[RLOP] Chapter : 07 - Wano

"Jack, what does Kaido-san want?"

As he walked steadily toward the main hall, Lucci spoke without turning his head. The massive boy trailed just behind him.

"I… I'm not really sure, Lucci-nii," Jack muttered, his hand brushing over the faint bruise still lingering on his chest. His expression turned awkward. Then, as if remembering something, he leaned down and cupped his hand over his mouth—though not his voice—and whispered, loudly:

"But King, Queen, and Hanafuda are already here."

"…I see."

Lucci glanced back at Jack, whose face still carried youthful traces despite his five-meter-tall frame. He rubbed his ear with mild irritation.

"Jack, next time you cover your mouth, try controlling your volume too."

"Huh?"

How exactly did Jack and Lucci end up as "Big Brother" and "Little Brother"?

Simple.

In this savage age, men of the sea spoke only one language: fists. And the Beasts Pirates were the very embodiment of that creed.

The truth was, Jack didn't like Lucci. In fact, most of the underlings didn't. Which was why, when they egged the hot-headed boy into provoking him, everything fell into place naturally.

It happened in a tavern.

Lucci sat drinking sake when a massive hand clapped down on his shoulder.

"Shorty," Jack sneered, "do my shoelaces tie themselves?"

"Jack! We've waded through piles of corpses! Don't lose face!" the lackeys cheered.

"…."

Lucci didn't so much as blink.

"These fangs of mine are thirsty for blood!" Jack snarled, baring his teeth.

"Yes! That's the spirit!" The lackeys applauded louder.

"…."

Lucci silently pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Stop pretending, Lucci! Today, only one of us leaves this tavern standing!"

Jack stepped forward, grin widening.

"Well said!" the lackeys howled.

"…Strange request," Lucci murmured.

"What did you say?"

"I said—strange request."

The very next instant, Lucci vanished.

Soru!

He reappeared mid-air before Jack's eyes, fist already cocked back. A jet-black punch, wreathed in Armament Haki, slammed into Jack's chest.

BOOM!

The boy was launched like a broken kite, embedding deep into the tavern wall.

Silence.

A nervous gulp broke it.

"My grandma… was just born. I—I need to go see her."

"Ah! Looks like rain's coming—I need to do laundry!"

"Wait for me! I promised to help an old man cross the street!"

One by one, the lackeys bolted, scrambling for the door as though a beast lurked inside.

But Lucci wasn't finished. He knew the rule: one punch now saves a hundred later.

With a thunderous Soru, he appeared at the doorway before they could escape.

"I like quiet," he said flatly. "If the noise continues, I'll be troubled."

Hattori soared upward into the sky as Lucci's eyes narrowed.

"Jack was right about one thing… Today, only one of us leaves this place standing."

Later, patting imaginary dust from his clothes, Lucci stepped into the so-called conference room.

Calling it a "room" was misleading—its vast interior was so oversized, one might mistake it for a giant's hall. Huge tables and chairs lined the space, though they served no purpose here. Kaido wasn't a man who cared for such conventions.

There he sat, cross-legged, sake gourd in hand, gulping down liquor until the air reeked of it.

Around him, his top men sprawled. Queen snored loudly on the floor, belly rising and falling. Hanafuda teased little Ulti and Page One, a faint smile hidden beneath his mask. The only one standing with a shred of composure was King, silent against the wall, eyes closed.

A heavy aura filled the chamber. It wasn't enough to crush Lucci, but it pressed on him nonetheless. Strength radiated from every one of them.

And height.

Still, Lucci wasn't daunted. At just thirteen, already pushing two meters tall, he had plenty of room to grow. Someday, he wouldn't just look Kaido in the eye—he'd look down on an Admiral.

With Jack at the gates outside and Sasaki away on assignment, these were the core fighting forces of the Beasts Pirates, both present and future.

"I suppose everyone's here. Let's begin, Kaido-san," King said at last, eyes snapping open.

"What's the rush?" Kaido rumbled, taking another swig. "If it's so important, say it yourself."

The casual exchange revealed their closeness—understandable, since Kaido had freed King from his prison. Their bond was the kind written in blood: brothers.

"You're the Captain." King muttered before continuing. "The rebellion of the Wano samurai has frightened that coward Orochi. He's offering the country's secret treasure if we put it down."

As King spoke, Lucci pieced it together. Orochi wanted help suppressing the samurai.

He recalled the flow of history: Kaido's alliance with the Kurozumi clan eight years ago, Oden's humiliating dance, the betrayal, the boiling execution. Orochi crowned as Shogun, Kaido ruling from the shadows.

The people had broken long ago. But the samurai… they resisted, clinging to their fading power, disguising self-interest as patriotism. They never cared for "the people"—only their own rank.

"Lucci," King asked suddenly, "your opinion?"

"Ah… forgive me. My thoughts wandered."

King frowned but pressed on. "How do we deal with the rebels? Hanafuda suggests sending them to the mines."

Lucci stroked Hattori's feathers thoughtfully. "Are the mines short-handed?"

"Not at all. They're already full."

"Then…"

His eyes narrowed, voice dropping calm and cold.

"Why not just kill them all?"

The room froze.

Then—

"WORORORORO!!!"

Kaido erupted into booming laughter.

"Boy, you're ruthless! Too extreme!"

His grin widened, sharp teeth flashing.

"But I like it!"