Chapter 302

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Unnamed Island, New World

"What's this brat doing with you?" Big Mom's voice boomed across the rocky shore, her sharp eyes narrowing as they zeroed in on Douglas Bullet. The tension between the two pirates was palpable; the air itself seemed to shudder under the weight of their presence.

Her hatred for anyone associated with Roger's crew was infamous, and Bullet was no exception. Roger had made a mockery of her in the past, stealing a copy of her Road Poneglyph and outsmarting her completely. That grudge, left to simmer for years, burned hotter than ever at the sight of him.

Kaido, towering and unbothered, gave a low rumble in response. "Linlin, we need him..." His voice was like the growl of thunder before a storm. They had clashed for nearly a day before this fragile ceasefire had been established, both seeking to understand what the other truly wanted. But even in this moment of forced calm, the threat of violence hung heavy.

Bullet's lips curled into a mocking grin, his gaze flicking from Big Mom to Kaido. His arrogance only deepened her fury, but she held it back, knowing she had more pressing matters to handle than giving in to her rage. For now.

"Tell me, Kaido," she snarled, eyes blazing with fury, "when are you going to return what you took from me?" Her voice was thick with venom. Kaido's calm composure, his lack of reaction, only enraged her further. He was too still, too composed for her liking.

"Worororo...!" Kaido let out his familiar, rumbling laugh. "I told you the deal, Linlin. Help me take Wano, and you'll get your old territories back. I won't stand in your way."

"Just mine?" Her voice was a low, dangerous growl. "What about Shiki's territories? I was the one who hunted him down. If it weren't for that cursed weapon, I would've had his head. What makes you think I'll let you keep his lands?"

Suddenly, Big Mom's haki surged, rippling through the air with the force of a hurricane. The sheer pressure of it made the ground tremble beneath their feet, the trees on the small island shivering as if caught in a storm. This wasn't just a show of strength; it was a reminder of who she was—an Emperor of the Sea, and not one to be trifled with.

But Kaido stood unflinching, his massive frame unmoved by her display of power. He had expected this from her. The few crewmembers present—the likes of Katakuri, Cracker, and Perospero on Big Mom's side, and King, Bullet, and Ryuji on Kaido's—watched in tense silence. Any wrong move could reignite the war that had raged for the last 24 hours.

Ryuji, standing at the back beside King, watched the clash of wills between these titanic figures with quiet intensity. His status within the Beast Pirates had skyrocketed after Kaido discovered he was a Mythical Zoan user, and even more so when it became clear that Ryuji had the potential to wield Conqueror's Haki.

Kaido, wary of anyone who could one day challenge his rule, had brought him in closer, keeping a tight leash on the ambitious young pirate. But Ryuji had his own agenda. Watching Kaido and Big Mom battle had opened his eyes to the true scale of power, and the devastation they could unleash fascinated him.

He had ambition, and that ambition only grew stronger as he witnessed what these monsters were capable of. One day, he swore, he would be the one standing above them all, looking down as the world burned.

"Don't be too greedy, Linlin," Kaido's voice cut through the charged air. "I took control of Shiki's lands. You're lucky; I'm even offering to return yours. Consider it repayment of an old debt. As for Shiki's territories, you can forget them."

Big Mom's growl rumbled deep in her chest, her patience thinning by the second. "Mamama... Forget the deal, then. I'll take everything. We can settle this right now. Once I've crushed you, your lands, your crew, even Wano will be mine."

Her voice was deadly serious, and her threat wasn't an idle one. If Kaido dared to attack Wano, she'd be there, waiting, and she would tear him apart while his back was turned.

Kaido's brow creased as he considered her words. Dealing with Oden and the formidable samurai of Wano was already a massive undertaking, one he couldn't afford to fail. If Big Mom were to strike while his forces were tied up in battle, it would spell catastrophe. He needed her cooperation—for now.

After a long, heavy silence, Kaido's gaze hardened. "Half," he finally said, his voice resolute. "I'll give you half of Shiki's territories, the ones closer to Totto Land. Take them or leave it. That's my offer."

Big Mom hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing as she gauged his sincerity. She hadn't expected Kaido to bend, not even this much. For him to offer up half of Shiki's lands meant that Wano held something far more valuable than she had realized. What was Kaido really after? Did Wano hide secrets even she didn't know?

She made a mental note to investigate further. Kaido's willingness to compromise had revealed more than he intended. But for now, with half of Shiki's former territories offered on the table, she would take the deal.

"Mamama... Fine. You've got a deal, Kaido. For now." Her voice was thick with satisfaction, though the undercurrent of menace remained.

