The lingering glow of the sunset bathed the mountain path leading to Oden Castle, dyeing the entire road a golden-red.
Kaido, accompanied by a few trusted subordinates, walked slowly alongside Kurozumi Higurashi, Kurozumi Kanjuro, and their group. "Kozuki Oden," impersonated by Kurozumi Higurashi, walked at the front of the procession. She perfectly imitated Oden's gait and mannerisms, but the faint, eerie smile playing on her lips appeared particularly glaring under the sunset's light.
By the time they reached the foot of the castle, the evening clouds had stained the entire sky a blood-red, as if foretelling the upheaval to come. Before the castle gate, Kin'emon had long been waiting with the other retainers lined up in formation.
"Lord Oden, you have finally returned!" Kin'emon hurried forward to greet them, performing a standard samurai bow with deep respect. When he raised his head, his eyes shone with joy. "The banquet is fully prepared, awaiting only your and Lord Kaido's presence."
At that moment, the Fish-Man samurai Kawamatsu emerged from the shadows of the gate. He stood behind Kin'emon, but his gaze remained fixed on "Kozuki Oden." Kawamatsu's brow unconsciously furrowed; an indescribable sense of incongruity spread through his heart.
"Kin'emon, are you blaming this lord for returning too late?" the false Oden suddenly barked sharply, her voice unnaturally shrill and completely different from Oden's usual gentle tone.
Kin'emon trembled, startled by the sudden rebuke, and hurriedly lowered his head. "I wouldn't dare! Please calm your anger, Lord Oden!"
Kurozumi Higurashi snorted coldly and commanded in a deliberately lowered voice, "Begin the banquet at once!" Though she tried her best to mimic Oden's voice, she couldn't hide the condescending arrogance in her tone.
"Yes, Lord Oden, Lord Kaido, please follow me." Kin'emon hastily led the way, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He discreetly wiped his brow with his sleeve, wondering to himself: Why is Lord Oden so unlike himself today?
Kawamatsu walked at the very back of the group with Inuarashi and Nekomamushi. Nekomamushi keenly noticed Kawamatsu's unusual expression and asked in a hushed voice, "Kawamatsu, what's wrong? You've been distracted since earlier."
"Something just feels off..." Kawamatsu shook his head, his gaze still fixed on the "Kozuki Oden" ahead. "But I can't quite put my finger on it."
Inuarashi leaned in too. "What's off?"
Kawamatsu lowered his voice further. "When encountering visitors from overseas, Lord Oden didn't show even a shred of his usual enthusiasm for sailing. That's completely unlike him."
Nekomamushi slapped his forehead. "You're right! I knew something felt weird! Lord Oden loves hearing about things from overseas most of all!"
Inuarashi's expression suddenly turned grave. "Let's hurry inside. I have a bad feeling about this." He glanced around and added in a whisper, "And of all times, Ashura Doji, Denjiro, and the others are all away elsewhere. The fastest they could return is tomorrow."
The three exchanged a worried look and quickened their pace to catch up with the group ahead.
Inside Oden Castle, the halls were brightly lit. Following the "Lord Oden's" instructions, Kin'emon had meticulously arranged a lavish banquet. The long tables were laden with Wano Country's specialties, from exquisite sushi to fragrant tempura, everything one could desire.
Most prominent was the pot of oden prepared personally by Kin'emon—Oden's favorite food. Attendants carrying sake flasks moved among the guests, and the entire castle was immersed in a seemingly joyous atmosphere.
The false Oden sat rigidly in the seat of honor, a stiff smile plastered on her face. She raised her cup and said to Kaido, "Lord Kaido, please enjoy this fine wine and food to your heart's content. It is a testament to our friendship."
"Wororororo! Good sake!" Kaido laughed heartily, raising a huge sake flask and draining it in one gulp. "Kozuki Oden, you truly are a straightforward man!" His laughter echoed through the banquet hall, causing the candle flames to flicker.
The banquet was in full swing. Amidst the clinking of cups and general revelry, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi finally couldn't suppress their curiosity and approached Queen, who seemed the most approachable.
"Are there really five islands in the world?" Inuarashi asked cautiously, his eyes shining with curiosity.
Queen was taken aback for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. "Muhahaha! You two idiots, what kind of joke is that?!" He laughed so hard he rocked back and forth, nearly spilling the cup in his hand.
Nekomamushi blinked in confusion. "Then... are there six?"
"Idiots! Completely wrong!" Queen's laughter grew even more exaggerated, tears almost streaming from his eyes. "Though I don't know the exact number, there must be at least ten or twenty million islands!"
"What?!" Inuarashi and Nekomamushi exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with disbelief. This number was far beyond anything they could imagine.
"You country bumpkins are killing me! Muhahaha!" Queen's laughter echoed through the banquet hall.
Meanwhile, Sebastian and Kawamatsu were conversing in a corner. The tall Fish-Man Sebastian looked down at Kawamatsu with a hint of curiosity.
"You're... a Fish-Man too?" Kawamatsu asked, looking up in surprise at the towering member of his own race, his voice tinged with unconcealable excitement.
Sebastian asked, puzzled, "Haven't you seen other Fish-Men before?"
Kawamatsu's expression suddenly dimmed. "I wandered into Wano Country with my mother when I was little. After she passed, I never saw another of our kind again." His voice was low, carrying a deep sense of loneliness, clearly thinking of his mother who had died due to persecution.
"Kawamatsu, right?" Sebastian suddenly lowered his voice, a gleam flashing in his eyes. "How about joining our Beasts Pirates? Besides me, there are nearly a hundred of our Fish-Man brethren on the ship. And in the future, you'd have the chance to return with us to our people's island, Fish-Man Island, where hundreds of thousands of our kin live."
"That many... of our people?!" Kawamatsu's eyes widened in shock, but he immediately shook his head firmly. "No. I am Lord Oden's retainer. I am loyal only to Lord Oden." Though his voice was soft, it carried unwavering resolve.
Sebastian smiled meaningfully. "Who knows how things will turn out in the future?" He raised his cup and took a significant sip.
Although Kawamatsu had refused Sebastian's invitation, this was the first time in many years he had met one of his own kind. Because of this, his favorable impression of Sebastian, and even of the Beasts Pirates as a whole, was steadily rising. This complex mix of emotions tangled in his heart, making him feel both kinship and deep conflict.
The clamor of the banquet hall masked the conversation in the corner. Amidst the cheerful music, no one noticed the meaningful look exchanged between "Kozuki Oden" and Kaido. In the candlelight, a sinister smile curled the false Oden's lips, while a cruel glint flashed in Kaido's eyes.
***
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