one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 221: A Storm in the Shadows

Watching Olive leave, Mio sat down again. With a casual wave of his hand, Araki quietly took his leave.

Lilith immediately moved to sit beside Mio, taking his arm and leaning in close. She wrinkled her nose and frowned slightly. "That woman definitely has thoughts about you, sir."

"Having thoughts about me just shows how strong I am," Mio said with a faint smile.

Hearing that, Lilith couldn't help but break into a smile and nodded in agreement. "That's true. She may be a noblewoman, and I don't like her, but she wasn't wrong. As long as you're given time, you'll definitely become someone unstoppable."

"You're right. I have full confidence in myself." Mio rubbed Lilith's head gently.

This affectionate display made Hawkeye, who was sitting across from them, twitch his lips. Without a word, he picked up a bottle of wine and downed it in one gulp. Then he stood up and walked away without looking back. "I'm going to rest."

Although he didn't really care, he still found the display a bit irritating.

Watching Hawkeye walk away, Mio smiled faintly and reached for his whiskey, preparing to continue drinking.

Just then, Warwick approached, holding a Den Den Mushi carefully in his large clawed hands. He respectfully handed it over. "Sir, a Den Den Mushi call."

"Who is it?" Mio asked, raising an eyebrow.

Warwick scratched his cheek with one claw and replied, "It's from Talos."

"Oh?" Mio's expression shifted slightly as his eyes narrowed with interest. He set the glass down, his other arm still wrapped around Lilith's slender waist, and picked up the Den Den Mushi.

"Talos," Mio said in a deep, calm voice. "What do you want to talk about?"

"Sir," Talos replied respectfully. "I've reached the New World and am near the Black Crow Sea. I have a few Devil Fruits in my possession and wanted to ask if I should send them to you?"

"Devil Fruits..." Mio's eyes lit up slightly with interest. He instantly thought of the time Talos had robbed the Celestial Dragons—it must have been then.

It was certainly tempting.

But Talos...

To be honest, Mio didn't want Talos to reveal himself just yet. Talos was a hidden trump card, and keeping him unconnected to the Black Crow organization was the best strategy.

With Talos's strength, if he emerged at the right time, he could turn the tide—he might even help Mio take down one of the Four Emperors.

As tempting as the Devil Fruits were, maintaining the secrecy of Talos's movements was more important.

Still, the Devil Fruits couldn't be ignored.

After thinking for a few seconds, Mio made a decision. "Send them over with someone expendable."

Talos immediately understood and grinned. "Understood, sir. I'll have the Devil Fruits delivered to you no later than the day after tomorrow."

"Good," Mio replied, then paused as something occurred to him. His gaze sharpened. "Talos, let me ask you a question."

"Of course, sir."

"Could you fight Kaido right now?" Mio asked with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Talos fell silent for a moment, deep in thought. After a while, he answered seriously, "I can't kill him. But... he can't kill me either."

"Then go," Mio said, grinning. "Find Kaido and fight him."

A single clash would be enough to send shockwaves through the New World and make Talos a known force. His fame would spread, and from there, his power and influence would grow rapidly—strengthening Mio's hidden hand.

"Understood." In a dim room on a pirate ship drifting in the sea near the New World, Talos looked at the Den Den Mushi with reverence in his eyes and a wild smile playing on his lips.

He carefully ended the call and stashed the Den Den Mushi away.

Then, he called someone in.

A man soon entered Talos's quarters—a senior officer in the Talos Pirates and the second-in-command of the ship. Though not top-tier in the New World, Talos believed he had potential.

"Boss, you called me this late for something important?" Godot yawned and scratched his head.

Talos reached into a nearby chest and pulled out three Devil Fruits, placing them in front of Godot. "Find someone expendable but obedient, and have them deliver these to Black Crow Island."

"Huh?" Godot's eyes widened in shock. He stared at the fruits. These were no ordinary items—they were Devil Fruits taken from the Celestial Dragons.

Now they were being sent to Black Crow Island?

Had the boss already made secret contact with the Black Crow? Was there some sort of hidden deal?

Godot didn't ask. His job wasn't to question—just to execute. He picked up the Devil Fruits and nodded. "Someone expendable but obedient... So this guy won't be coming back, huh? I'll need to choose carefully."

He turned to leave, then hesitated. "Boss, any other instructions?" freeweɓnovel.cøm

Talos grinned darkly.

Seeing the grin, Godot sighed and smacked his own forehead. He regretted asking. That kind of grin meant trouble.

He knew his boss too well—bold, fearless, and unhinged.

He wouldn't hesitate to kill a Celestial Dragon. Even if a Marine Admiral showed up, he'd still fight. In the New World, that kind of madness was dangerous—but it was also what made him terrifying.

Sure enough...

Talos slowly stood up. His towering figure loomed like a shadow across the room. A menacing aura rolled off him like a storm, his eyes gleaming with violence. "Go to Wano Country. Find Kaido. I'm going to beat the crap out of him."

A terrifying, overwhelming aura burst from Talos in that moment, stirring the seas around the ship. Waves rose. Thunderclouds gathered in the sky above, rumbling ominously.

"Kaido..." Godot muttered under his breath. His lips twitched, and he looked like he'd just swallowed a cactus.

Why couldn't it be someone easy?

Still, he knew better than to argue.

"You got it, boss," he said at last, nodding. There was no changing Talos's mind.