One Piece: Start by Saving Roger, I Was Invited to Join the Crew

"Mr. Kaido, a lot has been happening in the world lately—nothing ordinary," Jhin said firmly. Clad in dark armor, he stood still like a shadowy knight—intense and imposing.

Kaido lifted his wine gourd and took a swig. The boredom on his face shifted into a sinister grin.

"Heh heh… now this is the kind of world I like. Gol D. Roger… now that was a man with true strength. He carried the same will as I do."

"The same will…?" Jhin murmured, already understanding what Kaido meant—Joy Boy's will to reshape the world. Even if their visions of that world differed, the desire to overturn the current order was the same.

"Hahaha! Roger made it to the Final Island, but I won't hand over the legacy of Joy Boy to him."

Kaido's eyes gleamed with a beastly blue light, exuding the aura of a primeval monster.

"The world government is ruled by a group of arrogant people. I will not take them seriously. I want to build a pirate world without a world government. All problems will be solved by force. This kind of world is the most real. "

Yes, Mr. Kaido, everything you said is right. I will help you become Joyboy, Gol D. Roger's Pirate King. I will also help you win it. With the title of Pirate King, Kaido Sir, the days until you become Joyboy will be shortened, and you can call on pirates all over the world to jointly build a pirate world."

As he spoke, a hot flame lit up behind Jhin, and the dark cave suddenly became brighter. However, in front of two super strong men, this flame made the surrounding environment even more cold and strange.

"Hahaha! Jhin, you're the one I trust the most. When the time comes, I'll help you take revenge on the World Government that tormented you—and I'll destroy Marine HQ and Mary Geoise while I'm at it!"

Jhin's heart trembled. The memory of his past—his greatest pain—surged back. He didn't want to remember it, but Kaido's words struck deep.

"That day will come," Jhin vowed, his voice low. "Also… there's someone new. A man named Reid. He's… unusual. His Devil Fruit seems to match Sengoku's. The intelligence is credible—he's even wanted now."

Kaido put down the bottle of wine and grinned, showing a rare expression of excitement and anticipation.

"Sounds like something the World Government would try to bury. And he's with the Roger Pirates now… that makes it complicated."

"Reid likely holds great potential," Jhin added. "If we uncover the secrets behind his power, we may be able to create an army of humans with Zoan or Mythical abilities."

Kaido's pupils narrowed. His muscles tensed in anticipation.

"Jhin, how did your conversation go with the scientist Caesar Courant?"

"Caesar said the research would take a long time—possibly ten years—and there's no guarantee of success. He also seems hesitant. He doesn't want to be hunted by the World Government."

"That doesn't matter. We have plenty of test subjects in Wano. Caesar's skills are second only to Vegapunk's—he's crucial to our plans. Once he succeeds, our forces will be flooded with animal-type ability users. Tell him: if he wants to surpass Vegapunk and become the world's top scientist, his only path is with us. We'll protect him."

"He'll need funding and materials," Jhin noted.

"Money isn't a problem," Kaido replied. "Give him whatever he needs—funds, resources, manpower. I want that army."

Jhin nodded. "I'll deliver the message. What are your next orders, Mr. Kaido?"

Kaido exhaled a cloud of hot breath that rumbled like a beast's growl.

"Speed up weapon production. Eventually, I'll head for the Final Island. Only by reaching it and obtaining the One Piece can I fully become Joy Boy. We already hold one red Poneglyph. As long as it stays with us, no one else can reach the end."

"Do you really believe what Roger said before he died?" Jhin asked. "Is it possible he made it up?"

Behind the mask, Jhin's face remained unreadable. He had once dismissed Joy Boy as a legend—but if such a figure never existed, then Kaido would become the first, forging a pirate era with no government.

Kaido drank deeply, wine spilling down his mouth as he laughed wildly.

"Roger wasn't the type to joke around before dying. He said those things with purpose—I could feel it. That man had a will of steel."

Jhin was shaken. The word will strike a chord within him.

"Understood. I'll relay the order to prioritize weapons production."

…

Punk Hazard – Caesar Courant's Laboratory

In a laboratory, a man with goat's horns on his head and wearing a blue coat was floating back and forth excitedly in the air.

This person is none other than the self-proclaimed genius scientist—Caesar Courant, a 31-year-old man with a natural gas fruit ability.

Since Vegapunk had been taken away by the World Government, Caesar had continued his research here at Punk Hazard.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom… ! Genius Caesar Courant has done it again!" he crowed. "Be proud! Your sacrifice will lead to my future glory!"

A prisoner lay strapped to a cold metal table—one of many who had died for Caesar's experiments.

"Booooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooum! I'll perfect the artificial Devil Fruit! I'm just 31, and soon I'll be the youngest top scientist in the world!"

Suddenly, a call came through.

"Bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah bah."

"This is Jhin."

"Jhin? Never heard of you."

"I serve Mr. Kaido of the Beasts Pirates. He wants to work with you."

"How did you get this line?"

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that Mr. Kaido—the strongest man in the world—appreciates your work. Join us, and you'll no longer have to worry about the World Government coming after you."

"Heh… interesting offer."

"Mr. Kaido is particularly interested in your artificial Devil Fruit research. He believes your invention has great value."

"Hahaha! I am a genius, after all! But listen—I also work for the World Government now. They fund my research too."