries.
Even if Blackbeard awakened his Devil Fruit, he still wouldn't be an opponent.
---
Journey to Wano
As the banquet stretched into the night, the Whitebeard Pirates remained in place, as the Moby Dick still required repairs.
Meanwhile, Caesar and his crew secured their ship and made their way toward Wano Country.
At first, Kin'emon and the other retainers were deeply opposed to their arrival.
The samurai of Wano held strong disdain for pirates, and their isolationist policies discouraged interactions with outsiders—let alone allowing pirates into the country.
However, recalling the overwhelming power Caesar displayed in his battle against Whitebeard, they reluctantly agreed.
That kind of monstrous strength was something Wano could not afford to offend.
As they entered the Flower Capital, Caesar's crew marveled at the breathtaking scenery.
Springtime had painted Wano in soft hues, with cherry blossom petals drifting through the air. The traditional Wano-style architecture stood proud, exuding an air of elegance.
At the very heart of the city, a colossal tree with a crescent-shaped canopy loomed over a unique-looking mansion.
"Building a house atop such a giant tree… that's incredible!"
"Yeah! It must belong to someone important!"
Brad and Hades admired the landscape, while some of their comrades were filled with nostalgia, remembering their own long-lost homes.
The men wandered the capital, eager to experience Wano's distinct culture.
The women, meanwhile, dressed their children in kimono, embracing the local traditions.
Lily, along with the other women, selected elegant kimonos in various colors, each embracing Wano's aesthetic.
Caesar couldn't help but stare.
"Clothes really do make the person."
He had never seen the women of his crew exude such charm before.
Little Alice, now clad in a miniature kimono chosen by Regina, stepped out shyly.
Caesar's eyes lit up as he hurried over to scoop her into his arms.
"My Alice is so cute! Like a little geisha!"
He planted several kisses on her cheek, making the little girl giggle.
The women, watching this fatherly display, chuckled amongst themselves.
---
Meeting Kozuki Oden
During their stay, Caesar arranged a private meeting with Kozuki Oden.
He had two goals:
1. To have Oden translate the Poneglyphs in his possession.
2. To purchase a large quantity of Seastone and have it processed by Wano's craftsmen.
At this point in time, Wano had begun mining Seastone, though not on the large scale Kaido would later establish.
Oden, despite his curiosity, agreed to Caesar's requests.
He was unaware of the Poneglyphs' significance, nor did he yet understand the Kozuki Clan's duty to pass down the ability to decipher them.
With ease, Oden translated the inscriptions.
The content did not delve into ancient history but rather how to locate the Final Island, Laugh Tale.
As for Caesar's interest in Seastone, his reasoning was different from the Navy's.
He didn't need it to suppress Devil Fruit users.
Instead, he planned to use Seastone to control the respawn location of Devil Fruits, ensuring they reappeared in a controlled environment.
Upon obtaining the Tenshi Tenshi no Mi on Pope's Island, he had discovered a method to manipulate a fruit's rebirth.
This required a sealed Seastone chamber to restrict the fruit's dispersal.
Thus, when he arrived in Wano, Caesar resolved to stockpile Seastone and construct such a facility.
While Wano's artisans worked on his request, Caesar's crew made the most of their time in Wano.
Given the abundance of samurai and dojos, Caesar encouraged his sword-wielding subordinates to challenge local masters and refine their skills.
Even he took part, suppressing his strength and studying different schools of swordsmanship.
Although none of Wano's warriors could match him, their unique philosophies helped broaden his understanding of Kenjutsu.
His children, Lucius and Alice, also observed and trained, while Carlos, as a Goro Goro no Mi user, focused on polearm techniques to complement his abilities.
---
Departure from Wano
After two weeks in Kuri Port, Whitebeard's Moby Dick was finally repaired.
That night, as the Whitebeard Pirates set sail, Kozuki Oden secretly left Wano, clinging to the back of their ship.
By morning, Oden's retainers were frantic, searching the mansion for their missing lord.
They knew the consequences—his absence would anger the Shogun and throw Kuri into disarray.
Yet Caesar, having anticipated this outcome, chose not to interfere.
After much deliberation, he decided that Oden should follow his original fate and set sail with Whitebeard.
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters