"How did it go, Kanjuro? Were you able to gather any useful information?"
Kin'emon and Momonosuke had just satisfied their hunger. Meanwhile, Kanjuro had wandered through the area, subtly gathering intelligence.
"Kin, I've uncovered a few things… This country wasn't like this until quite recently…"
Kanjuro relayed the news he'd picked up: Dressrosa had only recently regained its freedom—with the help of the Marines.
"Marine Headquarters…"
Kin'emon fell into a long silence. As the leader of the Akazaya Nine, he had heard Lord Oden speak of the enormous global military force beyond the seas.
Having sailed with both Whitebeard and Roger, Kouzuki Oden was no stranger to the Marines. In fact, he had often clashed with the high-ranking officers of the previous generation.
Kouzuki Oden—Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, a powerful dual-sword-wielding samurai whom Whitebeard called "brother" rather than "son"—was so unique that the position of Second Division Commander remained vacant even after Whitebeard's death at the Battle of Marineford.
As a member of the Roger Pirates who had reached the final island, Laugh Tale, Kouzuki Oden was a name well-known to the senior ranks of the Marines.
Naturally, Oden was very familiar with Marine Headquarters.
To open Wano's borders, Oden knew that he would one day have to face Marine Headquarters, that symbolic behemoth of power—and the World Government, the force that had ruled behind it for over 800 years.
The one Oden was waiting for was "Joy Boy," the person destined to bring earth-shattering change to the seas. But Joy Boy stood in direct opposition to the World Government!
And the Marines… were the military hammer of that very government, enforcing its justice across the world.
Four hundred years ago, Wano had been known as the "Country of Gold." The legendary swordsman, Ryuma the Sword God, had repeatedly repelled pirates and World Nobles who came to plunder Wano's wealth—slaying dragons with his blade and proving to the world the might of the samurai.
Both the Marines, loyal to the World Nobles, and the pirates, who plundered without remorse, were enemies to Wano—a nation that had closed its borders to the world!
"Oden-sama once sailed as a pirate and became sworn brothers with Whitebeard… but the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines personally killed Whitebeard two years ago…"
Kanjuro continued reporting his findings:
"Not only that—Fleet Admiral Wright's reputation is terrifyingly high around the world!"
"People call him the very embodiment of justice… At least in this country, I haven't heard a single soul speak ill of him. He recently liberated this nation from pirates who were masquerading as agents of the World Government!"
Kanjuro's tone turned solemn.
"More importantly—the pirate defeated by the Marines, Donquixote Doflamingo, was secretly working with both Kaido and Orochi!"
"What?!"
Kin'emon was stunned.
"You mean the Marines, under the threat of Kaido and Orochi, still managed to save this nation from their clutches?!"
"That's right… And from what I've heard, this Fleet Admiral of the Marines—years before he even attained his current rank—once took on Kaido alone… and severed one of his dragon horns!"
"!!"
Kanjuro's eyes gleamed with a strange light.
"I only conducted a brief inquiry and yet learned all this… To verify it, I casually asked several people from varying backgrounds on the street…"
"And every one of them gave the exact same response! That shows just how deeply revered this Marine Fleet Admiral is in this country!"
Kin'emon stroked his chin, narrowing his eyes in contemplation.
"This Fleet Admiral possesses such immense strength… and the Marines' forces stretch across all the seas…"
"Moreover, the Marines and Kaido have always been enemies. Could we… perhaps enlist the Marines' aid to defeat Kaido?"
"But, Kin… Father!"
Momonosuke suddenly voiced his concern.
"Our most loyal allies have always been the people of Zou. Can we really trust the Marines?"
"Kin, Momonosuke-sama has a point. We've only just arrived here from twenty years in the past. We barely understand Wano's current state, let alone the state of the world beyond its borders."
Kanjuro said earnestly, "Shouldn't we head to Zou first? At the very least, we can learn what has happened to the world over the past twenty years."
"You make a good point…"
Kin'emon let out a sigh.
"But we don't have much time left. And Zou is a moving island—finding it is no easy task. Without help from the outside, it might be impossible for just the few of us to locate it."
"Here's what we'll do: we stay in this country for now and continue gathering information. If we find a lead on Zou, then, Kanjuro!"
Kin'emon's expression turned serious.
"You'll take a Den Den Mushi and head for Zou. The rest of us will carry your Vivre Card and seek allies across the seas!"
"Whether they be Marines or pirates, our goal is the same—defeat Kaido! The final will of our lord—to open Wano's borders—cannot be fulfilled unless Kaido is brought down!"
"To achieve that, we need every ally we can find… Most pirates are untrustworthy. Few like Whitebeard or Roger still walk the seas."
"However, the surviving members of the Whitebeard Pirates might still offer their strength."
"And the Marines… At the very least, we share a common goal in wanting Kaido's downfall!"
Kanjuro looked at Kin'emon, who had laid everything out with such conviction. After a moment of silence, he nodded.
"Kin, you're right. Let's do as you say."
"But Father… with so few of us… how could we ever reach Marine Headquarters…"
Momonosuke recalled how not long ago, he'd been a carefree child doted on by his parents. Now he found himself shipwrecked in a foreign land, about to face unknown people and situations. Fear crept into his heart.
"I… I am truly afraid…"
"Compose yourself, Momonosuke!"
Kin'emon sighed inwardly, but he couldn't afford to show hesitation. He spoke firmly:
"You may be young—but you are the rightful heir of Wano!"
"The last scion of the Kouzuki Clan. Even in foreign lands—even in front of the mighty Marine Headquarters—they will not ignore your bloodline!"
Watching Momonosuke slowly collect himself from his earlier panic, Kin'emon gripped his shoulders tightly.
"Momonosuke, our lord is gone. You… are now Wano's next shogun. You are the ruler of a nation!"
"You no longer have the luxury of being a child—that is the burden you must carry as a Kouzuki… as the son of Oden-sama!"
"Do you remember the gravestones at the ruins of Oden Castle?"
Kin'emon clenched his jaw, tears welling in his eyes.
"What we carry isn't just our lord's will—but the future of all of Wano!"
"..."
Momonosuke was speechless. In his memories, Kin'emon—though always trusted as the leader of the Akazaya—had never spoken with such raw conviction.
"This isn't a dream…"
Momonosuke murmured, biting his lip as tears streamed down his cheeks.
"I… I have no other choice!"
"I… I will give it everything I have!"
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