Flower Capital, Merchant's Residence.
"Hahaha~~"
"Hic~ General Orochi is way too cowardly, isn't he?"
A man with light blue hair styled into a massive topknot, wearing a dark blue kimono and a high-collared cape, took a swig of sake. His narrow eyes always seemed to carry a mocking smile. While the samurai around him looked tense and the dancing beauties sighed, he found the drink in his hand more enjoyable than ever.
Good things make people cheerful, and even if the wine doesn't get you drunk, the mood will.
"Kyoshiro-sama, please lower your voice..."
"Shut up, you idiot!"
As the exclusive merchant of Kurozumi Orochi and the man who controlled half of Wano's economy, "Sleepless" Kyoshiro didn't care about badmouthing his boss behind his back. Besides—
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm just stating facts. Twenty years ago, Oden's family and his retainers were burned to ashes in the flames."
Holding his cup, Kyoshiro smirked, looking half-drunk and half-amused.
"It's said that Lady Oden left behind a poem before she died:
'The world in darkness, yet the moon remains,
Clinging to hope, waiting for dawn.
The promised day of twenty years,
When two kings shall rise with the morning sun.'"
"Hahaha, and now it's exactly twenty years later! Hic~"
"And yet, look at General Orochi, trembling in fear over a dying woman's words. If these so-called 'two kings' really exist, I'd love to fight them myself..."
As Kyoshiro laughed loudly, his subordinates were caught in an awkward dilemma—neither daring to join in nor to stop him.
After all, what he said was the truth.
With Wano's isolation policy and its natural fortress of steep cliffs, it was nearly impossible for outsiders to get in. Not to mention, Kaido, the "Guardian Deity of the Nation," was here. Who could possibly threaten Orochi?
Were those so-called "two kings" going to drop from the sky?
"...I'll take my leave..."
"...Me too..."
Faced with their boss's drunken ramblings, the samurai could only find excuses to slip away. Unlike Kyoshiro, they didn't have the luxury of mocking the general and getting away with it.
"Kyoshiro, you're drunk."
A stunning woman with long, emerald-green hair, styled in the elegant fashion of an Edo-period noble princess, walked toward him. Her delicate features were graceful, her demeanor refined. A pink floral ornament adorned her hair, and she wore a luxurious kimono. She gestured for the musicians to leave before gently taking Kyoshiro's cup from his hand.
"I'm not..."
"...Sorry, I lost control."
The man who had just been acting so carefree immediately sobered up, sitting upright and bowing respectfully to the woman before him—his top courtesan, Komurasaki.
Because Kyoshiro was not truly Orochi's subordinate. He was once one of Oden's Nine Red Scabbards—Denjiro.
And Komurasaki was not really a courtesan, but the lost princess of Wano, Kozuki Hiyori.
"Please, don't act this way. If not for you, Uncle Denjiro, I don't even know what would have happened to me."
Years ago, without the protection of Denjiro—who had taken on the identity of Kyoshiro—the young princess of a fallen nation would have likely met a tragic fate. Though they called each other master and servant, in reality, they were family.
"Why are you in such a good mood today?"
As an undercover agent, Denjiro had never once allowed himself to get drunk—or even sleep soundly. He lived in constant fear of exposing Hiyori's identity. That was why he had earned the nickname "Sleepless."
For twenty years, he had not had a proper night's rest.
"Because Kurozumi Orochi's time is up."
Faced with the excited Denjirō, the girl known as "Komurasaki" let out a sigh.
"Uncle Denjirō, do you really... believe in my mother's prophecy?"
Calling it a prophecy felt more like a curse spoken before death.
But if words alone could kill, then what use would swords and blades have?
"Princess Hiyori, if I once had doubts like you, now I am certain—Lady Toki's words were not empty."
?
"I've received intel—the 'Unruly Ones' have left Ringo!"
?! "Impossible,"
Kozuki Hiyori covered the lower half of her face with her sleeve, trying to hide her shock, but her eyes couldn't conceal her astonishment!
"Could this be another 'breakaway' incident like twenty years ago?"
Back then, when Kozuki Oden was boiled alive and Kurozumi Orochi's schemes were exposed, the Ronin had a fierce internal conflict. Two of their greatest swordsmen, along with a few followers, left Ringo to join the Daimyos' rebellion. But in the end, they all fell to Kaido, cementing his reputation as the "strongest creature."
Even so, the remaining Ronin clung to their traditions, refusing to leave Ringo. During the long battle, they successfully forced Orochi and Kaido to abandon their attempts to conquer Hanamigasa Village. However...
"They've been silent for so many years. Why now—?"
If Wano is a mystery to the outside world, then the Ronin are an even greater mystery to Wano itself. Despite their strength, they have stayed hidden in Hanamigasa for centuries, never stepping out unless attacked directly.
Anyone who wishes to leave must sever all ties to the past and swear a deadly oath never to reveal any secrets.
Even the two great swordsmen captured alongside the Daimyo of Shimotsuki never spoke a word about the Ronin.
"So... Lady Toki's prophecy is really coming true."
