Chapter 612: Beneath Turtle Island, the Island of Gods!
Logically speaking, Kaido had been back for a while now.
With his personality, if he was going to move, it would be something huge.
That was why the simultaneous disappearance of both Kaido and King felt wrong. Stranger still, the Beasts Pirates were still active, continuing to assist the Kozuki clan just as Kaido had instructed earlier.
"Chrollo," Ryuunosuke asked again, "have our people found anything else strange here?"
"Nothing else so far," Chrollo replied. "But Wano has to be hiding something."
As he spoke, his gaze slid toward Kuina.
Kuina was from Wano. More than that, she was from the Shimotsuki Clan. Even if she did not know the full truth, she should have heard something.
"Captain Chrollo," Kuina said the moment she noticed his look, "you want to ask me about this country?"
"Yes," Chrollo answered calmly. "If you know anything at all, tell me. At least give us a direction to investigate."
"I understand…"
Kuina hesitated, then spoke slowly.
"I heard my father talk about Wano when I was little. On Demon Island, there's supposed to be a special God Island too."
Her brows knitted, like she was repeating a half forgotten story.
"I heard that once you take control of the River Country, you'll have a chance to become a god here."
Then she looked genuinely confused.
"But there's no space left on demon Island."
"demon Island?" Ryuunosuke repeated.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Where would this so called demon island even be? We've already surveyed the entire place and found nothing special at all."
Before Kuina could answer, Machi appeared, clearly irritated.
"In the last two days, I've run across all of Wano," Machi said. "Forget special places, we didn't even find anything normal."
She folded her arms.
"Wano has been closed off for years, and there aren't even neighboring islands around it. It's sealed in on all sides. There's nothing to investigate."
Kuina let out a small breath, helpless.
"That's why I said it. It's just something my father told me when I was little. I really don't know what special things exist in Wano."
She looked down for a moment.
"I can't help it."
Her voice softened, and what followed was not explanation, but a truth she had carried for years.
Even though she was Koushirou's daughter, Wano had always favored sons over daughters.
That was why Momonosuke had dared to reach for her the first time they met. He believed even if he had improper thoughts, people would accept it.
Because he was Kozuki blood.
Because he was the only boy of his generation.
In his mind, he could do anything he wanted.
But Kuina had become Ryuunosuke's woman, and Momonosuke had not only failed to get what he wanted, he had nearly been beaten to death for trying.
Because of that world, Kuina had never been valued as a child.
Even if Koushirou knew something, he would not have told her.
"Let me tell you."
A familiar voice cut through the courtyard.
"Is there truly an Island of Gods on Demon Island?"
Kuina froze.
"Father?!"
Koushirou was walking toward them.
Kuina looked stunned. They had not seen each other since she boarded Ryuunosuke's ship. They had barely even spoken through a Den Den Mushi.
To see him here, suddenly, left her breathless.
Of course, Kuina was the only one truly surprised. Ryuunosuke and the others had sensed Koushirou's approach long before he reached them.
"Kuin a… I'm sorry," Koushirou said, his face filled with shame.
"I treated you badly back then. I never imagined I'd need your help at this point."
His voice lowered, heavy with regret.
"I'll tell you everything my father told me back then."
Kuina's eyes immediately shimmered.
For so long, she had never received her father's approval. Even with her sword talent, she had still been overlooked simply because she was a woman.
Now, hearing repentance from his mouth, she felt a knot loosen in her chest.
"Uncle Koushirou," Ryuunosuke stepped forward and spoke directly, "tell us first."
Even though Kuina was with him now, they were not married, so he still addressed Koushirou that way.
Koushirou nodded and did not waste time.
"Turtle Island is actually a downward passage."
He spoke as if reciting a map that only a few could read.
"If you pass through that passage, you'll arrive at a pool."
His eyes sharpened.
"A white dragon appears whenever a living creature enters that pool."
Koushirou's tone stayed steady.
"The white dragon will take that person to the Island of Gods."
"White dragon?" Ryuunosuke repeated.
His expression turned thoughtful.
"Island of Gods…"
Then his gaze shifted.
"So the so called Island of Gods isn't on Demon Island at all. It's beneath Turtle Island."
He frowned slightly.
"But how would an ordinary person survive the impact of a white dragon?"
Ryuunosuke understood that creature well.
The white dragon was a mysterious being of the sea. Before, he had assumed the phenomenon was caused by some massive sea monster.
Now it seemed that assumption was wrong.
"Most people can't withstand it," Koushirou admitted.
"However, if you add the energy of an Infinity Stone as protection, there won't be any problem."
He continued without pause, and the story behind it spilled out.
That was why their settlement existed in the first place. That was why Shimotsuki Village had been established.
They had gone to the East Blue searching for Infinity Stones.
But after finding them, Kousaburo never told Koushirou how to extract their power.
And the white Infinity Stone, unlike the green one, was an Infinity Stone with an attack attribute.
Under those circumstances, Koushirou believed there was no way he could ever return safely.
Even now, Kuina's relationship with the Dragon Hunter Pirates remained unclear to outsiders.
But with the combined strength of the Dragon Hunter Pirates, they had been able to overcome the shackles imposed by the Infinity Stones.
That was when Koushirou made his decision.
He would return to Wano and take back what originally belonged to them.
This so called Island of Gods should also belong to the Shimotsuki Clan.
…
After hearing all of it, Ryuunosuke's expression did not relax.
Instead, a deeper question surfaced.
Koushirou had returned to reclaim what was lost.
So what, exactly, had they lost?
If it were only about ruling Wano, Ryuunosuke did not believe Koushirou would go this far.
.....
[Check Out My Patreon For Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]