CHAPTER 281 REUNITING WITH YAMATO
Ringo—one of Wano Country's several regions. This nation's overall climate was extremely peculiar. One region enjoyed spring-like weather year-round with fragrant flowers and singing birds. Another endured perpetual summer heat and blazing sun.
Ringo belonged to the perpetually winter category. Here, snow fell year-round, covering ground, mountains, and buildings in thick white blankets.
Brett had now arrived in this region. Kyoshiro had ultimately provided the intelligence Brett sought. The person he wanted to meet was here.
Following Kyoshiro's map, Brett reached a dilapidated small town in this area. Snowflakes fell continuously. In this ruined town, Brett saw only gaunt, malnourished civilians—seemingly no different from other Wano regions.
However, careful observation revealed these residents differed from other Wano commoners. Though similarly thin and obviously undernourished, their eyes held light—not numbness.
Though appearing resigned to fate, Brett noticed they were observing him. Before Brett could act, someone approached.
"Brett-dono?" the person asked quietly.
"That's me," Brett nodded lightly.
"Then please follow me. Several lords await your arrival."
The person turned, leading Brett deeper into the town. Brett followed, asking quietly, "Isn't this somewhat hasty?"
Directly asking a stranger if they were Brett—what if encountering Kaido's or Orochi's subordinates?
"Kawamatsu-sama drew your portrait, so we won't mistake you," the person whispered.
I see. Brett nodded slightly.
This person led Brett into a dilapidated house, carefully moving firewood piled in the corner. He pried up a floorboard, revealing a dark opening beneath.
"Please, Brett-dono."
The person stepped back, clearing the path for Brett.
"Mm." Brett didn't bother with ladders, jumping directly down the opening.
The hole was quite deep. Several seconds passed before Brett landed—roughly estimated at over a hundred meters underground. This was a crudely excavated cave, walls minimally reinforced, earth's scent still clearly detectable.
Though the cave was quite large. Brett extended his observation Haki, hearing many voices.
"Brett! Welcome!" A figure approached. Though tall, his rotund build made him appear somewhat short and stout.
"It's been a while, Kawamatsu," Brett embraced him warmly.
This man was whom Brett had previously rescued from Udon's prison—former Kozuki retainer, one of the Nine Red Scabbards, kappa Kawamatsu. Also a fish-man from Fish-Man Island—Brett's compatriot.
"Kawamatsu was quite pleased hearing you'd come!" An aged voice sounded as another small figure approached.
"Hyogoro-ojisan, you look much healthier than before."
Brett greeted him as well. This unremarkable-appearing old man was the former leader of Wano's ronin before Kyoshiro—Hyogoro the Flower.
"Hahahaha! To witness Wano's tomorrow, naturally I must try living longer!" the old man laughed heartily.
Brett laughed along.
"Brett!! Finally meeting again!!" Then came a clear, energetic voice.
Someone rushed over, eagerly embracing Brett. Brett gently hugged her, then released her, looking down at this smiling person. "Yamato, you really did meet up with them."
The beautiful woman's most striking features were the red horns on her forehead, then her gorgeous long hair transitioning from white to blue-green.
Undoubtedly, this was whom Brett had personally released from Onigashima—Kaido's beloved daughter, Yamato.
"We heard someone was being frantically pursued by the Beast Pirates, so we attempted contact," Kawamatsu smiled. "When we learned Yamato was Kaido's daughter, we were all shocked."
Brett couldn't help but chuckle. The real shock was probably that despite being Kaido's daughter, she constantly declared becoming Kozuki Oden.
"Hehe," Kaido's daughter grinned. "This was fated meeting! I'll lead everyone to victory like Oden, then open this nation's borders!"
Kawamatsu and Hyogoro both laughed heartily—clearly not the first time hearing Yamato say this.
"Got it, got it. First let's reclaim this nation," Kawamatsu chuckled good-naturedly.
Brett's smile held deeper meaning. He could hear that neither Kawamatsu nor Hyogoro resisted Yamato's declaration. Conversely, they seemed quite supportive.
After all, they probably didn't know Kozuki Momonosuke—the Kozuki family's legitimate heir—still lived. Now encountering someone who'd inherited Oden's will, whose personality resembled Oden's, and who possessed similar formidable strength—their thinking was entirely normal. Nekomamushi and Inuarashi thought similarly.
"By the way, Nekomamushi visited once. He told us about your alliance," Kawamatsu said—referring to the anti-Kaido alliance Brett established with the Mink Tribe.
"Coming at this time, Brett—is the moment ripe?" Kawamatsu looked at Brett expectantly. Reclaiming Wano from Kaido and Orochi was his lifelong aspiration.
"Not yet," Brett shook his head. "I've encountered some overseas trouble. I must make Kaido return to Wano, so I've come to cause him problems."
He answered with complete honesty. Both Kawamatsu and Hyogoro's expressions grew disappointed.
"Driving Kaido from Wano doesn't mean the end," Brett continued. "More critically, Wano must possess power to protect itself."
He looked toward Yamato. "For instance, once Yamato grows stronger."
"Yes!" Yamato confidently puffed out her chest. "Leave it to me! I'll become very strong!"
Brett absolutely believed this.
"So," Kawamatsu asked, "this time's target is Orochi, correct?"
"Correct. Disappointed?"
"No," Kawamatsu shook his head. "I've been eagerly waiting!!"
Regarding harm to this nation, Orochi was in no way inferior to Kaido.
"In any case, before formal action, let's have a banquet first, Brett! We haven't properly thanked you for your previous kindness!"