Chapter 60: The Foolish Lord of Kuri

——The New World, "Wano Country."

The expansion of their influence was progressing remarkably smoothly.

"The ships and the mansion should be finished soon, right?"

"Yes. Wano’s craftsmen are incredibly skilled… Orochi was also grateful that the weapon factories are running smoothly."

"Well, Kaido and I beat the crap out of them, so they’d better be."

Laughing loudly in the center of Onigashima’s massive cavern, she watched as construction progressed—wood and materials being hauled in by ship, carpenters diligently at work. For now, they still had to sleep on the ships or relax in the cave with just a sofa and table set up. Hurry it up already. She and Kaido had given the carpenters all kinds of requests for their rooms, and the ships were planned to be massive, high-performance—no, overwhelmingly well-equipped. They’d even gone out of their way to steal a state-of-the-art Marine warship just to show the shipwrights.

Of course, the craftsmen were true professionals—eager for new knowledge, enthusiastically incorporating it into Wano’s traditional techniques to build something great. And they weren’t doing it grudgingly. Even weapons, like cannons—they happily crafted the most viciously powerful ones.

Then again, most of the Flower Capital’s residents were wealthy. Political instability didn’t concern them much. As long as they were safe and happy, it didn’t matter if the Kozuki or the Kurozumi ruled. The suffering of other regions? Irrelevant. They weren’t suffering. That’s just how people were—rarely capable of true empathy.

Not that I mind. A world full of mediocrity would be boring anyway.

Lying sprawled on the sofa, she nibbled on skewered snacks while scribbling in her notebook.

Then, a female crewmate nearby hesitantly spoke up.

"Um… What are you writing?"

"An org chart~"

"Org chart?"

"Planning ahead for when the crew gets bigger. Chain of command, structure, that kinda stuff. Like, the Whitebeard Pirates divide their forces under commanders, and Big Mom’s crew ranks her kids as Ministers, then fighters like ‘Knight,’ ‘Bishop,’ or ‘Rook,’ plus the Homies from Linlin’s powers—kinda like a mafia setup, y’know?"

Still focused on her notes, she answered casually. No reason to hide it—she was in a good mood. She even raised her voice so the younger crewmates and apprentices nearby could hear.

"All the big pirate crews do it. Takes weight off the captain’s shoulders, and giving ranks motivates the underlings, right? Plus, it’s fun to think about~ ♪"

"O-Oh, I see! So, more officers means…"

"Yep~ Still deciding who gets promoted, so no peeking! If you wanna be an officer, get stronger and prove yourselves~ ♡"

"!! Yes…!!"

Mhm. The crew’s motivation visibly spiked. Good. As expected of me—I’m great at firing people up.

That said, few here were officer material yet. Most still had a long way to go. Maybe some would blossom after eating a Devil Fruit, but she’d prefer ones strong enough without one. It was annoying—Roger and Whitebeard’s crews had barely any Devil Fruit users, yet their overall strength was insane. She didn’t think they lacked combat experience, but somehow, they still lost. Even if the top officers were stronger, the overall power gap made things tough.

Hence, the focus on ships for their base—and lately, recruiting more crew. Crushing enemies and recruiting them, over and over. Once numbers were solid, she’d restructure everything. She’d already discussed it with Kaido.

Officers would be called "Shinuchi." The six strongest among them? "Tobi Roppo." The "Numbers" would be a separate group—ancient giant combatants.

Above them, the fleet and army commanders: the "All-Stars." Naturally, "King," "Queen," and "Joker" were locked in. She wanted a fourth—"Jack"—but that could wait.

And at the very top? "Governor" Kaido. She’d be "Vice Governor," probably. No need to overcomplicate it.

…Still, turning this org chart into reality would take years. The mansion and ships weren’t ready, and crew numbers were still lacking. The times were shifting, and she wished she could speed things up—

Just then, a crewmate rushed in.

"—Lady Nue!! Today’s newspaper!!"

"Ah, thanks— …Hm? You look pale. Something wrong?"

"N-No, it’s just…!!"

"?"

Tilting her head at the panicked underling, she took the paper. Wano was a closed-off nation—outside news didn’t reach here.