Denjiro's hands, capable of slicing through the air with razor-sharp slashes, trembled slightly.
"I heard from Kurozumi Orochi that the Unruly Ones possess a great treasure. Their very existence revolves around guarding it, and even Wano's policy of isolation is tied to its protection. But now, they've all mobilized. Whatever their reason, they will inevitably clash with the Beasts Pirates, who have long coveted that treasure."
"At the same time, my informants, the 'Shellfish Seekers,' reported spotting a massive 'white whale' in the waters off Kuri."
"A white whale? How could such a creature—climb up the waterfall?!"
"Could it be..."
"That's right," Denjiro nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, that's no ordinary white whale—it's the Moby Dick!"
"It's Marco and the others!"
For a moment, Kozuki Hiyori's excitement was impossible to contain. After all, she had spent her childhood aboard the Moby Dick, surrounded by Marco, Uncle Jozu, and Haruta 'sister'... Back then, her father, Kozuki Oden, was still the commander of Whitebeard's Second Division.
"But... I heard that Uncle Whitebeard passed away..."
If the strongest man in the world were still alive, Hiyori would have no doubt that his help could free Wano. But—
"It's fine. According to my sources, Whitebeard's pirates are now led by a man named 'Essa.' After Whitebeard's death, he made the painful decision to abandon most of their territory, focusing instead on defense. He endured multiple fierce attacks from Blackbeard's crew and managed to lead them through the loss of their captain..."
Though Wano is closed off, the Beasts Pirates are well aware of everything happening across the seas. As Kurozumi Orochi's most trusted "moneychanger," Denjirō was also highly informed about the events on the Grand Line.
"At the same time, Kuri reported a 'landquake.' My spies among the lower-ranked samurai believe it's caused by the arrival of the Straw Hat Crew, who recently crashed Big Mom's wedding..."
The Straw Hat Pirates and the Heart Pirates had arrived—
That was the message Hawkins delivered to Jack the Drought, ruler of Kuri. And when it came to handling matters that didn't involve mindless destruction, Jack was surprisingly competent. So, he immediately went to his boss, Kaido, for a decision.
However—
"Kaido is currently locked in battle with Big Mom and her crew, who chased the Straw Hats all the way here. That means four major forces have their sights set on Kaido's head. This is our chance!"
The Whitebeard Pirates, once Oden's former crew, would undoubtedly help Hiyori out of respect for his memory. Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates were led by the brother of Ace, Whitebeard's former Second Division commander. It was hard to imagine they would become enemies.
There was no doubt—these two pirate crews had come to Wano with Kaido as their target.
Could it be... the prophecy of the "two kings" was really coming true?
"If that's the case... then..."
Hiyori hesitated for just a second before her expression turned serious.
"Give me 'that.'"
"Princess?!"
"I will find the right moment to poison Kurozumi Orochi's drink. Twenty years of pain and loss—it's time to end it."
"…It's my failure."
All the emotions in the world condensed into a single apology. As Denjiro knelt in a deep bow, the one known as the "greatest oiran of Wano," Kozuki Hiyori, stepped forward to help him up.
"Uncle Denjiro, if it weren't for you, there wouldn't even be a 'Komurasaki' today."
"So let's not say such distant words. Even though Kaido has been left to the Whitebeard Pirates and the Straw Hat Pirates, we must still do whatever we can."
As a princess, Kozuki Hiyori wasn't just a pretty face. Unlike her delicate appearance, she had an unshakable will—if not, she never could have survived under the enemy's nose for so long.
"Be careful in everything you do, Princess. Please don't lose hope until the very end."
"I will secretly reach out to the samurai still resisting. When the day of the final battle comes, we will make sure Orochi pays in blood!"
While the samurai of Wano began gathering in secret, Roman was busy making connections and arranging forces.
"They were spotted by a diving fisherman?"
Seeing Ace's embarrassed expression, the white dove flapped its wings.
"It's fine. Because of the Big Mom Pirates barging in, the Beasts Pirates are already on high alert. A surprise attack was never really an option. Instead, you should all be prepared—it's going to be a tough fight."
"Haha! Roman, don't underestimate us."
On the deck, a group of division commanders were already itching to go, and even Ace, now without his mask, looked eager to jump into battle. The white dove had to remind him:
"Even though you recently defeated the legendary pirate 'Silver Axe,' Kaido is nothing like him. Silver Axe was old and past his prime—Kaido is a whole different level. Be careful."
"Don't worry, Roman."
Two years as acting captain had smoothed out Ace's reckless impulses. The smile on his freckled face was no longer an act—it was the expression of someone who had truly grown.
"For Luffy, for Pops, for my brothers—I won't be reckless anymore."
Good. Once Inuarashi and Nekomamushi's forces arrive, these high-level fighters—many at the level of top commanders—will wear down the Beasts Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates no matter what.
Roman had never relied on the idea of Big Mom suddenly switching sides or all her children mysteriously disappearing. That was just wishful thinking.
What he planned was simple—
A full-on battle against two of the Four Emperors!
Take down Kaido, and then…
Finally uncover the secrets hidden within Wano.
(End of Chapter)
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