"And what about my Poneglyph?" Big Mom's voice cut through the air like a blade, sharper and colder than before. Her eyes narrowed, a glint of feral intensity in them as she shifted her focus to what she valued most—the Road Poneglyph. The tension, already thick from their earlier negotiations, skyrocketed.

Regaining her old territory and a portion of Shiki's was a victory she could savor later. But now, her mind was consumed by a far greater prize. The Poneglyph—one of the four keys to locating the One Piece, and ultimately, ruling the seas. It wasn't just a relic. It was her claim to power, her symbol of dominion.

Her grip tightened on her weapon, her frustration barely masked. How had Kaido, of all people, managed to pull off what even she, with all her overwhelming strength, had failed to do? The Poneglyphs were thought to be immovable, made from a mysterious material no force could shatter or manipulate. Even devil fruit powers had no effect on them.

"You want to tell me, Kaido, how you managed to steal it?" Her tone was venomous, the accusation heavy. "How did you move something that even I couldn't budge from the Room of Treasures?"

She remembered vividly how her forces had tried every method—brute strength, strategy, even her children's devil fruit powers—and still, the massive stone slab remained immovable, untouched.

The world thought it impossible to move a Poneglyph, until the incident that had sent shockwaves across the New World: the sudden disappearance of the Poneglyph from Fish-Man Island, a mystery that had left even the mightiest pirates and scholars baffled. And now, it had happened to her. The humiliation burned deep, especially after Roger's stunt, tracing her own Poneglyph under her nose.

Kaido, still seated with his towering, broad frame, looked genuinely perplexed for the first time. His brow furrowed as he locked eyes with her, realizing he had no idea what she was talking about. "Linlin," he rumbled, voice low, "I never touched your Poneglyph."

Big Mom's lips curled into a snarl, but before she could unleash another tirade, Kaido's expression darkened, as if a realization hit him all at once. He remembered now—another force had been in Totto Land, striking in the shadows before his own forces arrived.

"The Zodiacs," Kaido muttered under his breath.

"What?" Big Mom's fury spiked. "What about them?"

Kaido shifted in his seat, his massive form casting a shadow over the rocky terrain. "There was another group, Linlin. Before I hit your territory, the Zodiacs were there. My men reported unusual activity, but by the time we made landfall, they were gone. I thought they'd run because of me."

Big Mom's face twisted with fury. The Zodiacs, the notorious secretive group—only whispers in the underworld knew of their name. A mysterious faction, not aligned with any of the Yonkos, whose motives were as elusive as their operations. But if Kaido was right, then they had dared to raid her treasure room before even Kaido set foot in Totto Land.

Her eyes blazed with cold fire, her haki surging again. "Kaido!" she roared, her voice reverberating across the island, shaking the earth beneath them. "You let them take my Poneglyph?!"

Kaido's gaze met hers, unflinching. "I didn't let anyone take anything," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "If the Zodiacs have it, then that's your problem."

"Are you telling me the truth, Kaido? Or are you just too scared to admit you took something of mine, and now you're trying to pin it on someone else?" Big Mom snarled, her voice filled with venomous suspicion as she crushed a massive boulder beside her with ease, the rocks crumbling under her immense strength.

Kaido's eyes narrowed, his own temper flaring. "You think I'm afraid of you, Linlin?" he barked back, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "If I had taken it, I'd flaunt it right in your face, just like I'm doing with your territory now." He grinned, teeth bared, matching her intensity blow for blow.

Big Mom's gaze sharpened as she studied him, trying to sift through the bravado to find the truth. Did Kaido really have nothing to do with the disappearance of the Road Poneglyph? The Zodiacs... She'd heard of them, but only in whispers—a mysterious group of ex-pirates rumored to have escaped the underbelly of Impel Down.

They were dangerous, yes, but they weren't a crew she'd ever considered significant. Could they have really pulled off such a daring heist right under her nose?

Her mind raced, considering the possibilities, while the tension between them continued to build. It felt like the entire island might crack under the weight of their unchecked power.

Meanwhile, Douglas Bullet and Kaido exchanged a knowing glance, silently agreeing on one crucial fact—there was no way they were revealing the existence of Wano's Poneglyph to Big Mom. If she found out, she'd certainly try to claim it for herself.

Bullet, however, was more troubled. He was already dealing with the headache of the Fish-Man Island Poneglyph vanishing mysteriously. And now a second Road Poneglyph? The closer he thought he was getting to solving the puzzle, the more complex things became.

Big Mom's eyes flicked to Perospero, who gave her a curt nod, fully understanding her unspoken command. "I'll look into the Zodiacs, Mama," he said confidently.

