Chapter 503

As the screen went dark and then lit up again, the atmosphere in the live broadcast room was heavy. The Straw Hat Pirates faced the grim reality of possibly their greatest defeat. With other members' fates unknown and Luffy defeated by Kaido, it seemed their journey might have reached its tragic end. The video not only brought immense pressure but also a stark realization: their adventure was fraught with real dangers, not just thrills and laughter.

The Straw Hats, despite their solemn mood, showed no signs of giving up. The spirit of adventure and the determination to grow stronger were still alive in them.

Across the seas, Kurozumi Orochi reveled in a false sense of security. The prophecy left by Toki and the unexpected appearance of the attack team had initially terrified him. Yet, watching the video, he saw Kaido's overwhelming strength as his ultimate safeguard. Confident that as long as Kaido stood by him, he could maintain his rule over Wano unchallenged, Orochi couldn't help but laugh at the futility of his enemies' efforts. He decided to fortify Oden Castle, turning it into a trap for Momonosuke and any allies who might join him.

Orochi's fear had turned into disdain; he was ready to celebrate, convinced he had nothing to fear with Kaido at his side. "Let's play music and dance! Haha..." he exclaimed, filling the room with a facade of joy while plotting his next moves.

Meanwhile, Denjiro, who was part of the celebration, hid his concern. If Kinemon and the others failed, what would be their next step? He pondered deeply, considering a bold strategy to alter their grim fate.

Kaido, while outwardly sharing Orochi's confidence, harbored his own doubts. He knew that defeating Straw Hat Luffy, as displayed in the QnA, wasn't enough to ensure peace. His mind raced with the potential consequences of the broadcast, particularly the reactions from powerful forces like Whitebeard, who had ties with Kozuki Oden.

Whitebeard's anger could lead to a catastrophic war, one that Kaido feared could be his undoing. Unlike the ailing Whitebeard of the past, the current Whitebeard was in his prime—stronger and more formidable than ever. A conflict with him could turn into a lose-lose battle, potentially sparking a new Summit War in Wano.

Kaido was acutely aware that the eyes of the world would be on them. Not just the pirates but the World Government too had high stakes in Wano, the sole source of seastone. Kaido knew that the World Government would prefer to control Wano directly rather than negotiate with pirates. If a war broke out, Wano could become a battlefield where he stood to lose everything, regardless of the outcome.

Reflecting on these grim prospects, Kaido realized that if the Whitebeard Pirates declared war, other global powers wouldn't just stand by. History might repeat itself with conflicts erupting on multiple fronts, much like during the last great war.

This was a battle Kaido knew he couldn't afford to fight alone. He needed allies, perhaps even more formidable than those he currently had. The only way forward was to make strategic calls—to rally support that could counterbalance the combined threats of the Whitebeard Pirates and potential interventions by the World Government.

As he contemplated his next move, Kaido felt the weight of his empire teetering on the brink. The upcoming decisions would not just determine the fate of Wano but could redefine the power dynamics of their entire world. It was a critical moment, and Kaido knew the time to act was now.

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