But exceptions exist. She’d arranged for papers to be smuggled to Onigashima, so the only ones in Wano who got outside news were the Beasts Pirates and the Kurozumi.

She skimmed the headlines. Oh! "Warriors of the Sea: Sora" updated! It went on hiatus after the author got sick, so this was a nice surprise. She’d have to mess with its real-life inspirations someday~ ♡

But first—

"Alright, what’s today’s juicy news… Whoa!! ‘Conqueror of the Grand Line!! The man who reached the final island, "Laugh Tale," and obtained it all—wealth, fame, power: "Pirate King" Gol D. Roger!!’ …Huh? Big de— …Wait."

!!!?

For an instant, time froze for everyone present. Even her thoughts stuttered—the shock was too sudden, her brain struggling to process it.

In that brief silence, she took a deep breath. Glancing around, she saw the same stunned disbelief on every face.

"Hmm…? Ah… Uh, let’s see… ‘The unprecedented circumnavigation of the world… The greatest pirate crew, the Roger Pirates… All that the "Pirate King" Roger obtained… It is—’"

“What did you just say?”

“!!!”

“Ah!”

Just as I was about to read it out loud, a thunderous, intimidating voice boomed from behind—and the newspaper was snatched right out of my hands. Hey, I was reading that! Not that I mind, but still! He could’ve at least said something! I mean, I guess he did—which is probably why all the underlings are practically tripping over themselves in terror.

And of course, the only one here with enough presence to scare everyone like that is none other than my comrade-in-arms—a giant of a man. The captain of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido of the Hundred Beasts.

Kaido grabbed the paper and stared at it, teeth clenched, eyes locked onto the page. He ground his teeth audibly, rage radiating off of him like heat.

“‘Pirate King’ Gol D. Roger…?! The greatest pirate crew in the world, they say…?!”

And with that, he tore the newspaper to shreds in fury. Ahh—hey!! I hadn’t finished reading that yet!!

“You’ve gotta be kidding me…!!! Hey, what the hell are you all doing!?”

“Y-y-yes sir!! Doing what exactly!?”

Clearly furious, Kaido barked out his command.

“Set sail! We’re gonna take Roger down!!!”

“EHHHH!? Wait—what?! We’re talking about Roger here! The Pirate King!!”

“So what!!! That bastard…!!! I’m gonna kill him!!! Move it!!! Find Roger!!!”

“Yes, sir!!!”

With a roar that could only be described as a beast’s howl, Kaido’s fury shook the entire ship. His crew had no choice but to obey. Defy him, and they wouldn’t just get yelled at—they might not survive. And whether it’s lucky or not, he’s drunk right now, too.

But still… looking again at the article on the torn paper, I can’t help but feel a chill.

The birth of the Pirate King. It’s not just us—this news must be causing an uproar across the world.

And if you're a pirate—or even a marine or a civilian—there’s no way you wouldn’t be intrigued by that “treasure.”

That name I was about to read aloud… it was printed right there in the newspaper.

Yes. From now on, what Roger found at the end of his journey around the world would be known by this name:

“The One Piece.”

No doubt about it—this was the biggest news in decades.

“The Roger Pirates actually did it!!”

“They completed the full Grand Line route! The first crew in history!!”

The news reached all corners of the world: the four seas, the Grand Line, every country, city, remote island, and tiny village.

After all, “pirates” are defined as those who sail the seas without the approval of the World Government or its member nations.

Many raise skull-and-crossbones flags, committing theft, murder, and other crimes. But even if they don’t—if they sail without permission, they’re pirates.

This has been the global law—and common sense—ever since the World Government was founded about 800 years ago.

No one in this world is allowed to freely cross the seas. The World Government has always crushed that will. And in those 800 years, no one ever achieved what Roger did.

But he made it happen. That’s why he earned the title—Pirate King. The man who attained everything the world had to offer.

And that’s exactly why the world erupted.

“Roger… he really did it, huh…!!”

Naturally, the Navy caught wind of it too. Though they claim to protect the seas, their true mission is to uphold the order of the World Government. So the Navy began to move—aggressively.

“Find Roger at all costs!!”

“Send word to all branches! Every available ship and marine is to prioritize tracking down and capturing the Roger Pirates! Ignore all other pirates!!”

