Onigashima, third-floor banquet hall.
Kaido sat at the head, with the All-Stars standing on either side, and dozens of Headliners below, their fierce presence suffocating.
Even if another Four Emperors came in person, they would have to think twice about facing such a scene.
"Gurgle gurgle~~"
Kaido drank heavily, suddenly bursting into tears. He covered his face, crying more and more sadly, gradually turning into a wailing cry, tears spraying everywhere.
"Worororo, Hanafuda!"
"How could you be defeated?!"
"Didn't you promise to collect Animal-type Devil Fruits for me?!"
"Worororo, it's all your fault for being too weak!"
As Kaido cried, he became furious.
"Those two brats!"
On the table in front of him lay two bounty posters.
"Fire Fist" Ace.
And "Heavenly Yaksha" Doflamingo.
These two were the ones who defeated Hanafuda!
Kaido glared, his eyes bloodshot.
They killed his subordinate and now want to take over his weapon business. How could there be such a good deal in the world? If he didn't do something, where would his face as a Four Emperors go?
"Bring that guy to me immediately!"
"Understood!"
At this moment, Daichi and the Donquixote Family had already arrived outside the banquet hall. Hearing Kaido's roar, a dark smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Everyone, let's go in."
"..."
Doflamingo took a deep breath.
It was impossible not to be nervous facing the Four Emperors Kaido, but he had to remain calm and show enough confidence.
The moment he defeated Hanafuda, he had no way back!
"Fufufufu, let's go!"
Doflamingo smiled and led his officers into the banquet hall.
The next moment, dozens of savage gazes fixed on him, a chilling feeling as if he had entered a dragon's den.
They were all monsters!
Doflamingo stepped forward alone, facing Kaido directly.
"Doflamingo greets Mr. Kaido!"
"Worororo, you've got some guts."
Kaido stared at Doflamingo, killing intent filling the air.
"You killed my subordinate. You should know what the consequences will be, right?"
"Of course I know!"
Doflamingo remained calm and composed, his confidence returning.
"Mr. Kaido, I understand the rules."
"How could I dare to do business with you without a gift of enough value?"
"Bring the items up!"
Upon hearing the command, the officers immediately carried treasure chests forward. After opening the chests, they showed the treasures inside to everyone.
"Devil Fruits?"
The Beast Pirates officers were greatly surprised.
Each treasure chest contained a special fruit, with spiral patterns on its surface, a characteristic of Devil Fruits.
As a Four Emperors crew with many powerful individuals, they weren't overly concerned about Devil Fruits, but there were a full ten Devil Fruits before their eyes!
Kaido's eyes changed.
Doflamingo shrugged his shoulders, a smile blooming.
"Fufufufu, these fruits aren't true Devil Fruits in the traditional sense, but artificial Devil Fruits called SMILE. Eating them gives a certain chance of gaining wild power!"
"Although their effects aren't as good as real Devil Fruits, the most terrifying thing about SMILE is that they can be mass-produced!"
"I heard Mr. Kaido wants to build the strongest ability user army. With SMILE, this wish can be realized!"
SMILE artificial Devil Fruits!
"Clap clap!"
Doflamingo clapped his hands, and his subordinates immediately carried a cage forward. Inside was an unusual creature with a human upper body and elephant legs.
It was like a mix of beast and human.
"Bang!"
The elephant-legged man kicked the cage, twisting and bending the steel bars. His powerful strength made the eyes of many Headliners light up.
Kaido's breathing also grew heavier, only a few words remaining in his mind.
Artificial Devil Fruit!
Mass production!
Ability user army!
If the other party wasn't lying to him, then Hanafuda's death was no problem at all, and the weapon trade could also be handed over to them.
His biggest dream was to gather the strongest army in the world to wage an unprecedented war!
"Fufufufu!"
Doflamingo was all smiles.
Seeing Kaido's reaction, he knew this was a sure thing. The value of SMILE was enough for Kaido to agree to all his demands.
