Aside from that red Road Poneglyph, there was also an enormous Kozuki family crest on the wall behind it.
But Sherwin only gave it a casual glance and didn't look again… it had nothing to do with him anyway.
Actually, just like Kozuki Momonosuke, although Sherwin scoffed at Kozuki Oden ability to govern and his naïve ideas, he didn't really have much of an opinion about the man himself.
Even though Kozuki Oden was an outright failure as the ruler of a country, Sherwin wasn't a citizen of Wano.
No matter how useless their lord was, it wouldn't affect him in the slightest.
The reason he wanted to stay far away from Kozuki Oden had nothing to do with Oden himself, but entirely because of that group of blindly loyal retainers under him,
the people of Wano who pinned all their hopes on the Kozuki clan even after it had already shown its unreliable side, and Yamato, that brain-dead fan.
Because Sherwin genuinely couldn't understand how someone like Kozuki Oden, a ruler who could practically be called incompetent, somehow became everyone hope…
But considering the excellent "matching system" of the pirate world, Sherwin could sort of understand it a little after all.
After all, even if Kozuki Oden wasn't a qualified ruler, within Wano—more precisely, within the mindset of that island nation—he could still be considered a heroic figure.
Because Oda very clearly used Susanoo as the template when shaping the character of Kozuki Oden.
In mythology, Susanoo was also willful and brutal while in Takamagahara, hated by everyone, and only after slaying the drunken Yamata no Orochi did he become praised as a hero.
Likewise, Kozuki Oden was initially despised by the people of Wano. Then he defeated the Mountain God and unified Kuri, turning public opinion around.
When dealing with Kaido, he also planned to make his move after Kaido got drunk, but because there was a spy within the group, things ended up with a very different outcome.
Kurozumi Orochi Yamata no Orochi Fruit, the sword Ame no Habakiri that shares the same name as Susanoo divine blade, all hint at Kozuki Oden prototype.
Even… Kozuki Oden appearance was designed based on ukiyo-e depictions of Susanoo…
Though, to be fair, people in ukiyo-e all look more or less the same. Kin'emon, who shares the same ukiyo-e art style, also looks somewhat similar to Kozuki Oden.
There are similar tales of reformed rogues in Sherwin own world as well—for example, the origin of the title of a very popular film: Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Evils.
But unlike Kozuki Oden, Zhou Chu was positioned as a chivalrous hero from the start.
Afterward, when he became a general, his reputation was excellent, and in the end he died gloriously on the battlefield.
As for Susanoo, although he also governed Izumo Province, his story in mythology basically ends there.
And what about Kozuki Oden? Leaving his own country behind on a whim to sail the seas would be one thing,
but later, when facing Kaido, he went even further and perfectly embodied the term "deadweight teammate"—no, it would be more accurate to say "deadweight leader."
As long as even one step along the way had gone slightly differently, things might have developed in a far better direction.
Yet this so-called "hope of Wano" managed to step squarely into every single pitfall without missing one…
So Sherwin impression of Kozuki Oden was actually much closer to how he viewed those traffic celebrities on Earth—clearly doing a terrible job at their actual profession, yet still surrounded by hordes of people who worship and praise them without a shred of thought.
There was a saying that one fan could rival ten haters. Originally, Kozuki Oden (the traffic celebrity) at least still had combat strength (good looks) he could show off, but after being hyped up like this by those brain-dead fans, it was only natural that Sherwin felt disgusted.
On top of that was the so-called "Oden virus" that netizens jokingly talked about, yet which genuinely existed and even affected the main cast.
That was what finally made him keep his distance from anything related to Kozuki Oden.
"This is—"
However, it seemed Inuarashi was determined to pull Sherwin and the others into their cause.
The moment he noticed Sherwin and the cats beside him paying attention to the Kozuki family crest, he immediately seized the opportunity to speak up.
"It the crest of the Kozuki clan of Wano. I know," Sherwin bluntly laid everything out.
"You don't need to waste your effort. I have no interest whatsoever in helping the Kozuki clan restore their country.
And as far as I know, Kozuki Oden died at Kaido hands more than ten years ago.
His son and daughter disappeared long ago as well. The Kozuki clan has already existed in name only."
"That not true! Lady Toki made a prophecy before her death! Lord Momonosuke and the others will definitely return!"