“Fleet Admiral Sengoku is waiting for you, sir!! Admiral!!”

“…Is this the will of D…?”

“Sir? What did you just say—”

“…Never mind. I’m heading out.”

From the Holy Land of Mariejois to Marineford, and through every base in the Grand Line and the four seas, the Navy mobilized. From top brass like admirals and fleet admirals, down to the lowest-ranking sailors, they all set out to find the Roger Pirates.

An overwhelming show of force. But those few marines who had even a glimpse of the bigger picture… they couldn’t help but feel conflicted.

And with the rise of the Pirate King, it was only natural for pirates to take action as well.

“Hey, Pops!! Roger did it!!”

“Gurararara… Roger… that fool actually pulled it off…!!”

Pirates existed all across the world. Some chased treasure. Others, fame or power. Some just hated being tied down, while others were simply villains at heart. Some set out in pursuit of adventure—and were labeled pirates because of it.

Countless pirates roamed the four seas and the Grand Line.

“We’re taking Roger down!!!”

“Head for the Grand Line!!”

“They say he’s got everything!!!”

“Who would've thought a Pirate King would rise from these seas!!?”

“I’ll kill him and take the title of Pirate King for myself…!! Let’s go, to the New World!!!”

Every pirate turned their sights on Roger. They searched for him. Hunted him.

But no one could claim the prize. No one found Roger. Or his crew.

Worse—those who tried were crushed by even stronger pirate crews hunting Roger themselves.

No matter how hard they searched, the Roger Pirates couldn’t be found. They had vanished… and rightly so. Roger’s crew had secretly disbanded.

One by one, legendary pirates left the crew and disappeared to different islands. As marines and pirates chased them with desperate eyes, countless battles broke out, and the toll was heavy.

But unaware of the chaos he left behind, another man—once part of the Roger Pirates—returned to his homeland.

Parting from his comrades with a promise to meet again someday, this man stepped back onto the soil of his homeland. His name—Kozuki Oden.

The heir to the shogunate of Wano Country. A powerful daimyo of Kuri. Once a commander under the infamous Whitebeard Pirates, and later a crewmate of Roger, who came to know the world's greatest secret.

Now, the man had returned with a new dream—to open the borders of his country. And so, after many long years, he came face-to-face with his people once more.

“Oden-sama!! We’ve missed you so much!!”

“Toki~~~!! Momonosuke!! Hiyori!! I missed you all so much──!!”

Oden embraces his family for the first time in a year.The reunion truly brings a wave of emotion.

But... the sense of wrongness sets in soon after—triggered by the reactions of his retainers.

“Welcome back, Lord Oden...!!”

“Yeah!! It's been a while, hasn't it!! Hey—what’s with those faces? Haha, are you crying 'cause you're that happy to see me back?”

“Ugh... no, it's just...”

“Hmm? Why so hesitant?”

Oden tilts his head, puzzled by their odd behavior. Kin’emon, Raizo, Kawamatsu, Kanjuro, Kikunojo, Inuarashi, and Nekomamushi are all there—everyone except Ashura and Denjiro—but a sense of guilt clouds their faces, and they look unwell.

“...Oden-sama, the thing is...”

“Toki! What’s going on with everyone? Honestly, I thought they’d tease me a bit more than this...”

“Oden-sama... whatever you see from here on out... please, don’t blame them.”

“──Huh? Blame them? Me?”

Even Toki—usually so strong, bright, and composed—lets a shadow fall across her face.

Oden doesn’t yet understand what that means.Not until they reach the outskirts of Kuri.No—more precisely, not until he sees what remains of what used to be Kuri’s castle town.

“Wha—What is this...!!?”

Oden is at a loss for words.

Kuri’s castle town.The bustling Hakumai he built alongside his dependable retainers.The joyful idiots he loved.

It had all reverted... into a land of ruins.

“What on earth happened to make the town end up like this!?”

“Forgive us!!! Our... our careless actions led to this disaster...!! We failed to protect the domain entrusted to us...!!”

“Ugh... ughhh...!!”

“H-Hey, don’t cry!! Explain it to me!! Something must’ve happened!! Was it a quake? A tornado? Some natural disaster!?”

“...Oden-sama. We’ll explain everything—step by step... but for now, please, let’s go to the castle.”

