Pirate: It’s not a phantom beast, it’s a phantom god!

Chapter 268 Second Visit
"Is this person the Shichibukai that Boss Kaido has been waiting for?"

"That face doesn't look like someone you can mess with..."

"I heard that he and Boss Kaido are old acquaintances. They knew each other before the boss went to sea."

"Is this true?! There's actually such a relationship!"

……

Although Hua Zha and his party had been to Fenrir Island once before, it was just an informal meeting after all, and he left in a hurry without even holding a formal banquet.

Therefore, it was the first time for most people present to see the true appearance of this legendary new Seven Warlords of the Sea.

Well, he is indeed Kaido's fellow countryman. You can tell from his face that he is not a good person. I guess he has to eat at least two children for every meal.

"Hey~ Kaido, I haven't seen you for a year, but you've become much stronger, like a monster."

He waved his hand back, asking the men on the boat to lower the anchor, and then Hanazawa elbowed Kaido in the ribs without any hesitation.

Feeling the firm touch on his arm and the other person's unresponsive expression, he couldn't help but sigh at the other person's strong physique.

"Wu la la la! Because there are too many monsters in this sea~"

"If I don't hurry up and turn into a monster myself, how am I going to fight them?"

Letting go of the other person's shoulders, Kaido began to look at him more carefully.

After not seeing him for a year, Hua Zha has obviously aged a bit, with many more obvious scars on his body. It seems that the atmosphere in the new world is quite challenging.

However, looking at the overall picture, Hua Zha's body is obviously much stronger than before, and his whole body exudes a sense of vigor and toughness. His temperament is a world apart from the immature one year ago when he first started out.

It's like growing from a newly graduated college student to a qualified member of society.

"How's it going? The new world isn't too boring, is it?"

"Ah~ It's not just not boring, it's actually very interesting."

Touching a wound on his face that had not yet fully healed, Hua Zha showed a smile that was completely unkind.

Ever since he parted ways with Kaido last time, he has been doing as he said at the time, and has been sailing with his crew following the compass, from island to island, recording the sea with his own eyes and body.

Of course, considering the simple customs of the people in the New World, he also mingled with the local natives and other colleagues along the way.

Fortunately, Hanaza was lucky. He didn't encounter any opponents he couldn't handle right from the start. Instead, like the protagonist of a coming-of-age novel, he always encountered opponents that he could just handle...

During this period, his development of the fruit ability and his own domineering power were steadily improving. Finally, after defeating a long-established pirate, his reputation became famous in the New World.

Later, because of his tour group-like behavior and almost no record of attacking the navy, Hanazawa was noticed by Sengoku and offered to be one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea.

"Wow! I was shocked when I saw your name on the list of Seven Warlords of the Sea in the newspaper."

"Why did you agree to become some shitty Shichibukai for the World Government?"

"Nothing, just simple mutual use."

Unlike Kaido, Hanazawa, as a complete pragmatist, has no mental aversion to cooperating with the World Government.

When he was in the Kingdom of Woka, he had to deal with a group of nobles who were corrupt to the core.

Although he felt annoyed when he saw those fat and big-eared idiots, he was not a person who would be affected by personal emotions.

If it is profitable to cooperate with them, then cooperate with them.

When the benefits are squeezed out, kick it away.

"Ever since I was defeated by you last time, I've been thinking about finding a powerful ancient devil fruit to prove that mythical beasts are not necessarily stronger than ancient ones."

"But I spent more than a year traveling to many places, and I didn't encounter many Devil Fruits, let alone rare Ancient Zoan ones." "Just then, I received an invitation from the Seven Warlords of the Sea, so I thought I would use the World Government's influence to help me search for them."

"..."

"Ancient species...are you still obsessed with this kind of thing?"

After hearing what the other party said, Kaido paused for a moment, and then looked the other party up and down again.

I didn't expect that the other party still remembered my boastful joke that "mythical beast species are stronger than ancient species".

Seeing the other party's serious look, Kaido couldn't help but speak out his true thoughts:
"Whether it's a mythical beast or an ancient species, the true strength lies in the power of the person with the ability."

"The various abilities of those devil fruits are just the icing on the cake, but one's own domineering power is the power that transcends everything."

"?"

"what?"

Hearing what the other party said, Hua Zha also stopped and looked at the other party with wide eyes.

"I don't remember you saying that at the time!"

At that time, he and Kai had met again after a long time, and he was confidently showing off to the other party the rare ancient species power he had just obtained... But Kaido also transformed in the opposite direction, and it was an even rarer mythical beast species.

Then his ancient species, Stankon, was beaten back to its original form by the opponent's mythical beast species, Pailemon.

He still remembers Kaido's smug expression vividly.

"Eh? Yes, really?"

"Wu la la la! Don't worry about such trivial matters, the party is about to begin!"

"Hey, have you brought all the wine here?"

……

Fenrir Island Banquet Hall.

Since we haven't held a formal banquet in a long time, and the weather has been humid recently, even after an emergency cleaning, there is still a slight musty smell in the hall.

But fortunately, as countless fine wines and delicacies were served one after another, the aroma of the food instantly squeezed out the inappropriate musty smell.

"Gudong gudong gudong~"

"--ha!"

Kaido picked up the wine barrel and swallowed the wine in it in one gulp, then let out a cry of satisfaction.

Kaido wiped the wine stains from the corner of his mouth and reached for another new wine barrel.

Ever since Wright brought the wine up, Kaido has been drinking one barrel after another, as if he doesn't even want to take the time to talk.

Hanazawa, who was sitting on the side, couldn't help but feel curious when he saw Kaido's appearance.

Although most people in their Woka Kingdom love to drink, they don't drink like this... He has only seen Kaido drink like this on prisoners who have been released after serving their sentences.

Those prisoners in the kingdom who were imprisoned, had no connections, and could not touch a drop of alcohol for several years, often did not go home first after being released, but rushed directly to the nearest tavern to drink one glass after another like Kaido.

Many criminals often do not die in prison or on the execution ground. Instead, they collapse in the pub closest to the prison on their first day of freedom. This is also a kind of black humor.

[Could it be that Kaido was practicing to quit drinking?]
With some doubts, Hua Zha also took a sip of the light blue wine in the cup...

(End of this chapter)