But Big Mom wasn't done yet. She turned her full attention back to Kaido, her voice dripping with stubborn fury. "That's irrelevant to me, Kaido. All I know is that you took over my territory, so you're responsible for returning my Poneglyph."

Kaido's scowl deepened, and a frustrated growl rumbled from deep within his chest. This woman was impossible.

Before the argument could escalate further, Bullet decided he had enough of the back-and-forth.

"How about this?" he interjected, his voice smooth but laced with irritation. "I'll give you information on the location of another Red Poneglyph in exchange. A fair trade, wouldn't you say?"

Kaido's eyes shot to Bullet, surprised. This was news even to him. Bullet had been keeping secrets? The mention of another Road Poneglyph piqued Kaido's interest. Being an apprentice on Roger's ship had certainly given Bullet knowledge that few others had.

Unlike Kaido's former captain, Xebec, who trusted no one with key information, it seemed Roger had given his crew valuable insights into the world's most powerful artifacts.

Big Mom eyed Bullet suspiciously but stayed silent for a moment, clearly tempted. She had wanted to snap back, but Bullet's offer intrigued her too much to let her temper fly. Sensing her curiosity, Bullet raised a hand to halt any further interruptions.

"Take it or leave it," he said bluntly, "but don't expect me to share the location until Wano is fully under our control."

Big Mom smirked, folding her arms. "You boys seem pretty confident... acting like Wano's already in the bag."

Her smirk widened as she saw the certainty in Bullet's eyes, as if Wano had already fallen into their hands. She leaned in slightly, her voice low and mocking. "Do you think Oden stands alone? Have you forgotten about Whitebeard?"

Kaido's eyes darkened, and Bullet's expression briefly faltered.

"Tell me, Kaido," Big Mom continued with a mocking edge, "since when did you become so confident you could take down Newgate? Or are you trying to tell me you've somehow managed to awaken your Devil Fruit powers?" She sneered, clearly mocking the very idea. Both of them knew that Whitebeard was a force of nature, someone not even the most powerful pirates could challenge lightly.

Big Mom's mocking words were a wake-up call. Whitebeard wasn't just a pirate—he was a monster. And more importantly, he was someone who treated Oden like a brother.

If Whitebeard caught wind of what they were planning, there was no doubt he'd come to Oden's defense, bringing the full might of the Whitebeard Pirates down on anyone who threatened his family. No one—not even Kaido and Big Mom—could easily handle that kind of storm.

"Have you forgotten?" Big Mom taunted, her haki flaring as she glanced between Kaido and Bullet.

"Just because Wano's a closed-off country doesn't mean it stands alone. You boys never even stopped to think about it, did you? Whitebeard knows what you're up to. You think you can just waltz into Wano and take Oden's head? In your dreams. You'd be lucky to walk away with your lives."

Bullet and Kaido exchanged a quick look, both suddenly aware of the fatal oversight in their plan. They had been so focused on Oden and the power Wano represented that they'd completely underestimated the potential consequences of their actions. If Whitebeard came into play... the entire operation could fall apart.

For the first time since the meeting began, doubt flickered in Kaido's mind. Could they truly take Wano if Whitebeard intervened? Even the World Government wouldn't want to face him in a situation like this. Conquering Wano was one thing, but taking on Whitebeard and the full fury of his family? That was something else entirely.

The island seemed to tremble with the weight of their silence. Even the strongest alliances could crumble when faced with an enemy like Newgate, and now both Kaido and Bullet were left to wonder whether they'd bitten off more than they could chew.

"So, what are you suggesting, Linlin? That we abandon our plans after mustering all our forces?" Kaido's voice rumbled with frustration; his pride stung.

Big Mom's words hit him where it hurt, though he hated to admit it—she was right. Without the awakening of his Devil Fruit, facing someone like Whitebeard head-on was a risk even he couldn't afford.

Big Mom leaned forward slightly, her lips curling into a sinister grin. "Who said anything about giving up? We don't have to fight Newgate directly. All we need to do is keep him occupied, long enough to make sure he doesn't come to Oden's rescue."

Both Kaido and Bullet exchanged glances, intrigued by her audacity. Stalling Whitebeard? It sounded like madness. But the way Big Mom spoke, there was a calculated edge to her words, like she had already set the pieces in motion.

If she was right, and Whitebeard was already on his way to Wano, their window of opportunity was closing fast. No matter how strong their combined forces were, there was no telling how long it would take to completely subdue Wano—and the last thing they wanted was Whitebeard descending upon them in the middle of it.