“Toki... alright.”

The town—now a cluster of ramshackle huts and straw homes.It was livable, barely. Still under construction. But the smiles that once filled it were almost all gone.

As his retainers cried out apologies and Oden tried to calm them, Toki suggested they head to the castle, and so Oden made his way home.

But along the way, the people of the town reacted to him in different ways.

“Lord Oden is back...!!”

“But if only he’d done his duty properly back then...!!”

“If it’s Lord Oden... maybe he can...!!”

“No way. No one can stand up to them... no one...”

“............”

Oden can’t bring himself to say anything. He doesn’t know what he could say.

Some voices welcomed him with joy.Others spoke in bitter whispers, casting resentful glances.

Still, Oden had expected harsher words—curses, even.He’d always been treated that way. It never really bothered him.But this time was different.

Even the hopeful voices were laced with fear. Like prayers.And the bitter ones? Like curses drenched in despair.

It was just like the Kuri of old.A lawless, impoverished wasteland.A dumping ground for criminals.

Why had it come to this?What happened while he was away?

Once back at the castle, Oden finally heard the truth from his retainers.

Ashura wasn’t present because he was keeping the thugs in check.Denjiro was traveling the country, gathering money and workers.And the reason for all this—?

“So my father truly was in poor health...!! I regret not being there at the end...!!”

“Yes, and to make matters more complicated... his recommended successor—was Orochi.”

“!? What!? Why would that happen!?”

“Even we don’t understand... apparently Lord Sukiyaki claimed Orochi, your ‘little brother,’ was worthy to act as Shogun's stand-in...”

Oden is shaken.He knows Orochi, sure—but he’s not a “little brother.” Just an acquaintance.He only lent him money as a favor to Yasui’s retainer, nothing more.

It’s a complete shock—and the news only gets worse.

“Now, several weapons factories have been built across the regions of Wano... the men of each village are being forced to work under strict watch, for wages so low they can barely survive...”

“What the hell!? Why is everyone listening to a snake like Orochi!?”

Oden’s rage boils over as he learns the details about the smoke-belching buildings he saw earlier.But once again, the retainers’ faces grow dark.Some shake, some avert their eyes in shame.Yet they answer.

“Orochi has the backing of a pirate named Kaido...”

“His strength is monstrous... and if anyone dares oppose him, Kaido’s subordinates—known as ‘Calamities’—make an example of them...”

“Orochi uses this to do whatever he wants... and we, unaware of the true threat, also...”

The retainers fall silent, guilt thick in the air.

But then, Toki steps in.

“Oden-sama!! They were trying to protect the townspeople... to protect me and the children—”

“No, Lady Toki!! No excuses!! No matter the reason... we failed to protect them. That’s the truth. We are prepared to accept any punishment...!!!”

“B-But...!!”

“……? Hey! Don’t skip over things! Tell me!! What happened!?”

Oden demands the full story.

“About six months ago... a man who refused to work at the factory—and his entire family—were executed.”

Yes.They had tried to protect them.

Orochi’s repeated tyranny had finally pushed them over the edge.Consumed by rage and righteous anger, they took up their swords and marched on the Flower Capital.

But that... was the beginning of the tragedy.

“As we stormed Orochi’s stronghold—Kaido’s forces slipped into Kuri through the back...!!”

“They infiltrated the castle... and aimed to take the life of Lord Momonosuke, the rightful heir...!!”

At that, all the retainers fell to their knees in unison. They pressed their foreheads to the tatami mats, their bodies trembling.

“Even those of us left to guard the castle... were defeated by the enemy...!!”

“!!? You lost!? You guys...!?”

“We have no excuse...!!”

Inuarashi and Kawamatsu—Oden knew well the strength of those who had stayed behind. Their skills far surpassed ordinary samurai. It was no exaggeration to call them the strongest in all of Wano.

And yet, they’d been beaten. Not by Kaido, but by his subordinates. That fact alone stunned Oden.

And the result... was clear to see.

“Lady Toki was wounded by an arrow... and right before our eyes, a strange flying disc destroyed the town...!!”

“!! Let me see, Toki!!”

“No, Oden... It's true I was injured, but the wound’s already healed. —Not even a scar is left... perfectly smooth and clean...”

