The banquet hall was filled with the clinking of cups and continuous laughter and chatter. The retainers toasted one another, their faces beaming with joy.
Amid this lively atmosphere, "Kozuki Oden" suddenly stood up and rapped her cup with exaggerated movements.
The clear ringing sound echoed in the hall, and the previously bustling banquet gradually quieted. All eyes gathered on this "Daimyo."
"Everyone," the false Oden said, sweeping her gaze over the crowd and deliberately raising her tone, "I have an important announcement to make."
Upon hearing this, all the retainers present were stunned. They looked at each other, not understanding why Lord Oden would announce important news at this moment. Kin'emon put down his cup, his brow furrowed slightly; Kurozumi Kanjuro also put down his chopsticks, his face filled with confusion.
"Today, I met the best friend of my life, Mr. Kaido," the false Oden's voice echoed in the hall. "Therefore, I have decided to abdicate my position as Daimyo of Kuri and bestow it upon Mr. Kaido."
These words exploded like a thunderclap in the banquet hall. The retainers' expressions instantly froze, and the very air seemed to solidify.
Kin'emon was the first to stand up, his hands trembling slightly. "Lord Oden, just what are you saying?" His voice shook with shock.
"Yes, Lord Oden," Kurozumi Kanjuro also immediately rose, his face full of disbelief, "The Daimyo of Kuri can only be you!"
"Lord Oden, please don't issue such a reckless command." The retainers present all chimed in in agreement. Aside from the Beasts Pirates' members, everyone opposed this sudden decree.
"Lord Oden's" face darkened, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes. "Silence! Are you questioning my decision?" Her voice suddenly rose, carrying an air of unquestionable authority.
Kurozumi Kanjuro opened his mouth to speak but then stopped, his face etched with bewilderment. "I wouldn't dare, but, Lord Oden, your command is truly..."
"Yes, why, Lord Oden?" the other retainers asked one after another, their voices filled with confusion and worry.
The false Oden snorted coldly and waved her hand with an exaggerated gesture. "Hmph, after I abdicate to Mr. Kaido, I can bid farewell to this stuffy place and set out for the free world." Her voice carried a deliberately manufactured excitement that couldn't hide its falseness.
Hearing these words, Kin'emon, Inuarashi, Nekomamushi, Kawamatsu, and the others finally understood why "Lord Oden" hadn't mentioned going overseas before. So it was all leading up to this.
"Damn it!" Kin'emon clenched his fists. He didn't dare vent his anger at the false Oden, so he could only turn toward Kaido's group. "I knew it. If you people are here, Lord Oden will just... Please leave immediately after the banquet is over."
"You bastard, are you looking to die?" King, seeing Kin'emon dare to speak disrespectfully to Kaido, immediately stood up, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.
"Kin'emon, you shut up!" the false Oden directly berated Kin'emon.
But this time, Kin'emon didn't respond to the false Oden. Instead, he continued to stare at the members of the Beasts Pirates, his eyes burning with angry flames.
"Bastard!" The false Oden turned to King. "Mr. King, please don't be angry. I present 'Enma' to you as a gift. Please calm your anger." With that, she directly handed a sword to King.
King looked back at Kaido, and after receiving a nod of approval, he accepted "Enma."
"Lord Oden, please reconsider!" Kin'emon said urgently. "'Enma' is your weapon!"
"Please reconsider, Lord Oden," the others all chimed in.
"All of you, shut up!" the false Oden roared. "My sword, I can give it to whomever I want!"
At that moment, Kaido suddenly laughed heartily. "Wororororo! Oden, my good brother, I'm only here to attend your banquet. Don't talk about abdicating your Daimyo position to me; I'm not interested. I will leave this place tomorrow." He paused, then continued, "And since you are the Daimyo here, you have a responsibility to the people of this land. Don't speak such foolish words about leaving anymore."
Hearing Kaido's words, the retainers who had been filled with hostility toward the Beasts Pirates immediately viewed Kaido much more favorably.
"This... alright then," the false Oden said, pretending to be troubled. "Then let us continue the banquet!"
Although the banquet continued, the atmosphere in the hall was no longer the same. The retainers drank their sake in silence, occasionally exchanging confused glances. Kin'emon sat in a corner, his brow tightly furrowed; Kurozumi Kanjuro kept glancing at the false Oden, his eyes filled with doubt.
As the candlelight flickered, the atmosphere in the banquet hall grew increasingly heavy. Everyone's heart was full of questions, yet no one dared to voice them easily. The false Oden sat in the seat of honor, a strained smile on her face, occasionally raising her cup to drink with Kaido. And the true undercurrents were swirling beneath this surface calm.
...
Early the next morning, as dawn was just breaking, Kin'emon hurried to the door of Oden's room. As a retainer, he had tossed and turned all night, unable to shake his concern over Lord Oden's desire to go to sea. In his view, Lord Oden was an indispensable pillar for Kuri, and indeed for all of Wano Country. He absolutely could not just leave like this.
Knock knock knock! Kin'emon knocked forcefully on the door. "Lord Oden, I apologize for disturbing your rest, but I have urgent matters to report!"
Silence from within the room, no response whatsoever. A sliver of unease crossed Kin'emon's heart, and he knocked harder. "Lord Oden! Are you awake?"
Still, no one answered.
Sweat began to bead on Kin'emon's palms. Disregarding propriety, he directly pushed open the door. "Lord Oden, forgive my intrusion!"
The empty room made Kin'emon feel as if he had plunged into an icy abyss. The bed was tidy, as if no one had slept there at all. His eyes swept the room anxiously, and suddenly he noticed a letter lying on the table.
"This is bad!" Kin'emon rushed to the table in three quick strides, his hands trembling as he opened the envelope. On the letter paper, written in bold, sweeping strokes, it clearly stated:
"I, Kozuki Oden, Daimyo of Kuri and future Shogun of Wano Country, hereby declare: From this day forth, I appoint Kaido as the new Daimyo of Kuri. Until I return from my voyage overseas, all retainers must obey the commands of Mr. Kaido. Those who disobey are unworthy to be my retainers and shall be sentenced to immediate execution by beheading."
"Catastrophe!" Kin'emon cried out in alarm, his voice echoing through the empty corridor.
This cry of alarm stirred the entire Oden Castle. Ashura Doji and Denjiro were the first to arrive, having just returned from outside.
"What's happened? Where is Lord Oden?" Denjiro asked urgently.
Kin'emon's face was deathly pale, the letter in his hand rustling. "Lord Oden... he has set sail!"
***
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