Kaido's mind raced, searching for a solution. Stalling Whitebeard was an impossible task for most. The last time anyone had successfully delayed him was when Garp had held him at bay in South Blue for over a week, and even that was a legendary feat. No one else in the world could pull off something so daring... or could they?

Big Mom's grin widened, clearly enjoying Kaido's frustration. "We might not need to fight him directly, Kaido," she purred. "I have a plan. But it's going to cost you. The other party wants something in return."

Kaido's eyes narrowed with curiosity. Who was this "other party" that Linlin was talking about? If she thought they had any chance of stalling Whitebeard, then there had to be some truth behind it. But the real question gnawed at him—who in the hell could pull something like that off?

"Who?" Kaido finally asked, his voice low and serious. "Who could be bold enough to take on Whitebeard, and what do they want in return?"

Big Mom's smirk deepened, her eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of holding all the cards.

"Hachinosu," she said smoothly, almost as if it were a casual request. "All you have to do is give up that little wasteland, and the other party will ensure that Whitebeard stays occupied... long enough for Wano to be ours."

Kaido grunted, immediately suspicious. "Mine. My Wano, you mean." His voice carried a dangerous edge, reminding Big Mom that Wano was his prize and his alone. There was no way he was sharing it. Not with her, not with anyone.

Big Mom chuckled, amused by Kaido's territorial instinct. "Of course, of course. Your Wano." Her tone dripped with insincerity, but she let the matter slide for now.

Kaido crossed his arms, deep in thought. Hachinosu... the infamous Pirate Island. It was a lawless wasteland, filled with scum and outlaws, a land of chaos. Bullet's earlier jabs about him trying to emulate Rocks still echoed in his mind, leaving a bitter taste. In truth, the island held little strategic value to him. Once he had Wano, Hachinosu was as good as useless.

After a few moments of contemplation, Kaido let out a long breath. "Fine," he said at last, his voice resolute. "If whoever you've got can truly stall Whitebeard long enough for us to take Wano, I don't care about Hachinosu. It's yours."

Big Mom's eyes gleamed with satisfaction, but Kaido wasn't finished. His curiosity burned brighter now. "But tell me, Linlin," he growled. "Who exactly is bold enough to face Whitebeard head-on? I want to know who this mysterious player is."

Big Mom leaned back, clearly savoring the mystery she'd woven. Her laughter bubbled up, dark and knowing, as if she held the keys to a dangerous secret. "In time, Kaido... you'll know. But not now. Patience," she whispered, her voice like a spider spinning its web.

Kaido's eyes flashed with irritation, but before he could press further, Bullet spoke up. "You're hiding something, Linlin. You've had this favor tucked away for years, haven't you?" His voice was sharp, probing.

"Whoever this is, they must owe you something big if they're willing to risk angering Whitebeard."

Big Mom's grin widened even more, her eyes narrowing with amusement. "I've made... investments," she replied coyly, waving a hand dismissively. "Long ago, I did this person a favor. Now, it's time to cash in on that debt."

Kaido's patience was wearing thin, but there was something in Big Mom's tone that set his nerves on edge. Whoever this mysterious ally was, they weren't just some run-of-the-mill pirate.

They had to be powerful—powerful enough to challenge the might of Whitebeard, or at the very least, to distract him long enough to let Kaido and Big Mom finish their conquest of Wano.

"Rest assured, Kaido," Big Mom said, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable weight. "When the time comes, you'll know exactly who they are. And when you see what they're capable of, even you will understand why I'm so confident."

For a moment, the air between them hung heavy with tension, the uncertainty gnawing at Kaido. He hated being kept in the dark, but for now, he had little choice but to trust Big Mom's cryptic assurances.

His path to Wano, and ultimately to becoming the Pirate King, was fraught with obstacles, and Whitebeard was a mountain he couldn't climb alone.

But whoever Linlin had called in... they had to be formidable, and that thought alone stirred something dangerous in Kaido's chest.

"Fine," Kaido finally muttered, his voice barely masking the irritation. "But if this mysterious 'ally' of yours fails, Linlin... don't think I won't come for you next."

Big Mom's laughter rang out across the rocky shore, bold and mocking. "Mamamama... Oh, Kaido, darling. You've always been such a brute." Her eyes glittered with wicked amusement. "But don't worry... when the time comes, you'll thank me."

The mystery surrounding Big Mom's secret ally loomed large, casting a shadow over their alliance. Whoever she had in mind wasn't just a pawn—they were a player capable of shaking the seas themselves.

And as Kaido stood on the precipice of his ambition, the full weight of what lay ahead was finally starting to sink in.