“Don’t lie!! That’s impossible!!”

Oden rushed to check her body. Toki had indeed said she was hit, but her leg bore no trace of injury. If an arrow had pierced her, there should be a scar. Especially after half a year—it shouldn’t have just vanished. And yet, it had.

“The enemies who attacked Kuri... treated her injuries. It was a strange girl who used some bizarre sorcery... it might’ve been her doing.”

“!! A Devil Fruit user...!!”

Oden had spent years as a pirate. He understood. What Wano called ‘sorcery’ was known to the world as Devil Fruit powers.

With such abilities, bizarre and inexplicable things became possible. He didn’t know the exact nature of the power, but there was no doubt that it had healed Toki’s wound.

Why they treated her—what their intention was—remained a mystery. Still, he was glad she’d recovered. But the fact remained: it was those same enemies who had attacked and devastated the town. Gratitude was not something he could offer.

“...Now I see exactly how Orochi operates...!!”

“Oden-sama!!?”

“What are you...!!”

Oden gripped his swords. He was furious.

Of course he was. The town they all built had been destroyed. His wife was hurt. His retainers too.

But more than anything—the sight of the children, terrified as they listened to the story, sent him over the edge.

They’d frightened the ones he loved most. Left them with trauma. Any one of those things alone was enough reason for Oden to explode with rage.

“You all protect my family!! Guard Kuri with your lives!!!”

“W-Wait, Oden!!”

“Oden-sama!!?”

Oden burst out of the castle—literally—racing toward the root of all evil. Like a gale, he sped toward the Flower Capital, his whole body surging with Haki, ready to cut down Kurozumi Orochi.

---

The people of Wano—the samurai, the townsfolk—didn’t know. But Orochi and Kaido had stationed their men in each region, ready to relay any incident via smart-tanishi, a local communication network like den den mushi. So, the report came instantly.

“Oden is heading toward the Flower Capital!!”

“We’re trying to contact Lord Orochi, but can’t get through!!”

“Just confirmed—whoa!! He’s moving incredibly fast!! He’ll be in the Capital any moment now!!”

“What should we do!!? At this rate, Oden will reach Lord Orochi...!!”

“So, they say. What now?”

At that very moment, I heard the report myself on Onigashima. I’d just gotten back—talk about timing. Close call. If I’d lingered a bit longer or been held captive any further, I’d have missed it. Whew... Taking on twenty Navy warships back-to-back really drained me, but I somehow pulled through. The sea’s been swarming with battleships lately—probably searching for Roger. I didn’t lose, but I did get captured again. Tortured, sentenced to death—but that’s all beside the point. This is the priority now. If Oden’s back, then the Roger Pirates must be nearby. Roger himself likely isn’t. So, I asked Kaido what he planned to do. Oden’s returned—what’s next? Kaido, still fuming, replied:

“So that bastard Oden from Roger’s crew is back...! That means Roger himself must’ve been in Wano just a little while ago, damn it...!!! What a goddamn joke...!!!”

“Well, yeah, that’s right. So what now? Do we let Oden go and wait for him to sail again? I’m okay with that.”

“Don’t be stupid!!! If Orochi gets killed now, it’ll be a pain in the ass...!!! And besides—I’m curious about this Oden guy...!!!”

“So then?”

“—Of course I’m going!!!”

"—Now that’s more like it!!!"

Kaido let out a roar as if unleashing all the frustration he'd been bottling up, then transformed into his beast form—a dragon—and flew out of Onigashima. I followed suit, taking to the skies toward the Flower Capital.

On the way, I used my smart shell, which I’d painted black and decorated with a little UFO charm, to receive reports from my subordinates stationed in the capital.

“Nue-sama!! Reporting from the Flower Capital!! Kozuki Oden just cut through our samurai and stormed into the castle!!”

“Fast!! That’s Oden for you~! The guy’s on a whole different level when it comes to action! Guess spending time on Whitebeard’s and Roger’s ships wasn’t just for show—regular samurai can’t keep up.”

“More importantly, the townspeople are gathering!! He’s unbelievably popular…!! The streets are overflowing with people!!”

