The next day.
According to the intel gathered by Shakky, the currency circulating in Wano Country consists mainly of oval-shaped gold and silver coins.
A gold coin is worth about 10,000 berries, while a silver coin is valued at 100 berries. In rural areas, there are even small copper coins worth one berry, though they are not widely recognized.
In Wano's impoverished regions, even a small pot from a tool shop costs 30 silver coins, while a large pot is priced at 60 silver coins. In Kuri's ruined town, five silver coins could support an extremely poor family for a week.
However, defeating Urashima, the yokozuna sumo champion of Wano, would reward you with a staggering 500 gold coins.
The most valuable currency in Wano is platinum. A prominent noble family even offered one platinum coin as a bounty for capturing the White Boar, a pure descendant of the Flower Capital's Mountain God.
In the Flower Capital, one platinum coin is worth enough to buy a luxurious house, equivalent to 1,000 gold coins.
This disparity immediately caught Shakky's attention—she had just discovered a massive currency loophole.
Wano is rich in gold and silver, making them relatively cheap, while platinum is extremely scarce, making its value skyrocket.
Each oval gold coin in Wano weighs one tael—about 50 grams. If Brook and his crew exchanged 100 kilograms of gold, they would receive only 1,000 gold coins—equivalent to one platinum coin.
When she realized this, Shakky nearly screamed in frustration at the huge loss. But then, she saw a golden opportunity.
Bringing gold from the outside world into Wano would be an absolute disaster in terms of exchange rates.
In Wano, 100 kilograms of gold is worth only 10 million berries, while in the outside world, the same amount would fetch at least 100 to 200 million berries.
The price gap was enormous.
Was this the biggest flaw in Wano's isolationist policy?
Of course, Shakky wasn't about to take that loss lying down.
Without hesitation, she gathered every platinum accessory she owned—even forcefully taking the platinum jewelry from Charlotte Linlin and Stussy.
Not stopping there, she even snatched some precious medical instruments from Dr. Crocus and experimental materials from Hiruba and Tom.
With Redfield's Thunder Metallurgy, she had the platinum melted down and forged into more than ten small platinum coins—each worth over 10,000 gold coins!
"Too much money… too much money!"
Shakky trembled with excitement. She had zero intention of parting with her own gold—she wanted to profit from Wano's gold reserves instead.
This foreign exchange loophole was her ticket to becoming the richest person in the world!
Her mind was now completely filled with gold, gold, and more gold.
Even Brook thought this was a brilliant way to crush Wano's financial system through economic warfare.
A wise man once said:
At 10% profit, they start moving.
At 50% profit, they take risks.
At 100% profit, they ignore all laws.
At 300% profit, they're willing to risk execution.
Right now, their profits exceeded 1,000%. No wonder Shakky was nearly losing her mind, and even Brook was fired up.
With over 10,000 gold coins that Shakky had exchanged from platinum, Brook began hiring warriors in the busiest streets of the Flower Capital.
Suppressing six or seven towns in Kuri wasn't something the Hell Pirates could do alone—they needed reinforcements to guard, fight, and expand their influence.
Hyogoro of the Flowers also brought hundreds of yakuza under his banner, becoming a key figure in managing Kuri—a quick rise to power.
Meanwhile, Antonio set up a Den Den Mushi recruitment center in the streets, displaying a massive banner:
"Recruiting righteous warriors! March to Kuri and restore peace!"
"A great swordsman and a Ryuo master—worth a fortune!"
"Samurai with Ryuo—100 gold coins!"
"Warriors with Haki—50 gold coins!"
"Oi, what the hell?!"
A crowd of samurai warriors started grumbling.
"Why do they only want swordsmen who know Haki and Ryuo?! Are they looking down on us?! Since when was conquering Kuri this damn difficult?!"
But Brook wasn't here to hand out money—the Hell Pirates' true goal was to learn Ryuo.
By hiring Ryuo users, they could study their techniques, test them in practice, and even recruit some as permanent allies.
Seeing how Brook was offering huge rewards only for the strongest warriors, Kozuki Sukiyaki frowned.
"Don't they need ordinary warriors? There aren't that many samurai who can use Haki—how do they plan to build an army?"
He had expected Brook to hire large numbers of average samurai to overwhelm Kuri by sheer numbers. If that had happened, Brook's fortune would have flowed into Wano, enriching the local samurai.
But that wasn't what Brook was doing.
"Only recruiting the strong?!" Sukiyaki muttered. "If they plan to make these warriors their personal retainers, then I'll have no choice but to suspect their true ambitions!"
Sukiyaki knew that powerful samurai wouldn't submit easily. Even he couldn't force them into service—most were stubborn, valuing their freedom over loyalty.
They refused to be under anyone's command, preferring to be their own boss, controlling their own men and territory.
This was the underworld samurai culture of Wano—where strength was respected, but every warrior still wanted to be the one in charge.
Most Ryuo masters had their own gangs. Even if they weren't yakuza bosses, they at least controlled a few streets. Why would they lower themselves to be mercenaries?
Still, some warriors who had fallen on hard times or lost everything in battle applied.
Others were wandering masters who preferred freedom and saw this as an opportunity to make money.
By afternoon, the recruitment had gathered around a dozen down-and-out samurai.
Despite their poverty, they still held on to their samurai honor, refusing to steal or rob.
Some swordsmen had lost their family wealth due to wrongful convictions, yet they remained determined to restore their lineage and reclaim their samurai status.
Each of them was personally tested by Redfield, Newgate, and Shiki—all turned out to be true warriors.
Brook believed that once Kuri's economy boomed, these warriors would stay, forming new family legacies in Kuri—or even swearing loyalty to him.
