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Joy Boy's vision of changing the world was something Kaido first learned about from King when the Marine captured him.
Recognizing that "Joy Boy" symbolized a figure capable of revolutionizing the world, Kaido, who lacked a purpose at the time, began to view himself as the future "Joy Boy" destined to spark that transformation. He was driven by a burning desire to change this stagnant and decaying world.
From this perspective, Kaido's existence held more significance than Charlotte Linlin's.
Even though Alex had managed to defeat Kaido with relative ease, it was clear that much of that victory relied on tactical advantage rather than sheer strength alone. Kaido, who would later become known as the "Strongest Creature" and remain undefeated in one-on-one combat, still stood as a figure of terrifying power in the eyes of many.
Hearing Alex's words, Kaido's expression twisted with rage. He growled, "Are you trying to drag me onto your ship?!"
His tone carried more defiance than inquiry, a commanding presence that exuded raw prestige.
Ignoring Kaido's furious outburst, Alex calmly continued, "Before forming the Beasts Pirates, weren't you just like any other pirate? You sailed under the flag of the Rocks Pirates."
Kaido's expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face. He hadn't expected Alex to know so much about his past. But as he considered Alex's calculated demeanor and meticulous preparation, Kaido felt a grudging respect for the scope of his ambition.
"What's this? Do you intend to become the next Rocks?" Kaido sneered, his voice laced with disdain for the fallen captain he once served.
"Why stop at Rocks when I can surpass him and complete what he couldn't?" Alex retorted, his tone brimming with conviction.
"You're after the King of the World title, aren't you?" Kaido pressed.
"The ultimate throne—don't tell me you don't want it, too," Alex countered.
With unwavering determination, Alex declared, "I never claimed to be a pirate. Compared to the so-called One Piece, ruling the world holds far more significance, wouldn't you agree?"
This marked only the second time Alex had shared his ultimate philosophy with anyone, the first being his conversation with Dragon.
His aspirations aimed higher than any pirate's dreams. From the moment Alex ascended to the position of Shogun of Wanokuni, his ambitions, fueled by insatiable greed, extended far beyond the New World.
Kaido's expression darkened as Alex continued, showing no sign of relenting. "I overheard your conversation with Yamato earlier. You claimed I could never be Joy Boy. What exactly do you mean by that?"
Beside Alex, Yamato's gaze sharpened with curiosity. She turned her full attention to her father, now imprisoned yet unyielding in his demeanor.
Even as a captive, Kaido rarely offered explanations. But under the weight of Alex's bold vision for the future, Kaido's resolve seemed to waver. He looked at Alex with newfound intensity before stretching out a massive hand. "Bring me some sake."
Alex smirked and gestured to Robin, who had prepared the jug in advance. With a subtle use of his ability.
After Kaido took a deep sip of sake, his expression shifted as though he were entering a drunken reverie. He laughed heartily before fixing his gaze on Alex outside the cell. "Do you believe in the so-called legends?" he asked.
Without waiting for a reply, Kaido continued, his voice carrying a weight of grim reminiscence. "When I was young, I was captured by the Marines and sent to Vegapunk's laboratory. It was there that I met King and learned about the legends recorded by his race."
"Over 800 years ago, the world was thrown into a chaotic war. I don't know the specifics of how it started or who was on the side of righteousness or evil. Frankly, I don't care. But the result was clear—the formation of today's World Government and the rise of those so-called Celestial Dragons."
Kaido's tone grew darker as he leaned into the tale. "At that time, the leader of the forces opposing the World Government was a man named Joy Boy, whose name is also recorded in the lore of Raftel. After losing that war, Joy Boy was executed, but before his death, he left behind a prophecy. He claimed that 800 years into the future, a new 'Joy Boy' would rise to fulfill his vision of changing the world."
"As time passed, the prophecy began to take root. The belief spread that a person destined to change the world would emerge in the future—specifically in the time prophesied to begin 800 years after Joy Boy's death."
Kaido paused, his eyes narrowing as he studied Alex. "When we first collaborated—when I went to kill Kozuki Oden—I learned from him something that aligned with the prophecy. He revealed that in 20 years, Wanokuni would welcome the arrival of Joy Boy, tied to the country's destined 'opening.'"
Hearing this, Robin and Yamato, standing beside Alex, exchanged glances.
As far as Wanokuni's "opening" was concerned, it had already been accomplished within a few short years of Alex becoming its shogun.
Kaido smirked as he continued. "What Oden told me and what I've seen differ slightly, but for those who reached Raftel, like Roger and his crew, they've learned the true secret of Joy Boy there. And one thing is certain: the time of Joy Boy is predicted to come in the next eleven years."
"That makes Wanokuni—a place that the prophecy says Joy Boy must pass through—essential. Because of this, neither you nor I could ever truly be Joy Boy. And as someone who has already been defeated, I can accept that I'm not Joy Boy."
Alex listened in silence as Kaido's voice grew heavy with resignation. It was clear that Kaido's philosophy had shifted over time—from declaring, "I will change the world!" in his younger days, to conceding, "The one who will defeat me in the future is Joy Boy." His transformation from a potential revolutionary into the reluctant guardian of an old order mirrored the curse of being trapped by fate, knowing that he could never embody the role foretold by prophecy.
King's unwavering belief that no one could defeat Kaido also echoed in his statement: "Joy Boy shouldn't appear again." It reinforced the contradiction of Kaido's existence—a man strong enough to challenge fate but resigned to being a gatekeeper of the past.
As Kaido's words sank in, Alex chuckled. His voice cut through the tension with sharp defiance. "Legends, prophecies, fate—it's all conceptual nonsense. Believing in it or not makes no real difference."
Alex's sneer widened. "And who decided that the one to change the world must be some so-called 'Joy Boy'? In the end, he was just another failure."
He stepped forward, his voice brimming with conviction. "It's not that I can't be Joy Boy—it's that I refuse to be Joy Boy. His ideals of freedom and equality? They're nothing but childish dreams."
"In this world, true and lasting equality of power is a joke. It's impossible. Don't make me laugh," Alex said, his tone sharp. "Why would I aspire to become a conceptual figurehead bound by someone else's ideals?"
He gestured broadly, as if dismissing the notion entirely. "The one who changes the world might indeed be tied to Joy Boy. But don't you think it's absurd to put your faith in something so fatalistic?"
His eyes burned with ambition as he concluded. "The true pursuit of a king is to forge their own legend, to leave behind achievements that resonate through history—truths that can't be erased by the World Government or buried by time. It's about shaping a future that overshadows the past, not clinging to the ideals of a long-dead man or surrendering to the chains of prophecy."