“Eh, just have Queen fire one of his Plague Excite Bullets into the crowd. No one’s gonna stick around when there’s a virus flying through the air, right?”

“W-well, surely that’s a bit…”

“Ahaha!! Kidding, kidding!! Don’t take it so seriously! The Flower Capital is the heart of Wano—we’d never go that far. Just shoot a few poison arrows to scare them off or something, yeah?”

“U-understood! Proceeding with that plan!!”

Ah, he totally thought I might actually do it. I mean, fair—does sound kinda fun. But the Flower Capital’s got great food, fun shops, it’s a lively town. It's an essential part of the Beasts Pirates’ lifestyle. I don’t want to wreck or terrorize it too much. So I’ll be nice and rule it gently. We can tear up the other regions and islands all we want.

—While that was going on, Kaido and I crossed the sea, passed over Udon, and arrived at the Flower Capital.

By the time we got there, the people had cleared out from the streets, all hiding in buildings and peeking out to see what was going on.

“Oh dear, it was so lively just a moment ago, and now it’s dead quiet~. Guess Oden really is still beloved by the people.”

“Doesn’t matter. More importantly—there’s a powerful aura in that castle…!! That must be Oden…!!!”

“Oooh yeah, I feel it too. That Haki’s intense. Looks like this’ll be fun♡”

“Don’t you dare interfere, Nue…!!”

“Ehh~? Gonna hog him all to yourself? Fine, whatever~”

And so, Kaido and I stormed the castle, headed straight to the main keep where Orochi was waiting. Kaido reverted to his human form, picked up his kanabo club, and charged straight at Oden.

“—So you’re Kozuki Oden…!!!”

“!!? You… you must be Kaido…!!”

Kaido swung his kanabo, and Oden caught the motion in time, blocking with both his swords. Haki clashed between them, bursting into the air like black lightning. Yep, just as I thought—he’s got Conqueror’s Haki too. And strong. It’s been a while since someone could actually go toe-to-toe with Kaido. Last time was probably Roger, Whitebeard, Linlin, or Shiki. Among the Navy, maybe only an admiral or Garp could stand a chance against Kaido. And yet, Oden just blocked that blow head-on. This might actually be rough──I thought, as I casually strolled closer to Orochi.

“As expected from the invincible Kozuki Oden! Not bad!! But hey, our Kaido’s not doing too shabby either, right?”

“A girl with wings…!?”

“Correction—beautiful girl! Get it right~! I’m the world’s cutest, coolest, most passionate and mysterious idol pirate, Vice Captain of the Beasts Pirates—Fuuju Nue! Don’t forget it~♡”

“…So it was you…!! You’re the one who destroyed Kuri…!!”

Even though I struck a cute wink and striking pose for my intro, Oden just threw a question at me. So rude—I said beautiful girl, didn’t I? Hmph… Oh well, I’ll answer anyway. I smiled sweetly.

“Yup, that was me~♪ But I actually went pretty easy on everyone, y’know? I didn’t kill your men, and casualties among the townspeople were minimal. I even healed your wife’s injuries. Honestly, I think you owe me a thank you!! Wanna become a fan of mine?”

“……!!”

Oh? Ignored. Well, not exactly ignored—he didn’t say no. He just didn’t respond. Probably doesn’t have anything to say about it. That’s the kind of guy a leader of samurai is. He’s not denying or confirming anything, just focusing all his energy and hostility on defeating us. Yep, makes sense. Anyone who sailed with pirates wouldn’t bother with words. Pirates don’t back down over debates or sweet talk. In the end, it’s about conviction. Strength and will. That’s what decides things.

When pirates argue, it’s not really about winning the argument. It’s about stating your beliefs and sizing up the other person’s. If you’re the type to compromise or bend your ideals after some words, you wouldn’t be a pirate in the first place. If someone wants to win with words, they should’ve been a lawyer. A pirate’s beliefs aren’t right or wrong—whoever’s stronger forces theirs through and survives. The loser loses everything. That’s all there is to it.

And in this world, the one man who followed his belief in freedom all the way to the end was the “Pirate King,” Gol D. Roger. Selfish, short-tempered, completely insane in his actions—but he kept winning, kept surviving, and became the Pirate King.