Because Inuarashi and Nekomamushi had been captured early on by the Beasts Pirates during their escape, after falling out with each other,
they didn't know the true whereabouts of Momonosuke and the others. But they were still aware of Kozuki Toki prophecy.
"Prophecies… they're the kind of thing you just listen to and leave at that. Many times, even if a prophecy really does come true, it won't necessarily turn out the way you first imagined."
Sherwin and the Meows all curled their lips in unison, and even Robin and Shirahoshi looked rather unconcerned.
After all, back on Fish-Man Island, they had personally experienced a prophecy themselves. Although the final outcome closely resembled what had been foretold, its true nature was completely different.
Of course, Sherwin knew that prophecy had still been reliable, so he continued, "Mm, even if a successor of the Kozuki clan really can return, why should we help? We have no ties to Kozuki Oden.
Besides, didn't Wano fall into its current state precisely because that guy trusted the enemy promises so easily?"
"Take back what you just said!"
"Even you people are not allowed to slander our lord so casually!"
Sure enough, the moment Kozuki Oden was mentioned, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi—who had still been restraining their tempers—instantly lost their composure, like brainless fans 'defending their idol.' They directly drew their weapons and pointed them at Sherwin and the others…
Even though just earlier they had been planning to let Huamei take charge of Zou.
This time, Sherwin did not stop Jinx, who was already pulling out her guns, nor Suika Meow, who was dragging the Ibuki gourd as she charged forward. He felt that with stubborn types like these, it was better to beat them up first and then slowly reason with them afterward.
Even if they still refused to listen, at least they would behave a little better.
"Be careful. Don't damage this tree."
So that was all Sherwin said before Jinx and Suika Meow made their move.
"Meow hahahahaha! Don't worry! At worst, I just won't use the Firechewer grenades or the Reaper missiles, meow!"
(=`ω=)l▄︻╤
Jinx said this as she pulled the trigger and fired at Inurashi.
Of course, the little mad cat might be crazy, but she still knew her limits without using wide-area weapons she wasn't a match for Inurashi. So while attacking, she also shouted, "Little Ai! Come help, meow!"
"Shirley, let go, meow!"
(=`ω=)
Wearing the hexagonal salamander, Haibara Meow immediately jumped down from Sherwin shoulder and quickly pulled out potions of various colors.
Ever since finding the right way to join battles, Haibara Meow had also become enthusiastic about fighting.
Under the little kitten rapid actions, a "Slime Rainbow Squad" made up of Shirley and its clones quickly formed beside her and Jinx.
Meanwhile, Suika Meow staggered as she grew to a height equal to Cat Viper and used the Ibuki Gourd to block the fork in his hand.
"Since we're inside the tree, using fire wouldn't be good. Then let try my new move, meow~"
Suika Meow made a grabbing motion toward the air with her free hand.
As she moved, a mass of transparent liquid condensed out of thin air above Cat Viper head, and under Suika Meow control it smashed accurately down onto him.
Right after that, a burst of white mist exploded from Cat Viper body. Sheets of white frost rapidly covered his huge form, and many icicles hung from his whiskers and tail.
"Freeze Sign: Ethereal Compression Shot, meow!"
OG Author :
(At first, my view of Oden was pretty much the same as most people—disgust and dislike—and I didn't really think much about why. But while writing, I had no choice but to study the character, and that when I finally figured out why I disliked him so much.
If Kozuki Oden were only a wandering samurai, or a pirate, then he actually wouldn't have much of a problem. You could even say that in some aspects he had a bit of personal charm.
But as a king and a leader, Oden was a complete failure.
If it were only that, it would still be fine—history is full of foolish rulers. Even if you look down on them, normally you don't feel anything that strong toward them.
What really matters is that Oda wrote the Wano arc so that everyone was fighting for this foolish ruler, and even Luffy protagonist aura was partly handed over to him. That what really makes it hard to accept.
It like a manager leading a team and completely ruining a project. He pats himself off and leaves, and the people left behind not only don't think he did anything wrong, but instead shout about helping the manager revive the project—and reviving it isn't even enough, they must also hand the manager position over to his eight-year-old, utterly incompetent son.
I can't be sure why you dislike Oden, but as someone who has experienced an idiot superior ruining an entire project, that exactly the part that disgusts me the most.)