It was easy to exploit their honor and dreams of revival.
And with the platinum loophole, Shakky would drain gold from all over Wano to fuel Kuri's rise!
It was impossible for Kuri not to thrive now.
--------------
As the ragged samurai boarded the golden ship, they couldn't hide their astonishment. Their hands, still clutching their beloved swords, trembled slightly. This ship was too luxurious.
Even the Shogun's mansion in the Flower Capital paled in comparison. They had never seen such grandeur, and for a fleeting moment, some of them wished they could join these outsiders permanently.
The exquisite dishes prepared by the ship's chef, Streusen, instantly conquered their taste buds. Some warriors were so moved that tears welled in their eyes. What was this divine food?
Despite once being nobles or gang leaders, none had ever tasted anything like this. Was this the splendor of the outside world?
The legends spoke of the vast seas beyond Wano, full of adventure, passion, exotic cultures, and mouthwatering delicacies. Now they knew it was all true. How tempting it was!
"My dear samurai," Brook addressed them with a sly smile. "Shogun Sukiyaki has leased Kuri to me, meaning I now hold the temporary title of Daimyo. Once we pacify Kuri, do you wish to become its founding families?"
These warriors were outcasts, unable to thrive in the Flower Capital and desperate for a chance at redemption. Whether for fame or fortune, Brook knew they were easy to sway.
"Lord Brook, we are only assisting in the suppression of Kuri for money! We are loyal subjects of Lord Sukiyaki. Once Kuri is pacified, we will return to the Flower Capital!" declared a young samurai, full of righteousness.
He had clearly not been beaten down by the world enough. The older samurai remained silent, having learned their lessons.
However, Brook noted the young warrior's potential. He had already awakened Haki in his twenties—an impressive feat. Nearby, the Golden Lion Shiki, puffing on his cigarette, eyed the young man with amusement.
Perhaps he was considering whether to remove a few spare parts from him during the battle and leave them in Kuri as a keepsake.
"Tom, take off!" Brook ordered.
Originally, he had planned to recruit for another day, but the ship was already overflowing with more than a hundred of Hyogoro followers. It was getting crowded.
The journey from the Flower Capital to Kuri would take less than a day, so they'd manage. Their destination was Amigasa Village, the closest settlement to Udon.
Brook deliberately ignored Kuri Castle, which would one day become Oden Castle. Though the most populous area in Kuri, it was not their priority.
Currently, Kuri City and Tosan were the most chaotic regions. Ibara Port remained under the Kozuki Family's protection, while villages like Pineapple Town, Ruin Town, Pickup Village, and Brick Village were poorer and had fewer conflicts.
As the golden ship, Erebus, took off from the Flower Capital, it drew the attention of many. Some warriors realized they had missed a golden opportunity.
---
Inside the Flower Capital Prison
In a dark cell, a young man suddenly shattered his handcuffs and broke free. The guards along the way barely made an effort to stop him.
After all, this was the son of Wano's shogun. How could mere jailers dare to lay a hand on him? More importantly, they couldn't stop him. All they could do was "hastily" report his escape to the Shogun's mansion.
Kozuki Oden was furious. He had missed the recruitment and the chance to gather warriors for Kuri. There was no way he was letting those outsiders leave without him!
He had heard about the recruitment earlier that morning and had been struggling against his restraints ever since. He had to board that golden ship—his heart yearned for adventure!
"That brat! How can he fight at his current level?! Bring him back immediately! This time, use high-purity Seastone cuffs!" Sukiyaki ordered, clearly worried.
Although he acknowledged Oden's talent, the boy was still too young. An eight-year-old had no place in a battle.
Moreover, Oden was his only son. If something happened to him, the Kozuki bloodline would face another crisis of extinction—just like during the great turmoil caused by the Kurozumi Clan decades ago.
But Oden had already retrieved his two swords and was charging toward the recruitment site. Nothing would stop him from boarding that ship!
---
By the time Oden reached the city rooftops, the golden ship was already in the air. But he refused to give up. He sprinted across the rooftops, shattering tiles as he went, ignoring the curses of homeowners below.
With a mighty leap, he launched himself into the sky, using the air itself as a foothold. He was closing in!
Brook and Redfield had, of course, already noticed the reckless prince. One sword slash from Brook or a lightning bolt from Redfield would send him crashing back to the ground.
"Let him up!" Brook grinned. "Sukiyaki, your good son came to me of his own will. Don't blame me for what happens next. Whether you see him as a hostage or a future ally, you'll have to think twice before crossing me."
As Oden drew near, he prepared to drive his swords into the hull to stabilize himself. But the Hell Pirates weren't about to let him damage Erebus.
Shiki casually waved his hand, sending a table flying toward Oden, intercepting his swords.
For a moment, Oden thought he had failed—until he realized the table wasn't falling.
It was floating.
Before he could react, the table lifted him into the air, carrying him straight onto the golden ship.
"THIS IS AMAZING!!" Oden roared with excitement. "You guys really have sorcerers who can make things fly! Who is he? I want to be his brother!!!"
He eagerly scanned the ship's deck, his eyes sparkling as he peered over the railing at the landscape below.
"It's so beautiful! The Flower Capital looks so different from up here! I LOVE THIS SHIP!!!"
Oden's boundless enthusiasm was infectious. The recruited samurai, despite themselves, began admiring the breathtaking aerial view.
For a brief moment, their hardships and worries faded. Seeing the world from above made them feel free. It broadened their perspective—perhaps even their ambitions.
"What is that?!" Oden suddenly shouted, his excitement renewed.
He had spotted Charlotte Linlin's Thundercloud Zeus and Sun Prometheus, and before anyone could stop him, he was rushing over to touch them.
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