In the year 1519 of the Sea Calendar, three years before Luffy set sail.
Wano Country, Onigashima.
"Thunder Bagua!"
With a thunderous roar, a white streak appeared above Skull Dome, falling rapidly toward the back of Onigashima.
"Boom!"
The island shook, and smoke and dust rose into the sky.
The huge noise was as loud as a warship bombardment, but the Beast Pirates stationed on Onigashima stayed strangely calm.
"Yamato-sama got beaten again," the pirates thought to themselves.
Similar situations happened every two or three months. They had grown used to it, knowing it was Kaido's family business.
As usual, next—
The sky grew dark. Rolling thunderclouds covered the heavens, and then a giant Azure Dragon came out from the thunderclouds, circling above Onigashima.
The Strongest Creature, Kaido!
The Azure Dragon let out a battle cry-like laugh.
"Worororo! Guys, go capture that foolish child of mine and throw her into the prison. For half a month, and no food for her!"
"Yes!"
The pirates raised their weapons and roared wildly, rushing toward the back mountain.
A direct order from Kaido. Completing it would give them a large reward, and with some luck, they might even be promoted to Headliners.
Second floor of Skull Dome, in a certain room.
Daichi stood before a mirror, staring at his reflection. He saw a fierce-looking, muscular, bald man whose head seemed filled with muscles, like Zangief from Street Fighter. His gaze grew more and more empty.
This was his current self.
He couldn't say he was handsome. He could only say he had nothing to do with being handsome at all.
However, it fit the Beast Pirates' taste quite well.
Once again disgusted by his own ugliness, Daichi sadly looked up at the ceiling. Two streams of hot tears slowly slid down his cheeks.
"No!"
Snowflakes falling... North wind blowing...
"Why, why did I have to transmigrate!"
Daichi was someone who had traveled to this world from another.
But he didn't want to transmigrate at all.
In his previous life, his family owned property that was going to be demolished.
Eight houses were torn down.
Eight houses!
After being beaten down by society upon graduation, he took his parents' advice, quit his job, and went home to live off them. He embraced the easy life of a landlord.
Every day, he either walked in the park or played chess or mahjong with neighbors. Sometimes he invited friends to fish, play ball, or game online, just like someone with no responsibilities.
By the end of each month, his phone would ring with a cold transfer notification, reminding him that it was another day full of hope.
Dreams? Ambition? What were those?
Heh! Did they understand the happiness of collecting rent!
He was practically dying of pleasure.
He thought he could keep enjoying life forever.
But then he transmigrated to the chaotic world of One Piece, becoming just a small member of the Beast Pirates.
He hadn't enjoyed himself enough!
"Why did you come here? You're just a useless person who relies on rent to get by. Why are you trying to act tough?"
Daichi cursed as he wiped away his tears, his gaze slowly turning fierce.
He had heard Kaido's roar.
After two and a half months of being in this world, he had grown used to his new environment and body. Now he had been waiting for such a chance!
"It doesn't matter if I'm ugly, as long as I have money!"
"As long as I capture Yamato, I'll get a huge reward!"
"Then buy houses—collect rent, and buy more houses—collect more rent!"
"I must get back the happiness I lost!"
Daichi clenched his fists tightly, the veins on the back of his hands bulging.
I, Gudraton Daichi, 24 years old.
Have a not-so-great dream!
That is to become a landlord who lives off rent!
"Yamato, hehehehe..."
Daichi grabbed his door-sized greatsword, grinning wickedly as he stepped into the corridor. He hadn't walked far when his twisted smile froze on his face.
Trouble was coming.
Not far away, a very cute girl with a pink mask and long blue and pink hair was running around frantically, searching every room.
Crack!
The door was ripped off its hinges by the girl's bare hands.
"Not here!"
"Not here either!"
"Damn it, Pay-Pay, where are you?!" (T/N: You want Pay-Pay or Pay-Tan?)
Seeing the girl losing patience and about to explode in anger, Daichi immediately turned and walked faster, not wanting to be discovered.
Damn it, he didn't check his luck today!
However, it was too late.
The girl's eyes lit up when she saw the sneaking Daichi. She bent her legs and jumped forward, appearing in front of Daichi in the blink of an eye.
"Stop, Daichi!"
"Ulti-sama."
Daichi's face twitched as he helplessly looked down at the girl.
The girl's name was Ulti, currently a Headliner of the Beast Pirates, and also his direct boss.
Ulti, who was only 173 cm tall, looked like a small potato compared to him, 2.8 meters tall. She was the kind who would cry for a long time if he slapped her.
However, the girl had terrifying strength far greater than his own.
Was this reasonable?
This was not reasonable!
But this was reality.
Ulti looked up at Daichi, grinding her teeth in anger.
"Daichi, have you found Pay-Pay?"
"No."
Daichi shook his head without expression.
Pay-Pay was Ulti's younger brother, Page One.
The girl before him was actually very short-tempered and overprotective of her brother. Her greatest pleasure during normal days was 'bothering' her brother, which made her brother always hide from her.
So searching for her hiding brother became the main task that constantly troubled him as her subordinate every day.
But this was not a good job.
If he didn't find him, his sister would be unhappy.
If he found him, his brother would be unhappy.
It was more practical to just slack off and not look.
Not getting the answer she wanted, Ulti angrily tugged at Daichi's clothes. "If you haven't found him, keep looking, you idiot!"
"Ulti-sama."
Daichi remained unmoved, calmly raising a finger upward. "Kaido just ordered Yamato-sama to be thrown into the prison."
"Ah?!"
Ulti's eyebrows shot up, and she cursed without holding back. "Why are they having family problems again? Is Kaido an idiot? And this is his family matter, what does it have to do with us!"
"That's true."
Daichi pretended not to hear the girl's sharp remarks about Kaido and explained. "But this is Kaido's order after all, Ulti-sama. Given Page One's personality, I think he will most likely go and capture Yamato."
"Oh, right! Let's go too!"
Ulti suddenly understood, clapped her hands, and directly jumped onto Daichi's shoulder. Her two fair, long legs dangled down.
The girl narrowed her eyes in excitement, waving her small fist forward!
"Charge! Big guy!"
"..."
Daichi's face twitched again.
Those legs are really—oh, no!
Was this brat treating him as a ride again?
Although it wasn't the first time, looking at the dangling fair legs in front of him, Daichi really wanted to grab them and slam her to the ground like a chicken.
Hoo~
Calm down, calm down!
Daichi, you can't beat her now!
Thirty years in Hedong and 30 years in Hexi, don't bully the ugly and weak.
You'll ride on her back eventually!
Now, the important thing was to act quickly. If others got there first, his plan to buy houses and collect rent would be ruined!
Let's go!