The question now is whether the man who once sailed with him—Oden—can follow through with his beliefs. In the end, that too will come down to strength──or it should have, but right now, he can’t even make use of his full power.

The reason? The man on the throne. Thanks to Semimaru’s Barrier-Barrier Fruit, Kurozumi Orochi is safe inside an impenetrable barrier. Surrounded by weapons and hostages, he made his offer. —Ugh, whatever. I’m getting hungry. Maybe I’ll bring some takeout home later.

“You want to stop the kidnappings? Go to war with us, and you’ll lose more than you can imagine.”

"What...!?"

A flicker of hesitation appeared in Oden’s eyes. He never looked away from Kaido, but he was listening closely to Orochi’s words. —And while we’re at it, I wouldn’t mind if the cute little rat hiding in the ceiling decided to join us too. If Stussy were here, she might’ve caught it by now, but she’s busy elsewhere and can’t make it. CP is fully mobilized trying to track Roger, so they’re all tied up too. I mean, the guy’s been this hard to catch even with so many agents on the move—just how high is his stealth stat? Makes you wonder if he’s hiding some kind of secret... Well, anyway, I guess we’ll leave the ceiling rat be. Sure, we could catch them, but letting them listen in might make things more entertaining. Besides, they’re not really a threat. Propping my chin in my hand, I float there listening to the exchange between Orochi and Oden.

“Every week, same time...!! As an apology to the Kurozumi clan, you’ll perform a naked dance!! For each time you do it, I’ll release a hundred hostages!!”

“...Is that really true...!?”

“Muhaha!! Thinking of agreeing, are you!? Do that, and your pride, your popularity—they’ll be dragged through the mud!!”

“Just answer the question...!!”

Oden glared behind him. He didn’t turn his head, but the sheer force of his presence was clearly aimed at Orochi. Hm. What a waste. He’s this strong, and yet he clings to that naïve idea of saving everyone without letting anyone die. And now he’s actually considering giving in to this offer—another sign he’s not cut out to lead. If he were willing to accept sacrifices, maybe he could save more lives in the end. But no, it’s not the method that’s wrong—it’s the fact that someone weak is choosing that method. If it were someone like Roger or Whitebeard, their strength alone could carry that kind of idealism. Everyone would call them great men. But Oden doesn’t have their strength, so when he chooses that path... it’s just foolish. Fools like that dance in the palm of the wise. Just like Oden is doing now.

“When the ship we’re building is finished... yes. Five years from now, I’ll leave this country.”

“...So until then, you’ll keep dancing?”

“Yeah. If you want to protect the country, then show us how sorry you are...!! Do that, and I’ll even give up on revenge...!!”

“...Fine.”

Oden paused a long time before nodding at Orochi’s words. He sheathed his sword, walked past Kaido, and started to leave.

He’s such an idiot—it’s not like they’re going to keep their promise. I was honestly a bit disappointed. Still, I figured this might turn out to be entertaining in its own way, so I decided to stick around and watch. —But just before Oden passed him, Kaido muttered something under his breath. I caught it.

“Tch... spineless fool.”

“!”

Oden must’ve heard it too... but he didn’t stop walking. He just continued out of the castle.

Left behind were Orochi, Higurashi, Semimaru, and the rest of the Kurozumi clan. Only Kaido and I remained with them.

“Kukuku... That idiot really agreed to the terms...!!”

While Orochi and his lot laughed, mocking Oden, Kaido sighed, clearly unimpressed. The whole thing had felt like a letdown.

“He really left, huh? Were you hoping for a fight after all?”

“If we had fought, it would’ve been a tough one. But... in the end, he’s just like Roger and Newgate. Strong, but soft... pisses me off. Guys like that are better off being laughed at.”

“Well, yeah. Even if we’re fine, our underlings would’ve been dropping like flies. ...So, wanna stay and watch the naked dance?”

“Hmph. Yeah, sure. Once that’s done, we’ll head back and drink some more.”

With that, Kaido and I looked down at the castle town, waiting for the moment. Man... events just keep piling up lately. Once we get back, we’ll need to start the hunt again. Still, I couldn’t help but feel a quiet sense of anticipation—thinking about the new age that’s about to begin.

—And a little while later, in front of the castle, before a huge crowd... Oden, naked, danced like a fool.