However, there was still one more step to take.
Doflamingo picked up a SMILE fruit.
"Fufufufu, want to try the effect?"
The inspection phase!
For such an important deal, it was natural to test the effectiveness of SMILE, and checking it in person was the best way.
The crowd stirred.
The strong ones scoffed at it, but those Headliners lacking talent would definitely not miss a chance to improve themselves.
"Heavenly Yaksha, you said eating this gives a certain chance of gaining power. If it fails, what will be the consequences?"
"Fufufufu!"
Doflamingo's smile was twisted. "The success rate of gaining power from eating SMILE is only one in ten, and the consequence of failure is just like its name—your expression will only be a smile!"
"..."
Only a smile left on their face?
The Headliners exchanged glances, their lips curling up.
It was merely losing their expression, not a big risk at all. In the Beast Pirates, power was the only measure of everything.
The Headliners looked at Kaido, waiting for their leader to speak.
"Worororo, excellent!"
Kaido laughed loudly, rising suddenly.
"Who will be the first?!"
"Me!"
To the surprise of the officers, Daichi was the first to walk to the center of the hall and grab the SMILE from Doflamingo's hand.
The Headliners were not in a hurry.
Someone else being the first test subject - they couldn't be happier. Besides, there were ten fruits, so they could still compete for them later.
"Daichi?"
Kaido frowned.
He had already decided to focus on training Daichi, and if there was a chance in the future, he could find a real Devil Fruit for Daichi.
The eyes of the All-Stars also changed.
Especially King.
Queen mocked, not minding the trouble. "Mwahahaha, idiot King, I didn't expect you to misjudge someone."
"Shut up, useless Queen."
King stared at Daichi, his gaze deep.
Ever since the battle at the hot spring inn, he had been very hopeful about Daichi's potential, but if Daichi were to eat an artificial Devil Fruit, it would definitely be self-sabotage.
Only weaklings lacking talent would seek shortcuts to power.
"Daichi!"
Ulti's eyes widened, wanting to stop him.
The success rate was only one in ten, and he would turn into a funny monster. If he failed, he would become a fool who could only smile.
It didn't seem worth it at all!
The girl grabbed her younger brother beside her and shook him hard. "Pay-Pay, quickly think of a way to stop Daichi!"
"Sister, please relax."
Page One was dizzy from being shaken.
At this moment, Daichi held the fruit and calmly asked Kaido, "Kaido, can I eat it?"
"Worororo, you can!"
Kaido did not stop him.
If he wants to eat it, then eat it!
He wanted to see what surprise Daichi would bring him.
"Thank you, Kaido!"
Daichi smiled slightly, and under everyone's gaze, he opened his mouth wide and swallowed the fruit in his hand in one bite.
"Gulp!"
The round fruit slid down his throat into his stomach.
He actually ate it!
Everyone's eyes widened, waiting for the coming change - would he turn into a monster and gain power, or become a fool who could only smile?!
Daichi licked his lips.
At this moment, inside him, little Groudon was frantically eating the SMILE. It seemed because the taste was so bad, its face was all scrunched up.
"Ptooey!"
The little guy ate and stuck out its tongue, and after finishing the entire fruit, it immediately sent an eager signal to Daichi, a sense of urgency it had never felt since its birth.
"Waah waah (More, evolve)!!!"
The little guy wants to evolve?!
Then he must go all out!
In the hall, Daichi held back his smile, looked down at himself in confusion, and then tried to make various expressions.
"No change at all!"
Daichi sighed in disappointment, then turned to Doflamingo with a serious expression, asking, "Mr. Doflamingo, could this fruit have gone bad?"
"Huh?!"
Doflamingo froze.
The fruit went bad?
Impossible! This batch of fruits had just been grown.
Wait.
Doflamingo looked at Kaido without thinking, and when he saw Kaido's increasingly dark expression, cold sweat instantly broke out.
Mr. Kaido, let me explain!