Test of the Ability to Deprive a Devil Fruit
One month later, with Kozuki Oden's assistance, all the Seastone (Kairōseki) that Caesar needed had been processed.
Carrying the materials, he flew back to the Rex.
Seeing the Seastone in Caesar's possession, the crew was puzzled. However, they knew that Caesar never acted without purpose, so they merely watched with curiosity.
"Eli, come with me!" Caesar called out.
"What's wrong, Caesar?" Eli asked, glancing at the Seastone in confusion.
"Grab the coating tools and follow me to the bottom of the aquarium. I need your help with something."
"Oh, okay, just a moment." Hearing that he was needed, Eli quickly nodded in agreement.
Once Eli was ready, Caesar took him and the Seastone into the aquarium, using his thoughts to part the seawater. The two of them reached the very bottom.
Caesar instructed Eli to create a large bubble film, ten meters in diameter, and secure it underwater. Once the task was complete, he dismissed Eli and began his work as a mason.
Although the task itself wasn't difficult, Caesar wanted to ensure perfection. To eliminate any chance of error, he replaced his hands with his thoughts, carefully fitting the Seastone blocks together without leaving gaps.
Layer by layer, he laid down the Seastone bricks to form a foundation, then constructed walls, gradually shaping the space into a fully enclosed chamber made entirely of Seastone.
This method was something he had learned from a powerful figure within the Holy See, who had inherited the Angel Fruit.
Until now, he hadn't had the opportunity or materials to attempt such a project.
But now, thanks to Wano Country's abundant Seastone supply, the problem was finally solved.
With this chamber, the Caesar Pirates would no longer lack access to high-level Devil Fruits. They could even hunt them.
Moreover, their previous method of identifying unknown Devil Fruits could now be refined.
There were far too many expendable people in this world—perfect candidates for testing.
Of course, if Caesar could obtain the Yami Yami no Mi (Dark-Dark Fruit), this method would become unnecessary. However, until then, this experiment could serve as a way to forcibly extract a Devil Fruit's power.
After constructing the Seastone chamber, it was time to test whether it could truly strip a Devil Fruit from its user without fatal consequences.
As for the test subject? Caesar had already decided.
Wano Country didn't have many active Devil Fruit users at the moment.
Caesar wasn't the type to slaughter indiscriminately, but in Wano, who was more deserving of this fate than Kurozumi Orochi?
The Hebi Hebi no Mi, Model: Yamata no Orochi was a Mythical Zoan—a strong ability, at least in terms of survival.
Even if Caesar didn't intend to use it himself, it would be far better to keep the fruit in his own possession than to let it waste away on that wretched man.
Besides, Caesar despised Orochi.
The man was no different from Blackbeard—both were self-serving, treacherous, and utterly irredeemable villains.
---
Kurozumi Orochi's Betrayal
The capital of Wano, Flower Capital, stood at the nation's heart, within the Shogun's palace, where Kurozumi Orochi had been serving under Kozuki Sukiyaki, Oden's father.
But now, Orochi had learned that Oden had truly left Wano.
It was time for him to strike.
He was preparing to assassinate Sukiyaki and declare himself the acting Shogun.
"You… Oden has always treated you well! Why would you do this?!"
Sukiyaki, bleeding and barely standing, looked at Orochi with disbelief.
He had never imagined that the man who had served at his side for years—the man he had even regarded as an adopted son—was hiding such monstrous ambitions.
Oden had only just set sail, and already, Orochi had revealed his true colors.
"Aren't you afraid of divine punishment for such betrayal?"
Rage burned in Sukiyaki's chest. His anger wasn't just over Oden's illegal departure from Wano—he was furious at himself for failing to see through Orochi's deception earlier.
Only now did he realize that Orochi had infiltrated the Kozuki household with ambition from the very beginning.
Perhaps all the misunderstandings about Oden had been orchestrated by this man.
But it was too late.
And he regretted it.
"Fuhaha! I can only become Shogun once you're dead!"
Orochi's laughter echoed in the chamber.
"Damn the Kozuki Clan! Oden is gone, no one can stop this now! I will be the next Shogun of Wano!"
He raised his hands, trembling with excitement. There was no longer a need for pretense.
For Orochi, revealing his ambition was a now or never moment.
Either he won, or he died.
He believed he had already secured his victory.
"Hey, Orochi, finish the job already! We still have much to do," the old, wrinkled witch Kurozumi Higurashi sneered.
Without her guidance, Orochi's rise would have been impossible.
She had not only fueled his ambition—she had created it.
"Yeah! Why waste words on a dying man?"
Kurozumi Semimaru, a long-bearded elder, chuckled evilly.
For years, the Kurozumi clan had waited for this day.
Now that their plan had reached its climax, their impatience was evident.
"Do it."
But then—
BAM!
The door burst open.
Everyone inside turned in shock.
"Who?!"
Orochi recoiled.
He didn't want any unexpected guests interfering at such a crucial moment.
But when he saw the intruder, his anxiety faded.
It was Caesar.
Kozuki Sukiyaki, however, felt a spark of hope.
He recognized the intruder as the foreign pirate who had shared drinks with Oden before his departure.
Maybe, just maybe, this man could save him.
More importantly, he had heard rumors of Caesar's strength.
If Caesar chose to act, the Kurozumi clan had no chance.
Orochi, initially alarmed, quickly regained his confidence.
"Ah, it's just a pirate," he sneered.
A mere outsider from beyond Wano was of no concern to him.
After all, he had the Hebi Hebi no Mi.
What was there to fear?
Besides, he had allies with absolute defense.
In his arrogance, Orochi failed to realize the true danger standing before him.
"Well, well! This has nothing to do with you, pirate!" Orochi barked. "I suggest you walk away before I forgive your intrusion!"
As he spoke, he signaled to Higurashi and Semimaru.
Kill him.
Seeing this, Sukiyaki desperately called out, "You are Oden's friend! Please, help me!"
"I cannot die here and hand this country over to that snake!"
"If you save me, I… I will make you a daimyo! You and Oden are friends, right? Please!"
This was his last hope.
If Caesar left, his fate was sealed.
But Caesar only smiled.
The man before him was Oden's father.
By saving him, Caesar would alter Oden's fate—and earn a favor of immeasurable value.
A favor he could use in the future.
And Wano Country… had value.
Orochi and his cronies had already drawn their weapons, murder in their eyes.
"Don't let him escape!"
"Sukiyaki must die, and so must this pirate!" Higurashi cackled.
But before they could even act—
Caesar vanished.
And the moment he did—
They all collapsed.
Lifeless.
Their expressions frozen in terror.
Caesar grinned.
His experiment was about to begin.
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