ONE PIECE: KAIDO'S SON

"Who wants you? And Kaido's things..."

Though Kaido spoke with disdain, his hand lingered on the miniature mace in Yamato's grasp.

It was the first time in her life she had received a gift—not from a subordinate, not from a stranger, but from someone who felt like family.

That feeling—warmth, unfamiliar but comforting—welled up in her chest. A softness spread across her heart like a spring breeze breaking through Wano's cold winters.

"Maria."

Ragnar ignored Yamato's fiery protest. His eyes flicked briefly to the torn remnants of Yamato's clothes—loose, rough, unrefined. Though those from the Grand Line were often built like monsters, even they needed basic decency.

He sighed internally.

"Prepare some clothes for her. Women's clothes. And other necessities," Ragnar ordered flatly.

Black Maria, swaying her wide hips, stepped forward with a curious gleam in her eyes. "Of course. Anything else?"

Ragnar's gaze didn't soften, but his tone did. "Teach her what she needs to know—not just how to dress, but how to live properly. She shouldn't be wandering around half-exposed like some runaway kabuki actor."

Black Maria paused.

She looked long at Ragnar—this same cold young man who had dropped from the sky like a divine judgment and flattened the Three Calamities and Flying Six with barely a word.

And yet… here he was, showing care.

So much gentleness in contrast to the ice-cold terror he wielded earlier.

Which one was the real Ragnar?

She smiled slyly. "What a doting brother. I'm jealous, Yamato."

"Who said I need women's clothes?!" Yamato snapped, eyes sharp as swords. "Don't just decide that for me!"

"I'm a man! Got it? I'm Kozuki Oden!"

Ragnar didn't even blink. "You're not Oden."

Yamato flinched. Her words died in her throat.

"Live with Black Maria for a while," Ragnar continued as he turned away, surveying the ruins of the shattered palace. "She'll keep you from walking around like a lost festival drunk."

"Leave it to me, True Lord," Black Maria giggled, covering her mouth. "In a few days, I'll make you a beautiful sister."

"I said I'm a man—!!"

Ragnar didn't respond. He had already dismissed the matter.

He didn't dislike Yamato's rebellion—on the contrary, her strength of will made her more trustworthy. But Yamato was still young, her ideals rooted in a fantasy, clinging to the legacy of Kozuki Oden like a lifeline.

She needed grounding. And Maria, among the Beasts Pirates, was the most stable—and perhaps the most human—of them all.

He nodded.

"Watch her. Guide her."

Maria bowed slightly. "I'll treat her like my own sister."

Just then, Jack approached, dragging an unconscious Portgas D. Ace like a sack of broken weapons. His face was bloodied, his teeth knocked out, and his arms hung limply.

"True Lord, how should we deal with this one?"

"Who is he?" Queen asked, furrowing his brow.

"Intruder," Jack growled. "Burst in looking for Yamato and lit up half the fortress."

At his words, the gathered pirates—the Three Calamities, the Flying Six, and dozens of officers—turned their eyes to Ace, bloodlust flaring.

"Shall we just kill him now?" Who's-Who asked hesitantly. Having been personally crushed under Ragnar's boot earlier, he had no more arrogance left in his voice.

He spoke like a man who had learned fear.

"Fire Fist Ace..." King muttered, his arms crossed. "A supernova this year. Natural Logia type. Flame-Flame Fruit."

"Tch. Everyone and their mother's got a fruit now, huh," Queen muttered.

"Supernova, huh?" Ragnar repeated, crouching beside Ace.

He flicked a finger, and a faint pulse of Haki surged.

Ace's body twitched instinctively.

"A rare species, indeed," Ragnar murmured.

"The Grand Line only births a few Logia users each year. And they usually don't live long."

He stood.

"Throw him in the quarry for now. He'll make a good firestarter."

Upon hearing this, Queen couldn't help but become intrigued by Ace:

"Master, leave him to me... I'll transform him into my finest masterpiece yet,"

Queen said, rubbing his mechanical hands together with excitement, the gears in his brain already turning.

But Ragnar remained unmoved.

"He's still useful. I can't hand him over to you right now."

He looked at Queen, his voice steady and resolute:

"A pirate must keep his word. Since I said he'd be spending the New Year in the quarry, then that's where he'll stay—until it's over."

Ace may be weak now, Ragnar thought, but he's still Gol D. Roger's son. Giving him to Queen to be turned into one of his grotesque cybernetic experiments would be a complete waste of potential.

Ragnar turned to King:

"King, shackle him with seastone and throw him into the quarry. We'll deal with him after the New Year."

King nodded silently, taking Ace from Jack's grasp. Without a word, he spread his massive black wings and flew off toward the quarry, dragging the defeated Ace behind him.

Bulu Bulu Bulu—

The muffled ringing of a Den Den Mushi broke through the momentary stillness as the crowd began to disperse.

"Hello, Jack here."

Jack reached into his coat and pulled out the Den Den Mushi.

"Jack-san! Urgent report! Kaido-sama has been captured by the Marines!"

The voice on the other end was frantic and breathless.

"What?! Kaido-sama captured?"

"That can't be—"

A wave of disbelief washed through the ranks of the Beasts Pirates. But then, after a brief pause, a strange calm settled over them.

"Oh... well, it's Kaido. He'll probably fly back in a few days."

Queen shrugged.

It was a surreal reaction, but a telling one. Any other crew hearing their captain had been taken down by the Navy—especially one of the Four Emperors—would be in full-blown panic.

But for the Beasts Pirates?

Kaido getting captured wasn't unheard of.

It was practically a tradition.

King, having paused briefly mid-flight, didn't even turn around.

He just kept flying toward the quarry.